| How to Build Muscle Naturally Posted: 21 Jun 2020 05:00 PM PDT If you're building muscle naturally, it simply means that you're not using supplements or medications to bulk up. This is a great way to get bigger and stronger since it's safer and more likely to work.[1] By changing up your diet and lifting weights regularly, you can build muscle and improve your overall health. You won't see results overnight, but with a strict schedule and a little discipline, you'll see gains in as little as a few months. Remember to see your doctor before making any major changes to your diet or exercise routine. You'll also need to consult a doctor if you experience extreme pain or strange bruising after working out. [Edit]Adjusting Your Diet - Increase your daily caloric intake to raise your body mass. If you are burning all the calories you eat, working out and burning fat will make you thinner. For most people, consuming an additional 300-500 calories a day is more than enough to bulk up while working out regularly. Keep in mind, these calories should be equally consumed through proteins, carbohydrates, and a little bit of fat.[2]
- Make sure you are eating the right kinds of foods during the day. You don't want to increase your daily caloric consumption by eating lots of junk food.
- Adult men normally need around 2,400 calories a day while women need around 2,000. These caloric requirements differ a little based on age, weight, and height. Talk to a nutritionist or doctor to determine how many calories you need.
- Consume a protein-rich breakfast every day to start burning fat. In the morning, be sure to eat eggs, lean sausage, Greek yogurt, or some other protein-rich food. Eating early in the morning jumpstarts your metabolism and tells your body that it's time to start burning energy. This will not only make it easier to lose the bad weight, but the protein will help your muscles stay strong and healthy as they get bigger.[3]
- A good sample breakfast might be a small cup of yogurt, an egg, and a few low-fat sausage links.
- Don't eat so much in the morning that you feel tired and sluggish during the day.
- Eat more frequently throughout the day and have a smaller dinner. Instead of sticking to the usual 3 meals a day, you'll have an easier time building muscle with 4-5 meals. This will also help you reach your caloric target. Eating more meals will increase your metabolism and energy levels which will make it easier to build muscle.[4]
- Make your last daily meal a little smaller than your breakfast or lunch. Since your metabolism is lower late at night, eating a lot after 5 pm may help you put on weight, but it won't build muscle.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially before working out. It's important to make sure you aren't dehydrated with your increased diet and workout routine. Consume roughly of water at least 2 hours before working out. While you're lifting or running, drink of water every 10-20 minutes. After you're done, have of water for every you lost through your sweat to stay properly hydrated.[5]
- Get roughly 25-30% of your daily calories from protein. Everyone's body is different, but protein is a major contributor when it comes to building muscle mass. Since protein repairs muscle tissue, it's extremely important to get at least 25% of your diet from protein when you're bulking up.[6]
- Fresh salmon with a side of broccoli or potatoes is a great way to get some protein. You could also make something using grilled chicken, a beef stew, or a tofu dish.
- Good options when it comes to protein include lean beef, chicken, eggs, almonds, broccoli, and Greek yogurt.
- Stay away from junk food and soda if you're trying to build muscle!
- Eat enough carbohydrates to make them roughly 55-60% of your diet. Carbohydrates are essential when it comes to producing energy. Since you'll be using a lot more energy than most people by working out every other day or so, getting plenty of carbs is key to building muscle. One easy way to do this is to have a carb with each meal every day. You could also eat a single carbohydrate-heavy dish, like pasta.[7]
- Solid carbohydrates include any vegetable, salmon, nuts, chickpeas, lentils, and potatoes.
- For meals, you could make some sweet potatoes, mixed greens, with a protein. You can also get a ton of carbs from pasta, which can be prepared a variety of different ways.
- Make fiber, oils, and healthy fats the remaining 15-20% of your calories.[8] Fiber is crucial for helping your body digest while healthy oils like olive oil and almond oil contain a variety of acids that your body needs. The oils will also help reduce inflammation which you may run into while working out regularly.[9] For fat, try to limit your intake and stick with healthy fats found in cheese, avocado, and quinoa.[10]
- Foods that are rich in fiber include basically any fruit and vegetable. Throw in some veggies with at least one of your meals to make sure that you get enough fiber.
- Popcorn with a little oil and no butter or salt is a healthy nutritious snack that's rich in fiber and oil.
[Edit]Training and Working Out - Set a goal for yourself to build muscle up over time. You may want to bulk up fast, but remember that building real muscle takes time. Determine how much muscle you want to build and take a "before" photo so you can gauge your progress over time. For the next few months, be sure to get adequate sleep, prepare to cut out the junk food, and go grocery shopping to pick up some good proteins and carbs for your fridge.[11]
- Set a date where you're going to start, but don't focus too much on an end date. Everyone's process is different and it can take anywhere from 1 month to a year to bulk up depending on your age, diet, and metabolism.
- Work out 2-3 times a week to give your muscles healthy breaks. Working out every day is not a particularly good idea. Your muscles need time to repair and it's important to get some rest in between workout session. Leave at least 1 day off in your schedule in between workout sessions.[12]
- You'll actually build less muscle if you lift every single day. Running daily is fine if you're looking to trim down your waistline while building muscle, but lifting every day will simply be less effective.
- Get a trainer to build a specific workout plan and stay motivated. It's not mandatory, but getting a personal trainer is a great way to stick with your workout regimen. They'll also be able to guide you through the proper forms and mechanics for certain exercises. This is a particularly good idea if you're new to weightlifting and working out.[13]
- You can also ask a friend that lifts regularly to help you out and be your lifting partner if you prefer.
- Warm up by stretching and doing light aerobics for 10 minutes before lifting. Before you begin any strength training exercises, it's important to warm up your muscles to prevent pulling a muscle or injuring yourself. Start by touching your toes with your legs straight for 5-10 seconds. Stretch your arms by pulling each arm across your chest and behind your head. Pull your feet up behind you to do some thigh stretches. Then, hop on a treadmill, bike, or do some jumping jacks. Get 10-15 minutes of cardio in before lifting.[14]
- When stretching, it doesn't necessarily matter if you do any specific stretches so long as you loosen up your legs, arms, chest, and back.
- Target your arms using curls and bent rows. These exercises often need a barbell or dumbbells, but they can be done at home without a spotter. If you find that the amount of weight you are using is too easy, try increasing it. Starting off with if you aren't sure where to start. Try doing 3 sets of each exercise with 10-15 reps in each set.[15]
- Bicep curls can be done with a barbell or dumbbells depending on your preference. Hold the weight with your palm facing up and slowly lift the weight towards your shoulders by curling your biceps up before lowering it slowly back to the original position. Hold it for 1 second to complete 1 rep before repeating the process again.
- To do a bent row, put one knee down on a bench and hinge from the waist so your back is flat. Hold a dumbbell in one hand and let it hang down toward the ground. Tense your shoulder, bicep, and forearm. Pull the weight directly up to your chest and lower it back down toward the floor to complete 1 rep. After completing 1 set, swap hands.
- Use crunches and leg raises to build your abs up. For many people, the abdominal area is where their weight hangs out, and they often do cardio to achieve that flat belly look. Cardio isn't always enough to create a 6-pack, but these exercises will help you achieve it. Do 10-15 reps each and do 1 set.[16]
- Leg raises are fairly simple and straightforward. Lie on your back with your feet together and keep your legs straight. Raise your legs as high as you can without bending your knees or lifting your butt off of the floor. Once you reach the highest you can go, hold it for 1 second. Then, slowly lower your legs back to above the ground. Do not let your feet touch the ground and count 1 rep. Repeat this process to complete a set.
- Crunches are also pretty easy in terms of form. To do a crunch, lie down on your back with your knees bent. Put your arms across your chest and raise your upper body up without lifting your lower back. Once you get as high as you can, count 1 rep. Slowly lower yourself back to the ground and stop when you're above the ground before completing the rest of the set.
- Build your chest up with bench presses and push-ups. These exercises not only build muscle in your chest, but also help increase strength in your shoulders and arms. You can do these at home or in a gym. Keep in mind, you do need a spotter if you're going to do the bench press.[17]
- You can do a bench press with a barbell or dumbbells. Lay flat on your back on a lifting bench and hoist the dumbbells or barbell directly above your chest. Once your arms are fully extended, hold it for 1 second before lowering your arms down. Stop when the dumbbells or barbells are from your chest to count 1 rep. Do not hesitate to call a spotter if you need help. Do 5-10 reps based on how much weight you're using.
- Push-ups are a classic choice. Either do standard push-ups or slide a small platform or ottoman under your feet to increase the resistance on your chest and alleviate pressure on your back. Keep your hands below your shoulder and lower yourself till your chin is above the ground before pushing yourself back up to do 1 rep. Do 10-20 per set and do 2 sets if possible.
- Target your legs with squats and leg curls. These exercises will target your butt, glutes, and legs. Use a dumbbell or barbell for these exercises and try to do three sets of each exercise with 10 to 15 repetitions.[18]
- To do a squat, take a heavy dumbbell or barbell and hold it in in your hands, stand up straight placing your feet shoulder width apart. Bend your knees so your thighs are parallel to the floor while keeping your back straight. Hold your position for 1-2 seconds before raising yourself up to count 1 rep.
- You have to do leg curls at the gym on a leg bench machine. Lie down on your stomach and slide your feet under the footpads. Use your knees to curl your calves up and pull the weights up towards your butt. Once you raise the footpads up as high as you can, lower the weights slowly to count 1 rep.
[Edit]When to Seek Medical Care - Talk to your doctor about exercising safely. The types of exercise you can do safely depend on a lot of factors, like your fitness level, current weight, age, and overall health. Before you take on a strenuous new workout routine, see your doctor. They can tell you what kinds of exercise are likely to benefit you the most, and help you avoid exercises that might lead to injury.[19]
- For example, if you struggle with arthritis or another musculoskeletal condition, your doctor or physical therapist can help you choose exercises that will help you build muscle mass without putting strain on your joints.
- Ask your doctor to recommend a physical therapist or certified personal trainer who can help you develop a healthy exercise plan.
- Consult your doctor before making major dietary changes. Your nutritional needs will also vary depending on a lot of individual factors, such as your age, sex, overall health, and current dietary habits. A doctor or registered dietitian can help you determine how much you need to eat in order to build muscle in a healthy way.[20]
- They can also advise you about which foods are healthiest for you. Let your doctor know if you have any health conditions that might affect what you can safely eat, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease.
- Seek medical help if you have concerns about your muscle mass. If you're having trouble building muscle or gaining weight, make an appointment to talk to your doctor. They may be able to determine if there is an underlying condition (such as a thyroid problem or a nutrient deficiency) that's making it harder for you to build muscle mass.[21]
- Give your doctor detailed information about your current diet and exercise habits, your health history, and any medications or supplements you're currently taking.
- Get medical advice before trying any supplements. While some dietary supplements, like glutamine, can help you build muscle in a healthy way, others may do more harm than good. Additionally, supplements can sometimes interact badly with medications or other supplements, sometimes causing serious side effects. Before starting any new supplement, talk to your doctor about whether it's a good idea for you.[22]
- Give your doctor a full list of any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are currently taking, as well as any other vitamins or dietary supplements.
- Let your doctor know if you have any medical conditions or health concerns that might affect which supplements you can safely take, such as pregnancy, kidney or liver disease, or a blood clotting disorder.
- See your doctor if you have severe pain after working out. It's normal to feel a little sore after working out, especially if you're not used to using those muscles. However, some types of pain after exercise might mean that you have an injury.[23]
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Grow a Pineapple Posted: 21 Jun 2020 09:00 AM PDT To grow a pineapple plant, all you need is a fresh pineapple. Pick one up at the grocery store next time you're there, then separate the leaves from the fruit and soak the base in water. In a few weeks, roots will sprout, and you can plant your pineapple plant in a container and enjoy it for a long time to come. Keep reading to find out more about growing your own pineapple. [Edit]Getting the Pineapple Ready - Pick out a fresh pineapple. Look for one with firm, green leaves that have not turned yellow or brown. The skin on the fruit should be golden brown and firm to the touch. Smell the pineapple to see if it's ripe: it should emit sweet, heady smell indicating that you've chosen it at just the right time to start a new pineapple plant.[1]
- Make sure the pineapple isn't underripe. It needs to be ripe in order to produce another pineapple.
- Check to make sure the pineapple isn't too ripe by tugging a little at the leaves. If they come right off, the pineapple is too ripe to plant. Be gentle.
- Make sure the pineapple doesn't have scale insects around the base of the leaves. They look like small grayish black spots.
- Twist the leaves off the top of the pineapple. Grasp the body of the pineapple with one hand and use the other to grab the leaves at the base and twist them off. This method ensures that the base of the leaves will stay intact. It will be attached to a minimum amount of fruit, which you don't need in order for the plant to grow.
- If you're having trouble twisting off the top, you can slice off the top of the pineapple. Slice off the excess fruit around the root.
- Make sure the base, the very tip of the area where the leaves join together, stays intact. New roots will be sprouting from this, and without it the plant won't grow.
- Strip off some of the lower leaves to expose the stem. This helps the stem sprout roots once it is planted. Strip until a few inches of the stem are exposed. Cut away any remaining fruit without damaging the stem.[2]
- Turn it upside down and let it dry for a week. The scars where you made a cut and removed the leaves will harden, which is necessary before you take the next step.
- At this point, you can plant the crown into the soil, if you would like. While some people prefer to soak the pineapple crown first, it is not necessary.[3]
[Edit]Soaking the Pineapple Crown - Fill a large glass with water. The mouth of the glass should be large enough to fit the pineapple crown inside, but small enough so that you can prop it up to keep it from getting completely submerged.
- Stick a few toothpicks into the pineapple crown. Place them across from each other near the top of the stem. Push them in just far enough so that they'll stay in place. These toothpicks are used to suspend the pineapple crown in the glass of water.[4]
- Put the crown in the water. The toothpicks should rest on the rim of the glass. The stem should be submerged in the water, and the leaves should stick out the top.[5]
- Place the glass in a sunny window and wait for the roots to sprout. It should take several days or up to a few weeks for white roots to poke out and begin to grow.[6]
- Keep the plant away from extreme temperatures. Don't let it get too hot or too cold.
- Change out the water every few days to prevent the growth of mold.
[Edit]Planting the Pineapple Crown - Prepare a pot of soil for the crown. Fill a 6-inch pot with light garden soil that has a 30% blend of organic matter. This has the right blend of nutrients for the pineapple plant.
- Plant the pineapple crown in the pot. Plant the crown when the roots are a few inches long. Wait until they've gotten long enough to take root in soil. If you plant the crown too early it won't do well. As you plant it, make sure that the base of any remaining leaves are just above soil level. Press the soil firmly around the base of the crown without getting any soil on the leaves.[7]
- Keep the plant moist and warm. It needs a sunny, warm and humid environment where the night temperatures won't drop below 65ºF (18ºC). If conditions are dry, mist the plant regularly.[8]
- You can keep the pot outside if you live in a warm climate. If you have cool winters take it indoors during the winter season and keep it in a sunny window. It's important for the plant to get a lot of sun all year round.
- To help the rooting process, you can slip a plastic bag over the top of the pot. This will create a mini-greenhouse effect.
- Give the plant food and water. Water the soil lightly once a week. Fertilize the plant with half-strength fertilizer twice a month during the summer.
- Look for flowers. It can take several years, but eventually a red cone should appear from the center of the leaves, followed by blue flowers and eventually a fruit. It takes about six months for the fruit to fully develop. The pineapple will grow from the flower, above ground, in the center of the plant.
- It might help to start growing two pineapples, in case one of them doesn't do so well. That way, you have a better chance of bringing a pineapple plant to fruition.
- To encourage the plant to flower, put the plant in a bag with two very ripe apples cut in half. The ethylene gas released by the apples can trigger the blooming process.[9]
- In order to produce full-size pineapples, the plant will need to be about six feet across and six feet tall. Unless you're prepared to accommodate for this size, don't be surprised if you don't get supermarket-sized pineapples.To grow pineapple fruit properly, it will be necessary to re-pot the plant into a larger pot a few times as it grows.
- Be very careful if using a wild pineapple. The sap from unripened pineapple plants contains enzymes which are extremely powerful and might irritate your skin.
- The soil should not be too cold for the pineapple to grow in. Put the pot of soil in a place where it is warm.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Pineapple
- Planting pot
- Soil
- Water
- Glass
- Toothpicks
- Fertilizer
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Get Rid of Flies Outside Posted: 21 Jun 2020 01:00 AM PDT The average female fly has a lifespan of about 1 month, but in that time she can lay about 500 eggs. Obviously, even a handful of female flies around your patio could translate into thousands of flies in a very short time.[1]Because flies feed on garbage and feces, they transmit diseases, so you should do all you can to keep their population to a minimum. [Edit]Avoiding Attracting Flies - Keep your yard clean and get rid of trash or food. Flies are attracted to any strong smell, which often comes from trash or food left outside.[2] Flies have very short lifespans (only about two weeks), so if you eliminate anything that causes odors outside your house, the flies will leave or die within that period.[3]
- Pick up dog feces. Make sure you put it in sealable bags before you put it in the trash can.
- Keep garbage can lids tightly closed. If you are having a party, make sure the trash can be used for paper goods disposable has a tight-fitting lid, and ask the guests to replace the lid after they dispose of their trash.[4]
- Generally, flies are pretty much attracted to anything that we consider a horrible smell, and find practically no scent repelling.[5]
- Cut your lawn often. Flies love tall grass and piles of brush, so keep your shrubs trimmed and don't leave piles of cut grass, leaves or brush in your yard.
- Mind your compost bin. A compost bin is filled with decaying matter; which is like a smorgasbord to a fly.
- Don't keep your compost pile too moist.
- Keep the compost pile as far from your house as possible.
- Maintain your compost pile properly. Keep it "cooking" so that it is too warm to support fly larvae.
- Guard against stagnant water. Flies are attracted to moisture and standing water; keep the water in birdbaths fresh and don't allow buckets or other containers to fill up with rainwater. You should discard old tires or any debris in your yard that can collect rainwater.
- Keep fruit and fruit peelings out of your bird feeders. If you want to give your backyard birds fruit treats, be sure to locate the fruit or peelings as far from your house as possible.
[Edit]Repelling and Eliminating Flies - Make fly traps. Mix molasses and cornmeal and place it in a shallow dish or saucer. Put the saucer far from your patio—the flies can congregate there while you enjoy your meal in peace.[6]
- Buy predatory bugs that eat fly larvae or otherwise interrupt the life cycle. Try nasonia vitripennis and muscidifurax zaraptor in conjunction with each other.
- Place fly light traps out at night. A fly light trap is an electrically charged light that attracts flies and zaps them. Try hanging them around a recreational area - well above where someone could run into them.
- Be careful setting these up. Light traps could never seriously injure anyone, but it's still quite painful to be zapped by them.
- Alternatively, try a UV light trap. Flies have compound eyes, and thus find the spectrum of UV light attractive. The UV light attracts the flies, and when they go to investigate the light they get stuck to the glue board built into the light.[7]
- Hang vodka bags. Flies avoid the smell of vodka. So, try hanging bags of vodka around your porch or any other recreational outdoor area.[8]
- Quarter gallon freezer bags, tied with string to a gutter, work well.
- Any cheap vodka will work.
- You can also try putting small amounts of vodka on your skin, although beware of the pungent smell and your skin drying.
- Landscape with carnivorous plants. While some plants simply repel flies, others actually eat flies: Venus Fly Trap, Pitcher Plant, etc.
- Landscape with fly-repelling plants. Flies are deterred by the scents of some plants, so keep potted plants on your patio or near your doors that repel flies: Basil, Elderberry, Lavender, Mint, and False Indigo.
- Don't destroy all the spider webs outdoors. Spiders eat flies, but if you destroy their webs, the flies lose a natural predator.
- Set up outdoor fans. Flies don't like a breeze. It may seem silly to put a fan outdoors, but if you are entertaining, a small house fan on your deck or patio may deter flies.
- Avoid leaving meat out. Flies are strongly attracted to the smell of meat and will swarm your barbecue grill the minute you bring meat outside to cook it.
- Keep all meat covered tightly when it is not on the grill.
- Keep the barbecue grill lid closed while the meat is cooking.
- Protect your grilling tongs and utensils—flies will smell the meat and land on them. (If you see flies have landed on your grilling utensils, take them inside and wash them before you pierce or turn the meat with them.)
- Place cloves around an outdoor dining area. The smell of cloves repels flies. Decoratively placing cloves on an outdoor dinning table can deter flies from landing on food.[9]
- If you want to make a fly trap that sticks to the flies feet mix peanut butter, school glue and honey. You will be amazed!
- Some people swear that hanging shiny objects around their yard deters flies. There is no concrete evidence to support this, but you can try hanging strips of aluminum foil or anything else that has a reflective surface, near your patio or in your garden.
- Flies too have their place in the ecosystem, so it's not prudent to try to eradicate them completely. Next to bees and wasps, flies pollinate the most plants and flowers. Flies also help control other insect pests.
- By removing material in which the larvae develop, the life cycle of the fly can be broken, preventing subsequent production of adult flies. While chemical pesticides may be effective for suppressing adult fly populations in some situations, they are not a substitute for proper sanitation and aggressive elimination of fly developmental sites. Flies can quickly develop resistance to insecticides and house flies are now resistant to many of the pesticides registered for their management. Use insecticides only as a last resort to obtain immediate control of adult flies [1]
[Edit]Warnings - Flies can spread typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever, sleeping sickness and dysentery.[10]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
No comments:
Post a Comment