Before you start obsessing over the hard math of macronutrient calculation, make sure you've got your dietary priorities in place. Here's a guide anyone can use!

When I first got interested in gaining size in order to play football, I didn't worry much about fat gain. On one hand, the amount of running and exertion I experienced playing the sport made it almost impossible for me to gain noticeable fat. And even if I did, well, it was football. A little fat wasn't a crime; it was extra armor.
Everything changed once I switched my focus from football to bodybuilding. Now, at sub-8 percent body fat, my focus is on gaining muscle without fat, and since I don't have the huge amounts of conditioning work from football, I have to be much more careful about what I put in my body.
This is the point in the process where far too many people hit a wall. As a college student, I face no shortage of challenges, from sticking to a budget to making good choices when I'm out with friends, to saving time to focus on my studies. It definitely takes a little more planning and prep work to make it through those long days on campus.
But it can be done, and without breaking the bank. The key is simply to make quality your highest priority!

The Most Important Parts of Building Muscle

Eight words: Eat quality food. Increase your protein. Train hard.
Those rules may seem obvious, but here's the catch: the order they're in matters. The fact that I stay lean eating sometimes more than 5,000 calories each day surprises people. But, the more muscle you have, the more you have to feed. The key is feeding your muscles consistently with high-quality fuel.
So what do my macros look like, you ask? As an economics major, you'd better believe I can tell you the numbers. But I'd prefer to tell you the priorities, because the way they break down for everyone is going to be different. Here are the three guiding principles that determine what goes on my plate:

1. Balance meals around lean protein
2. Include nutrient-rich, low-glycemic carbs
3. Enjoy generous portions of healthy fats

Now let's break down how they look in action, starting—where else?—with protein.

The Protein Way of Life

Protein, you may have heard, is what your muscles are made of. Well, not quite. The amino acids that make up protein are the building blocks of muscle, and your body needs—not wants, needs—these substances during and after training for repair and recovery. It breaks down the protein into the respective aminos, uses them for their various functions, and then you convert what doesn't get used. I break down a lot of tissue in my daily workouts, so balancing it out with adequate amounts of protein throughout the day is important.
I aim to take in 1.5 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight per day and divide that total number by the number of meals I'm going to eat. For me, that means I eat approximately 360 grams of protein each day. I spread this across 6 meals, which turns out to be approximately 60 grams of protein per meal, depending on the day. The reason I eat protein frequently throughout the day is that muscles are built outside the gym. I may spend an hour or two training each day, but it's the other 22 hours or so when I earn my results.
But as I said earlier, the amount of protein you eat is a secondary concern. Quality comes first, so think "what" before "how much." For me, the "what" is lean and not fried. If you adhere to eating lean, non-fried sources of protein, you maximize your chances of gaining maximum amounts of muscle with minimal increases in body fat. My favorite sources of lean protein are standard: egg whites, chicken breast, 98 percent or leaner ground beef, turkey, fish, and quality protein supplements like Lean Pro8.
Another benefit of protein is that it doesn't raise insulin like carbs do. Insulin is a powerful hormone, and elevating levels at non-optimal times—basically any point in the day besides post-workout—can lead to increased fat storage. By eating lean protein often and carbs more strategically, I keep my insulin levels in-check until the time comes when I want to raise them.

Find the Sweet Spot

Protein is the cornerstone of my bodybuilding nutrition plan in that it determines how many meals I eat each day. But carbs and healthy fats are equally important—and so is their quality. One of the most common questions I get from people is if I eat a low-carb diet to stay sub 8-percent body fat. The answer: absolutely not!
On harder training days, I consume upward of 500 g of carbs. It all comes down to finding the amount of carbs your body can actually utilize and consuming them strategically, rather than letting cravings or social situations determine it for you. Out-of-control carb intake leads to unwanted spikes in insulin, which lead to fat gain. It's that simple.
Carbohydrates give my working muscles the energy to do their job. Without them, I would feel tired, and my gym sessions would definitely struggle as a result. Just like I approach my protein intake as a way to repair my muscles after training, I aim for the carb "sweet spot" where I can maximize energy and glycogen replenishment. And just like with protein, quality is crucial. My carbs come from high-fiber, high-nutrient foods. I include plenty of sweet potatoes, oatmeal, and brown rice, among others.

Healthy Fats Time for an Oil Change

Back in the days when my dad, Lee Labrada, was racking up pro bodybuilding titles, the idea of "healthy fats" seemed like a contradiction in terms. Today, luckily, we know better. Like carbohydrates, fats often get a bad rap, but you need them—and in no small doses.
When trying to gain size, fat is a great source of calories, offering double that of both carbs and protein. Fat gives 9 calories per gram. Carbs and protein both give 4 calories per gram.
More calories? How could that be good when you're trying to avoid getting fat? Remember, the quality of the calories you pack in is the first priority when you're trying to pack on quality muscle. Enjoy—that's right, I said enjoy—the following four sources first and foremost, and you can't go wrong:

• Avocado
• Fish
• Nuts and nut butters
• Olives/olive oil

There are nutrients within these fat sources which decrease inflammation, improve mental function, improve eyesight, and give you healthier skin, hair, and nails. When I'm crushing the iron in the gym each day, my goal is to be strong and big, but also healthy and mobile. To get that way, I eat all of these generously on a regular basis, and I also take omega-3 supplements daily, in the form of fish oil or krill oil.
There's some cool science showing how omega-3 fats might actually burn fat as well as provide other benefits. Those are a no-brainer for me. Cheap, processed fats from things like butter, chips, and ranch dip, on the other hand, are simply a "no."

Quality Training Deserves Quality Fuel

I loved football and football culture. But bodybuilding is more than a culture—it's a lifestyle. You can't do it sloppily and succeed, especially if you have high-level competitive ambitions like I do. Your results speak for themselves, and your hard work pays off in ways that you can see, feel, and measure. There's nothing like the feeling when it all comes together.

All this time spent on nutrition is for naught if you're not busting your tail in the gym, too.

Of course, all this time spent on nutrition is for naught if you're not busting your tail in the gym, too. Combine a training-day meal plan like the one here with a hard leg workout like I discussed in my previous article, and you'll give your body everything it needs to grow the right way!

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It is a well-known fact that muscles that are most used tend to get stronger and muscles, which you don’t use often, get weaker/smaller.
So, it is obvious that we need to make use of the muscles we want make stronger and bigger. Now, there are plenty of sports, exercises, and modalities that will pump blood in your muscles and make them grow bigger.
However, the question that remains unanswered is-“what is the best way to gain muscle fast that make people say “WOW!”? ” Here are some of the best tips to help you get larger and better-toned muscles in the smallest possible time frame:

Check out how to gain muscle fast with these easy tips…

1. Know the number of calories you need to grow bigger
Your calorie needs depend on your age, gender, current weight and how active your lifestyle is. For the sake of simplicity, multiply your current weight in pounds to 20. If you weigh 130 pounds, that’s 130 x20 = 2600 calories daily. This might come as a shock if you’re not used to eating that much in a day.
2. Exercise big muscle groups to jumpstart the muscle building process
Studies show that training big muscle groups jumpstarts the muscle building process leading to faster and bigger muscle gains. Make sure you involve these muscle groups at least once a week. The largest muscle groups are the leg, back and chest muscles.
3. Lift progressively
As your muscles get used to the heavy load, you may need to shock it by constantly changing the weight you lift. If you used 100 pounds on your bench press during your first week of training, try to add 10 pounds for the second week. Add another 10 pounds on the following week and so on. The same goes for other body parts.
Progressive lifting makes sure that your muscles don’t get complacent and stop growing. The additional weight tells your body to grow more muscle fibers to keep up with the load. Watch yourself get bigger and stronger every week.
4. Alter your exercise routine
If you’re working out three times a day training two body parts, try to spread it to six days working only on one body part per day. If you’re doing chest and biceps on Mondays and back and triceps on Wednesdays, make it chest and triceps then back and biceps. This puts more stress on the common muscle groups (biceps and triceps) forcing your body to grow more muscle fibers.
5. Do partial lifts
Instead of lifting all the way for 3 sets, do it only a third of the way on the first set, two thirds on the second and full lifts in the third. Reverse the load progression so you can lift more weight on the first set and less weight on the second and third.
6. Use Supplements
Supplements, obviously, are not meant to be your only source of nutrients. You can call them helpers because they fill the nutritional gaps. These gaps happen when you are not getting enough nutrients from your diet to coax your body into producing more muscles. Here are some of the well-known supplements easily available in the market:
Whey protein powder
This supplement is almost always a requirement if you want to build big, lean muscles, improve your performance, and lose body fat. Whey protein is an essential part of your muscle building arsenal. It is easily digested and absorbed by the body.
Casein protein
Casein is the twin brother of whey. It’s the other type of protein found in milk. Compared to whey, your body digests casein slower. Taking casein before bedtime prevents catabolism, protecting your hard-earned muscles from being converted to body fuel.
Creatine
Creatine is one of the most important recent discoveries in the field of sports supplementation. It increases the amount of energy supplied to your muscles so you can do more repetitions and lift heavier weights.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
Leucine, valine and isoleucine, together called as branched-chain amino acids are the most essential amino acids for repairing and building muscle tissue.
Glutamine
Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in your body. It increases the amount of leucine in muscle fibers and decreases muscle breakdown. It has also been proven to boost the immune system.
One bonus tip:
Get Lean
You may think that this contradicts your goal of getting bigger, but this is an essential part in achieving your dream body. You have been eating and lifting heavily to build muscle mass during the first two months of your program, getting lean is now the next phase of your training. Along with bigger muscles, you may also have noticed stubborn fat around your torso, arms and legs. These deposits may have appeared during your mass gaining period because you had to eat insane amounts of food to grow bigger. You need to trim so you can show off those big, hard muscles that you’ve worked so hard for. Here are a couple of tips:
During your rest days, you can do aerobic exercises like running or walking. Doing aerobic exercise is the best way to lose fat. Just don’t do your cardio during weight training days or you may also be burning muscles.
Conclusion
Building muscles that look good will take time. Even when doing everything right, you should anticipate gaining only 5-10 pounds of muscle annually. If you stick to the suggestions mentioned above, you are definitely going to gain good and long lasting muscles in shortest possible time frame. Best wishes and have fun.



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What if I told you that you could gain more muscle mass with less training? Or retain more muscle mass with less training? And even gain/retain more strength with less training? The secret is nutrition.

As a personal trainer, most of my clients exhibit this behavior: they train hard, but they don’t give a heck about nutrition. So the time and effort they spend on training is wasted. Why? Because they think nutrition is complicated and they avoid the topic. I understand perfectly, because I used to be like that as well.

But we need to train smart. This means knowing how nutrition works and how to utilize it for your own fitness and strength gains. This works for anyone and everyone, be it for general fitness maintenance or muscle mass gain.

To get you started, here is my list of the top ten foods to help you gain more muscle mass and strength:

1. Lean Beef

This should be a STAPLE of your diet if you want to gain muscle mass. Why? Because it is loaded with all sorts of things conducive to muscle growth. On average, a three-ounce serving of lean beef is only 154 calories, yet it provides ten essential nutrients, including iron, zinc and B-vitamins. More importantly, it provides your body with high quality protein (not all proteins are equal), and a high level of amino acid that works with insulin to promote muscle growth. For those who are trying to lose weight, this should come as great news – a 3 ounce serving of lean beef provides roughly the same amount of protein as 1.5 cups of beans, but at half the calories.

2. Skinless Chicken

Like beef, it is an excellent source of high quality protein, which is important for muscle maintenance and repair, bone health, and weight maintenance. And of course, there are so many ways you can cook and prepare chicken. Go down to the store and you can easily find chicken meat cut into single serving sizes that can be seasoned and quickly cooked.

3. Cottage Cheese

Not many people know this, but cottage cheese constitutes relatively pure casein protein. For those who don’t know, casein protein is a slow-digesting protein, which means it is perfect for muscle maintenance. This is useful especially for guys who have no choice but to go long periods without eating. Not forgetting, cottage cheese is also an excellent source of vitamin B12, calcium, and other important nutrients. My advice: buy the nonfat/low-fat versions.

4. Eggs

Eggs contain high quality protein, nine essential amino acids, choline, the right kind of fat, and vitamin D. To sum it up, they are the most value for money. And please note, eggs are not harmful for your health, as numerous studies have already shown.

5. Whey Protein

There is a reason why whey protein supplements are the most popular supplement in the bodybuilding world: because they provide a fast and convenient source of protein at an affordable price. Bodybuilders normally use them when they wake up, right after their workout, and mixed with some of their meals. However, for those of us non-bodybuilders, simply using it right after our workouts can be very effective for muscle mass gains. Do not rely on it completely though. It’s more important to get high quality protein from whole foods, and use whey protein as a boost. There’s so much more about whey protein, if you want to find out more, click hereto read a comprehensive article I have written on how to best benefit from it.









6. Tuna and Other Fish

High in protein, low in fat, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The key here is omega-3 fatty acids. They are essential, not only for health reasons, but also because they improve fat loss and ensure the proper function of your body processes, such as your metabolism.

7. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is an ideal source of carbs due to both its low glycemic index (GI) value and the fact it is minimally processed. The benefits of a low GI diet are as follows:

• Better micronutrient profile and more fiber
• Increased satiety
• Decreased hunger
• Lower subsequent energy intake (second meal effect)
• Fat loss

In short, enhanced fat loss for those looking to lose weight, and a constant source of carbs for muscle preservation.

8. Whole Grains

Whole grains digest more efficiently and provide more nutrients than refined grains, and as such promote sustained energy levels and overall health. For instance, brown rice can help boost your growth hormone levels, which are critical for encouraging lean muscle growth, fat loss, and strength gains.

9. Fruits and Vegetables

Firstly, fruits and vegetables are a rich source of antioxidants, which are essential for the healthy functioning of your immune system. Secondly, they provide tons of other nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. Finally, your body requires the fiber these fruits and vegetables provide, which helps to flush out the substances your body does not need.

10. Healthy Fats


I know some of you shudder at the thought of consuming fats, but good fats are essential for muscle growth. In fact, they play an essential role in hormone production (testosterone and growth hormones) that is responsible for muscle growth and strength gains. Your metabolic rate is elevated as well, which helps you shed more fats. In addition, fats are needed for many important maintenance functions. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are the good fats. You can find them in salmon, other fishes, nuts, leafy veggies, oils such as flaxseed, avocados, and seeds. They are also all rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

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Tired of being known as the 'skinny guy' ? Then try these 9 muscle gaining tips to combat your fast metabolism and achieve the mass you want!

Today I want to share with you some quality advice on how to gain weight. Now I caution you that this is for the really skinny guy looking to really gain weight because they barely have any meat on their bones. I know what it is like when you feel like you eat all the time and have nothing to show for it. I have been there. I also understand the feelings that you feel when people start to resent you because you can eat whatever you want and not ever gain a pound. They don't realize that to skinny guys, this is a curse more than it is a blessing at times.
However I also despise people saying that they have 'tried everything but nothing works'. This is the biggest lie that you need to stop telling yourself. You may have tried a couple of things but trust me, you just haven't tried the right things yet. Here are 9 tips that will help you to start to gain weight in no time at all. These are tips I have personally used and I guarantee they will work for you.
Here are my top 9 Tips to Gain Weight:

Tip 1 Train Under An Hour

You should be keeping whichever program you are doing to no more than 1 hour of duration. Be sure that you are focusing on keeping the intensity high rather than making the workout drag on. There have been countless studies on how nasty things happen in your hormonal state after training hard for more than an hour. Plus, when trying to gain weight, we want to work out harder rather than longer.

"You Should Be Keeping Whichever Program You Are Doing To No More Than 1 Hour Of Duration."

Tip 2 Make Eating A Habit

Listen, I know in the beginning of this post I was sympathetic to your problem, but I am also here to say, Suck It Up. I can tell you that to gain weight, you need to focus on making your meals a habit rather than an afterthought. Your body is pre-programmed with your genetic disposition. And in your case, you have a very fast metabolism that digests and burns calories quickly. So even though you might eat 3 meals a day, and they may be high calorie meals, your body is going to burn through these very quickly. Instead focus on having 5-6 meals a day spaced 2-3 hours apart so that your body is constantly being provided with something to metabolize and build muscle.

Related Video Calculating Your Caloric Intake And Macronutrient Breakdown!

Tip 3 Stop Relying On Supplements

I have been in your shoes, and I can't count how many times I have fallen prey to the supplement industry. You have to understand, a supplement is exactly as the name implies...A SUPPLEMENT. It is not going to make or break your gains in the gym. The majority of supplements being marketed to hardgainers looking to gain weight are focused on increasing water weight instead of muscle which after you come off the supplement, your weight will drop again. The only supplements I recommend are protein powder and perhaps some Gatorade after workouts.

Tip 4 Take It Easy

As naturally skinny guys, you have to stop moving around so much. It's just a part of who you are, but you might fidget or move around a lot in the day. Learn to relax a bit more and try to limit activity outside of the gym as much as possible when outside of the gym so that your energy is put forth to good use.

Tip 5 Understand Caloric Surplus

This is another thing I am very tired of hearing. 'No matter what I do or what I eat, I can't gain weight'. I have heard this countless times and I am here to tell you that you are dead wrong. That's OK, because I actually said the same thing until I realized the truth. Most people think they are eating a lot and you just may be. But no matter what you are eating, if you are not gaining, you are not eating enough. Most times, you should re-evaluate your diet as well and focus on more calorie dense foods. But you need to eat more if you are not gaining.
Also, when changing your body composition, you will need to 'force' things a little bit. Your body doesn't want to change and it doesn't care to gain weight. You need to 'coax' it along and yes at times it may be a little uncomfortable.

Tip 6 Focus On Progression

As mentioned above, your workouts should really be under an hour if even that. But the main take home principle is to make sure you are progressing at a workout. It's so simply yet so many people screw it up. They put in more volume and more until their workouts are at about 2 hours.
Now some things to work for a while and you may see some results. But if you want to gain weight, you're better off focusing on progressing in either the number of reps or an increase in weight lifted within your main program. Just like overeating, this too will be tough and require you to push yourself to the limits.

tip 7 Change Rep Range Every 3-4 Weeks

Unless you are making great gains and progressing like nobody's business, I would suggest changing the rep range every 3-4 weeks to avoid plateaus. Changing the rep range will make your body adapt to the new stress causing you to gain weight in the form of muscle. This is a much better tactic than adding more sets and more work in your routine.

"Changing The Rep Range Will Make Your Body Adapt To The New Stress."

Tip 8 Hit The Buffet

Remember, this is for the extreme skinny guy...But I want you to start hitting a buffet once a week. Try and position this eating frenzy after a hard workout so that the majority of calories get shuttled into the muscles which will really help you pack on those pounds and gain weight in the right places. Don't go too overboard, but this will train your body to 'accept' more food and it will increase your appetite in the days to come. Take advantage of this strategy.

Tip 9 Consider A Mass Gainer

I know I bashed the supplement industry, but the truth is, if you really cannot eat any more whole foods (which is the better option) you could consider a mass gainer. A mass gainer is basically calories in the form of a shake. So instead of having rice, veggies and chicken, you could replace with a shake.
These are another option for between meals. But make sure you have three meals of real food and no more than three of these gainer shakes. Better yet, make your own shakes with fruits and protein powder. Much better option. OK, so start putting these tips into action and you should be sure to start go gain weight in no time at all.

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Is There Back Pain Relief When You're

Pregnancy is a big change for the body time. The women are not only facing the hormonal changes, but also to change the body. Hands and feet swell, balance and vision may deteriorate, change diet and exercise and preferences, and we take the extra weight in the abdominal area. Most of the weight is blood and fluids to protect the fetus against the evil outside. If necessary, it can be the extra weight puts a lot of pressure on the body, especially the back.

Extra weight puts not only increased demand and pressure on the body, and will also affect the situation. Good attitude is a difficult pregnancy, but is very useful in the prevention of back pain. Can relieve the pressure and arthritis also contribute to back pain. Loosen the joints in the pelvis in preparation for the birth of the child. And they will not support the back, as well as perhaps this is causing the pain. Stress is looking weak spot in the body.

Back pain among pregnant women usually can not be eliminated entirely. Excess weight just puts a lot of pressure on the body. There are techniques that can reduce and alleviate pain. Be proactive in preventing back pain in early pregnancy helps in recent months and heavier. Try to get plenty of rest. Wear shoes and clothing support. Exercise gently to avoid gain a lot of weight and maintain strong muscles.

The back pain is already a problem and preventive care is too late, and there are ways to ease the pain. Treatment for back pain in pregnancy is similar to the treatment of all types of back pain. And heat and cold therapy soothe muscles and relieve pain or swelling. Consult your doctor about safe medicines. Take something that will help with the swelling. If possible, do not sleep on your back.

Doctors recommend sleeping on your left side and using a variety of support pillows if necessary. What is good for the afternoon and safer for the baby to sleep on his back. If the abdomen is too heavy, consider getting a group to support and pull the abdomen. This will help put pressure on the back and the body. Many resorts offer massages and doctors motherhood. This massage aims to treat the body and back problems suffered by women during pregnancy.

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1. The hamstring floor stretch.

Hold for 30 seconds twice for each leg.

2. Knee to chest stretch.

This helps strengthen and relax your glutes. Hold for 20 seconds for each leg twice.

3. Spinal stretch.

This was a favorite of mine when I suffered sciatica. Hold for 20 seconds and repeat on the other knee. Do this as many times as you like but don’t overdo it.

4. The piriformis stretch.

Hold for 30 seconds and repeat with the other leg.

5. The hip flexors stretch.

Hold for 30 seconds and then switch and repeat.

6. The quadriceps lying down stretch.

Hold for 30 seconds on each side. Do this one twice on each side.

7. The total back stretch.

Hold this for 30 seconds and then try this:

Hold for 10 seconds on both sides.

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