Superslow Resistance Training

 

Superslow Resistance Training

 

Superslow is a form of resistance training which involves a very slow speed of lifting and lowering the weight. A superslow workout typically consists of one set of each exercise with very slow lifting and lowering speeds, for example, a 10 second lifting phase followed by a 10 second lowering phase, or as the technique has been varied, a 10 second lifting phase followed by a 4 second lowering phase, or 15 second lifting followed by a 15 second lowering phase. One possible advantage of superslow training is that it involves less momentum, resulting in a more evenly applied muscle force throughout the range of motion. Physiologically, using a slower speed protocol requires the activation of more muscle fibers and an increase in the frequency of firing in order to maintain a force necessary to lift a given workload. Some research indicates that superslow produces superior results to traditional methods and maybe a plateau breaker. Slow reps may be a benefit to those working injuries or a condition the requires extra caution. 

Conclusion, superslow training versus traditional strength training, both training methods demonstrate significant increases in strength, since variety of resistance training stimulus is an important aspect of training design, perhaps incorporating both of these methods is an option. 

Try it! Have a great day!

Amy

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Perfect Parts

  

Perfect Parts: 
A Guide to Muscle Development

This is from a book I read years ago that got me into weight training. I found it very helpful to have an idea of what to expect. I summarized some great info about each muscle and their development. Results depend on a lot of things: your present condition, your age, your previous involvement in physical activities, your diet, your metabolism, your enthusiasm, and most important your commitment. 

However, everyone who follows a weight training program will see results. The time range varies for each body part from one to six months. 

This information is based on a routine that consists of about 5 exercises, 3 sets each, for each part (except for biceps and triceps 3 exercises) done 2-3 times a week, or every other day. I hope you find this helpful like I did. Even as your routine may vary, I still believe this is helpful information.

Chest: In terms of speed of development, the pectoral muscles are usually somewhere in the middle. They neither jump into shape nor do they lag behind. Expect to feel an uplifting tightness after a few workouts and to see some visible results between three weeks and two months.

Shoulders:The deltoids are among the first muscles to show development on most. You can expect to see something happening as early as 3 to 6 weeks, but you'll feel something immediately, after your first few workouts. They are relatively small muscles and if you're not used to working them, they may be unusually sore for the first few weeks. Don't let that worry you. It's normal and it's a good sign.

Back: The back, especially the latissimus dorsi, develops slower than most other body parts. You will see some development of the smaller muscles of your back within three months, but it may take longer before you notice lat development. You will notice one thing much sooner. In about 3 weeks there will be an immediate improvement in your posture. Your shoulders will be less rounded, and you'll sit and walk with your head up. The process of development will have begun to make a noticeable difference, even though you may not see more muscle yet.
 
Biceps: The biceps is a small muscle and is quickly stimulated. You should see some development in about 3 to 6 weeks.

Triceps: The triceps often take a bit longer than most muscles to develop. You should see results anywhere between 2 and 5 months, but your triceps will feels tighter after your very first workout.

Abs: If you are not more than 5 pounds overweight, you should begin to see some ab development after about 2 months. In 4 months you'll see definition beginning to form, and in six months you'll begin to feel that natural girdle of sculpted muscle building up underneath your stomach.You'll be able to hold your stomach in without much effort. In a year you'll have a perfectly formed, sensual abdominal area.

Buttocks and Hip Muscles: It takes a while to see results in the hip-buttocks area. While you can count on seeing some results in 3 months, don't expect reshaped buttocks until at least 6 months. It may take as long as a year. Since fat likes to accumulate there, if you are overweight, chances are it will take a little longer. But as the fat melts away you will see a newly reshaped, uplifted buttocks.

Thigh Muscles: The thighs, front and back, defy exercise in the beginning stages, or at least they seem to. You will work on your legs for weeks before you see much results, then suddenly you'll notice some changes. It may even take 3 months before you see any progress at all, but once you do you'll see continual development. Then it's only a matter of time until you begin to notice some definition. In six months everyone should see some major changes. It should become easier and easier with time.

Calf Muscles: The calf muscle is one of the easier muscles for development. You will probably see them beginning to take shape in a month or two.

I encourage you to weight train to reshape your body.

You will see worthwhile results!

Have a great day!

Amy

 reference: Perfect Parts by Rachel McLish

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Explaining your body and brain on sugar...

Sugar is the leading food additive in the U.S. food supply and is making us sugar junkies. Sugar, not fat, is the leading cause of obesity in the United States.

Sugar isn't just bad nutrition; it's health damaging nutrition. The body actually has to borrow from its stores of nutrients in order to process it. Sugar literally eats up the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. This depresses your immune system, and that's way sugar can make you sick.

Your brain on sugar...

When you eat refined sugar, it goes straight to your intestines, bypassing any chemical breakdown in your body. From the intestines, it's absorbed right into the bloodstream. Your blood glucose level spikes fast. Your brain registers this sugar hit with a drug-like reaction. Sugar triggers the release of the same natural brain opioids released when shooting heroin, which are associated with positive feelings as pleasure, energy, and euphoria. That release makes most people feel good, but it makes sugar addicted people feel absolutely high. And when sugar is taken away, you get the same withdrawal signs and changes in brain chemistry. When you are addicted to sugar, you need more to feel better. And I don't just mean candy and cookies, also carbohydrates that are quickly converted to sugar, such as bagels, breads, croutons, rolls, cracker, cereals, and more! 

Your body on sugar... 
Their rapid conversion to sugar causes a corresponding hike in insulin. High insulin prevents the breakdown of body fat. Excess sugar wreaks havoc on every organ in the body. Initially it's stored in the liver in the form of glycogen. When the liver's storage capacity gets maxed out, glycogen is expelled in the forms of fatty acids. These travel to every part of the body and lodge themselves into our fatty areas, the belly, hips, butt, breasts and thighs. After these areas are filled, the remaining fatty acids get dealt out to the major organs, including the heart and kidneys. Fat nestles there, releasing toxic chemicals that damage the arteries, blood vessels, and organs. Sugar also causes a sluggish metabolism and adds worthless calories. Sugar is quickly metabolized as fat and prevents the body from knowing it's full. This is why you can sit down with a box of cookies or chips and eat them until they're gone. And guess what else? It ages your skin and causes wrinkles. Eating sugar attacks collagen and elastin, that make your skin look young. Sugar actively ages you. Ditching sugar will make you look and feel years younger!

Refined sugar is technically sucrose, or common table sugar. The other sugars to be aware of include dextrose (corn sugar), fructose (fruit sugar), maltose (malt sugar), and lactose (milk sugar).

A quick tip before you go: A key to weight loss: 5 grams of sugar or less in foods does not register in the body, meaning this amount does not cause insulin spikes and drops. Also most fruits release their sugar relatively slowly into the bloodstream, meaning that they are less likely to disrupt the blood sugar balance. Although the sugars in fruit juice are released more quickly because they are the concentrated forms of fruit sugars like those in dried fruits, so they do have the potential to impact blood sugar levels.

I hope this clears up any questions you have about sugar. 

To stay healthy is to stay informed! 

Have a great day! Amy 

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 reference: "This Is Why You're Fat (And How to Get Thin Forever)" book by Jackie Warner

 

For those frustrated in calorie land...

 

This is for anybody who is frustrated about counting calories for fat loss. If counting calories works for you, then keep counting. But if you are frustrated with the counting, the weighing, and the measuring, let me give you some reasons to stop counting. 

• Calorie counting is treating your body like it's a checkbook! It's not just calories in, calories out, that determines your weight. That's not how it's meant to be! Your body is a body! Your body is not a checking account!
• Counting calories limits not only bad food, but also limits healthy food. For example, I don't feel that fruit and vegetables should be limited at all. They are already very low calorie and there you are measuring and weighing every little thing, every strawberry, cucumber, carrot, or piece of celery...really?!... But if you are eating bad food or fast food, then yes, I would count those calories.
• Calorie counting does not take into account quality food. It is so important to eat quality food. Quality food determines your energy level, how hormones react, insulin levels, how your skin looks, muscle toning or building muscle, your thyroid, liver functioning, to name a few. If you are eating low quality food, and are eating toxins that your liver has to detoxify, it will cause metabolic issues. Low quality food will make you hungrier and you get tired and your hormones are all screwed up.
• In calorie land, you don't eat when your body tells you to because you have reached your calorie limit. When you eat quality foods, you body is centered and balanced and nature gives your body the ability to know when it needs food and how much. Your tastes buds for example, when you eat a piece of fruit, it tastes very sweet and your body knows you don't need too much, but some.
• Calorie counting disconnects you from awareness of how your body feels when you eat. You get calorie tunnel vision! Instead, you should be paying attention to the way foods make you feel, for example, do you feel energized, groggy, bloated, satisfied or hungrier after you eat a certain food? Have more physical awareness!

The way I do it, I don't completely ignore calories, but I don't count calories.  If you eat quality 'clean" foods, you probably won't need to either. I hope this is helpful!  
Remember, your body is not a checkbook. I promise!

Have a great day! ~ Amy

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Stop being terrified of carbs!...

Eating good carbs makes you thin, not fat!

The fact is, carbohydrates make up the largest portion of the best fat burning diets! When a lot of people think of carbs they think of bread in any form, but there are good carbs and good carbs will make you thin, not fat. There are two types of carbs, fast digesting carbs and slow digesting carbs. Slow digesting carbs will help you lose weight.

Slow digesting carbs are natural and you find them in fruit, veggies, beans, brown or wild rice, and grains high in fiber, such as whole grains, sprouted grain breads and oatmeal. Carbohydrates are muscle and brain fuel. They should make up the largest portion of your diet. The slow digesting carbs slow down insulin levels, meaning your blood sugars remain pretty normal and not causing insulin spikes that cause weight gain.
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Fast digesting carbs are man made. They are found in breads, white rice, cereals, rice cakes, and fruit juices. Avoid carbs that are processed. Fast digesting carbs increase blood sugar levels, which releases insulin, which can make you gain weight.

If your diet too low in carbs, you will feel tired or moody and have difficulty concentrating. Your body will be soft and untoned because you won't be able to build muscle and shape properly. If you eat a slow digesting fruit right after your workout, the sugar in that fruit rushes to muscles to help them replenish lost glycogen, the fuel your muscle runs on. Starchy carbs, such as legumes, brown rice, oatmeal, and most grains that are whole, sweet potatoes or yams, potatoes, rice, kidney beans and corn, are super loaded with fiber, which dilutes toxic agents in the bowel, and  moves fat out of your body before it has time to get stored.  

Make sure you eat your good carbs! My next blog will be about protein coming soon! 

 Have a great day!

Amy

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