Coq10 Helps Bodybuilders Perform Better

With all of the nutritional supplements aimed at packing on muscle, people seem to overlook the fact that simple coq10 helps bodybuilders. Weightlifting for mass or just fitness takes a tremendous amount of energy, and producing cellular energy in the form of ATP is exactly what coenzyme q10 does. This nutrient can be a boon to anyone performing athletic activity that requires sustained energy over an extended period of time.

If your body does not have sufficient levels of coenzyme q10 present, there is no production of ATP. The body generally only has enough ATP to allow sustained vigorous exercise for a period of five to ten minutes at a time, and after that time energy levels drop dramatically. Most of us suffer from a deficiency in coenzyme q10, because our diets don't supply us with enough of this essential nutrient.

The amount of coenzyme q 10 that we could obtain from our diet alone would probably not be enough for you to truly see an improvement of athletic performance. Aside from energy production, one of the unique ways that coq10 helps bodybuilders is its ability to assist in insulin sensitization. Repeated insulin spikes due to periodically heavy carbohydrate and sugar intakes cause the body to become increasingly insulin resistant.

Insulin is one of the most powerful anabolic agents in the world, and by spiking insulin levels bodybuilders increase muscle protein synthesis. Becoming insulin resistant can mean less overall muscle mass for these athletes. Taking in more coenzyme q 10 allows you to drive more nutrients into working muscles, without having to later burn off the additional fat that is produced by taking in massive amounts of sugars and carbohydrates.

Coq10 helps bodybuilders in other ways as well, such as the preventing the development of heart disease. Deficiencies in coenzyme q 10 have been proven to be related to congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and high blood pressure. Coenzyme q 10 has also been proven to reduce the damaging oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which allows for the cholesterol to build up on the inside of our arteries.

The role of coenzyme q 10 in preventing Alzheimer's disease, and preventing stroke has shown promise as well. Studies have concluded that increasing the amount of coenzyme q 10 in your system can not only prevent critical heart conditions and stroke, but it may also reverse the conditions. Some studies have found that even patients expected to die within two years can experience substantial clinical improvement.

Scientists suspect that coq10 helps bodybuilders and others by potentially increasing their lifespan, especially when taken in combination with fish oil. In order for you to get the most benefit from supplements, I would advise taking a DHA omega 3 fish oil formula along with a quality multivitamin which features coenzyme q 10, resveratrol, and folic acid.

Coq10 helps bodybuilders in many ways, as you can see. Make sure that you are ingesting plenty coenzyme q 10 daily, in conjunction with the other nutrients I suggested. That should help you to get everything you can out of your training, and your life.

How the DP Exercise Bike Stacks Up Against Better Known Brands

The name DP exercise bike might not be as recognizable as other brands like Schwinn, Nautilus and ProForm, but this brand has been around for quite some time and is one of the most respected names in the physical fitness business. Currently, DP is better known for selling exercise bike parts and exercise equipment supplies.

Most DP indoor bikes are old models and are quite difficult to get hold of except in online stores and secondhand retailers. One of the models of DP that became quite popular was the DP Fit for Life Airgometer upright bike. This model costs around $1,000 to $1,200 and carries the basic features of an upright indoor bike.

Another model from the DP fitness brand is the Vita Master MBP2. It features various program settings and tension controls. It also has a heart-rate monitor and features battery operated controls. Aside from the Vita Master and the Airgometer, DP also offers DP Air Advantage, DP AirCisor, DP Prime Fit 6100, DP Sit for Life Aircizer and DP Vitamaster MD193.

DP has been overshadowed by more recognizable brands like Schwinn and ProForm. Schwinn, for one, has multiple models out in the market, including the 230 recumbent bike, the 130 upright and the Airdyne exercise bike. Scwhinn's products can cost from $350 to over $1,000. One of the brand's more expensive model, the Evolution, sells at more than $1,000 and has been highly rated by product reviewers. It features an inertia drive system, adjustable resistance and direct drive gearing.

ProForm, another brand competing with DP in the indoor bike market, offers machines that cost $150 to $1,200. One of its low end models is the SR30. The features of this machine are very basic and the model is geared at entry level market. It features magnetic resistance, pulse sensors and an LCD console. Other ProForm models targeting the low end and middle markets are the SR80, GL 35 and GL 105.

The DP brand might not be at the top of the market, but its machines still serve the basic operating functions of exercise bikes. They offer users the ability to tone and strengthen leg and thigh muscles and provide an effective cardiovascular exercise routine. Limited availability aside, DP exercise machines, including the secondhand models being sold in online auction sites, might still be worth consumers' time and investment.

The DP exercise bike is not exactly hogging the physical fitness equipment limelight, but there are still those who like the brand. For these loyal customers, auction sites and online stores are their best options of finding one these products.

Play Better Tennis With Rewards and Sanctions

Making tennis practice resemble a competitive tennis match is a key to playing better tennis in competition. How to make practice simulate a competitive tennis match has been a matter of debate. The study featured in Medicine and Science in Tennis looked at whether using sanctions (negative reinforcement) or rewards (positive reinforcement) during practice could improve tennis tennis skills during competition.

Kangaroo Jumps vs. Milk Shakes

The 2006 study was conducted using 12 semi-professional and professional tennis players, seven who were ranked by the ATP. The goal of the study was to see if sanctions and rewards could assist in simulating competitive play, encourage consistent control of hitting and create high performance motivation in players. The sanction used was the dreaded kangaroo jump, and the rewards were the ever popular milk shakes. The players were tested using the following five tennis simulations:

Hit 96 balls toward a small rectangle with a forehand, trying to get four shots in a row into the rectangle Hit 96 balls toward a small rectangle with a forehand, trying to get eight shots in a row into the rectangle Match simulation with two players where one player only uses a forehand and the other only uses a backhand and then switch strokes after each point. The only part of the court used was the backhand diagonal. Same as above, except both players started using only the backhand and once one player used a forehand the entire court was opened up for play, not just the backhand diagonal. 5 minute practice game. Results In tests 2, 4 and 5, kangaroo jumps and milk shakes were added to the test. For example, in test two if a player hit eight forehand shots into a rectangle, they received a milk shake and in test 4 and 5 if a player lost a point they had to do a kangaroo jump. ("Rewards and Sanctions")

In test 2, the study found when sanctions were used there was a 20% increase in ball control, however there was also a 3.7% reduction in ball velocity. In test 3, the backhand diagonal match found that when sanctions were used a 7.3% increase was seen in stroke consistency. Additionally, it was found when using sanctions the players had an elevated heart rate and high-perceived concentration, which simulates conditions found in match play. ("Rewards and Sanctions")

When rewards were used in the tests, it was found the players took more chances and played a riskier and more aggressive version of tennis, which may be appropriate in some competitive situations.

Putting It into Practice

There is an endless number of sanctions tennis players could use in their own practice, whether it be doing wind sprints, putting money into a jar for an end of season league party or any horrible task. If a player is not aggressive enough during match play, employ the use of pleasing rewards. The sanctions and rewards that can be used are infinite and limited only by imagination.

Source: "Rewards and Sanctions to Enhance Stroke Quality in Tennis Training," Medicine and Science in Tennis, 2006; 11(3), Weber, Piper and Faust.

Game With Better Focus, Reaction Time and Energy - Top Energy Ingredients Reviewed!

Gamers are always looking for something that pushes them past their limits and increases their reaction time, energy levels and focus. Traditional energy drinks often leave them empty feeling and over stimulated without providing much benefit for the serious gamer. Caffeine is a great ingredient for boosting quick energy, but is it enough to keep the serious gamer protected and focused? Whether you play World of Warcraft or Madden, you will need these killer ingredients to give you every ounce of advantage over the competition!

To get a serious game changing drink we had to look to bodybuilders favorites to make our greatest find. In fact I've identified 5 key ingredients for the serious gamer that will transform their focus and performance. Every gamer can benefit from things like better reaction time, increased energy and serious attention to detail. These 5 key ingredients have everything the serious gamer needs!

Creatine monohydrate is the first killer ingredient! I know what you are saying...CREATINE? Yes, it's a key ingredient because it has an effect on full body energy, including the brain. Gamers are starting to learn what older people have known for years, creatine is great for recharging brain cells and increasing cellular energy! If you are feeling fatigued after 4 or 5 hours of gaming, your cellular energy stores are probably depleted. Creatine is the battery for mitochondrial energy stores and if you want a recharge you need to take it! Creatine will supercharge the bodies ATP stores, which is a natural form of cellular energy and no organ needs as much ATP as the brain. So, if you want to slay the dragon or defeat the wizard, you need creatine to be at your best!

Beta Alanine is the next killer ingredient. It can increase nerve pulses (in fact you may experience a tingle in the first 5-10 minutes, which is your nerves firing faster than ever before) and act as a GABA agonist in the brain. GABA is the body's natural stress control agent, so increasing it along with a stimulant will help you focus better without being stressed and making costly mistakes. Beta Alanine can act like GABA in the brain and when combined with a stimulant like caffeine, GABA will keep you calm and focused, while being totally alert!

Third, the neuro-protective effects of wolfberry are well known among the chinese, where it is called goji berry! Goji berry is all the rage in the health food stores because this anti-oxidant powerhouse can also help protect the brain from over-stimulation. Wolf berry is so good for you, it is being studies for everything from energy to cancer!

Fourth, dextrose is a pure form of sugar that will get into the system immediately and give a quick boost of energy. That combined with another energy source from amino acids, will give your brain the nutrients it needs for a long session of gaming. No energy drink has these building blocks of protein, coupled with pure, pharmaceutical grade dextrose. You need both to get the absolute best effect!

Finally, if you've ever been in a truckstop, you might recognize the icing on the cake, bitter melon. This is a super strong stimulant that is similar to ephedrine, but not as crazy. You want this stimulant in addition to caffeine to get you good and wired for those long sessions. It will also keep you alert and razor focused, since it acts in a slightly different manner than caffeine. No energy drink is going to have synephrine, since they are worried it will be abused, but in a drink like this it absolutely kills!

Of course, only people over 18 should use supplements like these since they are so potent. Make sure you also don't consume over 2-3 servings in any gaming session!

Out of all the ingredients I've looked at, only Anadraulic State GT from LG Sciences has all of these and tastes great. Be sure to not mix it with anything other than water or maybe juice, since it already contains a healthy dose of caffeine and synephrine. Used responsibly, this supplement can make you play harder and better! Enjoy...

What is Creatine Loading, and is it a Better Way to Build Muscle?

If you are a serious bodybuilder, you have more than likely heard of the term, creatine loading. If you have heard of the term, but you are not quite certain exactly what it means, this article will give you a little more insight into a practice that a lot of bodybuilders swear by.

Creatine is a substance that occurs naturally in some of the high protein foods that we eat and is also manufactured by our bodies. When our muscles need energy to perform work they get this energy from ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Creatine plays an important role in regenerating a depleted ATP supply in our muscles. Many bodybuilders think that if a little creatine is good then more is certainly better and this leads a lot of people to experiment with taking various dosages of the supplement.

Many athletes and bodybuilders believe that they can optimize their muscle growth and strength gain by cycling their creatine dosages, taking a larger than usual dose for a period of time and then taking the regular, recommended dose for a period of time. The larger doses in the beginning of the cycle would be the creatine loading phase and the smaller doses are a maintenance phase.

Creatine can definitely help you have more effective workouts, gain muscle mass, and even reduce recovery time after a workout but there is some disagreement over whether creatine loading is beneficial or if you're just wasting your money on extra supplements. The recommended dosage of 5 grams is perfect for most people. For hard-core bodybuilders and elite athletes a loading and maintenance cycle may have some benefits. While just about anybody that works out can benefit from creatine supplementation, studies have shown that some people respond to loading and cycling and others do not.

For the people whose bodies do not respond to loading and cycling, extra supplementation is excreted from the body so there is really no point in taking more than the recommended dosage. For people that do respond positively to creatine loading other studies have shown that the effect is greatest during the first 48 hours so the loading phase should be no more than two or three days before you go into the maintenance phase of the cycle. The only way to be certain whether you will respond to creatine loading is to try it for yourself and monitor the results.