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5 Ways Men Over 40 Can Gain Muscle

Published

4 years ago

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men over 40

Gaining muscle is never easy. It needs time, concentration, and lots of effort. And, when you fall into the ‘men over 40’ category, it becomes that much hard to notice gains.

You also can’t lift as much as you could while you were younger, plus it takes longer to recover from each workout.

There are ways to overcome these issues, though. After all, men in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s can still look shredded. You just have to be smart about how you work out.

We’ve done our homework and found 5 ways that can help you gain muscle if you’re over 40 and still want to be healthy—and ripped.

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1. Lift Less

gain muscle over 40

Your body naturally can’t handle the kind of weights you could lift in your 20s or 30s. So, don’t force it. Use moderately heavyweights, where you don’t feel like you’re pushing yourself too much.

Heavyweights will cause aches and pains in your shoulders, elbows, wrists, and knees, and it will only get worse.

You should also moderate how much you lift within the week and the intensity of your workouts. This will allow your recovery to be faster.

It will also help you to gain muscle without burning yourself out. You will thus be able to gain muscle faster than if you were pushing yourself hard but taking longer to recover.

2. Eat Well

men over 40
You don’t have to be a health nut and count calories on everything you ingest. Instead, simply focus on eating healthy and having enough protein each day.

When you’re working out to build muscle, your body consumes a lot of calories. So, it’s crucial that you don’t deprive your body of the nutrients it needs.

Whatever healthy diet you decide to have, just make sure that you eat more calories than you burn. This will help you recover faster. It will also keep you from feeling fatigued every time you want to work out.

3. Men Over 40 Should Rest Longer

When you’re over 40, one of the most vital things to focus on is resting. Your body needs more rest time so you can recover better.

We recommend working out for a maximum of five days a week. But ideally, try aiming for three days a week. And on rest days, avoid any intense physical activity.

When you train every day of the week, fatigue will build up. This will affect the quality of your sleep, and if you don’t sleep well, you won’t be able to recover well.

This will further impede your training progress, and you’ll eventually be forced to quit working out.

4. Don’t Rush

men over 40
Many young workout enthusiasts will enter the gym and immediately start lifting the heavy weights.

While this method can work for them, anyone over 40 should not attempt it under any circumstances. Even if you’re in a hurry, warming up first is essential.

It could be low-intensity cycling, a quick jog on the treadmill or even a rowing machine. Basically, do any form of cardio that gets the blood pumping.

This will raise your body temperature, reduce the chances of injury as you work out, and improve your performance.

We also recommend starting your workout with an empty bar. This will help to prepare the muscles and joints for the forthcoming weights.

5. Stretch When Needed

men over 40
For most people, static stretching generally doesn’t do much. A lot of research shows that it doesn’t do a lot to prevent injuries or even lower muscle soreness. However, it can still come in handy.

Some muscles sometimes feel tight—usually the quadriceps, hip flexors, hamstrings and glutarals and other times, one of your limbs might feel tighter than the other.

In such cases, stretching can be useful. Simply stretch the tight spots for 60 seconds each day. This should help to lower that tightness, and it can also help to increase your flexibility with those muscles.

Do you fall in the “men over 40” category? How has your workout changed?

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Health & Fitness

Busta Rhymes Is Getting In Shape In Anticipation Of His New Album

Published

4 years ago

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October 23, 2020

By

Busta Rhymes new album

Busta Rhymes has been putting in that work in the gym and in his latest Instagram post he said one of his main motivations has been his upcoming album, Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God set to be released at the end of this month.

The rapper, 48, showed off the results of his dramatic weight loss journey on Friday, posting a before-and-after photo to document the major body transformation.

In the post, he shared the following:

“Don’t ever give up on yourself! Life begins right now!! My dedication is different! I would never put out an album and not be in the best shape of my life!! I respect myself too much and respect yall too much!! I’m only here to inspire!!

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See below:

His trainer is a celebrity trainer and diet coach Victor Munoz who often shares Busta’s progress on his Instagram.

Munoz, is a native of Cuba, and among NYC’s first fitness professionals. He began shaping professional athletes, bodybuilders, celebrities, dancers, and regular folk, more than twenty years ago, back in the days of Jack Lalane.

A certified trainer and member of the International Sports Medicine Association, Munoz does not limit his work to the gym.

He’s also a skilled martial artist who teaches classes in eastern self-defense.

Busta Rhymes Getting In Shape

@victormunoz_proedge

His guidance in weight training and nutrition has pumped to physical perfection several leading male and female bodybuilders who have gone on to capture prestigious titles in competition and has provided a rehabilitative comeback for others, plagued with health problems.

For those in-between – men and women who’ve needed to shed 20 pounds, tone up, and look their best, Munoz has gotten them in the zone in record time. Via Pro-Edge.

About Busta Rhymes s new album

Busta Rhymes is set to drop his latest project Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God, on October 30th of this year.

This will be his 10th studio album which is the follow-up to his 2012’s Year of the Dragon album.

According to Pitch Fork – Extinction Level Event 2 will be a sequel to Busta Rhymes’ 1998 album E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front, which featured the hit singles “Gimme Some More” and “What’s It Gonna Be?!”

In 2015, he released the mixtape The Return of the Dragon (The Abstract Went on Vacation).

Watch a preview below:

Should be dope, and well worth getting in shape for!

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Health & Fitness

6 Great Ways to Get Rid of Love Handles

Published

4 years ago

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September 22, 2020

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love handles

There’s truly no love lost when it comes to love handles. These are sections of stubborn fat that stick to the front and sides of your stomach, and most of us would rather just get rid of them.

Love handles usually sneak upon us, and before we know it, we have a generous helping of fat around our midsection.

As easy as it is to get them, love handles are notoriously hard to lose. Many a man has struggled on the elliptical and doing countless abs, only for the slabs of fat to laugh at their efforts. But love handles don’t have to be a permanent resident. We’ve listed six ways you can use to get rid of that pesky flab.

Fiber Up

Add foods with soluble fibers to your diet, pronto. They help you to feel fuller for longer by slowing down your rate of digestion.

The fuller you feel, the less tempted you’ll be to grab a snack during the day. Your calorie intake will reduce, and with time, those annoying love handles will be relics of the past.

So, which foods have these soluble fibers? Look for fruits, vegetables, oats, nuts, beans and as a plus, these foods are also packing lots of nutrients. They will make you much healthier.

Go Organic

Yes, yes, we know. Organic foods can be a tad pricey. However, consider the benefits. For one, they are packing over 50% more omega-3 fatty acids.

Secondly, they also contain Conjugated Linoleic Acid or CLA. This has been proven to help in reducing fat around the midsection.

So, next time, don’t flinch at the asking price. Get your fix of organic cage-free eggs and grass-fed beef. A nice bonus is they also taste better.

Hit the HIIT

In a perfect world, we’d just do a ton of cardio and the love handles would burn right off. However, it doesn’t work like that. If you do too much cardio, you’ll just become a smaller version of how you look now; but the proportions will still be the same.

Instead, try some High-Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT. This is where you alternate between hard exercise and recovery in the same workout.

The beauty of HIIT is that your body will keep burning fat, even after you’re done working out. But don’t skimp on the cardio completely. A solid ten-minute cardio session after your HIIT workout is a nice balance.

Naturally, Shrink Love Handles By Bulking Up

Another way you can get rid of your love handles is to not focus on them so much. Instead, try to focus on other parts of your body. Build up the rest of your body, from your traps to your pecs.

When they inevitably increase in size, your love handles will look smaller in comparison and since you’ll be burning fat, that extra flab will also disappear eventually and give way to epic abs.

To achieve this, try to manage two to three total-body workouts each week. Then finish with interval training and some light cardio. You won’t just lose those bothersome love handles; you’ll also look like a proper beast.

Stop Stressing Out

Being stressed out can mess up more than just your mental health. It can also make your midsection rounder. This is because stress makes your body produce the hormone cortisol or the “stress hormone”. When you’re stressing out over something, your adrenal glands produce this cortisol.

While it’s normal to get stressed out or frustrated from time to time, being like this every day is not healthy. Your body will produce insane amounts of cortisol, which will build up around your midsection.

Also, you’ll also get some messed-up side effects, like digestive issues, headaches, and anxiety. So, just try to go to your happy place as often as possible so you can lower your stress.

Reduce The Booze

Do you drink alcohol more than society says you should? Then maybe you should try cutting back a little. When you indulge in alcohol a little too often, you can grow obese and increase your body fat, particularly in the midsection.

Drinking also makes you feel hungrier; it stimulates the brain cells that regulate appetite, which can make you eat more when you don’t really need to. In addition, alcohol is packed with sugar and calories, which will naturally make you plumper.

So, don’t forego booze entirely. Just try to cut back on it, and your body will thank you.

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Health & Fitness

10 Easy Ways Men Can Reduce Stress

Published

4 years ago

on

September 3, 2020

By

reduce stress

In this climate, we have to be very conscious about how we take care of ourselves especially during moments of high stress. With that said what should the modern man do to reduce the toxic effects on the body? Here are 10 ways men can reduce stress.

Exercise regularly.

Exercise has been proven to reduce stress levels, hit the gym, or just head to the park for a high-intensity workout and a dose of vitamin D. Excercise will help you to burn off pent-up energy and tension. It also improves overall health.

Eat and sleep well.

Good food nutrition and 6 to 8 hours of sleep each night can help your body recover from past stress and be better prepared to deal with new stress. Avoid caffeine and other stimulants that might promote stress and sleeplessness. Avoid alcohol, which might deepen any depression you may be feeling.

Meditate.

Spend at least 15 to 20 minutes a day in quiet contemplation we recommend. Depending on your preference, you might like to devote the time to meditation or prayer, or practicing yoga or tai chi if you want more of a physical component.

Breathe deeply and clear your mind.

Solve the cause of your stress. Dealing with the problems that cause tension can relieve you of that stress. Inaction just allows it to build. If your neighbor’s dog barks constantly, talk with him about it. Talk to your boss to figure out solutions for problems at work. Ask for help if you can’t meet all the demands placed on you.

 

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Avoid stressful situations.

There are a number of statistics that suggest research suggests that men’s stress levels soar 60 percent in traffic jams — seven times higher than women’s. If possible, time your driving to avoid rush hour. Shop when you know the store won’t be packed with people. And cut down on the time you spend with people who get on your nerves.

Accept things you can’t change.

There are going to be things in your life that you can’t control, no matter how hard you try. For example, there’s no use allowing snow or rain to bother you — how would you go about changing the weather? Instead, look for ways to enjoy uncontrollable circumstances. Play in the snow like you did when you were a kid; spend a rainy day reading, another stress reliever.

Don’t take on more than you can handle.

We often create our own stress by over-scheduling ourselves and failing to say no when too much is asked of us, whether it’s the boss, spouse, or friend making the request. Don’t overpromise, and give yourself time to finish the things you do agree to tackle.

Try a “glass half full” attitude.

Always looking on the sunny side sounds cliché, but it can make a world of difference. Having a negative outlook can turn even the most minor annoyances into huge problems in your mind.

Tackle first things first.

Become a master at triage — that’s determining the most important of the tasks you’re trying to handle and methodically completing those first, then moving on to less critical jobs. Resist trying to do multiple projects at once.

Savor your victories.

When you accomplish a personal goal or finish a major project, do something nice for yourself. It can be as simple as getting a massage or as extravagant as taking a weekend getaway. Celebrate your achievement before you jump into the next project.

Apps you should download now to help you reduce stress Via INC

reduce stress

1. Breathe2Relax:

Smartphone app with instructions and exercises in diaphragmatic breathing, a documented stress-management skill. Includes detailed information on the effects of stress on the body.

2. Headspace:

“A gym membership for the mind,” Headspace provides a series of guided meditation sessions and mindfulness training. A free trial is available with additional sessions available by subscription.

3. Finding Optimism:

A mood tracker where you can keep daily records of symptoms and triggers. Includes data visualization tools and information on wellness strategies.

4. Happify:

A brain-training app based on research showing that some types of activity can help you combat negativity, anxiety and stress while fostering positive traits like gratitude and empathy.

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