Monday Morning's..

We all hate early mornings, especially Monday mornings. It is the beginning of the work week, school week, and just another 5 days from the weekend, again. However I like to look at Monday's as a fresh start to implementing new goals. One great quote that I read somewhere, but can't remember the author is "You don't need a New Year, just a Monday". I really like this quote because every 7 days gives you the opportunity to implement something you want to change.This doesn't mean that you can't implement something during the middle of the week, but nothing feels better then starting the week off proper.

Taking a look at my last blog post regarding BCAA's and Amino Acids, I went into the detail the significance they play on maintaining a healthy active lifestyle. On the week I went and bought a few new supplements that I am excited to incorporate into my daily supplementation. As odd as it sounds, Sunday night when I was preparing my lunch and supplements, protein, etc, I was motivated to get up come Monday morning and begin my new supplements, and routine. It was a chance to implement my new goals and routine, and no better time then a Monday! Looking at my Monday as a whole, it seems I am pretty busy WIth class 8:00am-11:00am, and class 12:00-3:00pm, I have at least 6 hours of class. Between that I have to make sure I am maintaining my diet, eating every 2 hours, taking my supplements at the appropriate time, completing any extra work from class, and most importantly hitting the gym in the afternoon.


To me ... this is a pretty busy day!

A lot of it seems like it is just little things that I have to implement through out the day, but I constantly have to be on the ball with things. Making sure that I follow my time schedule, get everything done, and do it to the best of my ability. Time management skills are important to gain and maintain, so I push my self to prioritize, make a routine, and implement new goals and things I would like to change. People reading this I think will take a little bit of inspiration from this and start planning some goals for the beginning of the week, and making it happen! Start the week off proper, have the energy to make it happen, and force yourself to follow it. Nothing is more of a bitter sweet feeling then a sense of accomplishment and achievement!

Happy Monday! Keep your goals attainable, and reach for the stars!

Amino Acids & BCAA's

Every athlete trains to become bigger, faster and stronger. Everyone looks within themselves to attain a new level of performance, and at times, supplementation is essential. I wanted to take a look a some of the new Supplements that I picked up this weekend, and the importance they have in terms of proper muscle development and growth. Amino Acids in General are essential in living a healthy, physical, active lifestyle, and especially for those who train hard in the gym. Muscles can not grow without protein and despite their variety; all proteins are composed of just 20 different amino acids. Porteins are macromolecules constructed from long strings of units called amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. Each Amino acid has an amino group on one end, and a carboxyl acid group of the other. To some people reading this, it probably sounds like a bunch of giberish. 

Let me explain something about BCAA's..

How often have you walked into your local gym for a workout, only to have your attention seized by the products on sale promising rapid weight and muscle gain through amino acid supplementation? Then again, the sheer cost may have put you off the idea, and besides, being well educated in these matters, you think you know that a moderate carbohydrate and high protein intake is what the scientist say is best. Yet, almost all of us know someone who is more muscular and stronger that swear by amino acid supplementation. Branched-chain amino acids supplements, commonly referred to as BCAA's, are very popular with athletes these days, who are searching for ways to increase lean mass and performance. 

Looking through the thick, complicated, scientific definition of Amnio Acids, and BCAA's it comes down to a few very important points. When you are training to develop a strong, more powerful body it is essential to stimulate and fuel your muscles at the cellular level. BCAA's reduce muscle fatigue, speed recovery, decrease the loss of other amino acids from muscle during exercises and will help the body absorb protein at a fast pace. 

I was extremely happy that I did my research on these products and have incorporated them into my supplementation. I am constantly looking for results, and looking for new things, and this is just another method of putting myself on the correct track. 

Sports Enjoyment

Why a lot of guys like sports..

The short answer might seem obvious; spots is entertaining and provides a distraction from "real life". Additionally, we know that competitive athletics somehow stirs us at gut level, either as participant or as a spectator. Some major points on why I like sports, and my outlook on things. 

• Sports Inspire Us

• Sports touches the depths of our emotion

• Sports lets us believe in the impossible 

• Sports engages our mind

• Sports provides the element of danger

• Sports can give us a place in history

• Sports validate our competitive nature

The list could go on. Sports plays a huge role in my life, next to my interest in bodybuilding. Minus going to the gym and doing what I love, I thoroughly enjoy watching a wide variety of sports. NFL especially, but also NHL, EPL and many other sports leagues. From soccer, to basketball, to football and such, I always like to keep on top of the top headlines and news. Obviously sports is a physical discipline, but even the casual fan will tell you that mind and body work together. But when one gets to the top of his game, the mental aspect is huge. Not only in the sense of getting "psyched up" but in devising strategy, studying video, researching and developing training, technique, etc. More than any other time in history, sports has now become a science. For the participant and spectator alike, there is plenty of mental stimulus in todays sporting world - and we can swim as deep as we like in those waters. 

What is it about sports that does such a great job of lifting the burdens of life off our shoulders and bring out the best in us? I think that is the sports ability to draw real, unpredictable drama with meaningful outcomes, but at the end of the day, after the best athletes in the world have poured bit of their soul into the competition, no one gets hurt, no one gets killed, and the losers have a chance to come back and fight another day.