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Archive for the ‘Bodybuilding Tips’ Category

In 2007, Steve Martin was on the Charlie Rose show to talk about his memoir Born Standing Up. He talked about his rise in comedy, and Rose asked him for his advice to aspiring performers.

His response? “Nobody ever takes note of [my advice], because it’s not the answer they wanted to hear. What they want to hear is ‘Here’s how you get an agent, here’s how you write a script,’ . . . but I always say, ‘Be so good they can’t ignore you.’ ”

Cal Newport, an assistant professor of computer science at Georgetown, became intrigued by this notion, and set out to find out how people do just that. One of the concepts he lit upon, while writing his book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You, is career capital.

“Career capital are the skills you have that are both rare and valuable and that can be used as leverage in defining your career,” Newport said by phone. It is crucial to developing a successful career, one that Newport describes as being marked by creativity, impact and control, or autonomy.

“Basic economic theory tells us that if you want something that’s both rare and valuable,” he writes, “you need something rare and valuable to offer in return—this is Supply and Demand 101. It follows that if you want a great job, you need something of great value to offer in return.”

Earlier this month, when I wrote about the seven ways successful people approach their work, one of the concepts that intrigued a number of readers was the notion of career capital. While that article used a broad definition that includes skills, a portfolio of work and a network of people loyal to you, Newport’s research — and this article — will show you how to develop the “skills” portion of career capital with these seven tips.

1. Adopt the craftsman mindset, not the passion mindset.

Newport says one of the biggest fallacies being promoted in the career world today is that occupational happiness comes from finding a job that corresponds with a preexisting passion. “Passions don’t come before skills,” Newport explains. “That’s often a roadblock — it’s hard to get around this idea that we all have a preexisting strong passion, and it’s just whether or not we follow it.”

The problem with the passion mindset is that it leads people to approach their work asking, “What can the world offer me?” — and that results in a lot of job hopping.

“First, when you focus only on what your work offers you, it makes you hyperaware of what you don’t like about it, leading to chronic unhappiness,” he writes. This is especially true for entry-level positions, which rarely offer fulfilling challenges. He also objects to the passion mindset, because the questions it prompts — “Who am I?” “What do I truly love?” “Is this who I really am?” — are not only hard to answer but are, as he writes, “almost guaranteed to keep you perpetually unhappy and confused.”

Instead, he says, embrace the craftsman mindset, in which you ask, “What can I offer the world?”

2. Know what’s really valuable in your field. 

In his book, Newport describes a blogger who had identified — and devoted a lot of time to — a path to success … that would never lead there.

He says of the blogger, “In his conception, there are many different types of capital relevant to your blog — from its format, to its post frequency, to its search‐engine optimization, to how easy it is to find it on social networks (this particular blogger invested serious time in submitting every post to as many social networking sites as possible). He viewed the world through statistics and hoped that with the right combination of capital he could get them where he needed them to be to make money.” The problem? His blog was no good — and he wasn’t spending time improving it.

If you’re having a hard time figuring out what skills would be important for the specific vision you have of your career, Newport says suggest identifying two people in your field — one who resonates with you and one who doesn’t. “Then, figure out the difference,” he says. “What did Person A do that Person B did not?”

3. Always stretch yourself.

Once you know what kind of expertise you need, go after it — and never let yourself plateau.

Newport compares improving knowledge skills to bodybuilding. “If you approach the goal of being musclebound with the mindset ‘I never want my muscles to never burn or ever be strained,’ you won’t do well with your goal,” he says. “It’s the same with learning a new programming language or knowing an arcane part of the law.”

The problem with “deliberate practice,” which Geoffrey Colvin detailed in his book Talent Is Overrated, is, as Colvin wrote in Fortune, “Doing things we know how to do well is enjoyable, and that’s exactly the opposite of what deliberate practice demands.”

So, push past your natural inclination to only do what you’re good at and what you enjoy, says Newport: “You should be seeking to be in a state of mental discomfort frequently.”

San Francisco, CA — (SBWIRE) — 05/21/2013 — Health advice seems to change on a near-daily basis. Every day, it seems like news agencies and doctors are changing their opinions on how to live a long and healthy life. But here’s one type of advice that never changes: a healthy diet and regular exercise helps people all over the world live longer.

That’s a lesson that a new pair of websites seeks to instill in each and every visitor. These websites, Quick-Muscle-Building-Tips.com and Insulin-Resistance-Diet.com, aim to teach visitors how to live a healthier lifestyle at the gym and in the kitchen.

At Quick-Muscle-Building-Tips.com, visitors will find detailed information about a number of popular workouts and muscle building tips. The website teaches visitors how to perform deadlifts correctly, for example, as well as some of the best shoulder exercises to perform.

But as many bodybuilders know, a healthy physique is built in the kitchen, which is why the Quick-Muscle-Building-Tips.com website also features recipes, cooking tips, and nutritional data for a number of different bodybuilding diet fundamentals. One article discusses how bodybuilders can still eat high-protein foods while on a budget, for example, while another article explains an ideal meal plan for bodybuilders seeking to get bigger.

As a spokesperson for Quick-Muscle-Building-Tips.com explains, the website is designed as a one-stop-shop for bodybuilders and fitness enthusiasts around the world:

“There are thousands of different fitness websites on the internet today. But only a handful of them have the kind of information offered by our website. Our site offers tips about all aspects of the bodybuilding lifestyle. From articles about the best bodybuilding supplements to a detailed explanation of the effects of certain foods on the body, we’ve designed our website to have it all – and it continues to grow every day.”

Meanwhile, at Insulin-Resistance-Diet.com, visitors will discover a different type of diet advice. The Insulin-Resistance-Diet.com website aims to help visitors reverse the effects of diabetes with the help of 1,001 low-carb recipes. These recipes are specifically designed to overcome the body’s resistance to insulin, reducing the effects of diabetes and helping to stabilize blood sugar levels.

An Insulin-Resistance-Diet.com spokesperson explains how an average insulin resistance diet works:

“Insulin resistance diets keep daily intake of carbohydrates very low. They use small meal sizes and include high quality fats and oils into the diet. Each recipe is also designed to be a complete meal. By following this diet plan for brief periods of time, those who suffer from diabetes or pre-diabetes can experience healthier blood sugar levels.”

About Quick-Muscle-Building-Tips.com and Insulin-Resistance-Diet.com
Quick-Muscle-Building-Tips.com and Insulin-Resistance-Diet.com are a pair of websites devoted to sharing fitness and diet tips with visitors. Quick Muscle Building Tips offers information about bodybuilding health and supplements, while Insulin Resistance Diet explains how a low carb diet can reduce the body’s resistance to insulin. For more information, please visit: http://www.quick-muscle-building-tips.com or http://insulin-resistance-diet.com

Fitness geek or no, sometimes it is just downright amazing to see what the guys who compete in the Mr Olympia competitions have created.

One of these guys is Phil Heath – a two time winner of the competition and has shared with us some of his favorite mancation movies as well as a peak behind the scenes regarding his favorite cars.

 

I would imagine you travel a bunch while competing, what is your favorite city to visit?

FLORENCE, ITALY (FIRENZE) for sure, as the food was awesome, the art was amazing and the people were very nice. I love their fashion sense too, not to mention cars [Ferrari].

If you were planning the ULTIMATE guys trip with a bunch of your buddies, where would you go and what would you do?

LAS VEGAS, NV for sure as its SIN CITY and that means what happens in Vegas, ends up on Facebook haha. I’d go to either the Encore Towers or Aria and get the best Villa there was that had everything a guy needs (DJ’s, spa, even maybe a basketball court). I’d go to SW in The Wynn for Dinner, have some Macallan 18 maybe 25yr, some steaks and then go to XS Nightclub, throw some money around on bottle service.

I’d get everyone up the next day and get us into some fighter jets and do some Top Gun stuff as yes people, Vegas has this available. I’d later play some blackjack and then go see a show, probably a comedy because hey, it’s a guy thing and seeing the Lion King is for when I’m with the Misses. Renting exotic cars in addition to maybe working on our marksmanship with some cool firearms in the desert wouldn’t be bad either. Can’t forget the Beach Club action, as its always cool to watch everyone party it up hungover lol.

While traveling, what are some tips you can share with guys to keep fit?

Always contact your hotel and check out their gym, as some have decent equipment and some will even have rooms that will accommodate by having equipment inside your own suite. Make sure if they don’t to recommend a gym nearby and always ask if they provide free guest passes. Make sure to watch your alcohol intake, in addition to desserts because most trips end up at the snack bar and late night room service. I usually bring some whey protein with me, but if that’s not your thing then try going low carb past 7pm. If you indulge a bit, make sure to stay hydrated and hit the treadmill first thing in the morning, as it will help jumpstart your day and make you ready to conquer that presentation, meet greet, etc.

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What was it like filming the new movie Generation Iron that you have coming out this year?

Filming Generation Iron was a blast, as it was my first big time motion picture I’ve been in. To be a part of such a project like its predecessor, Pumping Iron was, I couldn’t help but to get amped up to kill some weights and show the world my journey in retaining my title as the best bodybuilder in the world. Knowing that I was the king of the mountain and having all of these awesome athletes coming after me, talking smack, posing a threat to my title was a great test for me. I learned how to have a greater sense of urgency with my abilities to push myself harder inside and outside the gym. I am very fortunate to be bodybuilding’s best and to have my legacy along with others’ filmed for a worldwide audience that will definitely get people pumped! I hope that our audience will grasp a hold of one or more of the characters in the movie, as behind all of the hardcore muscle, there are great human beings with daily issues that I’m sure others can relate to.

From the trailer, it looks like you have quite a nice car collection. Which is your favorite?

Cars for me have always been a passion as growing up looking at them in magazines, to building model cars, drawing sketches to finally earning some. Each of my current cars have different characteristics, so its tough.

My 2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT is my big boy toy with 26″ wheels, custom grilles, over 5000watts in the stereo system, yes it’ll shake your eyeballs lol. Not to mention the Custom Interior and with a Supercharger, intercooler, high flow cats and sports exhaust it’s definitely gonna sound like a monster!

I have a 2012 S550 Mercedes that’s white with pano black room and matching custom 22″ Asanti Wheels where the spokes match the roof, while the lips are deep dish white matching the exterior. No other custom stuff as this is my cruiser, yet for some reasons still turns heads.

Lastly we have my 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports which for those that think owning a Bentley is an old dudes car, please, as this 2 door coupe packs over 621hp and will go 0-60 in 3.5s. This is definitely my fav because I always wanted to own a true exotic by the time I was 30 and I was able to do so. This car reminds me that hard work, dedication, making good investments and always willing to learn from mistakes and success will yield such pleasures.

Health Tips:

Not all milk is created equal

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Milk, high in proteins and calcium, is beneficial to muscle and bone maintenance. Casein and whey are a couple of the most prevalent proteins found in milk. These two proteins are very beneficial in rebuilding muscles after being active, according to BodyBuilding.com.

With adequate calcium consumption, the rate of bone loss can be slowed, based on a study conducted by Jasminka Z. Ilich, PhD, RD, and Jane E. Kerstetter, PhD, RD at the University of Connecticut, School of Allied Health.

Casein benefits teeth as well as muscles by inhibiting the bacteria that cause cavities from sticking to the surface of teeth, according to GotMilk.com.

What kinds of milk do UCC students drink?

One Percent Milk
21

Rice Milk
0

Soy Milk
5

Almond Milk
11

Other Milk
5

Rice Milk

Rice milk is low in fat, cholesterol and sugar; however, rice milk is low in most nutrients. The only nutrients that rice milk has an abundance of are carbohydrates. Since rice milk lacks many nutrients, it is not beneficial but it is an option for those who have intolerances to dairy and soy.

Soy Milk

Soy milk is high in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, which are healthy fats.  These fats can help lower bad cholesterol (low density lipoproteins), and can raise good cholesterol (high density lipoproteins), according to fitday.com. A balance of the lipid types can prevent heart disease and heart attack.

Soy milk has less sugar than regular milk, making it a better choice for weight loss. There is also no cholesterol in soy milk.

A plant hormone, phytoestrogen, is present in soy milk and can be beneficial, especially for men. This hormone can reduce the production of testosterone, which can help reduce the risk of prostate cancer, according to fitday.com.

Soy milk, like regular milk, is high in calcium and protein, which is equally beneficial for bone and muscle health.

Almond Milk

Almond milk is lower in calories, fat and sugar than regular milk. In a one cup serving, it also has about 15 percent more of the Recommended Daily Value of calcium than regular milk does. It has 10 percent of the DV for vitamin A, 25 percent of the DV for vitamin D and 50 percent of the DV for vitamin E. The vitamin A helps to maintain eye health. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of vitamin C. Vitamin E helps prevent diseases with its antioxidant characteristic. Almond milk is also the only milk that provides a source of fiber.

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1% Milk

• High in bad fats
• High in cholesterol
• High in sugar

Rice Milk

• No protein
• High in carbohydrates
• High in calories

Soy Milk

• Added sweeteners can lead to weight gain
• Phytic acid can block the absorption of certain nutrients

Almond Milk

• Low in protein
• High in sodium

So you’re keen to transform your body into a lean, mean calorie-burning machine by summer? Then perhaps it’s time to spring clean your diet. Tosca Reno, well-known Canadian fitness guru and New York Times bestselling author of the popular Eat-Clean Diet series, offers Keeping Fit readers the following timely nutrition tips and tricks:

Ditch sugar.

In his bodybuilding heyday, Arnold Schwarzenegger wisely referred to the sweet, granulated substance as “white death.” Reno, widow of MuscleMag founder and publishing magnate Robert Kennedy, acknowledges that shirking sugar is no easy task — especially for anyone with a sweet tooth. But the 53-year-old resident of Caledon Hills, Ont., tells Sun Media that she doesn’t allow herself any “wiggle room” when it comes to sugar and its many impersonators.

Parkersburg, WV, May 16, 2013 –(PR.com)– Nutrition Pit has just announced they have released a web series on YouTube to provide supplement and fitness advice to their customers and other interested viewers. Nutrition Pit specializes in offering a wide range of supplements, protein bars, GASP bodybuilding clothing and many other products and accessories that enhance results in the gym.

The YouTube video series includes titles such as, “Nutrition Pit Supplement Series: Episode one,” and “Nutrition Pit Morgantown Sales Highlights.” The store has also recently added an Arnold Classic 2013 sneak peak video. These broadcasts are intended to provide high quality information, to educate customers on the supplements that they are interested in, by explaining their benefits and how to take doses for the best results. This is beneficial for anyone from the novice weight lifter that needs to learn everything he can about supplements, to the seasoned pro that is looking for the next best thing to help break through a plateau.

Nutrition Pit is committed to adding value to their store and service by providing free educational tips and videos. The store also writes a blog and is known for their helpful and knowledgeable approach to assisting customers with finding the supplements and products that are right for their needs and goals. Anyone interested in a new bodybuilding supplement can visit the store or shop online and speak with one of Nutrition Pit’s representatives.

Nutrition Pit sells a wide variety of supplements and apparel for body builders and athletes. These supplements help to maximize the effort in the gym, in between workouts. Customers can find a wide selection of supplements and GASP bodybuilding clothing through searches and categories. The team at Nutrition Pit is always available to answer questions and make recommendations to help achieve the best physique and health for their customers.

Nutrition Pit can be contacted directly with questions and enquiries about their products, including GASP bodybuilding clothing.

Contact:
Nutrition Pit Supplement Store
206 Lakeview Center
Parkersburg, WV 26101
(304) 916-1839

To find out more about Nutrition Pit and their video series visit, http://www.nutrition-pit.com/

So you’re keen to transform your body into a lean, mean calorie-burning machine by summer? Then perhaps it’s time to spring clean your diet. Tosca Reno, well-known Canadian fitness guru and New York Times bestselling author of the popular Eat-Clean Diet series, offers readers the following 10 timely nutrition tips and tricks:

 

Canadian fitness guru Tosca Reno has some tips for cleaning up your diet this spring. (Sun Media News Services)

1. Ditch sugar.

In his bodybuilding heyday, Arnold Schwarzenegger wisely referred to the sweet, granulated substance as “white death.” Reno, widow of MuscleMag founder and publishing magnate Robert Kennedy, acknowledges that shirking sugar is no easy task — especially for anyone with a sweet tooth. But the 53-year-old resident of Caledon Hills, Ont., says that she doesn’t allow herself any “wiggle room” when it comes to sugar and its many impersonators.

“Sugar and sugar-like foods — including processed foods, which act like sugar in the body — have been linked to a variety of diseases and health issues, including inflammation, diabetes, immune suppression, liver fatigue and even some cancers,” she says. “Once you learn to avoid sugar, your cravings will stop and you will be well on your way to optimum health.”

 

2. Eat 5-6 small meals a day.

That amounts to eating every three hours or so, which, Reno explains, stimulates metabolism while staving off hunger pangs. “Just make sure these meals are comprised of clean foods and contain a combination of lean protein and complex carbohydrates,” she notes.

And that segues nicely into the next tip.

 

3. Eat lean protein and complex carbs at each meal.

Excellent sources of protein include chicken, salmon and beans, while whole grains, fresh fruits and veggies are rich in complex carbs. For more examples, check out Reno’s book The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged, or visit EatCleanDiet.com.

 

4. Don’t skip any meals!

That goes especially for breakfast. Skipping meals not only leads to binging, warns Reno, but it also slows down metabolism.

And cut the excuses.

“Don’t tell me you’re in a hurry!” she notes. “Even when I have a 5:30 a.m. call time, I just throw a few items in my NutriBullet (blender) and I’ve got a healthy smoothie that I can drink on the go.”

 

5. Eat whole foods.

Avoid foods that are processed, chemically charged and loaded with artificial ingredients or preservatives. Chemicals aren’t nutrition, says Reno. “They’re addictive,” she notes, “they don’t satisfy your hunger and they will eventually make you sick.”

 

6. Drink two to three litres of water per day.

Good ol’ H2O comes with a laundry list of benefits. Water, according to Reno, flushes out toxins and waste, increases your metabolism, helps your body assimilate vitamins, minerals and macronutrients, and it keeps you full and less likely to reach for calorie-laden juices and sodas. “I recently discovered the SodaStream, which I love because I can make carbonated water and clean drinks in minutes,” she adds.

 

7. Don’t supersize!

A good rule of thumb is to use your hands as measuring tools, Reno says.

Here’s how it works:

• One serving of lean protein should fit in the palm of your hand.

• One serving of leafy greens should fit in two open hands cupped together.

• One serving of denser veggies (such as beets and Brussels sprouts) should fit in one open hand.

• One serving of whole grains should fit in one cupped hand.

 

8. Eat good fats.

Make sure you eat two or three servings of healthy fats per day, Reno advises. Sources include nut butters and avocado, as well as coconut, olive, flaxseed and pumpkin oils.

“Healthy fats fill you up, keep your hormones flowing, help stoke your metabolic rate and keep your brain functioning properly,” adds Reno.

 

9. Carry a cooler.

This is all about setting yourself up for success. “Packing a day’s worth of healthy eats and having them within arm’s reach is the best way to ensure that you will be sticking to your plan,” Reno explains. “In other words, you won’t be making impromptu trips to the drive-thru to quell hunger pangs.”

 

10. Plan and prep!

Pick a day — Sunday is a good one — to plan and prepare batches of food to eat during the week. “This means slicing up veggies, cooking hardboiled eggs and roasting chicken or making a big batch of chili. There are some really exciting gadgets out there that make it very easy to make healthy food. I love cooking up a batch of sweet potato fries in the ActiFry, a healthy ‘frying’ gadget that you can find at Canadian Tire,” she says. “With a good attitude and the right tools, preparing healthy foods can be a fun process the whole family can get involved in!”

— GLENN COOK, St. Albert Leader

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