Naturally, most men are on a “Six Pack Quest” where they would like to develop really ripped abs. Not only will this boost their confidence with the opposite sex, but having a six pack will do a lot for their sense of accomplishment and pride.

How Your Six Pack Quest Works

Your Six Pack Quest by Vince Del Monte aims to help men develop ripped, six-pack abs. This thorough program spans from beginner to expert levels.  It provides a step-by-step progression for your diet to be effective as well since diet always plays an integral part in any body sculpting routine.

Your Six Pack Quest also comes with a 16-week, 3-day metabolic boost fat loss program, a motivation plan, a weight training, cardio, meal, supplement and a lifestyle plan.

Your Six Pack Quest comes with:

1. No-Nonsense Muscle Building e-book
2. No-Nonsense Muscle Building DVD
3. Hard Gainers 84-day Mass Meals Plans
4. 29-week Beginner’s Program
5. 29-week Advanced Program
6. Upside down training
7. No-nonsense Virtual Trainer
8. The Supplement Watch Files
9. Unlimited lifetime updates
10. iPod Audio Program
11. 84-day cheap/veggie MASS meal plans

Your Six Pack Quest is recommended for both men and women who would like to take advantage of a unique program which specifically aims to develop your abdominal area. With the step-by-step muscle building meal plan and a solid workout program, there’s no doubt that this is the best abs workout system in the market today.

Finally, there’s a full 8-week money back guarantee, so you can rest assured that you will be getting the best value and security for your purchase.

Share/Bookmark

Who Is No Nonsense Muscle Building For?

The No Nonsense Muscle Building program is for anyone that is looking to build any kind of muscle. This program is for both males and females as it includes comprehensive versions for both sexes.

It does not matter if you are looking to build the bulky muscle, build the lean muscle, build the bulky muscles but stay somewhat lean, build the totally ripped muscles, build the “athlete type” muscles, build the “model type” muscles, or even any kind of muscle building that includes fat burning – No Nonsense Muscle Building has it all – for both men and women.

No Nonsense Private Muscle Building Member Zone:

This section consists of a members only forum where you are able to ask questions and get more information on health in general.  The section of the forum include the following:

- No Nonsense Muscle Building & Fitness Section [which includes]:

Beginners Questions & Tips, Muscle Building Workouts & NNMB Program Questions, Which program should you be using?, Muscle Building Program Reviews, Exercises, Over 40′s Fitness, Fitness For Females

- No Nonsense Fat Loss & Fitness Section [which includes]:

Fat Loss Workouts & YSPQ Program Questions, Fat Loss Programs Reviews, Body Weight Training, Cardio Training, Bulking\Cutting

- Fueling The Temple Section [which includes]:

Muscle Building Nutrition, Fat Loss Nutrition, Supplements, Recipes

- Private Member Stuff Section [which includes]:

Weekly Polls, Critique My Workout, Critique My Physique, Critique My Diet, Member Training Journal, 12 Week Transformation Contestants [win a $1,000]

- Meet At The Bar Section [which includes]:

Introduce Yourself, General Chat

No Nonsense Muscle Building DVD

1 – Getting Started With Vince
2 – NNMB DVD Intro
3 – Goal Setting
4 – Nutrition
5 – Upside Down Training
6 – Stretching
7 – 29 Week Part 1
8 – 29 Week Part 2
9 – 29 Week Part 3
10 – Body Fat & Measuring
11 – Workout 1
12 – Workout 2
13 – Success Stories
14 – Closing Comments
15 – Affiliate Program

Men’s No Nonsense Muscle Building EBook

Chapter 1: Top 14 Mistakes To Avoid Before You Even Start Training

Chapter 2: The Top 12 Bodybuilding Myths

Chapter 3: How To Build Muscle

Chapter 4: Recovery Methods – How To Accelerate Recovery

Chapter 5: Maximizing Hormonal Responses For Maximum Muscle Growth & Maximal Fat Loss

Chapter 6: Explosive Fat Burning Secrets

Chapter 7: Massive Eating & Nutrition

Chapter 8: Making Sense Of Supplementation – Use Them Wisely

Chapter 9: Injury Prevention & Avoiding The Causes

Chapter 10: No Nonsense Maximum Growth Program

Women’s No Nonsense Muscle Building EBook

Chapter 1: Top 14 Mistakes To Avoid Before You Even Start Training

Chapter 2: The Top 12 Body Shaping Myths

Chapter 3: How To Develop Attractive Curves

Chapter 4: Recovery Methods – How To Accelerate Recovery

Chapter 5: Maximizing Hormonal Responses For Ramping Up Your Metabolism & Getting A Lean, Sexy Figure

Chapter 6: Explosive Fat Burning Secrets

Chapter 7: Satisfying Eating Strategies For Optimal Health & Fat Loss

Chapter 8: Making Sense Of Supplementation – Choose Them Wisely

Chapter 9: Injury Prevention & Avoiding The Causes

Chapter 10: No Nonsense Maximum Body Shaping Program

Men’s No Nonsense Fat Cutting EBook

Chapter 1: General Factors & Fat Loss

Chapter 2: The Fat Cutting Mind Set

Chapter 3: The Fat Cutting Diet

Chapter 4: The Fat Cutting Training Program

Chapter 5: The Fat Cutting Supplementation Program

Women’s No Nonsense Fat Cutting EBook

This is the women’s version of the ebook that focuses on fat burning, and this book also has some of the best fat burning methods, tools, diets, and workouts for women.  The exact information inside includes the following:

Chapter 1: General Factors & Fat Loss

Chapter 2: The Fat Cutting Mind Set

Chapter 3: The Fat Cutting Diet

Chapter 4: The Fat Cutting Training Program

Chapter 5: The Fat Cutting Supplementation Program

Men’s Upside Down Training

- Postural Imbalances

- Shoulder Stability

- Core Stability

- Flexibility Training

- Specialized Training

- Conditioning Program

Women’s Upside Down Training

- Postural Imbalances

- Shoulder Stability

- Core Stability

- Flexibility Training

- Specialized Training

- Conditioning Program

Men’s 29 Week Beginner-Intermediate Intensive Workout Program

Women’s 29 Week Beginner-Intermediate Intensive Workout Program

Men’s 29 Week Advanced Max Power Workout Program

Women’s 29 Week Advanced Max Power Workout Program

No Nonsense Muscle Building also comes with:

Men’s No Nonsense Muscle Building MP3 Audio
Women’s No Nonsense Muscle Building & Shaping MP3 Audio
Men’s: The Unforgivable Sins MP3 Audio
This is a 35 minute audio on the unforgivable sins of working out and eating habits.
Women’s: The Unforgivable Sins MP3 Audio
The Insane Virtual Exercise Demonstrator
Healthy Mass Meal Plans For Men & Women
- The Healthy Mass Plans 2000 [84 day - 2,000 calorie meal plan]
- The Healthy Mass Plans 3000 [84 day - 3,000 calorie meal plan]
- The Healthy Mass Plans 4000 [84 day - 4,000 calorie meal plan]
- The Healthy Mass Plans 5000 [84 day - 5,000 calorie meal plan]
- The Healthy Mass Plans 6000 [84 day - 6,000 calorie meal plan]

Share/Bookmark

This article is not meant for you if you want to learn the science behind the ion-exchanged, cross-mutaed, isotopically labeled protein tracers – blah blah blah. In this article, I will strip away all the hype, science, and confusion that surrounds protein powder. By the time you are through this article and put it to memory, you will become the resident protein powder expert and amaze your friends the next time you visit the sport nutrition store. No more 2-hour shopping trips for protein powder because you don’t really have a clue what to look for!

Is Protein Powder really necessary?

So, although protein supplements are not an absolute requirement for gaining mass, I have yet to meet any person able to get 400 grams of protein per day from cooking food. If your protein intake is greater than 200 grams per day I will suggest a protein powder – it will make your life a lot easier.

In addition, dollar for dollar, protein powders and meal replacement drinks tend to be more cost effective than whole food. Don’t get me wrong, though. Protein powders are still supplements in my book. Supplement means an addition to the diet. I emphasize this because the focus of any diet should be food. Whole food is often preferable to powders because it can offer a whole spectrum of nutrients that powders cannot.

Most of your dietary protein should come from meat, fish, poultry and eggs. However getting all your protein from whole food is not always practical or convenient, especially if you have to eat 6 or more times a day to get your required intake. I will stress to you, for optimal muscle gains, you should limit yourself to a maximum of three shakes per day or 40 % of your meals. To some this might even sound like it’s going ‘overboard’ and I would not disagree.

The bottom line is that both food and supplements are necessary to achieve a complete nutritional balance as well as the desired level of protein intake, especially if you’re not a big fan of cooking. And I assume that over 95% of you reading this do not have a personal maid at home cooking all your meals while you sit around waiting for your next meal. Do not make the fatal mistake of thinking protein powders can take the place of a solid training and nutrition program.

Does protein powder really work and are they healthy?

I get this question emailed to me almost every day. I just showed how it ‘works’ as a supplement to help you hit your supplemental protein mark but you are probably still wondering, ‘Yeah, but is protein powder going to help me get muscular or is it a scam?” A better question would be, “Does protein really work?” and the obvious answer is ‘yes.’ You are fully aware that protein is composed of building blocks called amino acids, which performs a variety of functions in the body such as building and maintaining healthy muscles when combined with diet and exercise. Protein also:

Supports red blood cell production

Boosts your immune system

Keeps your hair, fingernails, and skin healthy

However, not all protein powder is created equal. Most protein powder contains an array of questionable ingredients such as aspartame, saccharin, fructose and artificial colors. It’s interesting to note how unhealthy most of these protein powders actually are. Look for a protein powder with natural ingredients rather than products that are sweetened with chemicals and made with ingredients that are certainly not going to create an environment for muscle growth and fat burning.

Also avoid products with refined carbohydrates such as fructose, sucrose or brown rice syrup. Make sure that the product is made from a reputable company that is genuinely interested in good health. Unfortunately supplement manufacturers will continue to meet the demands of bodybuilding consumers with unknown crappy products because we buy it and it is cheaper for them to create. Do your homework by seeking out unbiased reviews, investigating the company’s history, and reputation. And then make a decision and take responsibility!

In the past one of my criteria for a healthy protein product was that it was great tasting and that it should mix easily. Most protein powders mix quite easily, even with a spoon, however I was disappointed to discover that taste will inevitably be sacrificed for a safe and healthy product. I can live with this. You see, once a product is removed of all artificial chemical sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose, and simple sugars, it is left almost tasteless and sometimes even gross.

How much protein powder do I need?

A better question would be, “How much pure protein do I need to achieve my goals?”

Protein is an extremely important macro nutrient and should be eaten frequently throughout the day. I recommend at least 1 to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of lean body mass. This means that if you are 150 pounds and 10% body fat (150 x 0.10 = 15 lbs of fat leaving 135 lbs of lean mass), you will require at least 135 to approximately 205 grams of protein per day.

I recommend that protein powder be used primarily for your pre-workout, workout and post-workout shake. This is when liquid food is more advantageous over whole food since it has a faster absorption rate.

I do not recommend protein powder do be used for meal replacements for more than two meals. Here is what a typical day might look like:

Meal 1 (breakfast) – whole food

Meal 2 (mid morning) – liquid protein meal

Meal 3 (lunch) – whole food

Meal 4 (mid afternoon) whole food

Meal 5 (pre and post workout) liquid protein meal

Meal 6 (dinner) whole food

Meal 7 (before bed) whole food

What kind of protein powder should I use?

Before deciding which protein powder is necessary, here is a short protein primer to help you make sense of the thousands of different protein powders from which to choose:

WHEY PROTEIN makes up 20% of total milk protein. Whey is recognized for its excellent amino acid profile, high cysteine content, rapid digestion, and interesting variety of peptides. Since it is very quickly digested the best time to consume it is before your workout, during your workout or immediately after your workout. These would be considered the phase in the day where you need energy the most and when your body is in anabolic state.

CASEIN PROTEIN makes up 80% of total milk protein. Casein is recognized for its excellent amino acid profile, slow digestive nature, and interesting variety of peptides. Since casein is slowly digested into your bloodstream, don’t use it during workouts or after workouts – you need a fast absorbing protein at these times. Instead, use a casein protein for all other times outside the pre and post workout window.

SOY PROTEIN is the most controversial of all protein types. While the soy groupies have gone to great lengths to label soy as a super food with magical effects, there is also a good amount of research that suggests soy protein may be contraindicated in many situations. BECAUSE OF ALL THE CONFUSION, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, I SUGGEST AVOIDING SOY PROTEIN ALTOGETHER AND STICKING TO THE OTHER TYPES LISTED.

Protein Blends are generally a combination of several types of protein blends such as whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, egg protein, casein protein, and soy protein.

Why would you want a blend anyway? You will receive the full spectrum of proteins and you will receive varying rates of absorption from the different types of protein. Using a blend will create an anabolic environment from the whey and an anti-catabolic environment from the casein – use this kind at any time of the day but NOT before or after a workout.

Whey hydrolysates (also known as hydrolyzed whey protein, and are also called peptides), are powerful proteins that are more quickly absorbed; more so than any other form, since your body prefers peptides to whole proteins. Hydrolysates are produced through very low heat, low acid and mild enzymatic filtration processes, (those highest in the essential and the branched chain amino acids) and are potentially the most anabolic for short-term protein synthesis such as the pre and post-workout window.

Whey Protein Versus Whey Isolate:

Most whey protein powders that stock the supplement shelves are made up of whey concentrate and mixed in with a small portion of whey isolate. Comparing the two, whey protein isolate is more expensive than whey protein concentrate because it has a higher quality (more pure) and a higher BV (biological value). Whey protein isolate contains more protein and less fat and lactose per serving. Most whey protein isolates contain 90-98% protein while whey concentrates contain 70-85% protein.

Whey protein isolate is the highest yield of protein currently available that comes from milk. Because of its chemical properties it is the easiest to absorb into your system. Obviously with its high concentration, it appears that an isolate protein would be the obvious choice instead of a concentrate. However, this is an individual decision because the isolate is more expensive, and just because it is purer does not guarantee that it will help build bigger muscles. Its extra concentration may not justify its extra cost.

SO WHAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE? WHICH SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

For the Pre-workout and Post-workout phases, as long as whey hydrolysate is the first or second ingredient on the supplement label then there is probably not enough in the product to influence protein synthesis to reap the optimal benefits. As stated, whey isolates are also a extremely high quality whey and for maximal anabolism isolates should be combined with whey hydrolysates for only the pre-workout and post-workout phases of your program. The inclusion of small amounts of whey concentrates will not harm you but this should not be the first ingredient on the tub of protein powder.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE STRONGEST PROTEIN POWDER TO EXPLOIT YOUR FULL GROWTH POTENTIAL DURING THE GROWTH AND RECOVERY PHASES (ANY TIME OTHER THAN PRE AND POST WORKOUT PERIOD) THEN USE A BLEND.

You will receive the full spectrum of proteins and you will receive varying rates of absorption from the different types of protein. Using a blend will create an anabolic environment from the whey and an anti-catabolic environment from the casein.

Conclusion

I hope this article familiarized you with the basics of protein powder and gave you a foundation to work from when deciding on your next order. Don’t get caught up in the hype and start becoming a more educated consumer when you take your next trip to the nutrition store. Now you can tell the sales rep exactly what you are looking for instead of staring blankly at the shelves without a clue!

Oh yeah, protein powder will help you get more jacked and attract the ladies, but it’s not going to do it in a ‘ultra short period of time’ with the simple addition to your diet.

———————————-

About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at http://www.VinceDelMonteFitness.com

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs, supplements and training less than before.

Share/Bookmark

The days are far from gone when you walk into the gym and see 9 out of 10 guys doing bicep curls all at the same time with the same determination to add even ¼ inch to their biceps.  Training biceps has become almost an ‘obsessive addiction’ in the gym.  I have seen guys do bicep curls in between sets just so they can ‘see’ a little bit of a pump in their arms.  I have seen guys spend an entire hour bent over doing concentration curls while starring in the mirror.  I have seen guys take weights on vacation so that they can do some bicep curls at their hotel before they go into the club!  I have seen guys spend longer amounts of times shopping for t-shirts than girls shopping for a blouse with the hope that one of these shirts will make his arms look ‘good.’

Someone disagree with me that bicep training has become an unhealthy ‘obsessive addiction.’ for many.  In the “Skinny Arms” defense, the allure of peaked, mountainous biceps will never go away.  Why should it?  The ‘guns’ are of a man’s most prized possession and one of many women’s most desired body parts on a man (of course)!

My question is if 9 out 10 guys are obsessed with seeing their biceps grow and dedicate so much of their workout volume to isolating their biceps and using every technique from forced reps, drop sets, and 21′s which are ‘promised’ to be the most effective methods confirmed by pro bodybuilders, why do they still have little to show for their efforts?

Let’s examine five of the most common problems with bicep training before I offer a step-by-step program to take your bicep peak to new heights.

Problem #1  with bicep training – More is not always better

If doing 4 sets is better than 3 sets, why don’t you just do 10 sets?  Even better, why don’t you just train them all day?  It has been said before, but it obviously needs to be said again: “Less is often more.”  Especially if you are not gifted with “muscle-friendly” genes.

Your goal of each weight training workout should be to simply ‘out do’ your last workout.  Once you achieve this with an extra pound or a few extra reps, then it is time to move to the next exercise.  Not to Nazi-torture the muscle for another hour.

I have found this a hard concept for many skinny guys to grasp because they are fixated on the instant gratification of making their biceps ‘look’ big during the workout and not what they look like when they leave the gym, which leads us to our next problem.

Problem #2 with bicep training – Being more obsessed with how they look while you train rather than when you are not training!

Problem #2 ties in with problem #1.  The truth is that the longer you train your biceps, even if the weights are not extremely heavy, you can achieve a fairly decent pump that can turn a few heads while in the gym.  This attention and perception that you are doing something beneficial is deceiving.  Yes, there is something to say about keeping blood in the muscle as long as possible, but if the workout is done with weights that do not overload your muscles and emphasize an increase in strength, your biceps will quickly deflate back to normal with no true muscle growth.

Problem #3 with bicep training – Not focusing on increasing your overall strength

Some of the biggest guys I know rarely even train their arms.  What they do though is put a strong emphasis around increasing their chest, back and shoulder strength.  If you simply focus on increasing the weights on your rows, pull ups and chin-ups, rest assured that your biceps will come along for the ride and grow proportionally.

However, if you are always blasting and ‘smoking’ your biceps, they will always be fatigued when you train your back muscles and, as you should know, you are only as strong as your weakest link.  This is another reason to take a lower volume approach to arm training.

Problem #4 with bicep training – Using the same bicep exercises every time

Every pro bodybuilder will put their money on two of the simplest exercises for building huge biceps – barbell curls and dumbbell curls.  According to the pros, these two exercises have built more huge guns than any other exercise in the world.  I definitely agree that these ‘simple’ exercises are a safe foundation to build a program around, but let’s also remember that pro bodybuilders using steroids are going to have a strong response to practically any exercise they do.

I have no problem using these two exercises under one condition – you are getting stronger from week to week.  As long as you are increasing the weights and reps relative to perfect form, then your arms should continue growing.  Aim to build your barbell curls up to 110 pounds for a few “slow speed” sets and your dumbbell curls up to 50 pounds for a few “slow-speed” sets that involve zero rocking and swaying.

Once you build your barbell curls up to 110 pounds, you will be ready to try these two different angles on the bar.  You will have to drop your weights a bit, but stick with these two variations until you build back up to 110 pounds:

Bicep Exercise 1:  “Stress” the outer portion of the bi’s by placing your elbows outwards and using a super-close grip.

Bicep Exercise 2: “Stress” the inner portion of the bi’s by taking a super-wide grip on the bar and digging your elbows into your side (and don’t let them move.)

Bicep Exercise 3:  To “stress” the brachialis and brachioradialis stick to good old fashioned hammer curls and reverse curls.  Don’t underestimate these two exercises in the slightest.

Problem #5 on biceps – Not enough tension on the muscle

I think many weight trainees do not fully grasp the concept of isolating and actually training a muscle. They do not know how to make the muscle work and fatigue.   Instead, you see a lot of swinging, momentum and sloppy lifting used to move the weight from every part of the body except the one they are actually trying to train.  The biceps have a very strong response to “constant tension,” which means you should never give them a chance to breathe.  Keep the bar constantly moving without pausing at the top or bottom.  Focus on squeezing the heck out of the bar and never let your biceps relax until the set is over.  Your entire goal is to not allow any oxygen into the muscle which creates a spike with your anabolic hormones to promote muscle growth.  Resort to a slower 3-0-3 or 4-0-4 tempo to get the job done.

VIEW OR DOWNLOAD

4- Week Bicep Prioritization Program – CLICK HERE

Weight Training Program Notes:

Notice the simplicity of the workout structure. This program will work extremely well for hardgainers. The overall volume might be a little low for someone used to a traditional bodybuilder split program and has more than four years of consistent training.

The power of the program is found in the principle of prioritization by sequence on the first pull workout. Notice that your prioritization muscle is being sequenced at the start of the workout and the start of the week. This is happening on purpose. We are intentionally giving your biceps an opportunity to train at their two most “fresh” times – at the start of the week and at the start of the workout.

Focusing on increasing overall strength can still be achieved on the second pullworkout where the biceps will not be pre-fatigued.

Notice the slow speed movements.  Many anabolic hormones are released when your muscles are under constant tension. The tempo’s are set up so that will be forced to move the weight slower and with a greater amount of tension concentrically and eccentrically.

On a pull day, 402 would mean: 4 seconds to release the weight, 0 second pause at the bottom and 2 seconds to pull the weight.  On a push day, 402 would would mean 4 seconds to lower the weight, 0 second pause at the bottom and 2 seconds to push the weight up.

Focus on adding 5-10 pounds to each of your exercises over the course of the next four weeks while keeping the rep ranges and sets the same.  It is not necessary to do more sets or more reps.  Focus on increasing more weight under the same set, rep, tempo and rest prescription.

———————————-

About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at http://www.VinceDelMonteFitness.com

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly by using the correct cardiovascular and weight lifting techniques.

Share/Bookmark

“Michigan Couple Stumbles Onto 1 Unusual Trick That Can Cut BellyFlab For Up To 3 Days From Just 15 Minutes…”

If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably had trouble keeping the weight off lately… or from piling on as you’ve gotten older…

Could be that your excess ‘baggage’ is all over, or maybe just in certain areas like yourbelly-

-And like anything else you’re still struggling with, you might suspect that there is something out there that could help that you just don’t know about yet…

..so I know you’re going to be happy to hear more about this unusual story:

Michigan couple stumbles onto 1 flat stomach trick… <— Click Here

The facts are, a formerly overweight Michigan couple lost over 101 pounds in just a few months by stumbling on this 1 odd technique that can burn flab for up to 3 days from just 15 minutes of moving…

…yeah, it DOES sound amazing!

And you can see them tell their story in their short presentation below:

The real reason you’re still flabby & out of shape (presentation) <—Click Here

Here are the other important facts from this unique story you may want to know before watching the presentation:

1. They did it by enjoying delicious foods several times a day, every day, almost never hungry a minute…

2. They DID NOT do one minute of ‘cardio’, but still lowered their resting heart rate and re-captured that near boundless energy like a spry teenager…

3. He also lost nearly 10inches of stomachflab, and she dropped 8 dress sizes, going from a 12 to a 4…

4. They did this all while doing almost the exact opposite of what most fitness experts have been teaching us for years…

You’re going to learn everything you need to know in the presentation (including their inspiring before&after pics) at this website:

Unusual tips and unique tricks that fight stomachfat… <— Click Here

You also learn the 5 biggest mistakes you’ve probably been making trying to fight this flab, among all the tricky little details of their fascinating, life-changing discovery.

Enjoy, and you’ll thank us later

Here’s to getting lean, strong and healthy for life,
Mark

Share/Bookmark

The problem most individuals run into is they overlook how difficult it can be to lose belly fat off their body. If the truth be told, a fat belly is probably one of the hardest areas to successfully remove because it’s made up what is known as ‘stubborn’ fat.

You’re body is actually physiologically slightly different when it comes to fat around the abdominal region. What’s the reason for this? Primarily, it’s the first place we tend to store fat and where body fat is needed for protection the most – to protect the organs and internal structures.

As such, your fat belly is going to do everything it can to hold onto it. Not a good situation in your quest to lose belly fat.

In order to outsmart this, you’re going to have to work really hard. That’s not to say it can’t be done – it most certainly can, you just have to have realistic expectations about the time line you will achieve this goal over and how much effort you’ll have to put in.

First things first, lets talk about exercise to lose belly fat. First, hit the weights. When lifting, be sure you are lifting as heavy as you possibly can, as this is what will ramp up your metabolism the highest. You want to shoot for the 6-10 rep range, as this is most appropriate for metabolic effects.

Second, get that cardio up there. Don’t do hours on end though, focus on doing sprints. In fact, better yet is to sprint first, then do more steady state cardio afterwards. This will help to release the fatty acids from the tissue (mobilize them) and then burn them off during the steady state cardio. This type of set-up can be far more effective at getting that stubborn fat off your body than doing a typical cardio session is.

Lastly, check over that belly fat diet. Too many fat or carbohydrates calories will slow your progress, while protein, generally speaking will help due to the fact the body burns more calories just digesting it.

This can be taken too far though – there is no need to exceed 1.5 grams per pound of body weight, but keeping it up around that level is your best approach. Then, fill in the remainder of your calories with carbohydrates around the workout period and fat during the other times.

As long as you are patient with the process and continually push yourself in the gym, there is no reason why within time, you can’t be sporting your own set of six-pack abs.

———————————-
About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of Your Six Pack Quest found at http://www.YourSixPackQuest.com

He specializes in helping chubby guys and gals get six pack abs without gimmicks, supplements or dieting.

Share/Bookmark

Stage Shredded Status

The DVD’s track the author, Vince Del Monte’s progress from the very beginning, with a physique assessment and program design, and then follow his whole journey of bulking up to 227 pounds and then shredding to 195 pounds and an incredible 4.8% body fat – all in 16 weeks!

The footage is designed to be both educational and entertaining, and the perfect partner for anyone wanting to truly transform their body.

The program consists of the following:

• 600 minutes of high definition footage – wrapped up in an 8-DVD boxed set.
• Pre-contest physique assessment and program design – Vince’s real-life assessment with Canada’s top professional body builder – Ben ‘Pak Man’ Pakulski.
• One to one training on how to properly carry out each and every exercise for maximum effect.  Here you’ll be shocked to find that most people are lifting far heavier weights than necessary, simply because they don’t do it correctly!
• Cardio, nutrition and supplement plan.  Sneak a look inside Vince’s kitchen cupboards to get an insider’s view on what it takes to feed a champion’s muscles.
• And of course, the biggest section of the program – an entire week’s worth of the brutal but effective training footage that saw Vince drop to a crazy 5% body fat.
• At the five week countdown before competition, how Vince manipulated his cardio, nutrition and supplement plan as the competition date drew ever closer.
• It’s show time!  The last seven days before competition and the WBFF Fitness Atlantic Championships and the WBFF Quebec Championships.

Click here to save $150 off of Stage Shredded Status!

Share/Bookmark

The biggest area you need to focus on when trying to obtain 6 pack abs is going to be on your diet. Like it or not, the old saying that ‘abs are made in the kitchen’, is probably one of the most truthful statements in the fitness industry. If your diet isn’t in line, your stomach is going to show it.

So, what should you be doing with your diet?

First, ensure you are getting enough protein. Not only is protein going to form the key building blocks you need to build muscle tissue, but it’s also going to provide you with a better feeling of fullness than eating just carbohydrates alone would for example. Protein is more “expensive” than any other macronutrient meaning that your body will burn more calories breaking down protein compared to carbs and fats.

Next, don’t be afraid of dietary fat that comes from primarily monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as olive oils, fish oils, a mix of nuts, natural peanut butter and avocado. While it’s true that eating fat will increase your calories fast, as long as you keep it between 20-30% it can be one of the best things to get 6 pack abs fast. The important point here is that dietary fat helps keep your insulin level stable, which, when high enough can actually cause fat gain itself.

Furthermore, dietary fat will keep you feeling the fullest for the longest duration in time; longer than both protein or carbohydrates would. Interestingly, some diets high in fat can get you 6 pack abs fast because your body learn to metabolize fat for energy.

So, while you do need to watch it, be sure you are getting some in your diet.

Finally, when it comes to carbohydrate intake and getting 6 pack abs, you want to focus most of your carbohydrate intake around the post workout period.

Why?

The biggest reason for this is because this is when your body is going to need those carbohydrates the most and will really suck them up into the muscle tissue. When you eat them at this time, it is least likely that they will turn into body fat.

Additionally, consuming carbohydrates during this period will also help to aid with muscle recovery and repair, so that means less down time from the gym for you.

If getting 6 pack abs fast is your goal than each meal you should consist of 1-2 cups of raw vegetables to control insulin levels, improve absorption of your protein and flood your body with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants.

So, if you are aiming to get 6 pack abs in the coming months, have a good hard look at your diet. That is the big secret that must not be overlooked if you are to succeed.

———————————-
About the Author:

Vince DelMonte is the author of Your Six Pack Quest found at http://www.YourSixPackQuest.com

He specializes in helping chubby guys and gals get six pack abs without gimmicks, supplements or dieting.

Share/Bookmark

Over-training is very common amongst athletes and particularly bodybuilders, since they figure that training as much as possible is the fastest way to massive muscle gains.

This couldn’t be any further from the truth however…

Training too much, or at too high of an intensity will lead to over-training.

Now this doesn’t mean you don’t have to put plenty of effort in to see some decent results… Whether you are a bodybuilder, athlete, or just someone that wants to add some additional mass to your frame, you need to train hard and be consistent-that’s a given. In order to get the most out of your genetics, you have to progressively overload the muscles by increasing the weight and / or intensity of each weight training workout.

The problem is however, that many of us increase the intensity of our workouts or get insufficient amounts of rest, or even worse, a combination of both. The trick is finding the right balance between workout volume and intensity, and rest and recovery. And that is exactly what I’ll cover in this article.

The Effects of Over-Training on Bodybuilders

First, let’s take a look at some of the effects of over-training and how one can prevent over-training from happening in the first place.

The Effects of Over-training on the Nervous System

Over-training effects both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in the following negative ways:

Higher resting heart rate

Weak appetite

High blood pressure

Weight loss

Trouble sleeping

Increased metabolic rate

Irritability

Early onset of fatigue

If you are experiencing more than one of the symptoms outlined above, you may be in a state of over-training, and should evaluate your routine as soon as possible.

The Effects of Over-training on Hormone Levels

Many studies have indicated that over-training negatively effects the levels of hormones, as well as the hormone response in the body.  Since hormones play such an important role in the muscle building process, this can have a detrimental effect on your training progress.

Over-training has been show to:

Decrease testosterone levels

Decrease thyroxine levels

Increase cortisol levels

The increase in cortisol levels along with the decrease in testosterone levels is a deadly combination, since this leads to protein tissue break down. This will ultimately lead to a loss of muscle tissue.

The Effects of Over-training on the Immune System

Perhaps one of the most alarming repercussions of over-training is it’s negative impact on the immune system-you’re bodies first defense against harmful viruses and bacteria.

Over-training can drastically decrease the levels of antibodies and lymphocytes in your body, making you much more susceptible to illness.  Simply put, this means that if you are in a state of over-training, you are much more likely to get sick.  Since you will have to skip workouts while you are sick, your muscle building progress will slow considerably.

The Effects of Over-training on the Metabolic System

Here is a list of how over-training can  effect the metabolic system.  These symptoms are the ones that are most commonly discussed, and are ones we can’t ignore:

Micro tears in the muscle

Chronically depleted glycogen levels

Slow, weak muscle contractions

Depleted creatine phosphate stores

Excessive accumulation of lactic acid

Extreme DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)

Tendon and connective tissue damage

So you must get the point by now… Over-training effects the entire body, and can seriously impact the results of your muscle building program.

Now let’s take a look at the different types of over-training, and what we can do to prevent it.

Is it Worse to Over-Train With Cardio or Weight Training?

Any form of over-training is a bad thing, however, I’ve personally experienced both types of over-training and can honestly say that over-training in the weight room is much worse, and much more prevalent than over-training through cardiovascular training.

Here are some of the reasons why:

In order to grow, muscles must fully recover from their last workout, every workout.  If you are over-training and work the muscles before they have fully recovered, you will break down the muscle tissue before it has rebuilt-making it impossible to build muscle!

Over-training with weights makes you more susceptible to nervous systems hormone and immune system issues, which all pose serious health risks.

It can lead beginners down the wrong path, perhaps wasting money on unnecessary supplements, or even worse, steroids.

I personally believe that only competitive athletes such as swimmers, runners and bikers run a serious risk of reaching a state of cardiovascular over-training, since there are often training for two or more hours daily.

The bottom line is that it is much easier for the average person to over-train while weight training than while cardiovascular training, and I think the effects can be more serious.

How do I Determine if I’m Over-training?

Determining if you’re currently over-training is fairly simple.   If you’re in tune with your body, you can often see the signs of over-training before they get serious.  If you are losing interest in workouts, are having trouble sleeping, and feel weak and irritable, you may be in a state of over-training and should take a week or more off.

If you are experiencing two or more of the symptoms outlined earlier in the article, this should raise a red flag.

Another variable you can use to determine if you are over-training is by tracking the performance of your workouts.

Has your physical performance improved compared to your last workout?

For example, let’s say last workout you were able to perform 8 pull-ups using your body-weight, but were only able to perform 6 pull-ups the following week.  This means that you have not “out done” your previous workout, have not fully recovered, and therefore are likely over-training.  You nave to re-asses your program and make modifications so that you see progress every workout.

How Can I Prevent Over-training?

In order to avoid over-training, you need to take a multi-facited approach.  Determining the correct training volume and intensity, eating the right foods, and getting the right amount of rest and recovery must all be taken in to consideration.  Now let’s take a look at each of those factors in more detail.

Correct Training Volume

Determining the correct training volume can be difficult, especially when you are first starting out.  You have to determine how much weight to lift, how many repetitions and set to perform for every single workout.

You need to use your own judgment in this case, based on your recovery ability and your recovery methods.  Remember that the goal is that you improve every single workout, and if this isn’t happening, you have to decrease the intensity of your workouts.

This is where many people go wrong though.  You begin your workout and realize that you have not fully recovered.  You can either continue to train at a lower intensity than the previous workout, or skip the workout entirely.

As hard as it may be, skipping the workout is the right way to go.  Just turn around and go home!  Your body is telling you that it needs more rest, and you must listen to it!

There is no point in training at a lower intensity, further breaking down the muscle tissue.   By doing this you will increase your risk of injury, and make it harder for your body to fully recovery for your next training session.

Proper Nutrition

Your diet plays a huge role in your muscle building program.  It helps regulate hormone levels, provides energy, and provides the raw building blocks that are used to create new tissue.

Here are some dietary recommendations that will limit the chance of over-training:

Do not skip breakfast.  This is one of the most important meals of the day.  Skipping breakfast is very catabolic, and can promote muscle loss.

Never let yourself get hungry.  If you’re trying to build muscle mass, you have to constantly feed your body quality foods so that it never has the chance catabolize muscle tissue.

Unless you are trying to build muscle and lose fat, make sure you have eaten prior to your training session and are not hungry.

Have the largest meal of the day within an hour after your workout.  Do this every single workout!

Consider taking proven supplements like creatine, and antioxidants to increase performance and fight free radicals.

Eat every 2-3 hours to ensure that your body remains in an anabolic state.

Keep glycogen levels at full capacity to inhibit muscle tissue breakdown.

Rest & Recovery

Rest and recovery is essential when it comes to avoiding over-training.  Make sure that you get at least 7 hours of sleep each night, and that you are on a consistent schedule.  As for recovery time, it’s important that you have days off between weight training workouts.  Try to have one rest day between weight training workouts, and never train the same muscle groups on consecutive days.

———————————

About the Author:

Vince Delmonte is a competitive fitness model and personal trainer, as well as the author of No-Nonsense Muscle Building, a complete guide to building muscle for the hard gainer.

Vince’s program includes extensive diet plans, complete weight training regimens, video tutorials, and full email personal training support.

Share/Bookmark