One of the most common questions coming from our male customers is how can they get big and lean.  The following is the actual program from our Warwick Manager Steve Bardi.  He maintains a weight of about 200 lbs with visible abs almost all year round.  At his height most people consider him big and lean.  If thats not enough he is permanently tanned and hairless.  Check out the following for a real world program that has helped many of his customer put on muslce and get leaner.

Daily Routine with Supplements for First 3 Months: 

1.       Wake at 6 a.m. and take 1 ADRENA-LEAN capsule to wake up.  I also eat 2 CLA Evolution, 1 Fish-Oil pill, and 4 Met-RX HMB, and 3 TEST REVOLUTION with a Protein shake with 8 frozen strawberries, a banana, and BCAA powder in a blender with water. 

2.      On my way to the gym at 7:15, I am sipping on my pre-workout drink: 1 ½ scoops of BioRhythm Juice, INTEK BCAA powder, and 1 scoop DIESEL FUEL.  I sip on this drink throughout my whole workout in order to stay pumped and anabolic, so I can continue to build muscle and burn calories. 

3.      Immediately after my last set, I start to sip on my post workout shake which consists of 2 scoops of AFTER GLOW, and 1 scoop of INTEK’s ISOLATE RED ICE. 

4.      With two more meals during the day, I will use MET-RX HMB, CLA Evolution and Fish Oil in order to keep body fat to a minimum, especially while increasing calories to build muscle.  This allows me to build muscle while staying lean.

5.      My final protein shake before bed consists of INTEK’s Whey Protein, ORANGE CREAMSICLE flavor, I use MSI’s SLEEP REVOLUTION and 3 TEST REVOLUTION to help me get a fulfilling night’s sleep.  SLEEP REVOLUTION provides a healthy dose of amino acids as well as a combination of anabolic ingredients to assure that the body gets a full nights rest and recovery so I can train intensely the following day. 

 

My goal with the supplements is to take them when I feel they will benefit me the most.  Although my ideas are somewhat different to what the bottle usually suggests, this is what I have found to be the most beneficial.  My thought is that growth takes place when you are at rest, not when you are actually working, that being said I feel it is in everyone’s best interest to take muscle-building, endurance, and thermogenic supplements around your workouts as a base, along with some supplements for general health throughout the day.   For the most part this is why I take so many different supplements before and during my workouts.  In my opinion this is the most crucial time to be anabolic, or in a (muscle-building) state.  I make sure to eat meals or shakes every 2-3 hours throughout the day, and stay well hydrated by drinking at least 1 gallon of water every day, with the INTEK BCAA Evolution added to it in order to feed my body what it requires to build muscle.  Below I will list what I consider to be the supplements that everyone who is trying to build muscle should take all year-round: 

1.       Protein

2.      Creatine

3.      Amino Acids

4.      Testosterone booster

5.      Glutamine

6.      Essential Fatty acids

7.      Nitric Oxide

8.      Multi-Vitamin

9.      Joint product-depending on time of year

These supplements are on what I call a “Revolving-Basis”, which basically means that I will adjust and change what supplements I use depending on what my goals are at that particular time.  Say for instance it is closer to the spring then I obviously want to cut back the calories I consume, as well as switch what supplements I am using in order to achieve my goal.  Some supplements are better for gaining weight, while some supplements are much better for cutting up or “Shredding”.  I basically never really stop using these supplements listed above, and with good reason; your body cannot and will not have the building blocks necessary to build muscle without these basics incorporated into your regimen.  What I will now give you below is an example of what my diet will consist of while I am going through a “Bulking” phase:

Meal 1:  10 egg whites, 2 whole eggs, 1 cup measured Oatmeal, 1 glass chocolate milk

Meal 2:  6 ounces Sirloin steak, 1 sweet potato, large salad and 1 cup green beans

Meal 3:  Complete MASS 600 protein shake with a few ounces of cashews

Meal 4:  8 ounces Chicken, 2 slices of American cheese, 1 sweet potato, and 1 cup green beans

Meal 5:  Complete MASS 600 protein shake with a few ounces of cashews

Meal 6:  A 10 egg white and 2 whole egg omelette, with vegetables, cheese, and two English muffins with jelly on them with a glass of chocolate milk.

Meal 7:  1 cup of cottage cheese with pineapple mixed into it, or ice-cream depending on my cravings.

I suggest getting a hold of some of OPTIMUM HEALTH’s Complete Digestion when beginning the first phase of the program.  The added calories can, and usually will put some unwanted pressure on your digestive system, and having this supplement handy will help to increase absorption of all the nutrients you are about to flood your body with.

I typically will try to eat the same foods at the same times every day in order to make my body that much more efficient at breaking down the nutrients it needs to grow.  As you can see from my diet listed above, I do not go too crazy in order to put weight on when “Bulking”.  The idea here is to increase my caloric intake slightly so as to avoid gaining too much body-fat over the course of my first 3 months.  I have come to understand my genetics and realize that I do not have the ability to be too heavy without my joints and knees suffering.  Besides, when I take the DIESEL FUEL as part of my supplement regimen, I find that the weight and strength comes pretty quickly on its own.  The next section will cover my workouts, and you will find a list of the exact exercises below.

Workout Program for Months 1-3: 

Monday:  Legs

1.       10 minutes on treadmill to warm-up

2.      Squats- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

3.      Leg Presses- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

4.      Leg extensions- 3 sets of 10-12 reps

5.      Lying leg curls- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

6.      Seated leg curls- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

7.      Seated calf raises- 3 sets of 20-25 reps

Tuesday:  Back

1.       10 minutes on bike for warm-up

2.      3 sets of wide-grip chin-ups to failure

3.      3 sets of Underhand- grip chin-ups to failure

4.      Rack Dead-lifts- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

5.      Seated Cable rows- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

6.      One-Arm dumbbell rows- 2 sets of 8-10 reps

7.      Hyper-extensions 3 sets of 15 reps

Wednesday:  Off

Thursday:  Chest

1.       Incline Barbell presses- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

2.      Flat Barbell presses- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

3.      Decline Barbell presses- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

4.      Weighted Dips- 3 sets of 10-12 reps

5.      Dumbbell Flyes- 2 sets flat, 2 sets incline, and 2 sets decline

6.      Abdominals- crunches, leg raises and side twists

Friday:  Arms

1.       Standing dumbbell curls- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

2.      Barbell curls- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

3.      Incline dumbbell curls- 3 sets of 12-15 reps

4.      Rope pushdowns- 2 sets of 15-18 reps

5.      Straight-bar pushdowns- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

6.      Lying skull crushers- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

7.      Weighted Tricep dips- 3 sets of 8-10 reps

Saturday:  Shoulders & Traps

1.       Side dumbbell lateral raises- 3 sets of 12-15 reps (30 seconds rest only)

2.      Barbell push presses- 3 sets of 6-8 reps

3.      Upright rows (barbell)- 3 sets of 12-15 reps

4.      Bent-over lateral raises- 3 sets of 12-15 reps

5.      Barbell shrugs- 3 sets (ascending in weight) of 10-12 reps.  Finish with a strip set on the last set with no rest

6.      Behind-the-back Barbell shrugs- 3 sets of 12-15 reps

As you can see from the workout above, the first phase of my program is pretty basic on nature, but that is because being big and strong requires many compound movements, with much rest in between work-outs.  What I will do after the initial 6 weeks of this program is to switch up the exercises so that my body never gets a chance to become comfortable with the weights and exercises.  The first phase is somewhat plain in nature, but performed well, it will help to slap on some clay that we can later turn into peeled or chiseled muscle that you can show off down at Scarborough Beach. 

Working out and dieting can help create a calorie deficit (taking in fewer calories than burned) which is necessary for weight loss.  The ideal situation is one in which you lose body fat and maintain muscle tone.  The trick is to get your body to use fat as a fuel source.  This is where CLA and essential fats can help.

 

Conjugated Linoleic Acid or CLA has been shown to inhibit the activity of lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme involved in the uptake of fat into fat cells.  This can reduce fat uptake into cells preventing accumulation of body fat.  CLA also promotes the body’s use of fat as fuel, helping to breakdown fatty acids allowing them to get into the blood stream to be used as fuel.   Several studies have shown that CLA can positively affect body composition. 

 

Liposlim combines fat mobilizers like CLA and emulsifiers that keep fats and cholesterols moving so they do not accumulate and build up, contributing obesity.  CLA in combination with the essential fats GLA, ALA, DHA and EPA has been shown to contribute to weight loss.  The Liposlim formula also uses Hoodia to help control cravings and appetite.

Fat Burning Supplement Solutions:

What to Take: Intek Fat Burner Evolution, Intek CLA Evolution, Intek Protein Evolution

How to Take It: Take 3 caps of the Fat Burner in the morning and take another 1-3 caps mid afternoon.  Take 1 cap of the CLA Evolution with meals (3-4 caps total).  Use the Protein Evolution after training and 1-3 other times throughout the day as needed.

Why it Works: The Fat Burner Evolution increases calorie burning as well as controls appetite while the CLA Evolution helps the body tap into fat as a source of fuel.  Protein Evolution helps maintain muscle and keeps your metabolism going throughout the day.

 

What to Take: BioRhythm Olio, BioRhythm Synthrolean, Optimum Health Detox and Cleanse

How to Take It: Take 3 Olio per day, one with three different meals.  Take two Synthrolean in the morning and two in the evening.  Take two Detox and Cleanse before going to bed.

Why it Works: Olio help your body release fat for a fuel source while Synthrolean increases fat burning enzymes and metabolic rate.  Detox and Cleanse helps you body get rid of waste built up in the digestive tract while shedding excess water.

 

What to Take: Intek Thermogenic Evolution, Liposlim, BioRhythm Synthrolean

How to Take It: Take 1-2 Intek Thermogenic in the morning and 1-2 midafternoon.  Take 3-4 Liposlim per day in divided doses (1 with each meal).  Take two Synthrolean in the morning and 2 midafternoon.

Why it Works: Intek Thermogenic is one of the more potent energizers and metabolism boosters.  Synthrolean increases fat burning enzymes and metabolic rate.  Liposlim helps moderate appetite while forcing the body to use fat as an energy source.

Intek Thermogenic Evolution is much more than your typical caffeine loaded energy product that claims to be the next miracle in fat burning.  Thermogenic Evolution breaks new ground by introducing a new ingredient to the fat burning category known as Geranium Extract or 1,3-dimethylamylamine.  Geranium Extract has been shown to be extremely safe and importantly has been shown to trigger fat release while increasing calorie burning.

 

1,3-dimethylamylamine is a derivative of geranium oil which resembles the body’s own chemical messenger, epinephrine (adrenaline). Similar to adrenaline, 1,3-dimethylamylamine exhibits a powerful CNS stimulating ability, for increased energy, mental clarity, and physical performance.  This is especially valuable to athletes during calorie restriction or when a high level of focus is needed.  1,3-dimethylamylamine works through a similar pathway as ephedrine, causing an increase in cAMP (the chemical messenger that triggers fat release and provides potent appetite suppression and thermogenic action).

Lipodrene by Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals Reviewed:  Lipodrene would be considered a fat burner/energy enhancer.  Lipodrene lists Ephedra Extract as one of its first ingredients but this isn’t the ephedra that users of the original ephedra products expect.  The current extract is a leaf extract which contains no ephedrine alkaloids.  Unfortunately the alkaloids where responsible for most of the energy, appetite control and thermogenic effect that users enjoyed.  To their credit they did introduce the use of Acacia Rigidula Extract which is the source for many of the compounds in Lipodrene as well as several other fat burners on the market.  Many of the components in Lipodrene including Phenyl ethylamine, and Methyl Synephrine are extracts of Acacia.  These ingredients are primarily helpful with mood and as sense of well being.  They will also provide minimal appetite control.  The main ingredient that users will feel in Lipodrene is the 100mg of caffeine per tablet.

Which Protein Should You be Using?

Muscle growth is dependent on the balance between protein synthesis and protein breakdown. The goal is to increase protein synthesis and decrease protein breakdown. Casein protein is considered to be a muscle-sparing protein. Since casein protein slowly enters the blood stream, it has a moderate impact on protein synthesis, but it has a powerful effect on reducing protein breakdown.

 

Current research has shown that in terms of overall muscle tissue increases and decreases of body fat, casein reigns superior. It’s been shown to accomplish this by increasing anabolism to a moderate extent, but more importantly, decreasing catabolism to a large degree. It seems that the reason behind this is simply because of its slow digestion and consequently, absorption rates. It provides a steady, slower paced release of amino acids into the blood stream.

 

We all know that we need to take whey protein after workouts–but that doesn’t mean that whey can’t be better. Slow-digesting casein protein was once believed to have no place around workout time, but newer research suggests otherwise. In fact, a study from Baylor University (Waco, Texas) reported that men who consumed a whey/casein blend of protein after workouts for 10 weeks gained significantly more muscle than the subjects who consumed a whey protein shake without casein.  These subjects also lost more fat than the ones using only whey.

 

Current research is showing that the optimal protein for fat loss and muscle building is a mixture of whey and casein protein.  Try Intek Evolution Protein or Optimum Health Pro Complete 40 for the ideal blend of whey and casein proteins.

Geranium oil extract, or 1, 3-dimethylamylamine, is the hot new ingredient in many pre-workout powders and fat burners.  Geranium extract mimics the body’s own chemical messanger, epinephrine (adrenaline).  If you couldn’t guess it has a strong central nervous system stmulating effect, i.e. incrased energy, mental clarity and physical performance.  This stuff is ultra potent and is even great for fat loss.  Geranium works through a similar pathway as ephedrine causing an increase in cAMP, the chemical messanger that triggers fat release, appetite suppression and thermogenisis.  I personally think geranium extract will eventually replace ephedrine.  I feel its a better alternative with less of a crashing effect and no jitters.  If you haven’t tried any products containing this wonder herb you are in for a treat.  Supplements containing geranium extract include Intek’s Thermogenic Revolution (strongest fat burner post ephedrine ban), USP Lab’s Jack3d, BioRhythm’s SSIN Juice, MSI’s Lean PreWorkout Revolution.

The key ingredients in Intek’s Fat Burner Evolution have been shown to increase energy and stimulate the metabolism.  By increasing nor epinephrine this product creates a thermogenic effect which allows the body to become energy inefficient.  This causes the body to burn excess calories and waste them as heat, allowing an individual to use more calories throughout the day even while at rest.  Fat Burner Evolution not only increases metabolic output but also forces your body to tap into fat as a fuel source by allowing the body to release stored energy (body fat) into the blood stream so it can be used as fuel.  A patented appetite suppressant keeps cravings in check so you don’t have to fight hunger while moderating calories.

 

Try this product with Intek CLA Evolution as it enhances the fat mobilization effect.

Insulin is a powerful anabolic hormone that increases muscle growth. It speeds the movement of amino acids into muscle cells and activates signaling chemicals that promote protein synthesis. Blood glucose is a powerful insulin stimulator, but amino acids can also trigger insulin release. Many athletes take protein or amino acids supplements before or after weight training to boost muscle mass and strength. The amino acids from protein act as building blocks for muscle repair and protein synthesis. Hydrolyzed whey protein has been shown to increases insulin release more so than regular whey protein. Hydrolyzed whey protein contains protein hydrolysates which are small packets of amino acids produced by breaking down proteins with acids or enzymes. Insulin release was 28 percent greater following ingestion of HWP compared to WP. The body absorbs HWP better than WP, which results in higher blood levels of specific aminos and greater potential for muscle protein synthesis.

 

For a great tasting product that uses Hydrolyzed whey protein try Intek Isolate Evolution.

Inflammation promotes blood vessel disease, heart attack and stroke. Researches found that a low-carbohydrate diet reduced markers or inflammation and blood fats better than a low-fat diet in people with MS. MS is a group of symptoms linked to poor metabolic health that include insulin resistance, abdominal fat deposition, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, low HDL (the good cholesterol), inflammation, type 2 diabetes and blood-clotting abnormalities. Low-carb diets reduced inflammation and improved blood-clotting regulation better than low-fat diets in people with MS.