Binx’s BodyBlog

I’ve kind of drifted away from updating my bb for awhile now (about a month) not for horrible reasons but for more of the fact that I became really busy.

However, I still stuck to my routine and switching it up a bit here and there and cheer has kept me actively participating– and school has kept me busy.

I am delighted to say that I am back and will post progress pics and blogs within the next several weeks; along with adding some short term goals; as well as continuously working on my goal to have phenomenal power, speed and strength.

I saw this new product produced by a company that I really like the protein powder from. As advertised it said it would increase heat shock proteins (things that fold protein) to help continuous muscle growth.

I decided to try it. After about two weeks this is what I noticed:

-I got extremely sore all of a sudden I really had no idea what I could have done differetly to cause it but it was like this for several days at a time (I am not 100% sure if its related).

-I also broke out in a sweat fairly quickly.

-Increased definition; but not much weight gain (1lb maybe?).

-Some increase in lifting heavier weight and endurance.

 I thought I would post this because after hearing about it and reading up on it, I still had no great gods of an idea what the stuff really did.

Thrive happy!

 Okay I know talking about this at my age is a little redundant; but with little effort and little to no cash, you can boost your youth and physically seem younger too!

First is of course the obvious is exercise. While cardiovascular exercise and weight training is important, one exercise in paticular is golden. The exercise in question is a squat (or leg press). It should be done first, in all your workouts (at least one exercise). Research shows that doing squats or leg presses can greatly increase "youth hormones" or increased growth hormones which help with mood and rebuilding of tissues. While fascinating, the military has found this as interest in staying younger but believe it moves a step further into the powerhouses of our cells: Mitochondria, which help energize our bodies. If they can do some research to get these things to feed off of the fat in our bodies, we could become stronger, faster and naturally younger too!

Diet is also extremely important. Examine everything you consume and the ingredients inside. Do you drink a lot of soda? Red meats? not enough greens and color? The more colorful your diet and possible multivitamin/mineral supplement can make sure your skin, body and mind will have a lasting glow!

Be active and play! Go learn! Do something different (i.e. dance, hula hoop, volunteer with animals or kids, hike, meditate). Your mind and emotional state also play a great affect on your body. Psychological data suggests that your thoughts and emotions can affect how you look to others? So remember to give yourself a little R&R too!

The sun….hs to be a big one here. Always wear some kind of sunscreen! However, some heliotherapy may be beneficial to your skin’s appearance.

I hope this is taken maturely but frequent sex, as research shows, can also help keep the body young and vibrant. Great excuse right? (remember to be safe).

I have followed these tips mentioned above for a couple months now and people asked if I was still in high school solely based on my appearance. Even at bars I have to show several I.D.’s before they let me in (maybe not so much a good thing but funny, yes?)

So go out there and thrive happy!

     Catabolism is the breakdown of complex molecules into simple ones; often to release energy. Large molecules such as lipids, amino acids and proteins. For body builders and athletes this can sometimes be a ‘bad’ thing. If muscle is not worked and/or supplied with adequate nutrition the body will catabolize it within 72 hours. Muscle is very taxing to the body in terms of energy so it breaks it down when its not needed (that’s why muscle breaks down faster than fat). The body does this because it’s integral to our evolutionary survival. For Hardgainers this is no exception.

However,  there are a few solutions to combat this:

- Your diet can play a big role in how our bodies store and use energy. By calculation your caloric needs based on your levels of fitness you should be able to supply your body with adequate and balanced nutrition. http://www.mypyramid.gov is great way to help people calculate, tailor and educate their dietary needs. Another thing you should look into is eating smaller amounts to about 6 to 7 times a day. Not only does this help with portion control and help maintain a healthy weight but it also ‘tricks’ the body to metabolize what its given instead of catabolizing itself (i.e. muscle breakdown).

- Water is also important. It helps regulate and provide proper support to all of your bodily functions.

- Vitamins and amino acid supplements may be important if your exercise is using more of these than what you consume. These supplements can support your immune system, recovery time, overall muscle growth and quality. Be sure to check the label on the bottle if the vitamin supplements are lab tested to dissolve because some products may pass right through your colon without being absorbed.

- Protein is a biggie here. There are three different kinds of proteins available on the market that are widely used: Soy, Casein and Whey. Soy is a potein often used to help loose weight and research shows that it promotes growth hormone levels; Casein is a slow digesting protein which is great for pre-workouts; and Whey is a fast digesting protein which is great for post-workouts (it helps by sending the nutrients fast to recovering muscle tissues within 60 minutes of your workout). Most protein products now come in a powder form that can be added or made into a shake for easy consumption. Protein powders such as MuscleMilk or ProNos are a good choice (they can be a bit pricey [a great investment though] so if you cannot afford them right away, some grocery stores and even walmart offer some cheap selections).

- Lastly, you may want to look into a NO supplement. Nitric Oxide has very important functions in human muscle tissue: it supports muscle contraction, hemodilation (increase nutrient and oxygen uptake to muscle tissue), promote muscle mass, prevents muscle breakdown (whoo hoo!) and prevents inflammation. Now, your body already has certain levels of NO present and is increased with light forms of exercise. However, in more intensifying workouts NO levels drop. These supplements are generally safe to use but if you are thinking about using them in training for a sport make sure to check if the product is NSF certified to ensure quality and that they can be used during the sports season. NO products (i.e. NO2, NO-explode, NO2 Black Powder, etc.) can be found at any GNC or other nutritional store.

All bodies are different and respond differently in the efforts to grow muscle and maintain a healthy weight.

Live happy and thrive!!

**Remember to always check with your doctor and nutritionist before changing or starting any diet and/or supplements. Do your own research and be responsible.

 Do you remember a hula hoop when you were younger? Did you know that same instrument used to entertain can also be used for aerobic exercise? (Yeah you probably did) Anywho, what’s great is even for those who could never do it, there are hula hoops that are weighted with water; not only does this make hula hooping easier but the little extra weight make it great for your core and endurance. It targets the abdominals, the obliques, your waist, even some parts of your back and legs! (These Hula hoops can be found at any toystore, Target, or Walmart for puchase).

 I have done hula hooping professionally and in my spare time for well over a year now! Practicing twice a week for about 2 hours at a time (no joke!!) has transformed my core into a lean and strong part of my body!

Depending on your level of fitness try for at least 30 minutes 2 to 3 times a week and work from there; Pump up your favorite music and your on your way to a strong core.

 Minor note: To get the most out of your workout, the heavier hula hoops also enable you to move (i.e. walk, run, spin, squat etc.) while in action. Try these and suppplement them to your hula hoop routine.

 Best wishes on a thriving you!