Maximum Muscular Potential of Drug- Free Athletes (Updated Dec 3. What is the maximum muscular potential of drug- free athletes or natural bodybuilders? That's the topic I'm going to revisit today. Example: If your height is 1. Scroll down a bit to see examples of what I mean. Now, the inquiring mind would probably like to know why I determine the formula by . Well, the reason is that competition day body weight is the best standard to use. If you want to predict maximum muscular potential with any reasonable precision, you need to have some kind of equalizer. Saying you can get to this and that body weight without drugs doesn't mean anything unless you consider the body weight in relation to height and body fat percentage. On competition day, most guys are typically in a fairly tight interval of body fat percentage (4- 6%) which makes this a good standard. Furthermore, competitors usually have years of consistent training behind them, which makes another case for drawing conclusions based on competition weight. ![]() Fine Tuning The Formula. Another question that might pop up is how much your . This will vary a bit depending on the type and severity of water manipulation and depletion protocol. I typically see a 2% drop in body weight that is independent from regular weight loss. Meaning that the body weight of my clients drops 2% in the final days and then rebounds back up by the same amount once normal feeding resumes.* Then again, I use a very easy and non- dramatic approach compared to others, i. This has to do with sodium manipulation and is temporary. Increase Your Bench Press by Thirty Pounds in Six Weeks. By: Roger Riedinger, Beverly International Magazine 15 #3. Section One: An Overview. This report contains. The goal of the Muscle & Strength strength building guide is to provide you with all the tools you need to build strength as quickly as possible. So basically, the formula is closer to (height in cm) - 9. Furthermore, while 1. All things considered, a more precise formula for maximum muscular potential would look a little something like this: (Height in cm) - 9. Ripped and slightly dehydrated.(Height in cm) - 9. Pink Shares Gym Selfie, Says She's 'Obese' by 'Regular Standards': 'Stay Off That Scale, Ladies!'. He also serves as a performance consultant for Nike and as an adjunct instructor at Eastern. Welcome to the World of FemFlex. Femflex features many of the most beautiful women in fitness & bodybuilding. In the Members Areas you will find several thousand. Ripped and under normal circumstances. Is this formula the final word on maximum muscular potential? Well, I've only known a handful of guys who I was 1. They all abide by this rule. As with everything, there are outliers but I've yet to meet anyone who I was sure of being natural that exceeded the body weight yielded by the formula by a significant amount (i. This is a very controversial topic. Can I possibly know for sure that the clients I'm about to post as examples of maximum muscular potential are really clean? ![]() Can you know I'm clean? I'm as skeptical and cynical as the next guy (more so), so all of this really boils down to me trusting my clients and you trusting me. ![]() ![]() Now that I've covered that, rest assured that I am not interested in any philosophical argument or debate that starts with . A breakdown of their height and body weight on competition day will follow afterwards. While I won't go as far as saying that they've all reached their ceiling in terms of muscle gains, they've come very far. I will also tell you what each one of them has in common: what it takes to reach your maximum muscular potential without the use of drugs. It's worth noting that Andreaz and Robert were both tested and passed (2 out of a total of 6 doping tests done that day). Marcus. Marcus made it to the finals and placed 6th out of 1. Luciapokalen Classic Bodybuilding +1. Considering this was his first competition, that's an exceptional result. Even more so impressive when you take into account that he didn't even practice his routine for the finals and just went on stage and struck a few poses at random : D I would have done the same.. I don't have much love or interest in usual proceedings on competition day. Anyway, below you'll see pictures from Marcus's bulk, at 1. The whole process took 8 weeks which is a very short diet compared to the norm (same for Andreaz and Robert). ![]() I helped Marcus out during his bulk and as you can see he kept his body fat percentage in check. He placed 5th out of 8 in the - 1. Weeks Out. 16. 5 lbs/7. Weeks Out. 16. 2 lbs/7. Competition Day. 15. ![]() Looking for the most comprehensive muscle building guide on the internet? Well good thing you stopped by, I. This guide will take you through. What Kind of Fuel is your Body Burning? When we talk about burning fat, what we are actually referring to is the process of using fat as our fuel, our source of energy. Nikki Warner is a fitness model from Indiana who reveals photos of her physique and provides background information about her successful fitness career. TOPIC: What Is The Best 8-Week Diet Plan For A Summer Ready Body? The Question: The summer is steadily approaching and now is the time to start getting ready for. ![]() ![]() Robert. Robert competed in the same competition as Andreaz. He placed 5th out of 8 in the tall class (+1. Weeks Out. 19. 4 lbs/8. Weeks Out. 18. 6 lbs/8. Competition Day. 18. Height and Body Weight Breakdown. Marcus: 1. 81 cm/7. Estimated body fat on competition day: 4- 4. Andreaz: 1. 69 cm/6. Estimated body fat on competition day: 5- 6%. Weight varies slightly; Andreaz was drier in his last bodybuilding competition and weighed in at 6. However, being too ripped on stage for Athletic Fitness can get you minus points. Not taking it too far this last time was a planned and conscious decision. Robert: 1. 82 cm/8. Estimated body fat on competition day: 7%. Here's the plan for week 1 By Meal plan created by Barbara Berkeley, MD March 12, 2009.![]() Myself: 1. 86 cm/8. With an expected water loss of 2%* body weight as mentioned earlier, my stats would put me at 1. I'm including myself for reference and an additional data point. I haven't competed but I am natural.(For more on my progress, check out . Everyone ends up weighing their height - 1. Applying The Formula: Theory vs Real Life. It didn't take long before this article was published before there was an influx of genetic marvels in discussion forums that claimed my formula was wrong and that they would surpass it once they got down to the body fat percentage it applies to. Well, I got news for the keyboard experts out there; you're wrong. Here's why: 1. You're most likely fatter than you think. There's a lot of 5'1. Internet. Everyone thinks they're on their way to single digit body fat as soon as they see a blurry four- pack in the right lighting. You can't use your current body weight in the calculation if you're bulking. It's not uncommon to see an instant 2- 5 lbs drop in body weight after one week of dieting depending on carb intake and size, and that ain't 2- 5 lbs of fat you're losing. It's some of your overstocked glycogen stores dropping, causing water loss. Reduced stomach content is also a contributing factor. If you want to make any reasonable estimate based on theoretical calculation of your stats, take your average body weight in the second week of dieting and use that in the formula. Key point: Your final body weight at 5- 6% will be a lot less than what you think. So to all you keyboard experts that arrive at some fantasy stats and claim that my formula is wrong: bitch, please. Talk to me again when you get in contest shape. Limits of The Formula. The formula is for men only. I have not worked with a sufficient sample of female physique athletes to establish an accurate formula for female maximum muscular potential. The formula assumes average genetics. A minority of the population falls into the category of . Along the same lines, there are high- responders that might possibly exceed the formula. However, in my experience, high- responders simply gain muscle mass faster than someone of average genetics; the cap for maximum muscular potential (height - 1. The formula is not perfectly linear and is most accurate for men in the 1. Very accurate for guys smack dab in the middle of that range (1. Shorter guys (below 1. Vice versa for taller guys. In reality, the standard height - 1. The Law of Diminishing Returns. Am I saying that height (in cm) - 1. No, but I'm saying it's pretty damn close and that the true limit will not differ from height - 1. This can be explained by the law of diminishing returns. During the first six months of weight training, one might see a muscle gain of 1. It's not uncommon to see that muscle gain accompanied by fat loss. After six months and through the second year, you might see muscle gain of 1 lbs per month. You're able to increase weights linearly in the gym and everything is still pretty awesome. Things slows down significantly in the third year, to the tune of about 0. In the 4- 5th year of training, progress is slow. Beyond a decade of consistent weight training.. You might be lucky to see 0. My point is that the law of diminishing returns kicks in real hard once you hit height - 1. Muscle gains slows down to a snail's pace. A trainer that hits height - 1. What It Takes to Reach Your Maximum Muscular Potential. What do we, the guys above and myself that is, have in common besides having achieved a very similar level of muscularity? What factors are important if you hope to reach your maximum muscular potential? We've all been weight training for more than a decade. I for one lost many years due to foolish diets and training regimens - but for better or worse, that's part of the process. I never gave up in trying to find what's right for me and that's what matters in the end. I stayed consistent no matter what. With the right approach from the get go, you could probably save a ton of time. That being said, you can't reach your genetic ceiling in six months like some internet marketers wants you to believe. It takes consistency and patience to reach your maximum muscular potential. Hard work - but not HARD work. Your workouts should be hard in the sense that you push yourself, but not hard in the sense that going to the gym feels like a burden. Don't buy into the myth that you need to live the life of a stereotypical bodybuilder to build an impressive physique. Going to the gym shouldn't interfere too much with the rest of your life. Remember, you're in for the long haul. I've spent less than 2 hours per week on average building my physique, but I've done so over a long period of time. This partly comes back to the point I made above about consistency. Naturals who spend 5- 6 days at the gym per week usually don't last long. They burn out and end up looking mediocre 1. Measure and quantify your progress. Only then can you tell if something really is working. Measure progress short term and long term and do it in hard numbers; your body weight and what kind of weight you could handle at that body weight are two very important variables to track. Log all your workouts and use a checkpoint system. For more on this, read . Going to the gym becomes a joy once you see your progress manifest itself in hard numbers. And if the hard numbers improve, so will your body. Healthy Weight Calculator, to Lose or Maintain Weight. Is your weight healthy? Use the calculator below to find out. If your actual body weight falls within 1. This is only an estimate and is meant to give an. If you do not match this weight exactly, don’t be alarmed. Please note that this guideline does not account for increased muscle mass, pregnancy, illness, etc. Try comparing this number with your Body Mass Index (BMI). If you are above your recommended healthy weight and BMI, you may want to consider changing your lifestyle to incorporate healthier eating habits and increased physical activity. You can also check the Body Weight Planner Calculator from the National Institutes of Health. Remember, always consult your physician first. Note: Please be advised that this calculator is not intended for those under the age of 1. This is due to the fact that those under the age of 1. If you are under the age of 1. You will receive an inaccurate weight. Thank you for your understanding. Anabolic steroid - Wikipedia. This article is about androgens as medications. For androgens as natural hormones, see Androgen. Anabolic steroids, also known more properly as anabolic- androgenic steroids (AAS). They are anabolic and increase protein within cells, especially in skeletal muscles. AAS also have varying degrees of androgenic and virilizing effects, including induction of the development and maintenance of masculinesecondary sexual characteristics such as the growth of the vocal cords and body hair. The word anabolic, referring to anabolism, comes from the Greek . The American College of Sports Medicine acknowledges that AAS, in the presence of adequate diet, can contribute to increases in body weight, often as lean mass increases and that the gains in muscular strength achieved through high- intensity exercise and proper diet can be additionally increased by the use of AAS in some individuals. Their use is referred to as doping and banned by most major sporting bodies. For many years, AAS have been by far the most detected doping substances in IOC- accredited laboratories. Testosterone is now nearly the only androgen used for this purpose and has been shown to increase height, weight, and fat- free mass in boys with delayed puberty. These sports include bodybuilding, weightlifting, shot put and other track and field, cycling, baseball, wrestling, mixed martial arts, boxing, football, and cricket. Such use is prohibited by the rules of the governing bodies of most sports. AAS use occurs among adolescents, especially by those participating in competitive sports. It has been suggested that the prevalence of use among high- school students in the U. S. Oral administration is the most convenient. Testosterone administered by mouth is rapidly absorbed, but it is largely converted to inactive metabolites, and only about 1/6 is available in active form. In order to be sufficiently active when given by mouth, testosterone derivatives are alkylated at the 1. This modification reduces the liver's ability to break down these compounds before they reach the systemic circulation. Testosterone can be administered parenterally, but it has more irregular prolonged absorption time and greater activity in muscle in enanthate, undecanoate, or cypionateester form. These derivatives are hydrolyzed to release free testosterone at the site of injection; absorption rate (and thus injection schedule) varies among different esters, but medical injections are normally done anywhere between semi- weekly to once every 1. A more frequent schedule may be desirable in order to maintain a more constant level of hormone in the system. In addition, because estered testosterone is dissolved in oil, intravenous injection has the potential to cause a dangerous embolism (clot) in the bloodstream. Transdermal patches (adhesive patches placed on the skin) may also be used to deliver a steady dose through the skin and into the bloodstream. Testosterone- containing creams and gels that are applied daily to the skin are also available, but absorption is inefficient (roughly 1. Individuals who are especially physically active and/or bathe often may not be good candidates, since the medication can be washed off and may take up to six hours to be fully absorbed. There is also the risk that an intimate partner or child may come in contact with the application site and inadvertently dose himself or herself; children and women are highly sensitive to testosterone and can suffer unintended masculinization and health effects, even from small doses. Injection is the most common method used by individuals administering AAS for non- medical purposes. Studies indicate that the anabolic properties of AAS are relatively similar despite the differences in pharmacokinetic principles such as first- pass metabolism. However, the orally available forms of AAS may cause liver damage in high doses. AAS were ranked 1. Long- term steroid abusers may develop symptoms of dependence and withdrawal on discontinuation of AAS. Recreational AAS use appears to be associated with a range of potentially prolonged psychiatric effects, including dependence syndromes, mood disorders, and progression to other forms of substance abuse, but the prevalence and severity of these various effects remains poorly understood. As a result, AAS users may get misdiagnosed by a psychiatrist not told about their habit. Case reports describe both hypomania and mania, along with irritability, elation, recklessness, racing thoughts and feelings of power and invincibility that did not meet the criteria for mania/hypomania. Compared with individuals that did not use steroids, young adult males that used AAS reported greater involvement in violent behaviors even after controlling for the effects of key demographic variables, previous violent behavior, and polydrug use. The drug response was highly variable. However: 8. 4% of subjects exhibited minimal psychiatric effects, 1. The mechanism of these variable reactions could not be explained by demographic, psychological, laboratory, or physiological measures. There have been anecdotal reports of depression and suicide in teenage steroid users. A 1. 99. 2 review found that AAS may both relieve and cause depression, and that cessation or diminished use of AAS may also result in depression, but called for additional studies due to disparate data. Most of these side- effects are dose- dependent, the most common being elevated blood pressure, especially in those with pre- existing hypertension. For example, AAS may prematurely stop the lengthening of bones (premature epiphyseal fusion through increased levels of estrogen metabolites), resulting in stunted growth. Other effects include, but are not limited to, accelerated bone maturation, increased frequency and duration of erections, and premature sexual development. AAS use in adolescence is also correlated with poorer attitudes related to health. Development of breast tissue in males, a condition called gynecomastia (which is usually caused by high levels of circulating estradiol), may arise because of increased conversion of testosterone to estradiol by the enzyme aromatase. This side- effect is temporary; the size of the testicles usually returns to normal within a few weeks of discontinuing AAS use as normal production of sperm resumes. Alteration of fertility and ovarian cysts can also occur in females. The kidney damage in the bodybuilders has similarities to that seen in morbidly obese patients, but appears to be even more severe. Water- soluble peptide hormones cannot penetrate the fatty cell membrane and only indirectly affect the nucleus of target cells through their interaction with the cell. However, as fat- soluble hormones, AAS are membrane- permeable and influence the nucleus of cells by direct action. The pharmacodynamic action of AAS begin when the exogenous hormone penetrates the membrane of the target cell and binds to an androgen receptor (AR) located in the cytoplasm of that cell. From there, the compound hormone- receptor diffuses into the nucleus, where it either alters the expression of genes. It has been hypothesized that this reduction in muscle breakdown may occur through AAS inhibiting the action of other steroid hormones called glucocorticoids that promote the breakdown of muscles. Through a number of mechanisms AAS stimulate the formation of muscle cells and hence cause an increase in the size of skeletal muscles, leading to increased strength. Depending on the length of use, the side effects of the steroid can be irreversible. Processes affected include pubertal growth, sebaceous gland oil production, and sexuality (especially in fetal development). Some examples of virilizing effects are growth of the clitoris in females and the penis in male children (the adult penis size does not change due to steroids. Men may develop an enlargement of breast tissue, known as gynecomastia, testicular atrophy, and a reduced sperm count. Compounds with a high ratio of androgenic to an anabolic effects are the drug of choice in androgen- replacement therapy (e. Determination of androgenic: anabolic ratio is typically performed in animal studies, which has led to the marketing of some compounds claimed to have anabolic activity with weak androgenic effects. This disassociation is less marked in humans, where all AAS have significant androgenic effects. The VP weight is an indicator of the androgenic effect, while the LA weight is an indicator of the anabolic effect. Two or more batches of rats are castrated and given no treatment and respectively some AAS of interest. The LA/VP ratio for an AAS is calculated as the ratio of LA/VP weight gains produced by the treatment with that compound using castrated but untreated rats as baseline: (LAc,t. The LA/VP weight gain ratio from rat experiments is not unitary for testosterone (typically 0. Animal studies also found that fat mass was reduced, but most studies in humans failed to elucidate significant fat mass decrements. The effects on lean body mass have been shown to be dose- dependent. Both muscle hypertrophy and the formation of new muscle fibers have been observed. The hydration of lean mass remains unaffected by AAS use, although small increments of blood volume cannot be ruled out. After drug withdrawal, the effects fade away slowly, but may persist for more than 6. Overall, the exercise where the most significant improvements were observed is the bench press. AR agonists are antigonadotropic . By suppressing endogenous testosterone levels and effectively replacing AR signaling in the body with that of the exogenous AAS, the myotrophic- androgenic ratio would be expected to be further increased, and this hence may be yet an additional mechanism contributing to the differences in myotrophic- androgenic ratio. In addition, some AAS, such as nandrolone, are also potent progestogens, and activation of the progesterone receptor is antigonadotropic similarly to activation of the AR. The History of Hypnosis. The history of hypnosis is full of contradictions. On the one hand, a history of hypnosis is a bit like a history of breathing. Like breathing, hypnosis is an inherent and universal trait, shared and experienced by all human beings since the dawn of time. On the other hand, it’s only in the last few decades that we’ve come to realise that! Hypnosis itself hasn’t changed for millennia, but our understanding of it and our ability to control it has changed quite profoundly. The history of hypnosis, then, is really the history of this change in perception. In the 2. 1st century, there are still those who see hypnosis as some form of occult power. Those who believe that hypnosis can be used to perform miracles or control minds are, of course, simply sharing the consensus view that prevailed for centuries. Recorded history is full of tantalising glimpses of rituals and practices that look very much like hypnosis from a modern perspective, from the “healing passes” of the Hindu Vedas to magical texts from ancient Egypt. These practices tend to be for magical or religious purposes, such as divination or communicating with gods and spirits. It’s important to remember, however, that what we see as occultism was the scientific establishment of its day, with exactly the same purpose as modern science – curing human ills and increasing knowledge. From a Western point of view, the decisive moment in the history of hypnosis occurred in the 1. Century (coinciding with the Enlightenment and the Age of Reason). The work of Franz Mesmer, amongst others, can be seen as both the last flourish of “occult” hypnosis and the first flourish of the “scientific” viewpoint. Mesmer was the first to propose a rational basis for the effects of hypnosis. Although we now know that his notion of “animal magnetism”, transferred from healer to patient through a mysterious etheric fluid, is hopelessly wrong, it was firmly based on scientific ideas current at the time, in particular Isaac Newton’s theories of gravitation. Mesmer was also the first to develop a consistent method for hypnosis, which was passed on to and developed by his followers. It was still a very ritualistic practice. Mesmer himself, for instance, liked to perform mass inductions by having his patients linked together by a rope, along which his “animal magnetism” could pass. He was also fond of dressing up in a cloak and playing ethereal music on the glass harmonica whilst this was happening. The popular image of the hypnotist as a charismatic and mystical figure can be firmly dated to this time. Inevitably, these magical trappings led to Mesmer’s downfall, and for a long time, hypnotism was a dangerous interest to have for anybody looking for a mainstream career. Nevertheless, the stubborn fact remained that hypnosis worked, and the 1. Century is characterised by individuals seeking to understand and apply its effects. Surgeons and physicians like John Elliotson and James Esdaille pioneered its use in the medical field, risking their reputation to do so, whilst researchers like James Braid began to peel away the obscuring layers of mesmerism, revealing the physical and biological truths at the heart of the phenomenon. Thanks to their persistence and efforts, by the end of the century hypnosis was accepted as a valid clinical technique, studied and applied in the great universities and hospitals of the day. This trend continued into the 2. Century, although in some ways, hypnosis became imprisoned by its own respectability, as it became mired in endless academic debate about “state” or “non- state”. This conundrum – does hypnosis have a real, physical basis, or not? Important shifts were happening elsewhere, however. First of all, the centre of hypnotic gravity moved from Europe to America, where all the most significant breakthroughs of the 2. Secondly, hypnosis became a popular phenomenon, something that was increasingly available to the layman, outside of the laboratory or clinic. At the same time, the style of hypnosis changed, from a direct instruction issued by an authoritarian figure (a legacy of the charismatic mesmerist) to a more indirect and permissive style of trance induction, based on subtly persuasive language patterns. This was largely due to the work of therapists such as Milton H. Erickson. More importantly, perhaps, hypnosis became increasingly practical, and regarded as a useful tool for easing psychological distress and bringing about profound change in a variety of situations. This theme has continued up to the present day. Advances in neurological science and brain imaging, together with the work of British psychologists Joe Griffin and Ivan Tyrrell who linked hypnosis to the Rapid Eye Movement (REM), have also helped to resolve the “state/non- state” debate, bringing hypnosis and hypnotic trance firmly into the realm of everyday experience. At the same time, the nature of “ordinary” consciousness is better understood as a series of trance states that we go into and out of all the time. The history of hypnosis, then, is like the search for something that was in plain view all along, and we can now see it for what it is – a universal phenomenon that’s an inextricable part of being human. The future of hypnosis will be to fully realise the incredible potential of our natural hypnotic abilities.
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