June 30, 2008
The Difference Between Steroid Abuse and HRT
There’s no getting around the fact that our bodies age. For men, as we get closer to the middle age mark, natural testosterone production in the body begins to slow down by about one to two percent each year-though this can vary widely. Around age 50 or so, about one-half of men will experience what’s known as “andropause,” which is the result of declining levels of androgen in the body. To fight the symptoms of andropause many men turn to either steroids or hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
The symptoms of andropause will vary from one man to another but may include a decrease in energy (lethargy), diminished libido or less interest in sex, erectile dysfunction (ED), muscle weakness, difficulty sleeping, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings or depression and more. Because of the symptoms’ similarity to what women experience in menopause, andropause is sometimes referred to as the “male menopause,” although in men the reproductive system does not shut down entirely as it does in women-it just slows down.
Steroids are no stranger to the fitness/bodybuilding world but today more and more “regular guys” are taking steroids in an effort to combat the effects of andropause and reduce its impact. While legal steroids do have a place and serve useful, medically-valid purposes, they are frequently abused. Part of this stems from their widespread availability in gyms, health clubs, online from Internet pharmacies, friends and more.
Besides being illegal without a prescription, steroids-when taken without proper medical supervision-are known to cause a variety of health problems. The short-term adverse physical effects of anabolic steroid abuse are fairly well known, but the effects of their long-term use are not well-studied.
The real problems arise when steroid users become steroid abusers. They buy their steroids at the gym or from a friend, self-administering them and regulating their intake themselves, rather than under the guidance of a trained medical professional. This is a recipe for disaster. When someone buys steroids off the black market the potential for dangerous repercussions is astronomical.
First of all, when buying steroids off the black market you never really know what you are going to get. The majority of steroids sold on the streets in the U.S. come from other countries where quality standards can be very lax at best. It’s also very common to take steroids prepared for animals rather than for humans because they are usually cheaper-but also potentially very dangerous. There is also a prevalence of fake or counterfeit steroids on the U.S. black market. These can not only be dangerous, but they can be deadly as well.
Without getting into the subject in detail-entire books have been written about it-suffice to say that the list of potential side effects of self-regulated/self-administered steroid therapy (abuse) is long. Mood swings, fluid retention, thinning or loss of hair, infections, testicular atrophy and the risk of blood-borne diseases are a few of the risks. However many medical professionals state that all drugs have side effects and risk should always be compared to the potential reward. In contrast to self-regulated/self-administered steroid abuse, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a medically supervised regimen that seeks to duplicate the body’s natural testosterone production cycles. Administered properly, HRT can bring about the benefits of restoring testosterone to its previous level, without the significant side effects or safety hazards associated with self-regulated/self-administered steroid regimens or abuse.
HRT starts with a blood test and medical examination to determine testosterone levels and uncover any potential health risks. This is an important-and necessary–step in order to be certain that testosterone deficiency is indeed the root of the andropause symptoms and not diabetes, hypertension or the result of taking certain medications.
Through HRT testosterone is administered orally, by injection or through trans-dermal systems (through the skin). A fourth method-a tablet that adheres to the surface of the gum-was recently approved by the FDA. HRT has proven beneficial to men suffering from symptoms of andropause resulting from a testosterone deficiency in a number of ways including:
Increasing sex drive
Increasing muscle mass
Increasing strength
Improving mood
Increasing bone density
These are just some of the benefits that are associated with a properly-administered, medically-supervised HRT regimen.
Once treatment begins, HRT recipients are monitored for possible side effects or adverse reactions to the treatment. Generally though, this is not the case. The overwhelming majority of HRT recipients are very satisfied with the results, generally reporting few, if any, negative side effects or consequences.
While many of us like to think that we’re smart guys and know what we’re doing with our own bodies, the risks associated with self-administered/self-regulated steroid regimens far outweigh any potential benefits. And in addition, the potential for abuse is great. If you think you may be suffering from andropause/testosterone deficiency, do yourself a favor and consult a qualified medical professional and investigate hormone replacement therapy as a treatment, not your friends at the gym.
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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_674982_23.html
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Author: Kenneth Scott</a></strong><br />
Every one of us, well, almost everyone, wants a good physique, not only to impress others but also to keep us in good keep shape. A fit and a muscular body is indeed something to be proud of and show off as well. Joining fitness centers and gyms are, of course, a natural choice for keeping fit and building up a good muscular physique. The primary precondition of a fitness regime is regularity. You need to be regular in your workouts because if you tend to be irregular, all that you accomplish by exercising for one week is in danger of coming to a naught the next week. However, the uncomfortable part of all fitness programs is that they take time to show results. Most of the times, people are not ready to wait and tend to look to other means to quicken muscle build up. The temptation to see instant results is so strong that people tend to explore short cuts that can do more harm than good. It is sad that instead of choosing to go in for body building supplements, many opt for body building steroids. Taking body building steroids is an option that one should not even look at. There are not enough words in the dictionary to explain the extent to which they should be avoided. The worst part is that those advocating body building steroids for muscle building, indulge in superlative sales pitches without even mentioning the harm that they can cause. Many people have, to their regret, learned the hard way as to how body building steroids have ruined their lives. We get to know from the electronic and print media, about cases about people who have developed suicidal tendencies and tried to kill themselves without any rhyme or reason. Rather, body building supplements are a better option. They may not be as fast but they do not have harmful side effects. Body building supplements give you an added advantage as you go about your regular fitness regime. If you must take something in addition to your regular workout, it should never be body building steroids and only body building supplements. About the Author:
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These should be taboo, forbidden, banned, outlawed, and what have you and should never be taken unless your physician prescribes it for an ailment. Even then care should be taken to strictly follow the doctors instructions in regard to dosage.
A simple study of the side effects of body building steroids will explain why it is being so strongly advised here that they should not be used. The factual position is that body building steroids alter moods and perceptions to such a great extent that the person whom they effect realizes it only after the damage has been done.
body building
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/muscle-building-articles/body-building-with-steriods-a-fools-game-342259.html
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Author: Mike Singh
If you just walked into the health store to purchase muscle building supplements, you are probably lost, confused and being pushed a dozen products by the salesman. But, how do you know which supplements are the right products for your goals? There are various levels of muscle building supplements and some may not be right for you. But, there are a handful that are excellent choices for anyone looking to build muscle.
Remember, you don’t always need these supplements to build muscle, but these will definitely accelerate you towards your goals. They work as a tool to help you increase your potential for muscular development. They help in muscle growth, and quicker recovery times. Some important ingredients of muscle building supplements are:
Protein: The protein supplements are full of amino acids which are the building blocks for your muscles. Make sure that you include a supplement that takes into account proteins. You can take up to one to two grams of protein per pound of your weight. If you don’t want to take them in a pill form, get the protein through shakes or even bars. Also, look for those that contain eggs, whey, soy or casein.
Creatine: The next important ingredient in the supplement you choose should be creatine. It will help to increase muscle mass by decreasing muscle fatigue and improving muscle recovery. It helps to increase something called ATP which is an energy source that will allow you to do more reps of higher weight. It is recommended that this should be taken in cycles e.g. four weeks on it then two weeks off of it.
Micro-nutrients - multivitamins and multiminerals: Many people mistakenly assume that they are getting enough vitamins and minerals through their normal diet. Unfortunately, this is not the case. We would have to consume extremely large quantities of food to get the recommended daily intake. An easier approach would be to supplement our diet with a good quality multi-vitamin/multi-mineral supplement. If you do not have one specific mineral in your diet, this can slow down your ability to develop muscles or improve your health.
About the Author:
Mike Singh is the publisher of http://www.1-stop-fitness.com/ On his website he provides articles about womens health and fitness and adjustable weight benches.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/muscle-building-supplements-how-to-choose-the-right-ones-9158.html
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Keeping and maintaining a healthy diet is key, can be tough but like anything, it takes time and a little sacrifice. Whether you want ripped abs or you just want to look and feel great, taking preventative measures will increase your overall wellness and longevity. If at times you feel low in energy or simply fatigued, or even you just don’t want to get out of bed to go to work in the morning. Knowing the acidity of your body can drastically indicate and warn you about your body’s wellness. And it can also increase your levels of energy that we all so much desire.
Acidic pH level in human body fluids are a prime environment for bacteria, virus and other undesirable dangers. Your body is needs to perform and In order for our body’s cells to function at peak capacity everyday , your body needs to ensure that its pH levels (especially your blood pH) are in slightly in alkaline state (that means with a pH of slightly over 7). Very important to consider the types of foods you consume and the amounts of plain water you drink. Acid forming foods are amongst others meat, dairy products, chocolate, bread and all kind of other yeast products, alcohol, carbonated drinks and coffee and tea. Try to avoid those foods, instead consume as much alkaline forming foods as possible, like vegetables, greens, sprouts, soy products and most kind of seeds. Though being so many recipes all over the Internet you shouldn’t have any problems makings high alkalinity meals you really enjoy.
PH (potential of hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. It is measured on a scale of 0 to 14. the lesser the pH the more acidic the solution, the higher the pH the more alkaline (or base) the solution.
Acidic PH levels destroy vital oxygen molecules and create a breeding ground for diseases. PH levels in healthy people as well as newborns is slightly above 7. Acid waste grows inside the body due to our unhealthy lifestyles. If our internal environment is too acidic, disease becomes inevitable.
Alkalinity can be increased by consuming less meat and sweets and more vegetables and fruits. Although eating fruit to increase alkalinity may seem to be a contradiction because some fruits (especially citrus) are acidic outside the body, digestion uses up their acidic components, leaving an alkaline residue (ash). Alkalinity should be kept to 75% for every meal and acidity should be kept to 25%. Alkaline-producing foods such as vegetables are eaten in much smaller quantities. Stimulants like tobacco, coffee, tea, and alcohol are also extremely acidifying.
It is recommended that you test your pH levels to determine if your body’s pH immediate attention. By using pH test strips, you can determine your pH factor quickly and easily in the privacy of your own home. Taking these preventative measures can help you get the body you want, whether is ripped abs or simply great overall health and wellness.
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June 26, 2008
Pilates is great for your abs
If normal ab exercises aren’t really doing it for you, then there is an alternative that’s very much in fashion at the moment. You’ve no doubt heard the name, even if you’re not really sure what it is. It’s Pilates.
Pilates was invented by Joseph Pilates when he was imprisoned on the Isle of Man during World War I. While he was there, there was a flu epidemic, and Pilates came up with an exercise system to help flu victims get back to health more quickly. After the war, he moved to America and started training boxers in these new exercises, attracting widespread interest.
The key to Pilates is that instead of doing simple, repetitive exercises over and over again, it encourages you to learn more complicated, exact exercises, which you then do only a few times. The idea is to use your own body as a weight to lift. Once you master Pilates, you can exercise quickly, precisely, and effectively.
Many people are into Pilates for the same reason they like Yoga: the relief it can give for back pain. We’re interested in Pilates, though, because of the effect it can have on your abs. It is designed to strengthen your abdominal muscles, together with your back and your behind, as all these muscles being able to move freely gives you the feeling of real physical fitness.
However, one word of warning is that while Pilates will get your abs fit, it won’t necessarily make them look muscular � toned, yes, but not ripped. This is because Pilates isn’t about lifting really heavy weights and building large amounts of muscle mass � it’s more simply about physical wellbeing.
If you want to learn more about Pilates, you could just go along to a class � although, unfortunately, many classes that advertise themselves as Pilates use few of the original methods. If you can’t find a good instructor in your area, consider teaching yourself from a book instead, as there is nothing about it that you can’t teach yourself, at least with a little effort.
John Gibb is the owner of , For more information on ab exercises check out http://www.ab-exercise-guidance.info
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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_78587_32.html
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June 24, 2008
Muscle Building Workout Program: Variations of a Classic
The 5 sets of 5 reps program is one of the classic muscle building workout programs. It was popularized by the legendary strength coach Bill Starr in the 1970s, but still enjoys popularity in many gyms around the world.
You may think that a program as simple as 5×5 needs no explanation. That is true to a certain extent, as I could tell you to do 5×5 and you would immediately know what to do. However, the program can be (and has been) interpreted in a variety of ways. So let�s take a look at the three main variations of the 5×5 muscle building workout program.
1. Straight sets
This is the classic interpretation of the program. Simply pick an exercise and a weight and stick with it for 5 sets, attempting to complete 5 reps each set. If you end up choosing too heavy of a weight to complete all 5 sets of 5 reps, then stick with that weight when you do the exercise next time. For example: 225×5, 225×5, 225×5, 225×4, 225×3. You are to use the same weight until you can complete 5 sets of 5 reps, and only then increase the weight.
2. Work Up
This variation allows you start with a lighter weight and work up over the 5 sets to your 5 rep maximum for the day. This means that the 5th set is your heaviest. Here is how this might look: 135×5, 185×5, 225×5, 275×5, 315×5.
The next week you would come back and try to increase the weight on every set, but pay particular attention to increasing the weight on the 5th and final set.
3. Work Up and Down</b>
<br>This variation is similar to the previous, except that you work up in weight more quickly so that your heaviest set is your 3rd set. Once you hit your heavy third set, you decrease the weight for the 4th and 5th sets. For example: 185×5, 225×5, 275×5, 245×5, 225×5.
The next week you would try to increase the weight on every set, but especially on sets 3, 4, and 5.
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<br>The 5×5 program is one of those classic muscle building workout programs that will never go out of style. There are endless variations of this program and each will have its own specific effects on strength and hypertrophy.
Always remember that any training program will only work for a short period of time, and 5×5 is no exception. For long-term, consistent results you need to know the science behind how to change your program over time and how to combine it with a complementary nutrition and recovery program to enhance your strength and muscle mass.
Find more muscle building workout programs and get a FREE report on muscle building called “The 13 Reasons You Suck at Gaining Muscle.”
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June 23, 2008
Exercise: Two Worlds of Body Building
Author: Francis Hesse
When it comes to body building, many people erroneously assume that all one needs to do is haphazardly do any type of exercises without any rhyme, reason or logic. This is not a wise move because there are very specific purposes for body building exercises designed to provide two goals of either increased mass or increased definition. By understanding that there are differences between mass building exercises and those exercises that are designed for more definition the ability to arrive at one’s goals will be greater facilitated. After all, if you are exercising then you have a certain set of goals in mind and you will want the proper exercises that will be required to reach those goals.
Building Mass
The most common body building exercises people perform are compound exercises. When you are performing compound body building exercises you are primarily working on mass. That is, compound exercises mean that more than one body part is used to lift the weight. Bench presses, while generally considered chest exercises, also provide secondary stress to the biceps, triceps and shoulders. So, these other muscles grow as well as the chest although not to the same degree. Other common body building exercises that perform compound exercises include squats and military presses. Now, these exercises are not necessarily designed to make the person’s muscle mass huge (although they certainly can be used for this purpose) these exercises can be used in a lesser capacity so as not to massively pack on muscle.
Sculpting Definition
The second type of body building exercises that are employed are those exercises that are isolation exercises. These exercises do not involve more than one muscle group and are designed to specially develop the muscles of a particular area. These exercises can be employed with high repetitions to burn fat and usually follow a cycle of mass building so as to create the definition that mass requires for aesthetic looks. Please note, contrary to popular belief these exercises cannot spot reduce fat in a particular area. Yes, fat will be burned, but it will be burned evenly throughout the body as opposed to any specific or particular area.
Of course, there are other areas that need to be taken into consideration as well such as diet, cardio etc, but the areas of mass building and definition generally cover the basics that one would need in order to achieve a baseline level of success and to reach his or her goals.
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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/bodybuilding-articles/exercise-two-worlds-of-body-building-534496.html
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