Hi Folks

Not posted on here for a while so thought id start by a small review on the latest pre-workout drink to take the market by storm, Jack3d.

Jack3d is manufactured by USP labs in the USA which contains a proprietary blend of the following ingredients which we will look at in more detail.

1. Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG),  which is a salt of the amino acid Arginine and alpha-ketoglutaric acid.  These are precursors to Nitric Oxide. These have been also shown to promote a number of anabolic mechanisms such a GH and insulin secretion.
2. Creatine Monohydrate. (benefits have been already discussed in previous blog).
3. Beta Analine, this compound is very useful in allowing the muscles to work with peak performance and minimizing fatigue and allowing more efficient flow of nutrients into the muscle.
4. Caffeine, stimulant and thermogenic.
5. 1,3-Dimethylamylamine (DMAA), initially used as a nasal decongestant and very similar in action to caffeine.
6. Schizandrol A, originates from chinese medicine, USP Labs have been quoted in saying that this compound can outperform amphetamine by increasing cognitive focus and muscle work.

I personally have used Jack3d religiously for 2 months and i have to say im very pleased with the effects during my workouts, especially in aquiring a good pump and lasting through an intense cardio session……Prepare to sweat lol.

Jack3d Rating 9 / 10

£27.95 per tub in store.

Hi Folks

Its my pleasure to introduce Jim Blyth, a BNBF competitive athelete. Ive known Jim for several years and was pleased to sponsor him for this years 2010 BNBF British Final at the SECC in Glasgow. Heres a a small Bio of Jim, to give younger athetes an insight into the bodybuilders lifestyle and off course to give inspiration.

Name: Jim Blyth

Born: 06/06/1966

Relationship Status: Married with two daughters

Employment: Diageo

Location: Alva, Clackmannanshire

Jim Blyth Second from the Left

Sports Background: Jim has always been active and participated in athletics throughout high school, from where he was a member of a local club. He started with the 400m and progressed onto distance running and half marathons. He joined the Royal Marines in 1987 and finished in 1991 after a tour of duty in Iraq. Jim was a late starter into the bodybuilding scene starting at the ripe age of 30, from where after 10yrs of serious training entered his first bodybuilding competition at 40.

Jims competitive achievements are as follows;

2006 2nd place Novice class (scottish qualifier)

2007 3rd place Masters class (scottish qualifier)

2008 5th place Masters class (central qualifier – St Albans)

2009 2nd place Masters Class (scottish qualifier)

6th place British finals

2010 2nd place Masters class (northern qualifier – Manchester)

6th place British Finals

Off Season Diet:

Mainly Meditteranean style incorporating most meats including fish, chicken and steak. Jim is a firm believer in getting in his 5 a day daily. Good fats are sourced from olive oil, nuts, avocados and oily fish. Jim supplementation is mainly from protein blend shakes like Extreme Pro-6 and post workout shakes like Build and Recover containing creatine. When not consuming protein shakes hes enjoying his wifes good old home baking. To wash all this down 3-4 litres of water are consumed on a daily basis.

Training Techniques:

Jim carries out a 4-day split regime, usually missing out 1 bodypart per week, then trains that bodypart first the following week. This allows for a full 7 days rest for each muscle group. He carries out 20-30mins of moderated cardio after every workout, this helps keep the fat levels down. Each bodypart gets worked with heavy weight using 2 compound movements then fried to annihilation using triple drop sets or cables. This assures all muscle fibres are atrophied.

At present Jim is looking into carrying out FST-7 training for several months, a workout program currently being employed by many Pro’s.

Jim’s Testimonial:

I would like to thank Rene for his continued and continuing support on nutritional and training expertise. I recommend that any gym user both novice and seasoned make use of Renes knowledge, by visiting Betterbodies Falkirk. Thanks

Creatine is produced naturally in the human body from amino acids ( L-Arginine, Glycine and L-Methionine)  in the kidneys and liver. 95% of the bodies total creatine is Located in skeletal muscle. Its biosynthesis is shown below;

Approximately half of stored creatine you can get from foodstuffs like meat. Its very important vegetarians supplement as vegetables do not contain creatine.

Individuals with kidney disease should avoid using creatine.

Creatine is beneficial for bodybuilders as it allows you to work harder as a result of additional energy also the accompanying increased protein synthesis. When large quantities of creatine phosphate in present in the muscle, more water is stored causing greater volumisation and hence promotion of protein synthesis.

When considering creatine as a valuable addition to your supplement list, be careful on which creatine you use. Creatines efficiency is dependant on its conversion to the ‘non usable’ creatinine. Creatinine is an unwanted by-product which can cause unwanted side effects. In my opinion you should choose a pH-buffered creatine, which is basically creatine held at a high pH (pH11) which stops this conversion to creatinine, meaning 100% efficiency. Several manufacturers produce this creatine my favourite is Extreme Nutrition Kr-evolution which I stock in store.

Hope this article will make you consider using creatine as a favourable supplement (check you have any underlying health conditions first) and highlights its importance for the strength / endurance athelete,

all the best and good luck

Rene

Nobody can deny the satisfying feeling you get when your muscles are gorged with blood, making you look bigger / more powerful and, when bodyfat is low enough, more vascular during an intense weight session. This is called “the Pump”. This pump will spurn new muscle growth, how does this work?

Physiologically what is happening is that natural nitric oxide (NO) is released during exercise which relaxes the smooth muscles that line blood vessels; this expands the middle space of the blood vessels allowing maximum blood flow. So does Nitric Oxide work? In a word or two most certainly it does.

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This is a non-essential amino acid which basically means the body can synthesise it, not that its not essential.

Glutamine is utilised as a source of energy by rapidly dividing cells e.g. cells of the intestinal lining (supplementation can be used to treat conditions such as ‘leaky gut’ and crohns) and certain immune cells.

Glutamine is important in the muscle building process as it serves as a carbon / nitrogen donor this will be considered in a bit more detail later.

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All of us have at some time experienced some form of muscle soreness from our training. There are several degrees of muscle soreness, lets look at each individually.

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Women and Weight Training

I can count the endless times I have heard the saying “I don’t want to get tooooo big”. The truth of the matter is , you WONT, and the reason plain and simple is basic endocrinology, you don’t produce enough male hormone testosterone to gain like a male. So chill out and become shapely, toned and lean NOT Bulky and brutish lol.

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So U Wanna Get in Condition?- Then Get Fat

It’s a common misconception, especially when you go shopping and see countless numbers of LOW fat meals and other edibles on the market that fat is bad in your diet, this plain and simple is NOT the case. In fact every cell in your body has a coating of fat for protection, without fat you would die. The same goes for protein. But you can live without carbohydrates, uncomfortable as it is, it can be done. And the key to a conditioned, toned, vascular physique, is to keep carbs low (not eliminate completely), protein high and fats moderate (up to 70g of fat is not uncommon). Lets describe fats in more detail;

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