BEAUTY KLINIC

I can practically assure you’re not front squatting enough or in any way. For some reason, you don′t see a lot of gym goers (particularly bodybuilders) making use of this time-tested workout.

Crossfit has gone a long way towards bringing it back (much like Justin Timberlake brought sexy back), but if you’re not doing crossfit - it’s probably not even on your radar.

This is a shame because if you want to achieve maximum strength and power build awesome quads sculpt a killer six-pack and save your “tweaked” lower back then you’re going to appreciate the front squat.

Here’s 2 reasons why you should front squat for a better body:

1. Get Better Quads - The front squat is an EXCELLENT movement to get bigger, stronger quads-probably the best exercise there is. Because you’re position is more upright, it emphasizes the quads more.

2. Get Stronger, More Cut Abs (Core) - Because you’re holding the weight in front of your body, and you must remain upright your entire core gets a great workout trying to stabilize the weight and keep you upright. If you find you’re leaning forward a lot when you back squat, you’ll quickly get stronger and fix this problem if you switch to front squats for a while.

Front squats aren′t just good for building a better looking body either! They′re also really good at just making you more fit and keeping you more healthy. What good is looking strong if you have to sacrifice your health in the process?

Here’s the five more reasons why you have to Front Squat for better well-being:

1. Makes Your Other Lifts Better - Because the bar is placed ahead of you, on your shoulders, the front squat is enormously like other exercises and strengthens the “base” of those lifts/presses. Power Cleans, Overhead Presses, Overhead Squats, and so on all share the same “starting″ position as the front squat. Getting stronger and more comfortable with Front Squats will help you in those exercises as well.

2. Bad Form Gets Self-Corrected - If you’re back squatting with bad form you can wrap up the exercise at the cost of causing harm to yourself. The advantage about front squats is the form is self correcting: If you’re not straight enough you’ll drop the bar if you’re not holding the bar properly you’ll drop it if you don′t keep your elbows up you’ll drop it. It’s a training that pretty much forces your form to be smashing.

3. Less Weight - When all is said and done, if you can defy your body with less weight (because you’re doing a harder training) then it is safer. Because the Front Squat is harder than Back Squats you won′t be able to lift as much weight. Which means a reduced amount of spinal compression.

4. More Natural Spine Position - You’re more upright with the front squat your spine is in a more balanced “straight” position. This combined with the fact you’re lifting a smaller amount of weight is beneficial for your spine in time.

5. Lower Back Approved - Most people have lower back problems and back squats aggravate these conditions. But because your upper body is mostly upright (instead of leaning forward like in a back squat) there’s less force on your lower back. I started front squatting after I hurt my lower back.

Eating healthy is a basic concept known to weight lifting and weight loss, when you want to build muscle quick.

However, what really does eating healthy mean?

Eat Healthy… What did you picture when I said, “Eat Healthy”? A salad? Why not, it’s green and nutritious. However, this thought makes people unaware to the variety of foods available to them if they want to eat healthy and build muscle quick.

Make sure you are getting enough of every nutrient needed. Eating only salads is healthy, and you might see some weight loss. However, this green diet will make you sick and weak down the road…

There are three main nutrients you need to eat healthy, lose weight, and build muscle quick. They are proteins, carbohydrates, and the natural grown garden items.

For the muscle building, protein is a fundamental nutrient to build muscle quick. Protein will give your muscle strength and durability, creating solid muscle. Having a good intake of protein everyday will also help with reducing your muscle healing time letting your body build muscle quick. Good, healthy sources of protein consist of the regular chicken, fish, and also lean red meat. Eggs are also good sources of protein, including the yolk, which is good in protein along with vitamins. The most beneficial would be salmon, containing high amounts of protein with a good amount of Omega-3 fatty acids and high amounts of Vitamin D.

Next on the list are carbohydrates. These will provide your body as its energy source when you are working out. This will mean your body will work off these before going to your body fat food energy. You might say, “I want to eat fewer carbohydrates so that my body eats fat right away, so it burns more.” And those of you who do that, you couldn′t be more right! However, you will also feel the burn! While you work out, your body will begin to ache, burn, and cramp faster than if you had carbohydrates. This is where you need to remember that your body also builds muscle outside of the gym. Carbohydrates only last for so long, and most will be burned up during the work out. This means the rest will be soon burned up after your work out, and then your body will look for your fat as its secondary choice. Eating carbohydrates for energy only saves you the instant pain and annoying aches while you try to get a good work out in.

Carbohydrates come from many things. Most people think of bread. Try to stay away from the high processed and sugar foods for this. Look into oats, cereal, and pasta. Yogurt is also good for both carbohydrates and protein. Eating some type of carbohydrates after your work out will help with your recovery time, giving that added boost for energy to your body.

Last, is the garden grown items, fruits and vegetables. These contain vitamins, fiber, and minerals that help your body recover faster and prevent sicknesses, building up your immune system.

Eating healthy means to eat foods your body will need and use. Eat foods that will help your body by providing protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, fiber, and minerals that will help build muscle quick and as a result, lose fat naturally.

You most likely know by now that drinking beyond 1-2 drinks of alcohol (in any form) each day is NOT good for you. Here’s why:

* Body treats it like estrogen, which is your enemy

* Delays fat loss.

* Extremely high in empty calories.

* Mess up the quality of sleep.

* Dehydrates you (main cause of hangovers)

* Surely bad for your liver.

My expert advice: Don’t drink at all if you want to lose a lot of fat as possible and attain extreme muscle gains.

But let’s face it. This is the real world, and you probably like to drink as much as the next guy (the younger you are the more you probably like to drink). So here’s some tips to keep your muscle building and fat loss on progress when you choose to “indulge”:

Load up on Water

Loads of the bad stuff that comes from drinking can be restrained with water consumption. Alcohol dehydrates you, therefore drink plenty of water before, during (if possible) and certainly before hitting the sack. Moreover, alcohol helps your body do away with great amount of toxins you just doused it with in the form of alcohol.

Avoid Sugary mixers

Avoid sugary mixers in your hard alcohol. Having sugar while drinking alcohol is the worse thing you can do for fat gain.

No carbs

If you′re drinking alcohol don’t eat carbs beforehand, during or after. To sum up: The carbs get turned to fat much easier because your body is trying to process the alcohol. And Protein will stay with you longer so you won’t eat as much and the higher thermic rate makes it less likely to promote fat gain.

Follow the 1-2 drinks a day during weekdays

There’s already enough evidence to suggest that 1-3 drinks a day is good for you. If you love drinking a beer or two a day or glasses of wine or whatsoever, don’t worry about it. Try not to splurge EVERY night. If you′re going to binge

Drink hard only two times a week.

Such as Friday and and Saturday, or something like that. Here’s what to do: Don’t eat plenty during the day if you′re going to whoop it up that night. After that make sure you get some good protein into your system to help protect your stomach. In addition, some foods high in fiber like beans is good as well. It will remain with you and help you feel fuller, perhaps absorb some toxins-definitely help flush them out the next day when you “eliminate”.

Workout 2-3 hours before you get down

Because your muscles get depleted of glycogen after you workout doing this might make it easier for your body to turn even more of the empty calories you ingest later on that night into muscle, instead of fat.

Don’t eat too much once you get drunk

Most people drink till they’re really drunk, then get hungry and decide to eat a bunch of crap food. This is NOT going to help. Follow the protein tip above, and drink more water to help you feel full.

Amuse yourself with beer pong or other games

As a matter of fact, you could actually burn 20-30 calories in a “Vigorous” game of beer pong. You′ll almost certainly drink more though as a result. My advice: Drink a lesser amount to make your aim better - therefore you drink less during the game (because you′re winning) which overall leads to less drinking! Play “strip” versions of these games for even more fun.

If you just want to get drunk, be disciplined

It’s NOT healthy (emotionally, mentally OR physically) to drink to “get drunk″ but I realize this is why most people do it. They drink because they think it makes them more confident, more brave, or more well liked. That’s all bullsh*t, you really need to get your confidence issues handled, but I realize most people still do it.

Therefore if you′re drinking for “effect″ then remember: be disciplined. Get a high alcohol spirit like Everclear or 151, cut it with ice and water, or do a couple shots, you′ll get drunk faster. And you won’t have to drink as much. (at least it’s better than drinking 36 beers right?)

I can’t believe I’m giving this advice, but I know people will still do it, so just be “efficient″ about it and maybe it′ll help you not to go overboard next time.

Go for low-fat beers and wines

Light beers has the lowest calories. Dark stouts like Guinness are next. Followed by the rest. Red wines has reduced calories (and contain extra resveratrol), followed by the rest.

Things to do when you′re hangover:

Here’s some tips if you might be hangover in the morning:

* Stay away from NSAID’s such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and all that because mixed with the alcohol it is tremendously bad for your liver and stomach, and the like…

* Grab some water and Gatorade to restore electrolytes and all that…

* Take a multivitamin/multi-mineral to further replenish

* Proteins are great to comfort you such as eggs, bacon, and all that…

* Exercise moderately to sweat some toxins out (make sure you keep drinking water)

* Catch some z’s…

You know you wouldn’t though if you do

Decide to “over indulge” you should at least follow the guidelines I’ve set out here. The real issue you should address is:

“Why do I feel the need to drink too much?”

You′ll probably discover that it’s an issue with your self confidence not being able to say “no” to your friends or trying to “Fit in” or some other such nonsense. Or you don’t like reality and you′re just trying to escape from it by getting trashed. None of these things are good for you and you need to get these issues handled before you do some damage.

Aerobics (long, steady state sub-maximal cardio) aren’t smashing for various health or fat loss related benefits. I’ve already done a post on why aerobic’s inefficient for fat loss. In addition, I look into the health benefits of interval training against steady-state aerobics in my interval training for fat loss article.

Though I should admit aerobic exercise has its place. It can be a beneficial tool in getting rid of stubborn body fat in the areas males get it most (the abs) and females (butt, hips and thighs) But only if you do it on one of these two occasions (and I’ll explain why as well!):

Time #1 You Should Do Aerobics: After Interval Training

To start with, let’s look at what intervals and aerobics do in your body

Steady state go after heart rate cardio (aerobics). Utilizes fat for energy, but the problem is it takes a long time to exercise for the body to start making use of fat as energy for this kind of cardio.

Above average intensity interval training. Burns glycogen and releases fatty acids into the blood stream, but it doesn’t use those fatty acids for energy, which means they get redeposited into the fat cells.

Here’s how you obtain the both of best worlds:

1. Execute your 12 minutes or less of interval training

2. Hang about 5 minutes

3. Do 20 (maximum 30) minutes of steady state cardio (aerobics)

When you do it this way, the HIIT followed by 5 minutes rest guarantees a large release of fatty acids into the blood stream, which means you’re guaranteed to be burning fat as fuel when you do your aerobics! Neat huh?

Time #2 You Should Do Aerobics: After Weight Lifting

Intense weight lifting is very similar to Hight Intensity Interval Training in the effects that it has on your body, the fuel it uses, etc. So the only other time you should do aerobic cardio is after your weight lifting.

I recommend 20-30 mins of low-medium intensity steady state cardio after weight lifting.

Why You Must Know This

CNS overload: If you’re lifting weightily, concentrating on strength, doing low reps with heavy weights 3x per week, you’re working your central nervous system to improve your strength (for the most part). Interval training on your “off″ days may be a burden for some people, steady state aerobics after weights is a good alternative if that’s you.

Stubborn fat: If you’re already around 10-12% body fat (guys) or 15-17% bf (women) and you need to get SUPER ripped, then you should employ the HIIT followed with aerobics in this case. It will help strip away those last stubborn pounds.

My past article on eating clean sums up simple nutrition guidelines for you. Then again, I got an email from a vegetarian in need of some tips.

Protein is certainly one of the most essential “macro nutrients” you need to build muscle and to help you pull through from your strength training. Nearly all experts suggest no less than 1g per pound of bodyweight each day.

But most of the opinion for getting protein involves consuming stuff vegetarians and vegans can’t - if that describes you, read this article for muscle building nutrition advice for vegetarians and vegans…

In What Way Vegetarians & Vegans Eat?

Nearly everyone consume a lot of vegetables, legumes, fruits, tofu and soy. Several kinds eat eggs & dairy products too. But no animal flesh (meat, fish or poultry).

* Lacto-ovo Vegetarians. Does not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, shellfish or animal flesh of any kind, consumes only dairy and egg products.

* Lacto Vegetarians. Eat dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream, except eggs.

* Ovo Vegetarians. Eat eggs, but no dairy and no animal flesh.

* Vegans. Does not use or consume animal products of any kind.

Problems You′ll Run Into With Vegeterianism & Veganism.

Vegetables and fruits are great for vitamins, minerals and fiber. Green vegetables are also good since they boost your alkalinity levels and stabilize acidic foods like meat. Here’s a few “problems” you′ll run into eating like this though:

* Allergic reactions - if all you eat is dairy and eggs you for protein, then you can run into lactose intolerance, acne, or other allergic reactions from all the dairy food

* Low Testosterone - meats, eggs, and dairy have saturated fat and cholesterol which increase testosterone. If your T levels are low you′ll have less muscle, less strength, less energy, lagging libido, higher body fat, and less of an “ambition”

Excellent Sources of Protein for Vegeterians & Vegans

If you′re lacto and/or ovo it’s trouble-free. Just don’t eat meat and follow my other eating healthy rules to get your protein: cheese, milk, whey protein, eggs, and all that. If you′re vegan, there’s several fresh sources of protein:

* Beans. Black, garbanzo, hummus, kidney, fava, winged, mungo, lima

* Legumes. Lentils, peas, cow peas, chick pea, snow peas

* Whole Grains. Brown rice, oats, quinoa, granola, breads

* Protein Powder. Hemp protein, soy protein, rice protein …

* Milk. Almond milk, coconut milk, plant milk, rice milk, soy milk …

* Soy. Soy beans, tofu, soy cheese, deli-style soy meats, soy milk,

* Nuts. Walnuts, almonds, pistachio, cashew, peanuts, peanut butter

* Seeds. Flax, hemp, pumpkin, sesame …