At home dumbbell workouts are better for reaching your fitness, fat loss and physique building goals than gym machines. It is hard to believe that these hand held weight training tools can replace a room full of expensive equipment. But it is true, which is welcome news to some exercisers.

In tough economic times, the gym membership is one of the first things to go. Many gym members calculate the cost of each gym visit and realize it is just not worth it and that the money can be best used elsewhere. But what are they to do? Should they give up their dreams of a fit, lean, athletically muscular body along with their gym card?

Absolutely not! As a matter of fact, ex gym goers should look at this as an opportunity, not a drawback. Now they are free to take responsibility for their fitness, fat loss and physique and explore highly effective training methods they may have previously overlooked… like at home dumbbell workouts.

Exercise Is About Movement

Walk in to any commercial gym and… listen. Just listen to other exercisers to see what they are saying. Inevitably, you will overhear talk of what MUSCLES a certain exercise works. You’ll hear a trainer explain to a new client that this gym machine “works the glutes” or “hits the lats”. And you’ll hear enthusiastic gym rats talk about “pumping up their pecs” or “blasting their bi’s”. It is clear… they are concerned with specific muscles the exercise works.

But focusing on muscles is the wrong focus. Exercise is about movement, not muscles. You performance improves because of your ability to better MOVE either your own bodyweight around, or a weighted object. And ironically, training to move better strengthens the muscles needed for the movement and makes them grow… resulting in the athletic, lean, muscular body most exercises strive for.

Dumbbells are better for training weighted movement than gym machines. Therefore, they are better for creating the physical changes that lead to higher performance and a more attractive appearance. Let’s look at gym machines first…

Gym Machines Restrict Your Movement

Strapping yourself into a machine and working against resistance in a predetermined movement pattern is a lousy way to train. Even if you can get the machine set right for your body type and size, the movement is completely foreign to any movement you’d find in the real world. This makes if less effective!

Oh, but I forgot. You are training muscles, not movements, right? If that is your only concern, sit down, put on a seat belt and push and pull in these foreign ways. But if you want to improve the way you perform (and look) OUTSIDE the gym, you need to train movements. And that’s where dumbbells come in.

Dumbbells Train Your Body Like It Moves

Dumbbells are an extremely versatile training tool. You can use them together, one limb at a time or in an alternating fashion. This means they closely mimic movements you’ll find in real world activities, sports and work. This means more physical improvements you can see, feel and USE!

Now, just don’t think that by switching to dumbbells you are free from the “muscle vs movement” problem. Most dumbbell workout are designed by bodybuilders who are ONLY concerned with muscles. And they use the versatility of the dumbbells to “isolate” specific muscle groups. This is not the way to get the most from your dumbbell training!

A well constructed dumbbell routine uses a wide range of exercises to train every movement imaginable. And it does it in a way that most closely relates to movements you’ll find in the real world. Using a full body workout that uses dumbbells in unison, one at a time and alternating is one of the best ways to improve fitness, burn fat and build an athletic body. If those are the reasons you use gym machines, it’s time to quit the gym and get yourself some dumbbells. If you are considering quiting the gym to save some money, this could be a blessing in disguise. Take this opportunity to break out of the “training muscles” mindset, and start using dumbbells to train movements. I think you’ll be happy with the performance, health and appearance RESULTS you get. At home dumbbell workouts will become your new best friend.

Reactive Hypoglycemia can be a total nightmare! I know it was for me when I was first diagnosed. In the beginning, I literally had no idea as to what I could do to fix the problem or even cope with the problem. I thought, “What can I eat?”

I knew diet was key, but I did not exactly have the formula for fixing my problem; and my doctors were not helping me too much. They simply wanted to put me on a medicine that made me sick to my stomach and send me on my way. I mean, we all know the importance of doctors, and I do appreciate what they do, but how many times do they just go through the motions? Run the tests, prescribe the medication!

Well, the doctors had nothing to help me! So, I had to help myself, which was nothing new as I am a 4-time survivor of cancer and was used to using diet and supplementation as a way to optimize my health. So I started researching, talking with dietitians, personal trainers and bodybuilders. I learned about the low carbohydrate diet and the Ketogenic diet, and from those diets I learned about the importance of fat in treating all sorts of conditions including Reactive Hypoglycemia.

Now, don’t run off just yet because I mentioned fat. Fat has gotten a bad rap over the years, but really can benefit you when eaten with the proper diet. You see, your body burns carbohydrates first, then fats, then protein… and we know that Reactive Hypoglycemia is basically a reaction to carbohydrates, especially simple carbohydrates. Simply put, with Reactive Hypoglycemia, you eat carbohydrates and 1 to 4 hours later your body is secreting an excess of insulin and causing your blood sugar to drop. This of course comes with all sorts of fun symptoms like dizziness, anxiety, tremors, cold extremities, heart palpitations, etc.

So, after learning this, I decided to lower my carbohydrates dramatically and add more fat! I started eating more bacon, red meat, peanut butter, cheese, coconut oil, butter and heavy cream. Remember, if your body has no carbohydrates to use as an energy source, it will use fat.

Not only did I lower my carbohydrate intake, but when I ate carbohydrates, I only ate complex carbohydrates and I ate them with fat… and on top of that, I eliminated all refined foods from my diet, all simple and starchy carbohydrates, sugars, caffeine and alcohol. Not eating these things is crucial to you getting Reactive Hypoglycemia under control.

For example, in the morning for breakfast, along with my serving of cottage cheese and egg whites, I would eat about a quarter bowl of raw oatmeal with butter, heavy cream, coconut oil and a few blueberries. This combination of the fat with the carbohydrates would slow down by body’s absorption rate and keep my blood sugar levels from spiking. This in turn would keep my insulin levels from spiking and causing a Hypoglycemic episode.

In the end, I learned that eating small, frequent meals was very important. I also learned that eating a low carbohydrate diet, and a diet high in fat, fiber and protein was the key to me being able to live a “normal” and active life again. It took some time for my body to adjust. In the beginning my energy levels were low and I would get tired easily, but within a few weeks I had adjusted and had my new diet system down to a science.

As a disclaimer, I am not a doctor, but I am a person that has gotten my Reactive Hypoglycemia under control naturally through diet alone. If you are starting a new diet, I always recommend consulting with your doctor first. Also, as you get started, keep a food journal and remember that if you are physically active and exercise or lift weights, your diet must account for that. Stay focused, determined and hopeful!

Are you suffering from a pullup injury? Pullups (and the related exercise, the chin-up) are important and useful for anyone who wants to incorporate resistance training into their fitness workouts. After all, few movements are as natural as the pull-up. And since it’s primarily a bodyweight exercise, it gives you a good metric with which to judge your own progress (or lack thereof).

However, unless you have an advanced level of strength, pullups and chins are high intensity exercises. If you’re able to bang out a quick set of 20, you probably won’t get injured during chinups or pull-ups. But if you’re like most people (who do sub-10 repetition sets), you really have to push yourself on the last rep or two. It’s this high intensity that causes problems.

The first thing you should do to combat painful damage caused by pull-up problems is to stop and allow your body a chance to rest. Once you are completely pain-free, give it another week to make sure, then slowly build back up to where you were before the injury. It is essential to avoid jumping right back into the high-intensity workout; you need to ease gradually into your routine or you risk reaggravating the injury.

Make sure your pullup technique is correct. If you move in an unaccustomed way during the execution of the exercise, you run a high risk of pulling something out of whack and causing problems for yourself. Good form isn’t just for gymnasts, it’s for everyone who needs to remain pain-free.

Are you a meat lover? If yes, then you should definitely try biltong. This special kind of all-meat product originated in Southern Africa and after sometime it also invaded the European, American, and Australian markets. It is often likened to beef jerky only that it differs in ingredients and preparations.

Many people buy biltong because it’s a great alternative to unhealthy snacks like chips, burgers, fries, and the like. People who are watching their weight should be happy to know that it also contains fewer calories compared to beef jerky in the market today. But what make it stand out are its numerous health benefits like the following:

• Excellent source of protein

Whether you’re losing weight or want to have some muscles, biltong can provide you the protein you need. Research proves that it is a safe protein snack because compared with others, it has no carcinogenic ingredients. You can enjoy a handful of biltong twice a week and never have to worry about gaining pounds, only muscles. You stay healthy and fit too.

• Low in carbohydrates

Many people often say the culprit behind weight gain is carbohydrates. If this is the case then it’s good to know that you can still enjoy delicious biltong and still provide your body the energy it needs. This is why many outdoor enthusiasts buy biltong for them to bring along when they go hunting, camping, trekking, and the like. Just a few bites and you’re ready to roll. Weight loss fans are also encouraged to eat biltong as a substitute for other low-carb meat products since it’s healthier and definitely more delicious.

• No chemical content

Some meat products are hazardous to your health because of their very high chemical content. The contain ingredients like monosodium glutamate, sodium nitrate, artificial coloring and flavors, and preservatives. Thankfully, biltong doesn’t contain any of these. No wonder, many prefer it over other dried meat products. Its ingredients are only vinegar, black pepper, salt, coriander, sugar, and meat.

Biltong’s health benefits aren’t only ideal for people on the go. Did you know that children can also enjoy this product? As a matter of fact, mothers buy biltong for teething children. The chewy and delicious taste makes biltong an excellent alternative to commercial teething products.

The numerous health benefits of biltong are enough to encourage everybody that it’s indeed the best meat product in the market today. Buy biltong and enjoy the protein and low carbohydrates it provides without worrying about harmful chemicals getting into your system.

Isabel De Los Rios may not be a wildly famous name yet, but I would bet a significant chunk of change that she’s going to be. In fact, Isabel is already a well respected speaker and owns her own wellness practice. If you don’t know who Isabel De Los Rios is, I think that you should because her new ebook, the Diet Solution Program, is one of the most interesting and eye-opening nutrition books I have read in quite a while.

The Diet Solution Program is the culmination of years of research and “in the trenches” hands on experience which Isabel has in the nutrition and health industry. What is important about this book is that it goes into great detail and describes the true nature of many of the foods that we eat on a regular basis and exposes the truth about many of them.

And the truth may surprise you as it had me. Some foods which are considered healthy like soy are, according to Isabel’s book, far from being all that good. And there are other examples which I won’t go into here for lack of space.

The Diet Solution Program attempts to educate people about the right way for them to eat according to their own metabolic makeup. Each of us is genetically different from the next, and so it’s ridiculous to try and force all of us into some preconceived eating plan. We all need different amount of macro-nutrients like carbs, fats, and so on. We all need all of them to some degree, but how much we need varies, and the Diet Solution program shows us how to arrive at the right amount for us.

The Diet Solution Program is more than a weight loss book, though it can prove highly effective as one. It’s a comprehensive and encompassing healthy lifestyle volume of information which can help you alleviate or avoid any of the common diseases which plague so many people like high blood pressure and diabetes. I believe it’s a must read book for any health lover.

Ok, Gerald Green finished second this year in the Slam Dunk Contest (2008). His birthday-cake-dunk was sick, but the one between the legs with no shoes on wasn’t necessary – he can do better!

But have you seen Gerald Green’s 2005 summer league dunk where he – just like Vince Carter at the 2000 Olympics – jumped over a 7 footer for the dunk?

What about the 2005 McDonald’s All-American Slam Dunk Contest that he won? And in case you forgot, Green won the NBA Slam Dunk contest in 2007!

In this contest, Green first made a two-handed slam on an alley-oop pass off the side of the backboard from teammate Paul Pierce. Then he jumped over fellow finalist Nate Robinson while wearing the No. 7 Celtics jersey of 1991 dunk champion Dee Brown – and shielding his eyes in the crook of his elbow in an homage to Brown’s memorable no-look dunk.

“I knew they were going to be tough, because those guys had the creativity and the dunking style,” Green said about the famous judges Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Kobe Bryant, Vince Carter and Julius Erving.

“I tried to come out with something they never did before, and hopefully they could give me a score.” – Gerald Green

At the end of the contest, G-Money effortlessly leaped over a 3-foot table for a windmill jam.

“That boy has some serious hops,” Nate Robinson said after that dunk, eyes wide. “Kid can fly.”

Actually, Gerald Green has the highest vertical leap in the NBA by now – 48 inches!

The 6’8”/ 200 lbs. shooting guard jumps so high, he has to watch out not hitting the rim with his head! On one occasion in high school, Green went higher than expected and cut his head on the rim.

“If you’re trying to glide, you want to get your footwork right,” said Green. ”If you don’t get your footwork right, you won’t accelerate as far or glide as far or get as high as you need to get. Then, at the height of the dunk, you want to reach your peak. That’s where you want to get the ball where it needs to be. Sometimes I don’t reach my peak. I dunk and then I seem to go a little higher then I fall down. It has happened before. I’m just trying to put the ball in a certain area.” – Gerald Green

By now, you may think:

So what? It’s great for him that he can jump that high,

but how can I increase my vertical?

Well, besides the excellent, but common exercises like jump rope, calf raises and squats, there are some very effective exercises only few people know about:

Thrust ups:

Starting position: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, and close your knees. Then jump up only using your calves, only bending at the ankles. When your land, go jump again as high as possible.

Burnouts:

Starting position: feet shoulder width apart, knees closed. Now go up on your toes und jump up only using your toes.

Laundry Jumps:

Take an object – a bag or something like that – and try to jump laterally over it. It can be between 10 and 20 inches high. Try to jump as high and far as you can back and forth over object.

Power Skip

Jump and try to bring your left leg up to your chest. Then do the same with the other leg.

For more exercises and crucial things to know about vertical jump (f.e. why often what you “don’t” do is more important then what you “do” do) please take a look at this page I strongly recommend:

http://www.howtodunk.org

p.s.

Did you know that Green plays with only four and a half fingers on his shooting hand? He ripped his ring finger on a nail when he was about eight and doctors were forced to amputate down to the knuckle.

p.p.s.

In case you haven’t heard yet – the 22-year old Gerald Green was released by the Houston Rockets…

For more infos, take a look at this page:

http://celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2008/03/gerald-green-released-by-rockets.html

In any type of strength training for soccer players, building a solid foundation from the ground up is imperative. Exercises that have a player sitting on a seat and extending their leg or lying on their stomach and curling their hamstrings are with out both functional and preventative value.

Unfortunately there are still misinformed coaches giving the wrong information about soccer fitness and building leg strength. In particular the leg extension exercise is given to improve kicking strength.

Here are three reasons why leg extensions and hamstring curls are poor choices for building leg strength.

1) The game of soccer is mostly played on one leg while either foot is in contact with the ground. Neither the leg extension or hamstring exercise provides this opportunity. When in a game does a soccer player lie on the ground and bring his/ her buttocks to the ground or sit on the turf and straighten his /her leg? These exercises isolate either the quadriceps muscle group or the hamstring muscle group and places unwanted tension at the hip.

2) Sitting or lying on either of these machines minimizes avoids the integration of the deep abdominal core muscles as well as the buttock muscles. As you know a strong “core” and strong buttocks leads to strength and power in the lower body.

3) The ligaments that support the knee either get stressed inappropriately (too much stress on the ACL) or not at all. Remember these exercises were designed for body builders to isolate these muscles. These guys and girls do a lot of posing and do not have to stop, start and change direction.

Here are three exercises to build leg strength to run faster and kick harder:

1) Any form of the single leg squat. This exercise may be done several different ways. You may squat with the air borne leg either in front or behind you.

2) Moving kicking action with resistance. Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Place a band above or below the knee of the kicking leg. Make sure the band is anchored behind you. Now take one step forward with the plant leg then follow through with the in a kicking motion with the other leg. This exercise stresses both the kicking leg for resistance and the plant leg for single leg strength and balance.

This type of exercise closely relates to the kicking action in a soccer game.

3) Stability Ball Curl. Lie on your back and place your heels on the stability ball. Raise your hip in the air then curl the ball towards you and away from you. Keep your buttocks tight. This combines the stomach core muscles and the buttocks muscles along with your hamstring muscles.

Keep in mind a couple of things about these exercises;

A) They include the both the abdominal and buttock muscles.

B) The actions closely relate to the movements in a soccer game.

C) They protect the knee joint.

So there you have it. Be well informed before you start building leg strength for your soccer fitness.

Summer is fast approaching and you want a body you’ll be proud to display at the beach. It’s time to start now so you’ll be ready in 3 months. But what if you’re not a cook or you’re just too busy to cook. Many people are looking at the meal replacement plans of Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem or Medifast to do the cooking for them. The problems: these plans are VERY expensive (around $300-$700 per month), some of the food isn’t very good, and you’re also paying expensive shipping charges. How would you like to accomplish the same thing but do it better? You’ll eat tastier food with much more variety, spend up to 50% less, and totally erase all shipping charges.

Let’s look at what you’re getting right now when you order from Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem or Medifast. Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig give you 3 regular food meals and 2 snacks. With Medifast, you eat 5 smaller meals of shakes, energy bars, soups or puddings, then you prepare 1 regular meal of 600-900 calories for dinner. Most of them want you to supplement with fresh vegetables and salads from your local grocery store.

You might ask, which helps you lose the most pounds, a plan with a regular breakfast, lunch & dinner or a plan with a shake for breakfast & lunch (and some snacks) and regular food for dinner? In multi-year studies, both here and in the U.K., the shakes plus one regular meal far surpassed the all regular food meals. With the first 2 regular food plans, you lose 1-2 pounds per week, with Medifast, up to 20 pounds that first month. But with Medifast, as the name implies, you are fasting (only 1300 calories per day).

So, let’s talk about a new plan. While you’re supplementing with fresh vegetables & salads at your local store, don’t stop there. The secret is — you can find a better, cheaper version of ALL the elements of those brand name diets right there at your local grocery store. You’ll have to shop a little more to find the right combination for you. The following are 4 ways to duplicate every item in the top 3 meal replacement plans right there in your local supermarket. You’ll get better quality and pay much less.

1. Shakes or Energy Bars for the 1st two meals & snacks

Many people have complained that the brand name diet plans have shakes that don’t taste very good. The same thing goes for the energy bars. What’s the best one? A survey in Good Housekeeping magazine ranked Walmart’s $18 per week EQUATE CHOCOLATE SHAKES (pre-mixed, not the mix) to have by far the BEST TASTE! I’ve tried them and they are YUMMY, like a cold, melted Wendy’s chocolate Frosty. These shakes have many added nutrients and 5 grams of fiber! For energy bars, Fiber One has a variety of bars that are also inexpensive and great-tasting. Check the calorie count before you purchase.

2. The Real Food Dinner Meal

Have you looked at the frozen TV dinner section of your supermarket lately? There are new meals coming out almost every month. Lean Cuisine and several other brands offer tasty diet meals that are better than what a delivery service will give you. What’s more, there are so many diet meal choices, you can pick your favorites. Some are larger with more food. Some have desserts, some don’t. Obviously, men need more calories than women. Adjust the total day’s calorie count by how fast or slow you want to lose the weight.

3. Snacks

Many of the brand name diet plans actually give you 6 meals, including snacks. You have to be careful here. Some snacks are a lot healthier than others. Fresh apples and oranges from the store are much healthier & more satisfying than energy bars.

4. Drinks

Don’t drink diet sodas. The artificial sweetener in diet sodas, which is many times sweeter than sugar, will make you crave more sugar. Try to drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily which will help get rid of the fats. I use light lemonade packets by Crystal Light (or Equate) to give it flavor. With the slightly tart taste, I don’t notice the small amount of Aspartame in it.

So, the main benefits of the brand name meal replacement plans, namely the portion control & the calorie counting can be done just as easily in your local supermarket. Sure, you’ll have to spend more time at first, looking & comparing which TV dinners sound good to you & making sure they fit the low calorie, low sodium prerequisites. When I started this, I only bought 2 weeks worth of TV dinners so I could buy more of the ones I liked later on. Another tip, don’t forget to exercise…you do lose weight faster. After you’ve successfully reached your weight goals, devise a healthful meal plan you can live with for the rest of your life. In conclusion, I recommend you try this & become your own meal replacement service…you’ll love the control & the savings!

If you’re really into hockey, you should definitely be using some hockey training programs not only to improve your skills, but to keep your body in the best shape for this sport, which is very fast and furious and very demanding. Playing hockey well requires players to be in good aerobic shape as well being strong and agile.

Aerobics really improves a player’s endurance and the effort needed to stay out on the ice and in the game for what could be some grueling play! And while a lot of the aerobic and cardio training, and especially the strength training and weight lifting, in some hockey training programs are done off the ice, the best training programs will definitely incorporate a good bit of on-ice training as well.

Virtual training, which you can do with online programs or DVD courses can help with some of the initial training as well. There are some good hockey training programs on video today that provide some excellent virtual training off the ice.

You can actually get some pretty good information plus learn basic stick and puck handling moves, different ways to make shots, and even some skating maneuvers.

These types of programs are really popular for players who know many of the basics already and have hectic schedules requiring them to schedule their hockey training programs around full time job or school schedules.

Some of the following types of training can be done either from home using a DVD or online program, or by going to your local gym. And of course, your team coach should definitely be adding this type of training to the team schedule along with regular practice.

1) Hockey Strength and Weight Training
You use a lot of muscles when you play hockey. Hockey is probably one of the hardest sports on your body when it comes to wear and tear. You’ll be training not only for strength and flexibility, but you’ll also obviously be training for speed. So while you might think that hockey is all about your legs and knees, think again.

Sure, the strength of your legs is key enabling the ultimate in puck control, balance and fast skating while preventing any serious injuries. And since you need to keep your legs strong and flexible, and because hockey players take such long strides out on the ice, leg exercises should include moves that will work the groin area too.

But just as important are other muscles you’ll use extensively during the game, which include your lower back, adductors, abductors, abs, glutes, hip flexors and extensors.

2) Hockey Cardio Training
If you’ve never done any serious cardio training, you want to start slow and as much as possible, reduce any type of exercise that’s going to create stress on your joints, like running and jumping, especially right before the season starts. You can get excellent cardio and aerobic training without pounding the heck out of your joints.

Using a stepper or an elliptical machine will really build you aerobically and help build the endurance you’ll need on the ice, but without wearing out your knees before the season even starts.

In addition to aerobic conditioning, you’ll also need to increase your anaerobic level higher to withstand the anaerobic shifts out on the ice during the game. So make sure the hockey training programs you’re using have you working out anaerobically for 45-second shifts during your aerobic training and you’ll get yourself in the shape you need for the season.

3) Plyometric Training for Hockey Players
Hockey is a sport that requires some really fast movements like stopping short and changing direction in rapid speed, jumping over players and dropped hockey sticks, running fast, then turning quickly on the ice.

What Plyometric exercises do is trains your muscles, connective tissues and your nervous system so you can successfully make these fast motion moves on the ice. Doing Plyometrics will seriously help you with rapid direction changes, your overall agility and it will help increase your shooting power during your game.

The bottom line, however you decide to train for the season, overall hockey training programs should definitely include all of the above in addition to any other training or drills you’ll be doing. A good rounded program will get you in the best shape and keep you in the best shape so you’re always playing your best.

There are a couple of must haves when you are working out: you must have a good nutrition plan set up, you must get enough rest, and so on. To “supplement” this list of must-haves is the supplement glutamine (excuse the pun). Regardless of whether you are a beginner or a pro, if you are trying to lose weight, get bigger, or tone up, glutamine is something you need to have in your cupboard. It has many diverse benefits to help you develop more efficiently and expediently well as to help keep you in good general health.

Firstly, you are probably wondering what glutamine is. Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the human body used to help regulate cell growth and function. In addition to being produced by our bodies, glutamine can be found in beans, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, many protein powders, and of course, on the shelves at your local supplement store in pure powder or pill form. Some of its benefits are that it serves as a “brain fuel” that increases brain function and mental activity, promotes a healthy digestive tract, significantly shortens the healing time of ulcers, reduces depression, impotence, fatigue; decreases sugar cravings and perhaps most important to us (considering this is a fitness article), it helps build and maintain muscle tissue through minimizing muscle deterioration and increasing protein metabolism AND glutamine also helps tighten skin which is perfect for someone who has recently lost a lot of weight.

There is simply no denying Glutamines benefits to our bodies. However, despite the fact that it is the most abundant amino acid in our system, the complication is that it is always being depleted. During intense training, Glutamine levels are significantly depleted in our bodies which reduces stamina and muscle recovery. Research indicates that following intense workouts, glutamine levels could be reduced by as much as 50% and it could take up to 6 days for Glutamine levels to return to their normal levels.

Having your Glutamine levels depleted will slow the progress you see from exercise and since one of Glutamine’s main jobs is keeping up collagen levels, which is critical for healthy skin, a deficiency will make your skin look older, while supplementing with glutamine can actually be effective in tightening loose skin. The most common dosage of glutamine is 5 to 10 grams on an empty stomach 25 to 30 minutes prior to working out and then 5 to 10 grams immediately afterwards. Many also take 5 to 10 grams upon waking and directly before bed to combat muscle breakdown which occurs during sleep. If you have recently lost a significant amount of weight and part of your goal is skin tightening, I would take 20 grams of glutamine each day, even on days that you do not work out, split it up into 2-4 servings taken on an empty stomach if possible to maximize absorption.

If you aren’t taking Glutamine you need to start; I’m sure you can appreciate why I consider it a must have. Furthermore, as amazing as Glutamine is in terms of its effectiveness, it is also amazing in terms of its affordability and it is one of the most reasonable priced supplements you will find on the market. Quite simply, glutamine as so much to offer you, you can’t afford not to take it!