Well it has been over a week and my knee still isn’t all the way better. Everyone keeps telling me that I should see someone, and that I can’t self-diagnose my own knee injury, but I just can’t afford to go to the doctor and have him tell me something I know I will hear. He will either tell me to rest my knee, wear a brace and give it time, or he will tell me that I need a surgery that I can’t afford.
So, I went and bought a knee brace a few days ago. It really helps keep my knee from bending in any directions that would cause discomfort, but also helps stabilize the entire thing and keep it from hurting when I walk. I have been using it a lot the past few days, and my knee is really starting to feel better. I think that I should just give it some more time and use the brace anytime I want to use my knee a lot.
I was reading some more online and the general rule of thumb for needing surgery is if the knee has overall stability or not. I can easily walk on my knee, stand, and do pretty much anything easily. The online resources suggested that I probably won’t need surgery because my knee is still in tact. They recommended some knee-strengthening exercises. Once I get back into town, I will see what exercises I should be doing and try to start doing them regularly.
As far as the joint support supplements, I haven’t placed an order for any yet. I keep thinking that by the time that they arrive, my knee will be better and I won’t need them anymore. Also, I am not convinced that they will do anything as it could be a pulled muscle, sprain, legitimate injury, etc.
Anyway, my outlook is looking more positive as my knee is finally showing signs of improvement.
Well I am not exactly sure what did it, but something really screwed up my knee. I worked out my legs for the first time in a little bit on Friday, and woke up the next morning with terrible knee pains. It has been a few days and I haven’t been seeing much improvement. Too bad my health insurance sucks.
I can still walk around and move my knee for the most part, which make me think that it will probably just get better in time. I am taking the week off Hockey (which really pains me), but I think it is for the better. The last thing I want to do is make the situation worse.
I read online that I should be keeping it elevated and icing it, but I don’t want to lay around in bed all day. Its not like it hurts thaaat bad, its just that I can’t run or skate or anything too fun.
I will be ordering some Joint Support supplements in the next few days, hoping that it will somehow help keep my joints nice and strong. I have had problems with shoulders in the past, and the only thing that really helped was taking time off and letting them heal on their own.
1. Set a goal as of today and work out exactly how you are going to get there. For example, if you see yourself as 20 pounds heavier in six months, break down exactly how you are going to get there. You see, you need to set goals and keep to them. Your mind will then be constantly aware of these goals and work towards them. If you don’t know where you want to go, then you will never get there! You need to be specific and have a plan.
2. Change your routine as often as is needed to keep progressing. By this, one doesn’t mean changing what works for you, but changing the order of your exercises, reps, sets and ultimately moving away from those exercises, which are not giving you results.
3. You must train with progressive poundage’s in order to make size and strength gains. Don’t just keep switching around your exercises never getting stronger on any of them, make sure that you have beaten you personal best poundage for the current rep range you are working with before moving on to another exercise. Progressive poundage’s combined with training variety will unlock new growth for you!
4. Don’t overtrain! Don’t train too long or too often. Keep it intense and try to “work the muscle”, rather than “lift the weights”! Get a pump and feel your muscles doing the work.
5. Consume Whey protein within half an hour of finishing your training. Have another shake before going to sleep and one upon awakening. This ensures that you are getting quality protein at the most crucial times in your bodybuilding day!
6. Drink lots and lots of water. The majority of your body is made up of water, drink at least 2 quarts a day. Do this and you will get a lot bigger!
7. Don’t take anything which produces estrogen; these being foods such as soya, cannabis or alcohol.
8. Sleep at least 8 hours a night! Growth takes place when you are asleep. No sleep, no growth!
9. Take Creatine Monohydrate. It will help volumize the muscle cells.
10. Don’t give up. This cannot be emphasized enough. As long as you are motivated in the first place and persistent, you will get the body you want.
About The Author: Paul Becker is a natural (steroid free for life) bodybuilder and fitness consultant. For more information on Bodybuilding and Bodybuilding Supplements visit his website at http://www.trulyhuge.com
Intimidated by the gym because of all the strange equipment, machines, silent rules and huge mean-looking guys? You are not alone. There are plenty of other people who avoid the gym on a daily basis just because they don’t feel comfortable going. One of the main reasons is due to intimidation. If you already don’t feel comfortable with your body, how are you going to feel when you are surrounded by people who work out all the time?
What a lame excuse for not getting exercise. There is no reason for you to avoid getting a good workout because you are embarrassed to go to the gym! Keep in mind that everybody has been in the same spot as you. Nobody was born with a perfect body. The people that go to the gym everyday had to start somewhere, just like you! Here are a few tips that will help you get over your fear of going to the gym:
- If you feel like you are way too out of shape and are simply too embarrassed to go to the gym at all, try exercising outside of the gym. You don’t need a gym to go running or biking! If you are the really self-conscious type, go running at night. There are fewer people out to see you and it is harder to see what you look like. Just make sure to wear something reflective and have a good light. If you want to build some muscle, start doing some push-ups, squats, sit-ups, dips, lunges, etc at home every day. Go grab some exercise DVDs at your library or movie store for some good ideas. Once you feel more comfortable with your body image, it will be a lot easier to get back into the gym
- Bring the gym to your home. Look on Craigslist (or your local classifieds) for some great deals on used exercise equipment. You will be shocked to see some of the great deals you can get on a piece of equipment that was hardly used. I bought a great weight set for about $100 that had everything I needed. It wasn’t perfect, but it has lasted four years in the backyard and still works like new! Getting your own equipment can even have some advantages over the gym. You avoid the commute, the parking, the membership, etc. You might be more motivated to exercise if you know your equipment is in the basement rather than across town.
- Select a gym that is appropriate for you. Choose a gym that is open when you want to go, has the equipment and classes that you need and is located close enough to your home so that it isn’t too much effort to go. Also, there are probably more types of gyms than you think. Most people picture a gym as a place with a bunch of weight sets and gym rats, but there are some which are far from that. Have you ever heard of the chain called “Curves”? (There is also one for men called “Cuts”). This gym is very different from your typical weight room. There are no mirrors, no huge guys flexing, and no weights to adjust. Just a bunch of stations and a chime every 30-40 seconds to tell you to change stations. These facilities are designed to help the average out-of-shape mom, dad, or granny get back into a healthy exercise routine.
- Avoid peak hours. Try going at odd-ball times when nobody else is there. These hours vary from gym to gym, so call a few places and just ask. The attendant will just assume that you are trying to get a better workout and will tell you when the slowest times are. Unless you are speaking to a brand-new employee, any gym attendant will know what the slowest times are on their shift. At my gym in college, the morning was the slowest time. If you went past 6PM, you usually had to wait in line. In some other gyms I have been to, it is a ghost town after 8PM. Go out of the way to avoid peak hours until you become more comfortable. You will find that the gym is a lot more enjoyable when you aren’t waiting around for equipment. Even though I am rather comfortable with the gym, I still avoid peak hours because I just prefer less of a crowd.
- Don’t compare your body to other people at the gym. This is much easier said than done, but is also very important. If you want to feel good about your body by comparing yourself to others, go to McDonalds. While at the gym, simply stay focused on your own personal improvement and goals. It is really easy to find yourself comparing your body to someone else’s. I would often look at the huge guys at the gym and think that my gains are nothing compared to theirs. I realized that their level is irrelevant to my own personal development, and thinking about it would only slow me down. Remember not to be intimidated by the members who look like they far beyond your wildest dreams; at one point, they were in the same place as you – a newbie to the gym! Personally, every time I see newbie just starting out in the gym, I get excited for them. I know that I was once in their shoes and if they keep at it, they will be very satisfied with the results.
- Don’t be afraid to try new machines! Some machines look complicated, but don’t let that stop you from utilizing them. You can usually figure them out by looking at the diagram. If there is no diagram, don’t be afraid to ask for help. I would recommend to either sit on the machine looking confused until someone offers to help you, or better yet, ask the gym attendant. Actually, just go ahead and ask the gym attendant to show you how to use the machine properly. It’s their job and they will be happy to have someone to help. If you are just too embarrassed to ask, go online and read a tutorial about how to use the equipment. Just remember that nobody was “born” knowing how to work every machine in the gym. With a little research, you might now how to use the machines more properly than anyone else in the gym.
- Always keep safety in mind. Don’t lift weights that are too heavy for you. If you don’t know how much you can lift, always try to make a conservative guess: don’t overestimate. Start low and work your way up. Also, make sure you aren’t dropping or slamming weights down unnecessarily. Not only is this annoying, can cause damage to the weight room and the weights, but is also unsafe. When I first started weight lifting, a friend was standing too close to me and I accidentally dropped a 40lb dumbbell on his toe. Needless to say, I always make sure to put my weights down slowly. You wouldn’t want to hurt yourself, someone else or get kicked out of the gym.
- Keep the gym clean and organized. Always put your weights back where they belong so that people aren’t tripping over them or having to search around to find them. Don’t leave your personal belongings laying around the gym; put them in a locker or their proper place. Put trash in the trash, etc.
- Be courteous and enjoy yourself. If someone asks “how many sets do you have left”, let them know. If it is a lot, offer to let them “work in” with you (take turn doing sets). If someone is doing a bench press without a spotter, offer to spot them. Don’t hog machines and always be sure to wear deodorant. Do an online search for “gym etiquette” and familiarize yourself with all the rules. If you know what to expect and how to behave, you should feel a lot more confident going into the gym.
Always keep in mind that you have to start somewhere. Nobody was born with a perfect body, and nobody was born a master of the gym. Follow these rules to make the transition easy on yourself. Once you get into the gym a few times, you will feel a lot more comfortable going on a regular basis. Starting is the hardest part, because it is a lot easier to keep it going once you get started. Once you are locked into a good routine, you will feel uncomfortable not going! How is that for a change?
After working for several hours getting the software and the template installed, the TheSupplementRating.com Blog has been officially launched. I have been writing various tips on muscle building, weight loss and supplementation, and I wanted to create an easy way for me to post them for the public to read.
Keep checking back for new articles, announcements and maybe even some contests and prizes!