PostHeaderIcon Why Skinny Guys Struggle To Build Muscle



Okay skinny guys, listen up: You can build muscle. That’s right, you, skinny guys, can build muscle. And it’s not nearly as difficult as you might imagine.

Outlined below are some common reasons why skinny guys don’t see muscle gains with their routines, and how to help the skinny build muscle.

Working Out Too Much

If you’re skinny, build muscle by conserving calories and maximizing your workout sessions. Do not, I repeat, do not spend hours in the gym doing tons of reps with light weights. Your body grows when it’s resting, contrary to what you might think, and if you spend hours burning calories and not enough time resting, you won’t give your body a chance to recover, repair your muscles, and grow.

Choose a few effective, compound exercises, find your maximum weight per exercise, and knock out no more than 10 or 12 sets per workout until you start to build muscle and bulk up. Only then will you be able to add more sets and be able to expend more calories without waning away to nothing.

Doing the Wrong Exercises

Isolation exercises are not the way to go from skinny to building muscle. Skinny guys cannot afford to expend the calories needed to do these fairly inefficient exercises. Stick to compound, multi-muscle-group exercises like deadlifts, barbell squats, dips, push-ups, chin-ups and any other exercises that involve more than one muscle group and move more than one joint during the exercise. Conserve your calories and maximize your workout time.

Wasting Calories with Cardio

Sure, you are skinny now, but you say you don’t want to be fat, either. If you struggle to gain weight then you should not worry about this at all. Don’t worry about spending time on the treadmill right now in an effort to avoid getting fat.

With the smart lifting you’ll be doing, and the smart foods you’ll be eating, becoming fat will be the last thing you need to worry about during your quest to build muscle. Besides you can always tone after you have gained some mass.

Not Eating Right / Not Eating Enough

Eat. Eat again. And eat the right foods! Fill up with lean proteins like meat, fish, poultry and eggs, complex carbs for glucose (muscle fuel) and take it easy on fat (but include some good fats to keep your body running properly and burning fat instead of storing it). Try to avoid the beer, fried foods and sugary sweets; this type of eating plan will help the skinny build muscle.

If you want to throw a protein powder into the mix, you should still aim to get most of your protein from your food, because a protein powder really is a supplement. No more than three shakes per day is a reasonable amount if you eat six times a day, but for most people that is excessive if you are eating right and getting protein from your food sources. In short, protein powders as a supplement are fine; protein powders alone will not make the skinny build muscle.

Rest and Relaxation

Your body needs downtime to repair its systems–not only your muscular system but your immune system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system–you name it, it needs rest to repair itself and function properly. In terms of muscle growth, your muscles need rest time to give the fibers a chance to grow, and if you hit the gym too soon after your last workout, you’ll damage those new fibers and you won’t see the muscle gains you’ve been working so hard to achieve.

Improper Technique

You can put all the weight in the gym on your barbell and hoist it up and down, but if you have to rely on momentum, chances are you’ll be laid out with a back injury before you know it.

Be smart about your technique and the amount of weight you use to go from being skinny to building muscle quickly and effectively. Challenge yourself enough to see results but not so much that it compromises form, and always be aware of your movements and you’ll see results.

PostHeaderIcon Massage in St Paul



There are a lot of things to do in Saint Paul, Minnesota. You can go to the Roller Derby, listen to beautiful music by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, visit the Mississippi River or Lake Como. You can also receive an incredible massage in St. Paul. Whether you go to St. Paul for a business trip, an unforgettable vacation, or a family relocation you will want to receive a memorable massage therapy session. So, if you haven’t done it already you should put getting a massage in St. Paul on your list of things to do. Massage in St. Paul is widely available from independent Certified Massage Therapists, Massage Establishments, and a number of Day Spas.

Getting a massage in St. Paul is something that is something you’ll want to repeat over and over. What is your goal in getting massage? Is it to completely relax with a slow, soothing massage, relieve muscular pain and chronic tension, have a more comfortable pregnancy, or improve your sports performance Massage Therapists in St. Paul can help you achieve your goals. In fact there are several types of Massage in St. Paul. The most commonly offered massage techniques in St. Paul are:

Sports Massage – massage to assist the athlete in preparing for and recovering from sports events. Often this massage focuses on the muscle groups and connective tissues most used in the athlete’s particular sport.

Swedish Massage – relaxing massage using gliding strokes, kneading, friction, and striking strokes along with gentle stretching and rocking.

Deep Tissue Massage – massage of the deeper musculature and connective tissue to release chronic tension and pain. It’s often a firmer massage that is appreciated by experienced clients.

Shiatsu – a Japanese technique of massage that targets specific pressure points to relieve pain and improve the flow of vital energy.

Aromatherapy Massage – a very relaxing and therapeutic massage incorporating the benefits of both massage and essential oils for an incredible effect you’re going to love.

Pregnancy Massage – massage for the mother-to-be helping her to decrease pain and discomfort throughout the pregnancy.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage – specifically used for decreasing swelling and edema as well as improving the circulation of the body’s lymph. It’s detoxifying and some think it improves the immune system too.

However, in addition to the more commonly practiced massage techniques your St. Paul based Massage Therapist might also practice some other well known massage therapy techniques:

Myofascial Release

Medical Massage

Acupressure

Neuromuscular Therapy

Hot Stone Massage

You might even want to try a special treat when you get a massage in St. Paul like Couples Massage where a couple can receive their massage together in the same massage room with two massage therapists. During the couples massage each member of the couple can choose to receive a different massage from that of their partner. Or, for the true massage therapy enthusiast some Massage Establishments and Day Spas offer Four Hand Massage, or Tandem Massage, where you can be massaged by two massage therapists at the same time.

Massage in St. Paul is also very convenient to receive. Massage in St. Paul is available on an incall basis at a Massage Therapist’s office, salon, or clinic, in a Licensed Massage Establishment, or in one of many conveniently located Day Spas. Massage in St. Paul is also available on an outcall basis in your St. Paul area home, office, or hotel. No matter where you are in St. Paul a great massage is just minutes away.

So what’s stopping you from receiving the benefits of a great massage? Massage in St. Paul is relaxing, stress reducing, pain relieving, and performance improving so get one today.

PostHeaderIcon Lower Cholesterol Food Lowers Heart Disease Risks



High levels of circulating blood cholesterol are considered a very serious health risk. In fact it is a leading factor in the development of heart disease and the risk of having a stroke. Of particular concern are high levels of LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol which is the primary cause of many cardiovascular health problems. In order to combat this problem it may be necessary to make dietary changes based on lower cholesterol food.

In order to lower your dietary intake of cholesterol you can limit the following food choices in your diet.

-Foods that contain large amounts of saturated fats and Trans fats found in fast foods and processed foods.

-Margarines and baked goods that contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

-Products made from whole milk that contains dairy fats.

-Most vegetable oils and lard.

-Fatty cuts of meat and poultry.

-Food products that contain large amounts of refined sugars and flour.

Cholesterol exists in all animals and the food products that we get from them. Animal and hydrogenated fats remain solid at room temperature and contain what is known as “bad” or LDL cholesterol. Trans fats are also known to raise LDL levels in the blood to dangerous levels.

In fact scientific studies have shown that these types of saturated, hydrogenated, and Trans fats contribute more to high cholesterol levels then actually eating foods with cholesterol in them.

By eating healthy you can use food to lower your cholesterol significantly. Your food choices should include:

-Fruits and vegetables, most of which are cholesterol-free, and which help lower cholesterol levels.

-Whole-grain breads and cereals.

-Low-fat or skim milk, yogurt, sour cream and cheeses.

-Canola oil or extra virgin olive oil.

-Chicken, turkey and fish.

-Legumes and nuts.

-Garlic

-Margarines made of plant sterol esters, which help to lower cholesterol levels.

High fiber foods are always a good choice as they help absorb and remove cholesterol from the digestive system. Foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids are also a good choice. Omega-3′s help raise your “good” or HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol. HDL works by removing LDL cholesterol from the blood stream, lowering levels of the bad stuff.

By following this simple advice you can reduce your heart disease risk through lower cholesterol food. Your health is definitely worth it.