The Ultimate Performance Center

No Excuses®

Chickening Out!

As best you can, look closely at the attached pictures. The first is a package, amongst many, containing two chicken breasts displayed in a ‘popular grocery stores’ freezer. Focus in and you will see humungous breasts, virtually bursting out of the wrapping. Ironically, I wouldn’t consider these fowl giants obese as they exhibit a low fat percentage especially in comparison to bovine and swine compositions. Beef and pork sources typically possess denser, thicker and heavier concentrations of both subcutaneous and intra-muscular fat. So basically, the breasts you’re observing at are juiced up muscle-bound freaks, literally.
Fowl Arithmetic
According to some, an Average chicken breast weighs between 5.25 oz.– 8.0 oz.1, 2, or roughly 0.50 lb. (½ pound). However, the two chicken breasts in this photo are weighing in at 40.96 oz., or 2.56 lbs. Divided in half, the weight for a single chicken breast weighs 20.48 oz., or 1.28 lbs.
 
Compare 20.48 oz. to the Average of 8.0 oz., and, wallah, we calculate a 256% weight differential.
 
Plumping Up *
With a smidgen of sarcasm, of course there’s restrictions on intentional bloating of animal products, specifically known as plumping. And to prove these chicken breasts have met appropriate health and safety regulations, (clearing my throat) the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and possibly many other trustworthy regulating bodies, stamp a Passed Meat ‘seal of approval’ directly onto packaging labels after inspection. So the chicken breasts you’re looking at here have been (I’m choking) officially inspected, passed, and legally approved, ‘Inspected and Passed Meat and/or Poultry’.
 
FLAVORITE WARNINGS
But wait, there’s more! To uncover further disappointment to my ‘roid raging’ fit here is that you’d, at least, hope these breasts tasted good, but not even close. Hyper-hypertrophied animal food sources taste awful, exhibiting a leather-like consistency. To maintain consumer consumption; i.e., sales, the unpleasant taste must be disguised. Especially pertinent for restaurant goers, many never recognize the (real) taste of these ‘Passed’ chicken breasts because they’re smothered in creams, gravies, sauces and/or crispy crusts. Regarding the recognition of their Herculean sizes, the fowl is chopped into smaller chunks or strips before serving in salads, pasta, casseroles and soups.
For those of you who vote in favor of naturally raised food sources, hypertrophic augmentation is also prevalent with Free Range chickens. See attached; a single breast from this package weighs 12.64 ounces or 0.79 lbs. That’s a whopping 150% bigger than the 8 oz. Average. And to heed a closing warning, many of these Free Ranging breasts also have nasty flavors.
 
In any event, bet you didn’t guess, I’ve been chickening out lately. Quite disappointing since chicken has maintained a good percentage of my overall protein intake. Welcome to the age of engineered foods.
 
Always Make the Healthiest Choice!
John Abdo
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* Plumped or plumping, terms that refer to agricultural practices implemented to enhance and/or enlarge poultry, and other meat products, by injecting fluids into the tissues producing swelling and bloating while concurrently increasing heftiness and heavier weights.
 
 

February 26, 2017 Posted by | Performance Library | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Boost GH Levels without drugs

In addition to trying to obtain 6-8 (uninterrupted) hours of sleep each night, to acquire REM and Delta (or Stage 4) sleep, an afternoon snooze, even if it’s for only 10 or 15 minutes, is extremely beneficial for stimulating the brain’s pituitary-GH mechanism.

Short naps, also known as the power nap or catnaps, activate the pineal and pituitary glands to jump into action as the body is given a much needed time-out from the pressures of the day. The siesta’s traditionally practiced by many countries that include Spain, Portugal, the Philippines and Mexico, have been shown by modern-day scientific studies to revitalize the homeostatic circadian rhythm’s of the body that prevents fatigue while removing excess stress on the heart and its cardiovascular system.

In addition, short bouts of sleep can also boost immunity, regulate blood pressure, combat anxiety, stress and depression, generate higher levels of reproductive and recuperative hormones, and enhance brain cognition.

So if you have 10 or so minutes during the day go ahead and shut your eyes to easily recharge your batteries.

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Other GH boosters:

Some other ways to trick the pituitary into releasing growth hormone is through anabolic-stimulating exercise; like heavy weight training and sprinting, and (not joking) holding your breathe* to activate an innate survival mechanism.

* Don’t think of trying this, even at home. But if your doctor approves, give it a try to see how long you can last before gasping for a breath of good ole O2. And not to discourage you beforehand, the world record for holding ones’ breath was set by Stig Severinsen in 2012 with a mind-blowing performance of 22 minutes. Even the great Houdini didn’t come close timing out at 3 minutes and 30 seconds; enough time however to regurgitate and pick his locks.

December 11, 2015 Posted by | Performance Library | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brain Sensation: Part 4

BSMWe swallow a mouthful of food then, eventually, the entire meal is consumed. What follows is an incredibly complex chain of processes the brain and body must conduct to digest, assimilate and eliminate food.

To explain briefly, dozens of enzymes work tirelessly to break up the large chunks of swallowed food into microscopic bits, as large chunks simply cannot permeate the porous intestinal lining. Once they are broken down, or pulverized, these microscopic food particles can now pass through the intestinal lining and enter the bloodstream while, on the flip-side, an entirely different group of enzymes, with equal determination and faculty, re-assemble the microscopic food particles to construct brand new living tissue and repair old withered ones; i.e., muscle, bone, and organ included.

Eventually, food becomes us. We (really) are what we eat!

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Written by John Abdo, ©, All Rights Reserved

Excerpts taken from Brain Sensation & Motivation

December 10, 2015 Posted by | Performance Library | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brain Sensation: Part 2

BSMYou’ve finally had a chance to unwind from the day and are plumped on your sofa watching your favorite television program. As time passes the temperature in the room becomes hotter and hotter, and you begin to feel uncomfortable. As an innate (natural) defense mechanism, your body strives to maintain a comfortable body temperature; also related to homeostasis. Once your brain determines that you’re uncomfortable it commands various systems in your body to find, then push water to the surface of the skin to cool yourself off, creating perspiration. The water (sweat) is taken from within muscle tissues, organs, the bloodstream and even your brain.

According to many studies, muscles, on average, are comprised approximately 70% water, the brain is 80% and blood comes in at 90%; reason why many regard blood as liquid tissue.

This is yet another one of our survival mechanisms Mother Nature has equipped us with to cool us off in hot temperatures. And, in reverse, we’re also equipped to turn up the heat when things become too cold . . .

… You’re still trying to enjoy your favorite show, but now the temperature drops to freezing. Without telling your body to quiver it automatically triggers a homeostatic reaction that provokes your body to shiver and shake while your teeth begin to chatter. All of the shivering and shaking and chattering are the body’s way it can create friction that releases internal heat, much like starting a fire by rubbing two sticks together.

The brain also controls body temperature and hydration levels. So the healthier your brain is the more comfortable and productive your life becomes. And it’s a prudent idea to drink plenty of water and make sure your dwelling has a functional thermostat that compliments the one inside your body!

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Written by John Abdo, ©, All Rights Reserved

Excerpts taken from Brain Sensation & Motivation

December 10, 2015 Posted by | Performance Library | , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cellular Receptivity: By John Abdo

Ever wonder how one guy can down a 12-pack and (seem to) carry on a normal conversation while another guy drinks one beer and gets smashed? The science of what’s occurring inside that person’s body, and brain, is immeasurably complex but it can be deduced by a couple of different terms like: tissue sensitivity or cellular receptivity.

To take this a step further, let me introduce you to a couple of wild and ambitious guys . . .

Let’s meet Joe and Tim. These two fellows hang out with one another constantly. In fact, they’re almost inseparable. They are the same age, height and bodyweight, and they share identical goals for building up their bodies and increasing the size and strength of their muscle.

Their goals are the same: Get big, get strong, get girls.

Joe and Tim start working out together – same exercises, same routines, same foods, same supplements. Within one week, Joe increases his bench press from 185 to 205, while Tim’s doesn’t budge an ounce. Joe’s biceps grow to 16” up from 14½”, in only 3 weeks, while Tim gets a measly quarter inch gain. The pattern continues. Joe is the front-runner, and Tim lags behind. Both guys remain faithful to their regular evening workouts together; they even eat the same amount of food and pop all the same supplements.

So why is there a discrepancy between Joe’s and Tim’s results? Receptivity. Gym lingo would tell you that Joe’s muscle cells are more sensitive (or more receptive) to receiving the anabolic (muscle-growing) trigger induced by the weight training and supplements while Tim’s cells are, compared to Joe’s, more stubborn.

Tim’s cells have a quicker down-regulation reaction that limits the amount of nitrogen-rich protein, and other energy-yielding nutrients, that enter into his muscle cells. Joe’s cells, on the other hand, are allowing more muscle-building nourishment to enter into his tissues as his internal cellular receptors are reacting much differently; this is often where genetics plays its favorites.

Both guys, internally speaking, can have similar hormonal profiles, but, as stated, Joe’s tissues are simply responding better – and faster. This response is not limited to weight workouts and protein shakes. The same tissue-entering phenomenon occurs with most others foods, alcohol (remember the 12-pack guy?), caffeine, cigarette smoking, drugs (especially steroids), and all ingestible items. Each person has an internal cellular monitoring system that possesses its own levels of sensitivity, and cellular entry.

So two people who are doing the same things – eating the same foods, performing the same exercises, taking the same supplements or drugs, or drinking the same beverages (12-packs or one can of beer) – will have different rates of digestion, cellular absorption, assimilation, metabolism, and, above all, effects.

This is one of the reasons why the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requests all advertisers of diet programs and supplements list: “Individual results may vary.”

The great news in all this is that when a person relies on nourishing themselves with natural ingredients that have been harvested from Mother Nature, and are then processed under ‘standardized’ production regulations, cellular integrity is supported that can only result in positive benefits.

In conclusion, when making decisions that concern the strength, vitality and health of your body, and it’s trillions of cells, it’s wise to be patient with the process and rely on natural substances.

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Written by John Abdo, please refer to the book

Ultimate Sexual Health & Performance

www.Androzene.com

July 28, 2012 Posted by | Performance Library | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gaining Functional Muscle Weight: By John Abdo

It is ironic that a large segment of our population spends billions of dollars each year in attempts to lose excess weight (fat), while others exert lots of energy and also spend big bucks striving to gain weight—muscle weight that is.

No one needs instruction on how to gain fat, that’s easy; just eat and perform little, or no activity. On the other hand, gaining functional muscle weight is a highly sophisticated science, and complicated discipline. Let’s look at it closer.

To gain functional muscle mass, weight training with a specific range of resistances is one of the best prime stimulators, in addition to proper nutrition.

On a microscopic level, weight training actually traumatizes, or tears down muscle fibers; this is scientifically referred to as catabolism. Upon cessation of the catabolic phase, the body’s recuperative metabolism kicks into action; it’s known as the anabolic phase. The anabolic phase is the body’s reparation and rejuvenation metabolism that replenishes depleted energy storages while repairing damaged tissues and growing muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, bones and hormones. The catabolic/anabolic cycles are metabolic counterparts that are referred to as the ‘no pain, no gain’ cycle.

To stimulate the best anabolic state, strength authorities claim that medium-to-heavy resistances should be employed during weight training to induce the best catabolic phase. Generally speaking, many of the basic and/or multi-muscle weight-training movements; like bench presses, squats, power cleans, rows, leg presses and others, should be composed of sets that total between 5-12 repetitions. A weight that can only be performed for repetitions lower than 5 are typically too heavy a load, while a weight that can be performed for repetitions exceeding 12 means are typically too light.

The key to selecting accurate loads or resistances is simply select weights that allow failure between the 5-12 rep range. If a set for an exercise falls short or goes beyond this 5-12 rep range, the athlete simply adjusts their resistance on subsequent sets, or workouts, to remain within the range they need for progressive muscle building.

Although weight training is the main stimulus for anabolism, it’s nutrition that fuels both the catabolic and anabolic phases. Food and supplemental resources obtained from quality proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, certain herbs and adaptogens, all play essential roles in energy expenditure (catabolism/pain) and muscle growth (anabolism/gain).

Of course, gaining functional muscle mass, and the entire discipline of weight training for that matter, are far more complicated than my brief treatise, but there are always exceptions to most every rule. So have fun, experiment and watch your body grow stronger and bigger each and every week.

I Wish You Great Success!

John Abdo

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John Abdo is an Olympic Strength & Conditioning Coach, Master Fitness Trainer, co-formulator for Androzene® and author of the doctor-endorsed book Ultimate Sexual Health & Performance™. For more information please visit www.JohnAbdo.com.

July 24, 2012 Posted by | Performance Library | , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

It’s Mind over Matter; and your life ‘is’ the matter! 5-Step Success Plan

BSMGetting, and keeping yourself motivated to consistently improve in life; whether it’s in business, fitness, family, or all of life, is often a wrestling match even the elite experience from time to time. But don’t ever consider throwing in the towel when ‘tough’ times are upon you, as there are plenty of proven solutions that ensure success, and they’re closer than you think!

Tough times don’t last, but tough people do!

As a health, fitness and Olympic Strength & Conditioning Coach my profession extends beyond instructing physical exercises and sports performance skills. Great coaches must also integrate a variety of mental conditioning tools that inspire, educate, and motivate each of their athletes. These mental instruments are designed to train the MIND so the athletes (and students) can then train their bodies for higher and higher levels of achievement. These techniques are not confined to athletic enhancement; they apply to all goal-driven motives. However, in today’s fast-paced society too many people are approaching their transformational quests with an incorrect frame of mind, and this leads to failure.

As a prime example, let’s take two people who come into my gym to workout. Both are the same age, sex, and bodyweight, and have similar skill-sets and lifestyles. One guy approaches me “John, I have to get into shape. My doctor is demanding it”. The other fellow says, “Hey John, I want to get into great shape! Just tell me everything I need to do?

Of the two, the ‘have to’ guy or the ‘want to’ one, which ‘mindset’ would you place your bets on?

Body, sports, business or life, mental fuel comes in a variety of grades. And if a person desires high levels of achievement they must function with ‘high-performance fuel’ as the ‘mental’ energy charging their exertions, and this ‘between-the-ears’ focus is what makes a dramatic difference between success and failure. The ‘high-performance fuel’ I’m referring to is ambition, desire, and passion! Want to, not have to!

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It’s no surprise that there really is a mind-body-life connection. So when I declare the solutions are closer than you think, the answers that yield ultimate levels of achievement and success are (literally) located inside your (intangible) Mind; while your body and your manifested life can be regarded as the (tangible) Matter.

When the mind is properly conditioned; energized with ‘want to’ motivational powers and desires, one can enthusiastically, and confidently, approach their tasks, challenges, obstacles and goals with that “For Sure” attitude. They literally engineer their lives from the Inside-Out, and nothing stands in their way. Over time, that person continuously unleashes their truest potentials, a gift they always possessed but just needed to stay-the-course  until it was set free.

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5-Step Success Plan that REALLY WORKS!

STEP 1: Define your mental attitude. Do you resemble the ‘have to’ person or a ‘want to’ one? This is the first thing step you MUST establish, because it really is Mind over Matter. Once this seed principle is firmly implanted into your consciousness the success you’ve been striving for, and deserve, is not only possible, it’s inevitable!

STEP 2: Everyday—literally, you must write out your goals onto a sheet of paper. Make certain you write from an ‘already-acquired’ viewpoint, such as “I am a strong person” or “Everyday, in every way, I am better and better!” Something magical happens when the brain can generate a thought that physically, and visually, gets recorded onto paper.

STEP 3: Everyday, after you write down your goals, you must read them out loud. Again, there’s a phenomenon that occurs when you profess what you’re envisioning to manifest in your life. Simply hoping, or silently thinking or wishing for a goal to manifest has little or no stimulating power. Stand up, assume the role of your own coach and motivator, and say aloud, with conviction, “Everyday, in every way, I am better and better!” Affirmational vibrations connect with, and influence Universal Consciousness.

STEP 4: Write out two more lists; the first itemizes all of the things you need to do to obtain your goals, and the second list outlines all of the things you must avoid and/or eliminate that are standing in your way.

STEP 5: Make a date with yourself: Treat yourself every week to a positive engagement. Donate time to a pet adoption center. Visit a nursing home and hug an elderly person. Reach out and counsel confused kids and their parents. As you continue to improve in your own life you must ‘give back’ by inspiring, motivating and guiding others along their own life’s journey.

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Epilogue

Everybody, even the elite, experience tough times and often fall off track. It’s not that they fell off track that matters but how fast they get back up and move onward that counts. Be a champion. People love and admire success stories and heroes. Prove to yourself that you possess the skills, drive and motivation to obtain your goals, in spite of any setbacks. Develop the confidence; ego if you may, that failure is not an option. If you do fall off track, don’t stay there long. Just stand back up, dust yourself off, lift your chin and chest, kick yourself in the buttocks, then re-GO for it all over again. Remember, you are your own coach, motivator, and disciplinarian. Nobody is going to do it for you, that’s you’re responsibility. You are a success that’s always in the making!

Finally, investing in yourself pays huge dividends now and forever. Make up you ‘mind’ then watch your body and life (‘matter’) mold into the image your thoughts have impressed into your psyche. You and the world surrounding you are a much greater place because of YOU! Do it!

Think Up™ – Keep the Passion!

John Abdo

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John Abdo is an Olympic Strength & Conditioning Coach, Master Fitness Trainer, Life Motivator and author of numerous books and articles. For more information please visit www.JohnAbdo.com.

July 24, 2012 Posted by | Performance Library | , , , , | Leave a comment

Permanent Fat Loss

Losing bodyfat, permanently, is successful when using the right tools and formula:

Set goals. follow a plan, remain committed, and never give up!

Fat wants to remain on a person’s body when they have accumulated it.

ANALOGY: Fat is fuel, just like the gasoline in your car’s gas tank.

The trick is to shuttle the fuel from the tank (or your hips, love-handles, etc) and drive the fat into the engine, your muscles.

Proper activity, with healthy consistent eating, serves as the fuel-line and fuel pump that shuttles fat from your tanks into your muscles’ Mitochondria; these are your own fat-burning furnaces.

Once you have fat-burning under control you have RE-SET your metabolism and now you’ve become a fat-burning machine yourself.

Be a Doer™!

John Abdo: Olympic Strength & Conditioning Coach

http://www.JohnAbdo.com

June 9, 2012 Posted by | Performance Library | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BENEFITS OF FITNESS

The Benefits of Fitness

By John Abdo

 

Physical fitness has skyrocketed in the last few decades.  There are greater numbers of individuals performing various activities in attempts to enhance physical appearance, athletic performance, psychological states of well-being, and the overall quality of life.  Clinicians of all sorts, athletic trainers, physical therapists and body sculpturing specialists are prescribing the fitness lifestyle as the remedy for premature aging, obesity, muscular weakness, stress, fatigue, insomnia, hypertension, immune system dysfunctioning, headaches, joint ailments, depression, metabolic disorders, skeletal imbalances, poor circulation, and many others.

With all its growing enthusiasm and awareness people still need education and t remain committed, they require motivation. Here’s some information that keeps people dedicated to taking better care of themselves.

SOLVING THE FAT PROBLEM

            Every physical and psychological function requires energy.  If we had no energy we simply could not function or exist.  We obtain our energy from the foods we consume as they supply varying levels of energy.  Food energy is calculated in measurements known as Calories.  When we eat we’re supplying our bodies with caloric sources of fuel that make everything we do happen.  We release this energy by: 1) Moving; all physical activities, 2) Thinking; all psychological functions, and by, 3) Metabolism; the operational and recuperative functions of the body.  Of these three, Moving, “physical activities”, requires the greatest supply of energy to conduct its chores.  Metabolism, on the other hand, burns plenty of calories after the body has been stimulated with activity relying on additional calories to fuel the body’s reparation process.

“Thinking” is also an energy burner.  Our minds require energy to operate, but those who are experiencing the effects of being overweight cannot merely rely on this activity source for ample caloric elimination.  People who are depressed, angry, bitter, and easily agitated, burn a tremendous amount of energy. There are those however, who while imprisoned by negative thoughts try to combat and/or alleviate their pessimistic emotions by gluttonizing on pleasure-filled tasting [junk] foods, drugs and other deviant activities.  So even though they’re burning calories in their hypertensive state, the kinds and amounts of foods they’re consuming simply overloads their systems.

Metabolism

            [We need to keep a clear understanding that food is fuel and fuel is energy in the form of calories.  So whenever I’m talking about food, fuel, energy, or calories, basically, they’re all synonymous].

Each of us possess a specific rate of metabolism which converts food into energy for activity, the operational functions of life, and the repairing of damaged tissue.  This conversion/reparation process is always operating whether we’re active or sedentary.  The goal then of the athlete and health and fitness enthusiast is to periodically expend the effort with exercise or activity then allocate ample time to recuperate.  This cyclic process allows the body to burn off more calories both during exercise and the post-exercise metabolic periods.  So those who believe the fat-burning, strength-building, health-promoting benefits of fitness are confined to the actual times they are exercising are in for a big surprise!  The benefits of exercise extend well beyond cool-downs as metabolism takes the baton and runs its operation of repair that is fueled by calories.  In other words, we can lose fat while we’re doing nothing at all, that is, after you’ve performed something that stimulates the body in the first place. I call this metabolic momentum!

BENEFITS OF FITNESS

            Those who partake in an active lifestyle develop a greater number of benefits than initially expected.  Even though their intentions may be to reshape their bodies and lose some excess body fat, or increase the quality of their daily lives, fitness will not confine itself to just these benefits.  The fascinating fact about activity participation is that it produces a positive psycho-physiological chain-reaction influencing the entire being, as well as ones’ overall lifespan.

Energy

Many individuals engaged in physical fitness for the sole purpose of increasing their levels of energy.  The process of energy enhancement is scientifically complex, but a relatively simple one to apply.  All one has to do is perform an adequate amount of activity; without overdoing it, and eat correctly; Mother Nature takes over from there.  Since muscles are metabolically active, while fat is inert, those who are more physically fit and stronger are those who develop higher metabolic rates turning their bodies into fat-burning machines that possess incredibly high levels of energy.

The Mind & Nerves

The relationship between fitness and knowledge blends nicely especially when one understands how their own body performs under various conditions.  Consistent participation in activities develops a harmonious communication between the mind and body.  And with our nervous system headquartered in our brain, this intricate system relays electrical mental impulses messengering this data to various body tissues.  When an action is requested or required, the brain will consent to the demand by commanding an immediate impulse.  For those who are unfit, the deliverance of such commands has no assurance for accurate delivery, or may become delayed by weak mental signal-sending abilities.

Thinking makes us smarter, and activities force us to be thinking above the norm.  When we’re having fun performing our activities, we are happily thinking, and developing higher levels of fitness at the same time.  The better fit we are the better we can think and concentrate. The body is more alive.

Muscles & Bones

Our bodies are literally held together by a network of over 600 muscles and their relative tissues (i.e., tendons and ligaments).  Weakened muscles cannot hold our skeleton in proper alignment as the body shifts out of its natural position.  Our skeletal network is comprised of over 200 bones that rely on muscles to remain postural and functional. If we had no muscles at all our skeleton, and all its bones, would fall right to the floor.  So as our muscles strengthen with activity the better our bodies will be held together, and the better we move.

The Heart

You’re aware that the heart is a muscle?  It is!  In fact, the heart is a muscular pump responsible for the distribution of blood to all areas of the body.  When we are involved in activity, our hearts beat at accelerated rates.  This acceleration stimulates strength benefits to the heart similar to other muscles while increasing the supply of nutrient-rich blood to all tissues and organs throughout the body.

The Lungs

As the heart beats faster while we’re active so does our rate of breathing, or respiration.  Oxygen is our life-supporting gas that we cannot do without for very long.  We can go without food or water for days, but without oxygen we can’t last more than a few minutes.  As our respiration (breathing rate) increases, our lungs expand and contract beyond normal [or resting] capacities.  The lungs are two elastic-like sacks that collect the air we breathe.  As we inhale, the lungs absorb usable oxygen, and then as we exhale, eliminates toxic gases.  Millions of tiny holes called alveoli allow the oxygen to seep into our bloodstream from the lungs feeding the body with this most precious life source. The better we can breath, and the more oxygen we get into our tissue, the stronger we become.

Your Looks

Looks?  Certainly!  When you become active the benefits don’t stop below your chin.  Your face receives a tremendous number of benefits as well.  Since sedentary muscles become weak and sag, facial muscles are no different.  When your body muscles are strong and firm, your facial muscles often follow the same pattern of progression.  While you exercising you’ll notice that your facial muscles acquire a great workout.  To prove my point, try looking someone straight in the face while they’re doing a set of pushups or lifting weights. While they’re in a state of exertion their facial muscles twist, pucker up and contort during their exercise as the muscles of the face tone themselves at the same time.

Lifespan

It’s easy to postulate that the better you take care of yourself the stronger, healthier and more energetic you become. It’s also a fair assumption, which many anti-aging and longevity communities believe as fact, that by increasing the quality of daily living ensures extension of lifespan. The investment needs to be made early to yield health and longevity benefits. Pay now and enjoy the dividends of vibrant health as you continue to mature!

Keep Going!

Every once-in-a-while I’m asked, “John, when I reach my goals, can I quit?”. I promote fitness as a lifestyle, not a short-term plan. This is a way-of-life that enhances each of your days for the rest of your life.  Always maintain an active lifestyle and healthy mental attitude.  If you’ve reached your goals, be glorified with your accomplishments then shift over to a maintenance mode or, better yet, establish new challenges and strive to become an over-achiever!

I wish you the very best of health and success!

John Abdo

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John Abdo is a former Olympic Strength & Conditioning Coach, Inductee into the National Fitness Hall of Fame, Award-Winning Health & Fitness Expert, and the author of the critically-acclaimed book Ultimate Sexual Health & Performance™. For more information please visit www.JohnAbdo.com.

This information contained in this article should not be construed as medical advice.

June 8, 2012 Posted by | Performance Library | , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Protein & Sexual Health

Muscle, Weights, ProteinProtein & Sexual Health

In total, nutritional scientists claim there are 22 amino-acids (AAs) that are required by the body if a man is to live a healthy, productive and hormonally-fortified life. Of the twenty-two, 8 of these AAs are considered essential for human health. The term essential refers to the fact that it’s imperative a man consumes these (8) AAs on a consistently regular basis from food or supplemental sources, while the remaining (14) AAs can be produced, and/or synthesized, internally in the event they are not made available through external resources.

Proteins are complex molecular structures that are both fascinating and versatile. Most other nutrients contain carbon (C), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H). Protein foods also contain COH but they uniquely possess a backbone of nitrogen (N). The more N a man’s body can obtain, and retain, the stronger and healthier he becomes.

When protein intake is adequate to meet a man’s normal daily requirements, and no more, most likely, he’ll be diagnosed as having a nitrogen equilibrium; average news. However, when that same man is deprived of adequate protein, especially the essential AAs, he’s likely to experience a negative nitrogen balance; bad news.

When a man is sick, injured, stressed or depressed, when he’s consuming too many drugs, smoking cigarettes, or being deprived of healthy nutrition, especially protein, his body innately shifts into a compensatory gear aimed to fulfill his nutritional voids and actually begins to cannibalize itself; the scientific term is catabolism, or tissue breakdown.

What’s actually occurring, on a microscopic level, is a breaking apart, or accelerated atrophying, of the body’s tissues that include the muscles, heart and lungs, and other organs. Since these body parts are storehouses composed of COHN, the body’s natural defense reaction to protein starvation is to locate its N sources by cleaving away the carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. During this process the nitrogen is extracted from internal N-supplied tissues and organs, which is then used to feed the N-deprived tissues elsewhere in the body.

This is one of the reasons why many health and sports-training experts, including myself, recommend regular consumption of high-quality protein foods and supplements on a regular basis especially when the man is training hard, competing in a sport or enduring the rigors of sustaining a financially comfortable livelihood.

To take it up to the top notch, the ideal condition for all men to obtain is a positive nitrogen balance; GREAT NEWS! This simply means his tissues are receiving more protein, and retaining more N, than what he’s deficient in, or is excreting out of his body, so at the end of the day, at the end of the week, he’s stronger and more hormonally charged.

So how does all this play a role in a man’s sexual health and performance? Well, to start, protein is necessary to nourish a man’s glands, particularly his pituitary, hypothalamus, testicles, adrenals and prostate. I could stop there but let me take it one step further and add that protein is imperative glandular nourishment that both manufacturers then secrete natural anabolic and androgenic (sexual) hormones. In particular, the hormone responsible for stimulating high levels of libido, erection strength and stamina, and overall sexual performance; that would be Testosterone, or just ‘T’ as it’s referred to today.

Continue down the internal biological pathway and we notice positive and healthy influences throughout the man’s nervous system and circulatory vessels, especially those that stimulate his genital region. And, need I say, the chief residents of that region are his prostate, testicles and penis! When healthy, they’re a great group of guys to have around!

Men are also be pleased to learn that protein is needed to manufacture nitric oxide (NO), that wonder chemical that makes erections of penis possible in the first place. When obtained naturally, NO also plays a crucial role in genital sensitivity and orgasm. (FYI: The popular prescription erection pills on the market influence NO by blocking PDE-5, the erection-destroying enzyme, but these drugs do zilch for stimulating penile sensitivity or enhancing orgasm. Odd as it might sound; a man can have an erection but may not be enjoying it because it simply is insensitive to the experience.)

In review, I have found that many men’s eating habits tend to rely on excessively high carbohydrate consumption while they are dangerously devoid of either total protein or essential proteins. Combined with proper exercise, which kick-starts a man’s natural anabolic metabolism, eating sensible amounts of protein throughout the day and week will ensure overall health that contributes greatly to a man’s sexual prowess!

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For more detailed explanations on this and other sexual-health boosting topics, please refer to John Abdo’s doctor-endorsed book, Ultimate Sexual Health & Performance™. Available at www.Androzene.com.

 

June 8, 2012 Posted by | Performance Library | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment