In a recent Time Magazine interview Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) himself has admitted to using steroids to bulk up for (what will probably be the last installment) next Rambo movie. Stallone, now 61, goes on to say that over 40 year olds need to consider the use of HGH. The reason to start using HGH: to increase the level of testosterone in the body and improve the quality of life.

Really, you didn't have to be a genius to know Stallone used steroids to build and maintain his muscle. Why all the shock horror reactions from the media? Anyone who saw the last Rocky movie would have realised very quickly that for someone pushing his 60's - he looked pretty amazing. No doubt Stallone works bloody hard on his body, but with a little help to replace a dwindling supply of naturally created hormones.

Any one who watched the Australian news in late 2007 will recall that Stallone was fined almost $3000 in a Sydney court for bringing banned hormones into Australia. Stallone pleaded guilty for bringing in the growth hormone and testosterone into the country.

Stallone predicts in ten years you will be able to buy testosterone over the counter. Before considering the use of steroids or HGH you really need to consider the consequences and under what conditions they are taken.

So what is HGH? Here is an extract form a website which gives a good overview of HGH and the perceived benefits:

“HGH (Human Growth Hormone) is believed to be the controlling hormone of many functions and benefits associated with youth, such as vitality, smooth skin, energy and resilience. HGH is naturally produced in the pituitary gland of the brain.

As people move past age 30, natural levels of HGH drop off dramatically, about 14% per decade. Lower levels of HGH are associated with the aging process. As HGH levels continue to drop, the aging process accelerates. Research indicates that by increasing the natural amount of HGH in the system, the body may be able to reverse some symptoms associated with aging, like weight gain, loss of lean muscle, wrinkles, bone density, sexual drive and more. Although it is not clinically proven, HGH is sometimes referred to as the fountain of youth hormone.” (source: www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hgh.htm, last accessed 27/01/08).

On the apposing team here is an extract from BBC Sport website on the negatives:

“Excess HGH in the body can cause acromegaly, a disease where the hands become spade-like in appearance as they get bigger. Growth of the facial bones causes the face to change shape too.

The jaw becomes larger, with spaces appearing between the teeth because of this, and the eyebrows become more prominent. The tongue enlarges and the skin becomes coarse and oily.

Organs like the heart, liver and kidneys will also undergo excessive growth, leading to potentially life-threatening problems - one of which is cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle.

The heart loses its ability to pump blood and, in some instances, heart rhythm is disturbed, leading to irregular heartbeats

There is also an increased risk of cancers due to the abnormal growth of cells”

(Source: Human growth hormone explained, by Tom Fordyce, http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/3101343.stm, last accessed 27/01/08)

The article ‘Stop – Don’t use steroids for body building’, by Gerry Marsh, provides an overview of the side effects of steroid use.

http://www.over40muscle.com/articles/1490/1/Stop---Don039t-Use-Steroids-For-Body-Building/Page1.html

Certainly as we get older our ability to produce growth hormone diminishes. Is this a reason to consider using HGH? I take exception of the statement that as soon as you hit 40 your need to supplement your bodies own testosterone production.

The article ‘Stop – Don’t use steroids for body building’, by Gerry Marsh, provides an overview of the side effects of steroid use.

http://www.over40muscle.com/articles/1490/1/Stop---Don039t-Use-Steroids-For-Body-Building/Page1.html

You decide?

After a few weeks of festive enjoyment - more food and drink you can poke a stick at - its time to get back into the gym and welcome 2008.

It is always back-to-basics after taking an extended break away from any form of physical activity. Unfortunately the lack of movement often results into added weight and I am no exception. I would guess I have put on a few pounds over the holidays, but it was well enjoyed. The main thing is to get back into the gym and remove the jelly bits before they start to feel at home.

There is a basic formula that applies to most of us - energy in and energy out. If you eat and drink more energy than you use each day it has to go somewhere and for the most of us it manifests itself into fat, and the fat starts to build a home. For some the fat has already built a small town, which means its going to take a lot harder to get all the town's fat cells to pack their bags and leave town. The good news is that they will leave town but that depends on how motivated you are.

It is somewhat hard to motivate yourself to get into the gym in the first instance and even harder to give it your best. That’s why I take it one step at a time. Rather than jumping back into a set routine I will start out on a circuit of different exercises and weights for the first week. It keeps things interesting and it allows time for the aging body to realise its being kicked back into gear and stops my becoming bored.

It sometimes feels like you are trying to push a 250 pounds up a hill - its bloody hard work, but once you get to the top its alot easier to get the weight down on the other side.

Whether you have a few holiday pounds to lose or a few hundred – the philosophy is the same – one day at a time, one step at a time. The fitter and stronger your muscles get – even years later – the philosophy doesn’t change, it just gets easier to understand.

Most gyms a pretty quiet over the Christmas new year period. The members are either on holidays or just taking a break from strenuous exercise. I guess I am no different. In fact it’s good to take a break now and then just to build up your reserves and ensure you stay motivated. Of course you will always get those gym junkies (if in fact they do exist) and my guess is if they can’t get to the gym they will find a way to exercise at home.

The key to any effective fitness or weight training program is to ensure you don’t burn yourself and feel guilty because you haven’t exercised for a few days, or even a few weeks. Over training all year round can only improve the likelihood of fatigue and even result in a serious muscle injury - which may stop your training for months.

You could have all the best intentions to exercise and train your muscles over the Christmas period to counter the masses of food we seem to consume, but sometimes it’s ok to take a break and enjoy the moment. Take it from me - someone who took a long time to realise that rest is just as important as training - if you want to make good muscle gains or meet you fitness goals take a break come back to the gym refreshed, motivated and ready to take on the new year.

As a kid I was pretty much overweight! In fact I was probably what would now be classified as obese. I have a picture somewhere – which I am trying to find – which will give you some insights on how overweight I was. I grew up living above a bakery and all my childhood I remember eating cakes, pastries etc. Although, I must say they were the kind of baked good that didn’t contain any preservatives or additives, or any of the other processed crap you find in today’s products. So I got lots of protein as a kid, but also a lot of fat and Carbs.

Training to improve health is means you need to find the right balance in food types - getting the food mix right. We are all built differently and the way our bodies accept food can vary from person to person. I am the type of person who will gain weight quickly if I stop exercising and I can’t eat a lot of fat.

Eating to build muscle has been another challenge. Getting the proportions of carbs and protein right so that I have enough protein to build muscle, and enough carbs so my body doesn’t use the protein for energy. Some of you may not want to build muscle and only want to get your diet right to lose fat. Well, no matter what your goal, what you put in your mouth has to go somewhere, so you either burn it up as energy or you store it on your body. The level and type of physical activity you do will determine how your body stores the energy – muscle or fat.

I recently found an interesting story on YouTube and I have included it here in todays blog.

If this is not physical proof that bodybuilding will keep the machine well oiled I don't know what is? So stop complaining about getting older and show us what you're are made of!

Do you have enough time in the day to spend at least 1 hour not watching T.V. ?

Please Note: If you are browsing with internet Explorer 7 you will need to click on the image to activate the video and then click it again to start the video.

Still think this is pretty amazing and hope I am doing the same thing in my 70s!

 

I almost didn't make it to the gym today. Got to the car park and realised my bag was a little light! So I though I would just check and yes I knew I had forgotten my gym shoes. Now the first thing to go through my mind was 'well I will just have to give it a miss today and work harder tomorrow'.

I think most of us have been there - if not missing shoes it was that little voice in your head which convinced you, you were too tired.

Maybe you convinced yourself to go for a walk instead but it never eventuated. Well I must say I gave my self a pat on the back because I drove home got my shoes and drove back to the gym and did what I had committed t do. No not crazy I just tried to keep myself motivated.

Here are some tips if you ever find yourself in the same situation.

1. Play some motivating music in the car. Get the adrenaline moving - either on the way to the gym or f you have to make a detour.
2. Think about the exercises you are going to do that day. How will you improve the last time you came into the gym. What body part do you enjoy working the hardest?
3. Think about how good you will feel afterwards and what you will do to reward yourself - I had a glass of wine.
4. If that fails think about why you started to exercise or workout in the gym in the first place.
5. Don’t listen to your or any one else’s excuses!

So my ambitious gym workout has begun. Sometimes its not easy getting into the gym when you would rather being sitting on your rear end doing nothing. But I tell you… once you get into the gym and you finish your workout it’s a great feeling.

It’s also attitude. I have been going to the gym for about 4 years - on and off. My wife and I use it as a time to spend together (my wife is my training partner). We would go maybe three times a week, and we still do, but now that I am training to meet a new goal in 2010 I am in three more days a week. I must admit its only been about 6 weeks since I revised my routine but if I can keep up the motivation I think I will be doing well.

When you get older you seem to be able to focus, not like some of the young guys in the gym who seem stand around talking about anything but the next weight they are going to lift. Don’t get me wrong. I think its great that many use the gym as a time to bond, but you have to wonder how much more effective a workout would be if you didn’t stand around talking about the weather.

Consider the amazing benefits of building healthy muscle for your body and share your story with the rest of us. I will be sharing with you the things I see and do to stay in shape over the age of 40. Through strength and weight training to building muscle I have a goal to one day to compete in a local master bodybuilding competition. the bonus being a healthy lifestyle and a body good enough to appear in a health and fitness magazines. I have given myself the goal of 2010 to at least be well on the way.

Yes I am 40, so I do qualify, but even if you are not there yet and you are approaching the midway point fast then why not get a head start and make a change.