Articles
Soy Vs. Whey
Why do you work out? If you're like most people your reason is likely to feel better, enhance your physique by building lean muscle and losing fat, and/or to improve your health. These processes require a number of factors to be in order and a primary component is your diet, which many people feel is by far the most important component. To put it one way, having a "perfect" workout day is far easier as you can shown up to the gym and train your tail off, but a "perfect" nutrition day goes from sun up to sun down -- every day! Building muscle and burning fat demands intense, consistent workouts along with a killer diet, plus enough healthy calories to facilitate muscle growth (but not too much or you will build fat). increasing protein intake is one of the best strategies to accomplish this needed balance. for a chance to win this product! Not All Proteins Are Created Equal Can you increase your protein intake to levels you need to build muscle and still support and even improve your health? This too can be a tricky balance and in this regard, this is where the source of your protein can become important. How many different sources of protein can you think of? Beef, bison, chicken, turkey, milk, soy and many plants have some protein in them as well. While a protein source like beef can range a great deal in the amount of protein, fat and cholesterol they contain, other protein sources like milk proteins (whey in particular) and soy offer excellent health benefits, but the extent to which they support your workout goals can vary widely. Soy protein, in fact, is considered by many to be one of the more healthy proteins. The components found within soy are isoflavones that contain naturally occurring nonsteroidal substances called phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens interact with the estrogen receptor on the muscle membrane and increasing your intake of soy-based products naturally increases your intake of phytoestrogens which may result in decreased incidence of coronary heart disease and different cancers (Erdman and Fordyce 1989, Montgomery 2003). Isoflavone and phytoestrogen intake may also improve risk for osteoporosis, reduce triglycerides as well total and LDL cholesterol (Wong, Smith et al. 1998, Teede, Dalais et al. 2001) and can be a key part of a successful weight management program (Bhathena and Velasquez 2002). Soy Protein and Hormonal Response The health benefits of soy are well established, but speculation remains whether regular ingestion of soy protein is ideal for resistance training males who seek to maximize various hormonal responses in an effort to get stronger and increase their muscle mass. In fact, a good amount of scientific evidence exists to support both sides of the argument and fortunately, a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition sheds some light on this exact topic. The purpose of this study by researchers at the University of Connecticut was to examine the extent to which soy and whey protein impacted changes in various hormones in response to a single bout of heavy lower-body resistance training (Kraemer, Solomon-Hill et al. 2013). The authors had ten college-age resistance-trained men perform three identical experimental trials. Each trial was separated by a 14-day period called a washout period. Each trial began with a 14-day supplementation period where participants consumed either 20 grams of a carbohydrate placebo, 20 grams of soy protein isolate or 20 grams of whey protein isolate each morning during the supplementation period. After the supplementation period, participants performed a single bout of lower body resistance training by completing 6 sets of 10 repetitions at approximately 80% of each study participant's one-repetition maximum (1RM). A series of seven blood samples were collected before and within the first hour after completing the exercise bout to measure changes in key hormones such as testosterone, cortisol and estrogen. The authors found that when soy protein was provided, serum levels of testosterone were diminished and cortisol levels (a stress hormone) were greater when compared to the levels measured when whey protein was consumed. When both testosterone and cortisol were observed together, 20 grams of whey protein supplementation promoted and sustained higher levels of testosterone while also causing the lowest levels of cortisol (Kraemer, Solomon-Hill et al. 2013). The authors concluded that supplementation with whey protein led to the most favorable changes in hormones found in the blood in response to a single bout of resistance training and in particular that ingestion of soy blunted increases in testosterone and increased levels of cortisol. Other studies exist to demonstrate that using soy protein can negatively impact levels of key hormones such as testosterone (Gardner-Thorpe, O'Hagen et al. 2003), sex hormone binding globulin (Habito, Montalto et al. 2000) as well as the ratio between testosterone and estrogen (Habito, Montalto et al. 2000). Moreover, it is thought that soy may inhibit the function of some key enzymes that facilitate the production of various androgens (Evans, Griffiths et al. 1995, Makela, Poutanen et al. 1998). for a chance to win this product! Whey Protein Generates a Preferable Hormonal Response Whey protein, particularly high quality hydrolyzed isolate versions such as BioQuest's MyoZene and ProSource's NytroWhey Ultra Elite possess extremely favorable profiles of amino acids and in particular contain the highest concentrations of the essential amino acids as well as the branched-chain amino acids. As mentioned before, a recent study reported that when similar amounts of protein were given prior to completing an intense bout of lower-body resistance training, the most favorable changes in both testosterone and cortisol were found when a whey protein isolate was given (Kraemer, Solomon-Hill et al. 2013). Isolate versions of whey protein like those found in MyoZene and the entire NytroWhey family are the purest forms of whey protein and as a result contain the highest amounts of protein, essential amino acids and branched-chain amino acids (the good stuff) and the lowest amounts of fat and carbohydrate (the bad stuff). Whey Protein Ingestion Supports Increased Protein Synthesis Hormone response is important, but there are other factors in play as well. Two recent studies compared the impact of soy and whey protein on changes in muscle protein synthesis at rest as well as after resistance exercise. The first study had young college-aged men complete three experimental trials where during each visit they ingested similar amounts of either whey, casein or soy protein. Muscle protein synthesis was measured both at rest and after a single bout of resistance exercise. At rest, rates of muscle protein synthesis after whey protein ingestion were 18% greater than when soy protein was ingested. When the same response was measured after completing a single bout of heavy resistance exercise, the results favored whey protein even more, leading to 31% higher values of muscle protein synthesis (Tang, Moore et al. 2009). Think these results only apply to young men? Think again! These results were reported again in a later study which used older men whereby whey protein ingestion resulted in greater levels of muscle protein synthesis when compared to soy protein ingestion (Yang, Breen et al. 2012, Yang, Churchward-Venne et al. 2012). In conclusion, soy protein, particularly isolate versions, are considered to be high quality sources of protein, but a number of studies continue to provide evidence that soy protein ingestion might lead to unfavorable changes in key hormones that are a part of the muscle building process. On the other hand, high quality, isolate versions of whey protein like those found in MyoZene and the NytroWhey Ultra Elite have the highest levels of amino acids and when compared head to head, and a number of studies indicate that whey protein ingestion promotes greater increases in muscle-building processes. Do you take a soy protein supplement? What have your results been with it? Let us know in the comments field below! References Bhathena, S. J. and M. T. Velasquez (2002). "Beneficial role of dietary phytoestrogens in obesity and diabetes." Am J Clin Nutr 76(6): 1191-1201. Erdman, J. W., Jr. and E. J. Fordyce (1989). "Soy products and the human diet." Am J Clin Nutr 49(5): 725-737. Evans, B. A., K. Griffiths and M. S. Morton (1995). "Inhibition of 5 alpha-reductase in genital skin fibroblasts and prostate tissue by dietary lignans and isoflavonoids." J Endocrinol 147(2): 295-302. Gardner-Thorpe, D., C. O'Hagen, I. Young and S. J. Lewis (2003). "Dietary supplements of soya flour lower serum testosterone concentrations and improve markers of oxidative stress in men." Eur J Clin Nutr 57(1): 100-106. Habito, R. C., J. Montalto, E. Leslie and M. J. Ball (2000). "Effects of replacing meat with soyabean in the diet on sex hormone concentrations in healthy adult males." Br J Nutr 84(4): 557-563. Kraemer, W. J., G. Solomon-Hill, B. M. Volk, B. R. Kupchak, D. P. Looney, C. Dunn-Lewis, B. A. Comstock, T. K. Szivak, D. R. Hooper, S. D. Flanagan, C. M. Maresh and J. S. Volek (2013). "The effects of soy and whey protein supplementation on acute hormonal reponses to resistance exercise in men." J Am Coll Nutr 32(1): 66-74. Makela, S., M. Poutanen, M. L. Kostian, N. Lehtimaki, L. Strauss, R. Santti and R. Vihko (1998). "Inhibition of 17beta-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase by flavonoids in breast and prostate cancer cells." Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 217(3): 310-316. Montgomery, K. S. (2003). "Soy protein." J Perinat Educ 12(3): 42-45. Tang, J. E., D. R. Moore, G. W. Kujbida, M. A. Tarnopolsky and S. M. Phillips (2009). "Ingestion of whey hydrolysate, casein, or soy protein isolate: effects on mixed muscle protein synthesis at rest and following resistance exercise in young men." J Appl Physiol 107(3): 987-992. Teede, H. J., F. S. Dalais, D. Kotsopoulos, Y. L. Liang, S. Davis and B. P. McGrath (2001). "Dietary soy has both beneficial and potentially adverse cardiovascular effects: a placebo-controlled study in men and postmenopausal women." J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86(7): 3053-3060. Wong, W. W., E. O. Smith, J. E. Stuff, D. L. Hachey, W. C. Heird and H. J. Pownell (1998). "Cholesterol-lowering effect of soy protein in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic men." Am J Clin Nutr 68(6 Suppl): 1385S-1389S. Yang, Y., L. Breen, N. A. Burd, A. J. Hector, T. A. Churchward-Venne, A. R. Josse, M. A. Tarnopolsky and S. M. Phillips (2012). "Resistance exercise enhances myofibrillar protein synthesis with graded intakes of whey protein in older men." The British journal of nutrition: 1-9. Yang, Y., T. A. Churchward-Venne, N. A. Burd, L. Breen, M. A. Tarnopolsky and S. M. Phillips (2012). "Myofibrillar protein synthesis following ingestion of soy protein isolate at rest and after resistance exercise in elderly men." Nutr Metab (Lond) 9(1): 57. 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4 Moves for a Massive Chest
Faking a straight on, one dimensional selfie on Facebook is easy, but real life is three dimensional and eventually someone will see you from the side. The chest is a very noticeable body part; a well-developed chest commands respect, shows strength and screams masculine virility. If your chest isn't getting deeper, wider, and fuller, then it's time to take some advice from a guy not known for his bodybuilding wisdom. Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Here at ProSource we are after one thing: results. Let's look at some highly effective, under-utilized exercises in building a massive chest. Plyometric Push-Ups Bodyweight movements are mentioned rarely in bodybuilding publications and literally never outside the context of a high-rep burnout. Plyometric push-ups will be performed as a warm-up before hitting the heavy pig iron. This serves a couple of purposes: to recruit High Threshold Motor Units and increase neural drive to the muscles. In lay terms, we are going to recruit large muscle fibers and wake up the central nervous system (CNS). Neuromuscular Facilitation, not fatigue, is our objective; that's why the reps are low. Perform this exercise for 3 sets of 3 to 6 reps with 1 to 2 minute rest interval between sets. Performance Get in a push-up position on the ground Hands spaced at bench press grip width Do a push-up and explode in to the air as high possible, land and repeat in rapid-fire style Do not exceed 8 reps Board Press To get big you have to go heavy! Because the range of motion is reduced with board presses, we can handle heavier weights contrasted to a conventional bench press. Full range of motion is generally the rule of thumb, but partials need to play a role for maximal muscular development and strength. By handling overloads in board presses, it will remove some of the shock from full-range-of-motion movements. We will do 3 sets of 3 reps as heavy as possible and finish with a set of 15 reps. Rest 2-3 minutes between sets. Performance Have a competent spotter hold two 2 x 4 boards on chest Un-rack the barbell at arms extension over your boards Grab the bar with your strongest bench press grip width Keep your upper back tight Make sure your feet are flat throughout the entire movement Lower the barbell under control to boards; pause for 1 second Forcefully push the bar back to arms extension Smith Machine Overload Bench Press I have some ocean-front property in Arizona if you think you are going to maximally develop a huge chest without any eccentric overload work! Heavy negatives induce greater muscle damage than any other type of contraction. Up to 60% percent more weight can be handled on an eccentric contraction contrasted to a concentric contraction. Eccentrics allow us to do more work longer and work past failure on the positive portion of a set. Furthermore, intense eccentric movements force muscle fibers and surrounding satellite cells to fuse, resulting in muscle fiber growth. Assuming you have two competent spotters, it's tough to beat the eccentric overload bench press for a safe, effective eccentric emphasis exercise. Do 3 sets of 5 reps, rest 2-3 minutes between sets. Performance Lie flat on a bench placed under a Smith Machine (the bar should be directly above your chest) Load the bar with 10%–25% extra weight on the outside of the bar sleeves Lower the weight to your chest At chest level, have a partner on each side pull the extra weight off the bar Forcefully press the weight back to starting position Then have the partners add the weight back to the bar Repeat for necessary reps Here it is in Action Chain Flyes Flyes are a great chest exercise, but they may fall on the risk side of the risk-to-benefit ratio for those with shoulder problems (due to the excessive strain in the stretched position). Thus, many lifters in this situation often opt to only train with cables. But chain flyes are a game changer! Chain flyes are performed by attaching the handles you use to perform cable cross overs to chains. You are still able to get some of the stretch (lacking in cables) that you feel with dumbbells. Yet, as your arms abduct to the fully stretched position, the chains unload on the floor. This removes much of the strain from the shoulders. As you adduct, or squeeze your arms back together, the chains start to lift off the floor again, giving you the peak contraction advantage of the cables. Even with 100% healthy shoulders, chain flyes require you to produce more force where you are strongest -- providing an extreme overload. Select a weight you are capable of doing 12 reps with. Do 10 reps, rest 40 seconds, then attempt 10 reps again; if you are unable to do 10 reps, do nine, if you can't do 9, do 8, if you can't do 8, do 7, do this all the way down to one. If the set is less than 10 reps go to failure; rest 40 seconds after each set. Perform this for a total of 10 reps; this should be brutal. Performance Attach a single-handle attachment with a carabineer to a chair Lie flat on a bench Lift the handles with chain above your chest with arms in a slightly bent position (your arms never straighten out throughout the entire movement) Lower to the side until your chest muscles are stretched Bring the handles together in a giant, bear hugging-like motion Hold the handles together at the top for a brief moment Return to starting position Supplementation Suggestions More muscle damage means more time to recover. I highly recommend ProSource's Mega BCAA from anecdotal experience and validated in scientific literature. When you're going harder and longer, some ProSource Beta Alanine will help you postpone fatigue as well. Final Thoughts If your chest hasn't grown since the second Bush administration, what do you have to lose? Give these unconventional movements a try and you can expect some unconventionally great gains.
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Time to Grow! Your Supplement Guide to a Successful Bulking Phase
Ah, the winter winds, the spring thaw. For the aspiring bodybuilder, they can mean only one thing. It's the season to get BIG.Chances are, if you’re even considering entering into a bulking phase, you’ve already got your training regimen pretty much dialed in. Your work output is increasing gradually but steadily; your splits are fine-tuned; your intensity is on point. If you're doing any extravagant cardio, you're already cutting back on that now.The real challenge is going to present itself in eating more. A lot more. And making every calorie count so as to ensure that a significant proportion of your added mass is muscle, not fat. Calculate Your Real Caloric Needs and Fine-Tune Your MacrosHow much more will you be eating? Well, to start with, about 10% to 20% more. To find out your total daily caloric needs, seek out one of the many Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) calculators online and enter in your information. The TDEE calculator will output an optimum daily number of calories you should be consuming to stay about where you are right now, physique-wise. Eat less, you'll lose weight. Eat more, you'll gain weight.Let's say your TDEE calculator spits out a number like 3,000 calories per day to maintain the status quo. That means that you're going to have to add from 300 to 600 calories per day to start growing. Seems easy, right? Well, no. Because they can't just be any calories. They have to conform to your macronutrient ratios, and they have to be high-quality calories. A good benchmark for macros is 45% carbs / 35% protein / 20% healthy fats. Generally speaking each gram of carbs corresponds to about 4 calories, protein also 4, and more calorie-dense fats provide 9 calories.So, doing a little math, we find that 45% of 3,300 calories is 1,485 calories or 371 grams of carbs. Thirty-five percent of 3,300 is 1,155 calories or 288 grams of protein. And finally 20% of 3,300 is 660 calories or 73 grams of healthy fats.How hard could that be? Well, a typical 5-oz chicken breast provides about 30 grams of protein and two grams of fat. Five ounces of broccoli provide 10 grams of carbs. So as you can see, you've got some eating to do. And keep in mind, that 3,300 calorie figure is your starting point. You're going to be stepping on the scale 3 to 4 times a week and watching for weight gain. Quality weight gain. If it's not there, you're going to have to step up your caloric intake again.This is where so many people looking to add muscle mass fail. They simply underestimate the sheer number of calories they need to consume daily to grow.You've got to pre-prepare meals and have them always ready to go. You've go to eat six or seven meals spaced out through the day to consistently maintain a caloric surplus. You've got to track your macros, being smart about protein, carbs, and fats.This is where a high-quality dietary supplement or two (or three) can come to your rescue. Let's take a look at a few. Supercharge Your Growth With a Superior-Quality Mass BuilderHere at ProSource, we talk all the time about how important protein -- whether from whole food sources or from the highest-quality whey protein supplement formulas -- is for support of a highly active lifestyle, peak physique and overall wellness. Our own flagship protein NytroWhey Ultra Elite is at the absolute scientific vanguard here in terms of ingredient quality and processing. We're justly proud of it.We realize sometimes though, that some of our readers aren't quite clear about the difference between a protein formula and a mass builder. Yes, a whey protein formula is essential to building and maintaining lean muscle mass. But a mass builder is something different. Think of a protein formula -- the best ones, anyway -- as a highly specific, precision-targeted infusion of nutrition. A snack, if you will, that muscles thrive on. A mass builder, on the other hand, is a banquet. It's a wider spectrum of nutrients with a special purpose and best used at a very specific time.After a strenuous workout, your muscles have been ravaged and are crying out for fuel, your glycogen stores have been depleted, and protein synthesis is declining precipitously. MyoZene from BioQuest addresses each of these dire situations with the help of a number of highly advanced technologies.MyoZene's protein component is perfectly suited to your increased bulking-phase requirements. It is comprised of a blend of highly specialized hydrolyzed whey rich in essential di- and tri-peptides for ultra-rapid absorption into the muscle, and also fortified with an advanced leucine peptide technology to enhance muscle protein synthesis.Just as importantly for those looking to add significant lean muscle bulk, MyoZene contains an advanced carbohydrate matrix designed to raise blood glucose levels, potentiating insulin release, which in turn plays a key role in skeletal muscle protein synthesis by activating ribosomal activity and growth initiation factors within skeletal muscle.Finally, to ensure that MyoZene is your one-stop shop for post-workout muscle growth, MyoZene contains creatine monohydrate for cell volumization and strength support, taurine and glutamine for recovery support, and L-carnitine L-tartrate for additional hormonal support. How well do all these components work together? Spectacularly well, according to the results of a landmark brand-specific clinical study presented at the prestigious American College of Sports Medicine Annual Conference (1 Lou, Feldman, et al). This independently conducted research study found that after 28 days of MyoZene supplementation in conjunction with a bodybuilding training regimen, subjects experienced a 24% increase in muscular endurance mid-way through the study and a 32% increase after one month of training. Crucially for people engaged in serious bulking up, subjects also experienced a notable reduction in body fat as well. MyoZene clearly is a powerful tool in your bulking-phase toolbox. Feed the Beast with a Potent and Calorie-Dense Mass-Gain Muscle-Support FormulaAs we said above, when it comes to bulking up, calories are the name of the game. But not just any calories. Typical "hard-gainer" or "mass gainer" formulas on the market are notorious for being dumping grounds for manufacturers' least nutritionally useful ingredients -- poorly processed ion-exchange whey, absolutely inert protein fractions, and lots and lots of simple sugars.After-Mass from ProSource contains an ample amount of calories alright -- 310 per serving. But those calories derive from a nutritional profile engineered to fuel growing muscle tissue over both the short and long term. The 25 grams per serving of cutting-edge tri-phasic protein complex in After-Mass is composed of hydrolyzed whey to support protein synthesis in the immediate aftermath of your workout, while whey protein concentrate and hydrolyzed casein provide an extended flow of aminos to keep your muscles in a growth-favorable state.After Mass also contains 48 grams of precision-targeted, high-glycemic carbs that will restore glycogen reserves depleted during exercise, raise blood glucose levels and potentiate insulin release for improved nutrient delivery to muscles, and support the secretion of insulin-like growth factors. Additional glutamine, leucine, taurine and other key aminos enhance recovery and growth as well. That's a lot of nutrition in one affordably priced mass-gain supplement! Facilitate Digestion and Nutrient Utilization with a Super-Complete Daily MultiIt's all very well to task your body with assimilating lots of extra caloric content, but you have to give your body the tools it needs to absorb and utilize all that extra nutrition. At any given moment, your bodily systems are executing countless tiny mitochondrial transactions aimed at shoring up metabolism, organ health, muscle growth and overall wellness. These physiological actions are dependent on dozens of trace minerals, enzymes, antioxidants and vitamins that are not always abundant in your diet, if they're present at all. If you're looking to radically transform your physique, now is not the time to reach for a generic grocery-shelf daily multi. ProSource's Super MegaMax is designed specifically with the athlete and highly active person in mind. It contains a complete spectrum of essential nutrients formulated from the highest-quality sources and provided in dosages specifically intended to support and fuel your unique dietary requirements. In addition to a full complement of vitamins and minerals, Super MegaMax provides vital nutrients for optimized cardiovascular health, key co-factors for hormonal support, powerful botanicals for optimized free radical protection, and highly bioactive forms of immune-supporting vitamins C and D. To support the kinds of high-intensity exercise you engage in, Super MegaMax also contains joint health support compounds MSM, calcium and boron, plus NAC, CoQ10 and alpha lipoic acid for cellular energy production, as well as trace minerals for hydration and muscle endurance support. Bulking up can be stressful! Ease the burden with a wide-spectrum, super-comprehensive daily multi like Super MegaMax.Support Strength and Muscle Volumization with the World's Best Creatine Finally, no physique enhancement program would be complete without the proven strength-building power of pure creatine monohydrate. ProSource Creatine Monohydrate is 100% Creapure® sourced from Alzchem of Germany, the world leader in superior creatine manufacturing. Creapure's ultra-pure, micro-crystallized creatine monohydrate provides the muscle volume and strength-increase results that will convert ramped-up caloric intake into dramatic new mass. For creatine monohydrate, athletes everywhere know they can trust ProSource for the world's purest, most potent form.Keep the Big Picture in MindNow that you've got your calorie intake ramped up and elevated in overall quality, you really need to put all that fuel to work. As we've said, your training regimen should already be fine-tuned, high-volume, and driven by max intensity. Don't be afraid to change things up to shock your muscles into growth, but keep your overall work output at optimum levels.Ease off the cardio. Research backs the notion that trying to combine resistance training with significant amounts of cardio exercise creates an interference effect in which each type of exercise undercuts the body's metabolic response to the other. If you must indulge in cardio, stick to one or two sessions per week and stay away from steady-state, growth-dampening pursuits like distance running or circuit training. Try some sprints or swimming short, high-intensity lengths in the pool instead.Tinker with your caloric volume and macros. Weigh yourself 3 or 4 times a week to see how you're progressing and adjust your consumption appropriately. Unless you're starting at absolute zero in terms of muscle mass, growth should be slow but steady -- about .25% to .5% of your body weight per week. To put your expectations in perspective, only about one pound of that will be new muscle tissue. Mass gain is a long game.Finally, get adequate rest. Real growth is impossible unless you give your body and your muscles the rest they need to repair and recover. Okay now. Ready? Go grow!Scientific References1 From "An Open Label Clinical Trial Evaluating the Effects of MyoZene with Resistance Training on Changes in Body Muscle Strength." Lidia Lou, MS, Samantha Feldman MS, RD, William Chong BS, Douglas Kalman PhD, RD, FACN, Diane R. Krieger, MD. May 2008. Presented at the 2008 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, IN.Use as directed with a sensible nutrition and exercise program. Read and follow all product label instructions and warnings thoroughly before use. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.The articles featured herein are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Specific medical advice should only be obtained from a licensed health care professional. No liability is assumed by ProSource for any information herein.
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