Biceps exercises

      Who doesn't want to have big biceps? Muscular arms make you look fit and strong.
      Here are some very useful exercises that are part of my workout routine:

       1. Standing dumbbell curl - this is the classic curl, everybody knows this exercise, everybody uses it! I work on my endurance and do 5 sets of 20 reps.

       2. Hammer curl - this exercise helps to transfer most of the work from biceps brachii to brachialis, helps to make your arms looks thicker. 5 sets of 20 reps
 
        3. Static dumbbell curl - a great exercises that work one arm at a time. 5 sets of 20 reps.

        4. Cable rope hammer curl - just like a regular hammer curl but the cable machine keeps a more steady and constant load on the biceps. 5 sets of 20 reps

        5. EZ- bar preacher curl - also a popular exercise where you work with the bar. There is also a machine preacher curl if you don't want to use the bar.
5 sets of 20 reps

Why women shouldn't be afraid of the gym?

           Most women are still afraid of the gym and especially to workout with weights.
The reason is too banal. This is a lack of self-confidence, fear, and embarrassment.

          This conclusion can be made by observing how they first come to the gym. Seeing all these guys and girls with perfect bodies make these females lost and afraid of the gym. They think that everybody is staring at them, but the thing is - every guy and girl with the perfect and muscular body was once a beginner. The first day at the gym is always stressful, but you shouldn't be afraid. Think about why you came to the gym? What is your goal? If you decide you want to stay and start training, then you need to forget about all of your fears and allow your mind to relax. A gym is a place where every person has a personal space in which he deals exclusively with himself and with his body. First of all, it should be understood that very few people were born with the perfect body. Usually, this is the result of hard work: a combination of a balanced diet, regular training in the gym and the right psychological mood.

           1. Diet. I already talked about the diet in my earlier posts.
           2. Regular training. In order to lose weight, cardio training will not be enough. In all cases, the program must include training with weight. You must have a training plan, and carefully follow it, being very patient because the body can't change in one day or one week.
           3. Psychology. Everything is in your head. You need to relax and stop worrying about your problems. Checking your weight and looking in the mirror every day hoping to see the changes won't help you to achieve your goals. There is a more effective way. After a while, take pictures of yourself and compare photos. Thus, you will clearly see the difference. If you decide to train in the gym, then stop being afraid and work on yourself and your body!

Tips for begginers

Have you ever went to the gym and had a feeling that you are not satisfied with your results? I want to write about a few tips that can help you to avoid some possible mistakes.

1. If you have never gone to the gym, but you are young and never had any health problems, it is still a good idea to visit at least three doctors: a cardiologist, a neurologist, and an endocrinologist.

2. Do not forget about your own safety. You want to check every machine and make sure you know how they work. If you are not sure, it's better to ask a trainer.

3. Do not start your training with heavy weights right away. Try to start with something easier, it will help your body to get used to the gym.

4. You want to have a plan or training program. Write it down in your phone or notebook.

5. Take care of yourself and especially of your muscles. If you feel really bad pain, stop your workout immediately. Do not overdo your exercises.

6. Try to not think about any family or personal problems and concentrate completely on training.

7. Simple, but sometimes forgotten. Do not eat before the training but drink plenty of water before, during and after.

8. Never forget about the stretching and cardio. Start with a warm-up, finish with a warm-up. Almost all experts suggest starting with a warm-up, focused specifically on those exercises that will be performed in that day.

9. Set a goal and talk to a trainer. You are not a specialist in fitness and physiology, Therefore, you can not completely rely on your understanding of training. The instructor will help you to decide what is best for you.

10. Simple but VERY important - Rest! Especially, if you have just started to workout andyou do not have much experience. A couple of times per week for an hour or so will be enough.

Diet

           It is important to keep going to the gym at least 3-4 times per week but without the proper diet, you won't be able to achieve your goals. Everybody has different goals, but a lot of people are trying to lose weight or get ripped. You can workout every day but if you will keep eating fast food, you won't see great results. Losing fat without losing muscle (the key to getting ripped of course) is primarily a nutritional challenge. If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. If you eat more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. Fat can be very stubborn, so you really have to nail the target calories you are eating.

            How to eat during exercise?

    Two hours before, and an hour and a half after training, you shouldn't eat anything, just make sure you drink a lot of water! This will help your body spend energy from fat stores.
    Rules:
1. You should maintain a stable level of sugar, without jumping up and down, make sure you eat healthy food (5-7 small meals per day) to avoid feeling hunger.
2. Make sure you drink a lot of water ( I try to drink a gallon per day, even my height is 5.2 feet, and weight 114 pounds). Cold water is preferred because our body would need more energy to heat cold water to body temperature.
3. Learn how to count calories and gradually reduce their intake, but remember that cutting caloric intake from carbohydrates can ultimately lead to depletion of glycogen stores, which can cause burning of active muscle tissue. The increase in carbohydrates by 100-200 grams every week will help to have more glycogen reserves enough to avoid losing muscle mass.
4. The workout should have a lot of sets with a lot of repetitions. Twice more than you usually do.
5. The body will try to store energy in reserve, slowing down its metabolism. Moderate reduction in calories (a weekly decrease of 100-200 kcal), allows the body to slowly get used to the new diet.
6. Over time, all diets cause a slowdown in metabolism. When you "reach the point" and realize that the metabolism is slower, give yourself some good carbohydrates and fats for 1 to 2 days. This will help your body to start burning fat again.
7. Fats from most fish are able to stimulate the breakdown of subcutaneous fat. Therefore, you need to include fish in meals at least once a day.
8. The main goal of the diet, in addition to maintaining muscle mass, is the maximization of growth hormone (GH). It does not allow to burn muscles but stimulates the decomposition of subcutaneous fat. GH levels grow in the first 90 minutes after falling asleep, but the total amount of glucose (from digested carbohydrates) in the blood affects the release of growth hormone. A low level of glucose contributes to the maximum release of a growth hormone. Therefore, if you finish your in the evening (after 7 pm), and go to bed at 11 pm, then avoid taking carbohydrates 1-2 hours before bedtime.

     Remember, the most important thing is to not only lose fat but also to NOT lose muscle! That's why it is so important to workout more often.
These rules may help some people and may not help others. Everybody is different and you need to try to find what works best for you.