Saturday, November 3, 2012

Plyometric Training: Easy Drills To Burn Fat And Look Lean


You want to get lean?

Maybe you want to have a body that looks like that of a fitness model or one that simply looks beach ready year round.

Most of the time you will read or hear advice telling you that in order to get lean and burn that extra fat all you need to do is running 30 minutes a day or 60 minutes or more.  You know what I mean.  Get on the treadmill and start jogging.


Sounds boring.  Well, that’s because it is.
 
If you have tried to do long cardio or look at those who do this type of cardio you will notice that they don’t look very lean and athletic.  In fact, they do look thin but lack muscle and muscle definition like an athlete. 

Alternative To Regular Cardio
So what can you do? How can you avoid doing that dreaded 30 minutes on the treadmill or an elliptical machine?

Well you can simply switch to athletic based training.  All you have to do is follow a method of training that athletes like football players, sprinters Olympic athletes use.

Most athletes use plyometric training in their cardio component instead of long cardio.

Why Plyometric Exercises Work

As I mentioned above, an athlete typically looks lean and has some muscle mass.  In order to have an athletic body it is best to work on fast twitch muscles.

One way to develop your fast twitch muscles is by doing short and explosive workouts.  So rather than doing cardio that works the slow twitch muscles, like jogging or similar types of workouts, it is best to work with cardio that develops fast twitch fibers. 

The best way to split your cardio in order to make it more athletic is by doing short drills using your bodyweight, agility ladders or any cardio activity done in short bursts of intense activity and short rest.

How to Create A Plyometric Workout

The best way to create your own plyometric workout is doing the following:
  • Choosing the length of time for each exercise
  • Choosing the length of time for each rest period
  • Divide each exercise equally
  • Choose a combination of exercises that will raise your cardiovascular level
  • Choose exercises that are athletic and build lean muscle at the same time

Here is an example of a plyometric workout:



You can easily follow the routine outlined in the video or you can create your own.

Here is a plyometric workout I came up with:
  • Jumping Jacks
  • Walking Lunges
  • Kettlebell Swings
  • Box Jumps

*split each exercise by 30 seconds of activity and 30 seconds of rest

A workout like this will get your heart rate up and will help you keep or build lean muscle. 

You can create workout that is lower body focused or combine it in a way that works as a total body workout.

Rather than doing your usual cardio session go ahead and get creative.  Save time and instead choose drills that are more athletic.  By using plyometrics you will find yourself burning unwanted fat and looking leaner than ever.


Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Barbell Complex: Workouts That Will Get You Looking Lean And Muscular


It is sometimes complicated to imagine barbell exercise routine as anything but the typical type of barbell workout consisting of: bench presses, squats, and deadlifts. Most of these work outs are a part of a good muscle mass building groundwork. However, should you actually want to take your muscle building as well as fat loss towards a totally new intensity level you could get creative and make use of a barbell complex work out routine.

Classic muscle building is made up of utilizing barbells using a compound movement. After you complete just one set you relax for a period of time, get back your energy and proceed to complete the following set.

Most of these workouts are fantastic nevertheless you will discover limitations with a normal barbell workout. Barbell workout routines will only provide you with the benefit of bulking up without the added benefit of burning excess fat. Although putting on size is often a goal, most guys desire to remain as trim as is possible.

Shedding Fat In A Conventional Method

So the
old-fashioned way of burning fat was through using aerobic exercise. I could basically reckon that you dislike performing cardio. Getting on the treadmill machine, running for an hour, then huffing and puffing, isn't your preferred (or my personal favorite) method of shedding fat.

The advice offered by a trainer went similar to this:

Do some type of aerobic exercise for 30 to 60 minutes on days you aren't doing weight training exercises.

Perform your cardio once you complete your weight training.
Each piece of advice is effective to a certain extent. Cardio is effective in burning fat whether you choose to do this on the same day as the resistance training or on separate days.

Why not knock 2 birds using 1 stone and obtain the benefits of cardiovascular exercise while at the same time performing strength training?

The True Secret to Using Getting Lean

Long dull cardio exercise won't give you an athletic looking physique. Should you extend sessions on the home treadmill or even carry out lengthy runs you will end up looking like some marathon runner. However, getting strong looking legs is all about working on exercises which help your fast twitch muscles.

So that you can develop your fast twitch muscle you should use 2 techniques:
  • Make use of high intensity intervals with your cardiovascular exercise training
  • Execute lifting weights routines utilizing compound exercises within an explosive method.
Personally, I utilize the 2nd option, in particular when I can use workout that provide me both the body building component along with a fat reducing benefit.

Barbell Complex
Workout

While the title may suggest that the barbell complex can be a work out composed of difficult workouts it really is quite contrary.

These types of workouts are simple to perform and most of the exercises are almost certainly familiar to the majority of novices to more advanced level fitness buffs.

All these types of exercises consist of choosing a group of compound physical exercises similar to leg squats, deadlifts,pressing type exercises along with a pulling exercises, all these exercises are performed in succession and voila, you have a barbell complex.

Here's an example:

Deadlifts (
10 reps)
Barbell Rows (
10 reps)
Upright Row (
10 repetitions)
Barbell Shoulder Press (
10 repetitions)
Squats (10 reps)

Shift from one exercise to another with out putting your weight/ barbell down. You do not relax between exercises unless you complete the last workout inside the series.

Finishing the entire sequence counts as one set. Relax for just one minute and repeat the combination of exercises once again.

This can be achieved for 2 to 3 sets total and carry out this particular work out once or twice a week on non consecutive days.

This kind of workout is difficult and can have you with your heart racing along with breathing intensely however, you will discover that a barbell complex work out gives you the benefits of a weight training exercise routine along with cardio without jogging for long and extended periods.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Rear Deltoid Exercises: One Muscle Group That Gives You Better Looking Shoulders

Probably the most overlooked muscles from the upper body yet an important one nevertheless may be the rear delts. When we develop the shoulder muscles the last thing we actually contemplate on performing is rear deltoid exercises
. Although it can be a smaller muscle tissue, it is actually one that needs to be provided equal emphasis as the rest of the shoulder region. .Despite the fact that other weight lifters usually do not often explain this, the rear delts play a huge role in supplying shoulders their rounded appearance and also tying in the shoulders and back with each other.

Developing the rear delts will help with pulling the shoulder blades back and therefore keeping you from possessing a slouched physical appearance. .In order to build this muscle specifically the area has to be isolated. The particular exercises I recommend in order to isolate and best develop this specific muscle consists of performing a series of specific exercises for this muscle group.


Rear raises: Rear raises are performed by using dumbells and they are much like lateral raises. Although they offer a similar experience the important distinction is you are bent over whether sitting or even standing up. This physical exercise can be executed utilizing with a weight in each hand at the same time or one at a time. While bent over you hold the weight with your hands extended right down to the floor and merely lift the dumbbell with arms a bit bent in a gradual movement. The actual hands should finish by being extended and also parallel with the floor. Carry your dumbbells all the way down inside a controlled motion.

Side raises with an underhand grip: This kind of workout is rarely seen done by anyone at a gym, however it is effective with isolating the rear shoulder area. Hold the hand weights at your side like doing a traditional dumbbell lateral raise. The next thing requires switching the dumbbells in a underhand grip. The palms of your respective hand ought to be facing to the rear along with thumbs in. While using hand weights parallel to the floor carry out the side raise. One end of the dumbbells needs to be directed straight down that you had been giving the thumbs down using your arms out. Carry your weights down in a very controlled motion.
 
High rows: This particular exercise is carried out by using a rope attached to any cable pulley. You've probably utilised ropes to perform triceps extensions. Your rope should be in its highest point in your cable pulley. In this situation you will stay several feet back and hold the rope high. Next bring the rope toward your eye level while flaring the rope in an outward motion. Although this is a pull exercise it will be the rear shoulders that is performing all or most of the work.


Low rows: Low rows are certainly good throughout rear deltoid development, nevertheless they really should be done in days you do back workouts. Though it will not isolate the rear delts totally these are very effective within creating this region. I might advise picking one of the primary three workouts along with performing it on a day you are doing shoulders workout. Execute 4 sets of eight to ten repetitions.

To acheive rear delt development include some rear deltoid workout routines to your shoulders exercise to obtain excellent definition.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Get A Body Of A Male Gymnast


Nearly all guys that are seeking to get jacked feel that the best way to do this is thru weight lifting but if you wish to have a male gymnast body what you need to accomplish is utilize the appropriate sorts of body weight exercises.

The Reason Why Gymnasts Have Got These Attractive Bodies

You can ask the majority of males and girls what they feel is probably the most desirable body type. Most of the time you may find out the lean as well as toned body is the most ideal body type. A body which is not too large and not too thin. Now ask the guy or lady exactly who appears to be best, any gymnast or perhaps a body builder?

Chances are you will get an answer a gymnast has the more desirable body shape. Gymnasts have a very slim and extremely natural look which makes it simple to don trendy outfits while still being athletic. It certain is better than your swollen, at times fat, bodybuilder overall look.

The Weight Training Myth

Should you pick up the term “weight training” you instantly get a psychological picture associated with barbells and dumbbells and seldom think about bodyweight exercises like a fantastic alternative to attaining muscle mass. Perhaps muscle building competitions and also health and fitness periodicals currently have sent this kind of misconception regarding dumbbells as the single replacement for obtaining cut though the truth is you may get in shape without lifting a single weight.

Tips To Get Gymnast Body

It is no secret that a gymnast is reliant merely in their body to obtain a fantastic body. You won’t discover them spending hours undertaking bench presses however you certainly will notice a killer chest that will generate even the most robust person at your gym blush.

The very first thing you must do in order to obtain a body like a gymnast is focus on the correct forms of exercises which look like what they do competing. For instance, if you notice the gymnast competing you will recognize that they commit a lot of his or her time on apparatus just like bars, parallel bars, rings and also the pommel horse. If at all possible you can attempt copying these types of workouts inside your exercises.

The Right Body Weight Exercises To Utilize

The best workouts to use are usually virtually any that work around the shoulder muscles, back, torso, arms and legs along with the core preferably inside a compound type motion.

Back Exercises
Pull-ups, Chin Ups, Parallel Chin Ups

Shoulders Workout routines
Hands Stand Push Ups, Hand Stands, Dive Bomber Pushups

Upper body Routines
Pushups, Incline Push-ups, Decline Push Ups, Triangular Push-ups

Biceps & Tricep Exercises
Parallel Bar Dips (Tricep), Chin Ups (biceps), one Arm Chin Up (arms)

Legs Routines
Bodyweight Squats, Body weight Jump Squats, Pistol Squats,

Abs/ Core Workout routines
L- Sit Hold, Lying down Knee Raises, Clinging Lower leg Boosts

In order to create the most effective sort of workout using these body weight exercises ensure you don’t do every one of these physical exercises on the same day or on consecutive days. Try to separate your own routines into 3 to 4 sessions per week.

A proven way it is possible to divide the routines is simply by doing chest muscles focused physical exercises 1 day and also follow it up with a lower physique and core demanding exercise routine the next day, rest for just one working day and then accomplish one more upper body working day then a lower entire body along with central exercise routine the day next.

It is easy to select only two physical exercises per group of muscles to get the most out of your workouts and prevent overtraining.

For sets I like to recommend anywhere between three and 4. The amount of reps might be within the number of six and twelve if you want to gain muscle. If you see it difficult to do a high number repetitions merely try and perform as many as achievable every set. Over time you will be able to do more as your strength will increase.

Obtaining a physique that is low in fat does not need making use of dumbbells. You discover ways to get a gymnast body simply by training properly along with the appropriate workouts.

And if you liked this article, you can also check out a quick slideshow below that breaks it all down for you. Feel free to download it.


Friday, January 27, 2012

How A Hardgainer Can Gain Muscle Mass


Do you think you're what is also known as a hardgainer and you have recently been having difficulties in gaining muscle mass? While you might feel that donning twenty lbs of pure muscular mass is very hard the reality is that this is far from the truth.

What Is A Hardgainer?

A hardgainer can be a man or woman having an ultra fast metabolic rate that makes it harder than normal to put on bodyweight or even muscle mass and thus discovers themselves looking thinner than normal. Even if this is considered a blessing for some, in reality it can make this very difficult in order for a hardgainer to put on some serious muscle mass regardless of how long will be spent in the fitness center.

The reason why you are unable to work out the way you are already advised?

As a hardgainer I was personally told that the only way to put on muscles had been simply by spending up to two hours in the health club weight lifting. Even though this would seem just like the only option, the fact is this is extremely counterproductive.

Strength training melts away calorie consumption and also the longer you spend weight lifting you will end up burning the calories from fat. The common advice I received was to eat more. Much more. At first glance this seems logical but this doesn't work since consuming more is only going to help you gain pounds but not necessarily muscular mass and you will probably not have any definition.

Which kind of work out when you do to gain muscle bulk?

If perhaps you were exercising for some time you need to ignore typical advice and focus on exercises that will develop muscle mass. Power movements or workouts are one of the better choices to employ. Different types of power movements and comopund exercises conisist of the squat, deadlifts, power clean, clean and jerk, pull-ups. Doing exercises that work various muscles using workouts such as arms curls and lower-leg extensions are usually fine but should not be your current focus in a workout.

The next task is allowing sufficient rest involving workout routines. It is advisable to let 2-3 days in between workout routines. Very often I see guys undertaking bench presses on back-to-back days. This is a problem if you want to gain muscle muscle size. Allowing sufficient rest days can help you put on a lot more muscle size and will also prepare you for your workout the next time around.

The amount of repetitions along with units in case you execute?

To get muscles you want to do 3-4 sets per exercise and 8-10 reps for every set. It's also important to remember to perform slow along and controlled movements when doing workout routines. Cardiovascular exercises may still be carried out only approximately 3 x every week in non-consecutive days and/or nights.

Exactly what supplements or diet in the event you comply with?


Protein shakes might help with gaining muscle but don't expect huge gains. Protein health supplements help in restoration along with restoration of your muscular tissues.

Follow these tips to gain up to 20 lbs of muscle mass if you are a hardgainer.