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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Get Optimal Results with Morning Cardio by Tim Wescott

I found this article on cardio today and had to share it with all of you that follow my Blog. I found this information to be priceless! Please enjoy this article, I know I did!


"I’m here to say they are off base in this approach to losing body fat, and I will tell you why. As bodybuilders, most of us endeavor to eat 5-6 meals a day, spaced out over three hour intervals. This helps to keep blood sugar levels stable, keeps us in an anabolic state by maintaining a positive nitrogen balance, aids in better digestion and assimilation, and also helps to keep the waistline smaller, as most of the meals should not be big meals, per se’!

The Catabolic State:
After sleeping all night for 6-8 hours, or whatever amount is required for you personally, the body, upon arising in the morning, is in a very catabolic state. This means a state of negative nitrogen balance, something no bodybuilder wants. To perform cardio at this time, on an empty stomach, creates a further state of catabolism, thus resulting in muscle breakdown, and muscle tissue loss. The exact opposite of what bodybuilding is all about! It’s true that blood sugar levels are low in the morning, but so are amino acids, the building blocks of protein.

Morning Cardio:
If you must do cardio in the morning… no big deal, just make sure to have a protein drink, or a light protein meal, 45-60 minutes before the aerobic session. Your first priority in the morning, after fasting all night during sleep, should be to feed the body protein and carbs, thus restoring the body to an anabolic state once again. You always want to remain in this anabolic state, if possible, that’s why we eat every three hours or so.

Optimal Timing?
In my opinion, the best time to do cardio is after you workout with the iron. Performing your cardio workout after training with the weights, is the most ideal time to burn fat. The reasoning behind this thinking is that during your weight training workout you are using glucose, and stored glycogen, as fuel for energy. Glucose and glycogen are sugars, and sugars are carbs. You want to use carbs as fuel for your training ideally, to sustain you throughout the workout. After you are done training, your glucose and glycogen levels are obviously depleted, thus making this the perfect time to perform your cardio, and to use stored fat as fuel. At this time, if you are on a high protein diet, as most bodybuilders are, or should be, the body will burn fat as fuel, to help get you through the cardio session.

Type Of Cardio:
Keep the cardio intense and brief, or the body will once again go into a catabolic state and use protein for fuel literally eating your hard earned muscle tissue alive. Doing too much cardio is detrimental. The type of cardio that you perform is up to you, but I would recommend doing 15-20 minutes of “High Intensity Interval Training.” Hereafter known as HIIT!! HIIT cardio involves an all out burst of effort for about a minute, followed by a cool down pace, also for a minute or so, or until the heart rate slows down substantially. As I stated above, 15-20 minutes of HIIT is great and usually enough for most people. I personally wouldn’t go over 30 minutes tops.

Why HIIT is good!
One of the advantages of performing HIIT cardio is that it accomplishes more in a shorter time period. Another more important benefit, is that it raises the heart rate and the metabolism. Your metabolism stays elevated long after your cardio session is done. This enables the body to keep on burning more fat just by going through your normal daily routine! I call this effect the “After burn”!! I use an Elliptical Trainer most of the time, and I find by using this particular apparatus, I burn over twice as many calories using HIIT, over more traditional methods I have employed in the past. The Elliptical Trainer also has virtually no impact on the feet, hips, or knees.

Conclusion:
So there it is, my take on doing AM cardio, and why I think it should not be done on an empty stomach. Try it out and lose some of that excess body fat, while retaining your hard earned muscle, you’ll be glad you did!!"

Written By: Tim Wescott


Here's to a new you!


Matthew Eubanks
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Monday, January 18, 2010

Product Review: NRG-X Overdose

NRG-X Labs OverDose, 780 Grams - Buy 2 Get 1 FREE!, Blue Raspberry Blast
I got a single serving of NRG-X Overdose in the mail the other day and I decided to try it out on chest day. Not a bad product but I really wasnt impressed. Here are my ratings and why I rated them that way:

Flavor: 5/10 .. Not giving it "bad" points but rather no flavor at all points. The label said mix the packet in 12-16oz of cold water, start drinking 30 min prior to workout and the rest right up to when your workout starts. I couldnt taste anything at all really. I mixed in 12oz of water and it was very diluted tasting.

Mixability: 10/10 .. No problems at all here. Mixed perfectly.

Energy: 6/10 .. I didnt really feel anything out of the normal until after my workout. It seemed that it kinda kicked in during cardio. I managed to get 30min of cardio in on the stairmaster which is something I havent done in a VERY long time.

Overall Rating: 7/10 .. It was a decent product but honestly I wouldnt buy it. I know NRG-X is an awesome company and they make killer products but this one needs tweaking in the flavor and energy department. Maybe someone with less tolerance to stims would get more out of it. I will contact NRG-X and ask for another sample just to make 100% sure this is what one can expect from this product.

Here's to a new you!
Matthew Eubanks
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Saturday, January 16, 2010

Product Review: Musclespeed


I was given MUSCLESPEED to try and must say, it was phenomenal! I was very impressed with Accelerative Nutraceuticals (Makers of MUSCLESPEED) and how their product did exactly as it claimed in their advertisements. Accelerative Nutraceuticals really delivered on this product.

Musclespeed is a cognitive and neuromuscular accelerator, taken pre-workout, by fighters, Extreme sport athletes, as well as people like you and me! It's the only natural source supplement that helps you activate the most muscle fiber with a single dose. You take MUSCLESPEED 1 hour before training or competition. Experience a smooth rush of energy, and mental focus, coming on within 45 minutes of the first dose and it lasts up to 4-5 hours at a time!

MUSCLESPEED works in your body in many important ways:

*Acetyl-L-Carnitine(1 of the ingredients in MUSCLESPEED), demonstrated in a 30-day study using large doses, to increase hand-eye coordination.

*Assists in the production of adrenaline and acetylcholine or acts as their precursor.

*Acts beneficially on the body and mind while the effects of adrenaline and acetylcholine are underway.

*Extends the working life of the two THE MOST IMPORTANT performance neurotransmitters in your body; norepinephrine and acetylcholine.

*Prevents energy 'crashes', and keeps you feeling invigorated, even as the effects wear off.

It's not just about having the "right" formula, which they do; but they offer it at the right dose. This can make all the difference when choosing the product that will work best for you.

I will always have MUSCLESPEED on my shelf, ready to use. I am totally sold on this product. There are many products out there today and I know it can be hard to decide. Most of the time it is trial and error until you find what works best for you and your goals.

Luckily, there are people like me that have a Blog that delievers valuable information on products such as MUSCLESPEED, taking most of the guess work out for you. I have used a good amount of supplements over the years and I have a very good idea what works and what doesn't, so I hope my informational helps you on your journey to a healthier you!

Here's to a new you!
Matthew Eubanks
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Welcome to BB2K's Fitness Blog!!

Hello and welcome to "BB2K's Fitness Blog", a blog dedicated to exercising and living a healthy lifestyle.

My name is Matthew Eubanks, I am a 41 year old dad to 3 of the most wonderful children a man could ever ask for. I am dating a very sweet, kind and beautiful woman, Shelly. I have lived in Kansas City, MO. since 1994. I was born and grew up in Rockingham, NC.

Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I was bedridden for nearly 2 years. It would take several knee surgeries after which I would progress from a bed to a wheel chair, and from a walker to crutches until I could finally walk on my own. My body was wasting due to the prolonged inactivity and I was paying a miserable price.

After all 4 surgeries, I was told I needed to have Physical Therapy on my leg. It was very painful at first but soon I really started to enjoy lifting. My body responded slowly at first but then I was hooked! Now was the time to get the fat off and get my old butt in shape! The changes came a little at a time but they did come.

I changed my eating habits right away. Nothing crazy or hard at first, but it got strict after about 6 months. With a lot of dedication and consistency, I have made some major changes in my health and appearance. I was very eager to share the "secrets" of my success with others, but the fact is there really are no "secrets". I worked hard for my results, plain and simple.

FACTS:
  • Did I deprive myself? Yes
  • Did I have cravings? Definitely
  • Was it easy? NO
  • Was I miserable at times? Yup
  • Was it worth it? You're damn right!

I would hope that one look at what I have accomplished would be enough to get anyone out of their chair and into a gym. Unfortunately however, most will continue to cling to their old excuses and do nothing at all. But as for me? I am still training and looking better than ever.

Perhaps my story or the information I share with you here on my Blog, will be an inspiration to you!

Here's to a new you!
Matthew Eubanks
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Monday, January 11, 2010

Recommended Supplements for Women (Beginners)

This post is for the women out there that want to know "What are good supplements for a woman to take to help her get in shape?" Well I thought I would make a post for the women giving the basics of good supplementation.

If you are a beginner or even if you have been training for a while, there are a few supplements I stand by 100%. I know they work and they are very beneficial to your training and getting results. Why diet hard, train hard but not give your body the added nutrients it needs to give you that killer body you always wanted? You do want that 2 piece swim suit to fit this summer right? You do want to strut your stff at the pool right? Well... lets get started.

Here are the basics for for women...
Opti Woman

Optimum Opti-Women, 120 Capsules

Vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients are the body's fundamental building blocks. Among other things, they contribute to our energy levels, immunity, performance and overall vitality. Opti-Women has been designed as a comprehensive Nutrient Optimization System complete with botanicals, antioxidants, and other gender-focused components. By packing 40 active ingredients into one pill, much more than a multi has been created.

ISOfemme

AllMax Nutrition ISOfemme, 416 Grams, Strawberry Fiesta

ISOfemme is a sinfully delicious Protein Smoothie created exclusively for women. It's a convenient way to increase your dietary protein intake and meal frequency. What more could a woman ask for with just 1g of total carbs, 1g of sugar, no estrogenic proteins, virtually zero grams of fat and just 117 calories per serving! ISOfemme makes it easy to follow your diet while getting the body-friendly protein needed to fuel your figure.

Rappid Cuts Femme

AllMax Nutrition Rapidcuts Femme, 42 Rapid Release Capsules

Rapidcuts Femme is a female fat burner designed to Target, Release and Ignite stored body fat. Rapidcuts Femme features a new modern 3-Stage fat burning technology called T.R.I. This revolutionary approach to female body transformation is the new standard in fat reduction sciences. From the moment you take Rapidcuts Femme, you will feel it work and quickly begin to see your body transform in a matter of days.
The supplements I have addressed are the most frequently asked about ones. Just remember the three most important supplements to start with are your vitamins, proteins and fat burners . From there you can progress to meal replacements and creatine.

Once you have a full understanding of these products then it is time to start learning about some of the other products on the market. But for now start with the basics and remember there are many supplements that are designed specifically for women.

So, for you women out there who think they should not be taking supplements because they are all geared for men - you are wrong, there are many products out there for you as well.
Here's to a new you!
Matthew Eubanks
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