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Justin Leonard: This is perfectly normal. You are actually burning fat and building lean muscle mass at the same time. This is what you want to happen! Which Supplements Work? Question: I've been working out on and off since I've been 14. Now I'm 22, and have been serious for about a year and a half. I'm about 180lbs, and would like to get to 200lbs, while still being cut. I tried proteins, creatine, and even 1-AD. I would like to know if you have personally experienced a good gain while talking a product, and if so, which one? Also, do you really think that the products are necessary? Justin Leonard: Of the supplements you mentioned, only whey protein and creatine are the only worth taking. There's one more of note that I want you to check out: L-glutamine.
Are supplements necessary? I don't view them as an overwhelming factor for success. But if you're an athlete and you want people to know who you are, yes. I had to ask myself the same question. I realized that as a 100% lifetime drug-free bodybuilder competing in a steroid- and diuretic-infested sport, the only edge I could give myself was with natural performance foods. So it really depends on how serious you are about what you do because they may be needed to help you achieve peak physical condition. Forearm Strength Question: Dear Justin, if somebody is able to squeeze hard with his hands i.e. (strong handshake) and has strong wrists, what does this mean. Where is this strength really coming from? Can't be muscles in the fingers or hand itself? Justin Leonard: The strength is mainly coming from the upper portion of the forearm. Additionally, supporting synergists such as the muscles in your hand contribute to overall forearm strength. There are also muscles in each finger that help to facilitate mobility and strength in the hand. Ab Exercises Everyday? Question: Is it OK to do ab exercises every day, or do these muscles need a rest between workouts like the others? Also, do isometric exercises for the abs do any good? Thanks. Justin Leonard: If you're not training for a sport that requires a high level of abdominal resistance (i.e. boxing), then you DO NOT want to train abs everyday. They should get rest just as any other muscle group would. Isometric training is effective but is usually not recommended because it takes too much motivation to do. Help, Can't Gain Weight Question: I am a female who has currently been heavy weight training for 5 months, and can see no difference. My goal is to bulk up in mass. I have currently put my calorie intake up to 2,500 per day - still no difference, and I am finding it difficult to eat anymore cals than this. I also take whey protein after every workout, which is 3 times per week. What do you suggest? Thanks Justin Leonard: There are several questions I'd have to ask you to determine what's causing the delay. How old are you? How much do you currently weight? Are you doing cardio every workout? Are you taking in carbs and protein after your workouts? Are you eating too much protein and not enough carbs? Are you utilizing the added benefits of supplements? Do you play any sports or do any other type of physical activity that would prevent you from increasing mass? Again, there isn't a simple answer to your question. Each of the aforementioned questions should be answered so that can give you a scientifically formulated response. Uneven Chest Muscles Question: Hi. Hope you can help me. I have a big problem mainly with my pecs. The left one has more definition and the right one is softer. Basically the muscle is proportioned differently on each one. I made an unwise mistake a few years ago and used one of those electronic toner things and that didn't help. Can you please offer me some advice on training them to the same shape. I can't figure out what to do here. Thanks a lot. Justin Leonard: This is quite common among athletes. It may not be the electronic toner that caused the problem. Genetically, your pectoral muscles may not be symmetrical. Imbalances become more prominent when there is an increase in muscular development. Many athletes have one better or stronger side than the other. There are several possible causes for this: a few that immediately come to mind are genetics, unequal arm strength (usually the triceps of one arm is larger than the other causing more strength to be in that particular arm), or concentration on only one side of the chest during exercises (i.e. bench press). There are several priority training techniques you can use to improve the imbalance. The following article will be of great benefit: |
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Tone, But No Weight Loss