Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Come support Dave - August 22nd.

We've been talking about FUSION athlete Dave Naugler a lot as of late and it's little wonder why. He is a man on a mission. He has been keeping his diet tight for almost a year now, in an effort to be in top condition when he steps on the national stage. This year the CBBF Nationals are held in Vancouver and it looks like the lineup is going to be awesome. If you are in the area, I encourage you to pick up some tickets and come cheer Dave on. I know he'd appreciate it.

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Monday, July 13, 2009

FUSION's Newest Team Member.

We'd would like to introduce you to our newest team member. Please say hello to Armstrong. He's the bodybuilding version of the Twitter bird and can be found at www.twitter.com/avoidthehype.

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Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Heat Affects Recovery.

When summer rolls around and the nice weather hits, you’ll probably be spending more time outside. But when you are inside, chances are good that it’s going to be several degrees warmer than normal – especially when you’re at the gym. And it’s well-known that a hard workout in the heat is much more demanding than the same workout in a nicely air-conditioned building.

For bodybuilders, there has always been one big question: How does heat affect recovery?

Scientists examined this question by getting male and female athletes to do two 30-minute exercise sessions seven days apart, each followed by a one-hour passive recovery session of sitting. During this recovery session, the researchers put one group of people in a room heated to 22 degrees Celsius and put the other in another room heated to 33 degrees Celsius.

Researchers found that the athletes who recovered in the cooler room recovered faster and better than those athletes who were in hotter conditions.

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: Heat affects your performance before, during and after a hard workout. To have the best workout, avoid overheating before you get there. Ideally, your gym should be air-conditioned, but it if isn’t, make sure you take a cool shower after your workout just to help bring down your core temperature. This will help flush out lactic acid and promote circulation. And be sure to stay as cool as you can for the rest of the day; this will help speed your recovery and launch you into the anabolic phase of recovery: growth.

Source: Duffield R, King M, Skein M. Recovery of voluntary and evoked muscle performance following intermittent-sprint exercise in the heat. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2009 Jun;4(2):254-68.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

FUSION User Has Great Results.

It is always exciting to get emails from bodybuilders who have had success with our supplements. The most recent was from Craig Hall who ended up placing 2nd in Indianapolis and then 10th at the Junior Nationals. Craig expressed that he has a lot of work to do but he was happy with his prep. He also said he'd be back stronger than ever next year.

Congratulations Craig...keep striving and working hard.

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Monday, July 06, 2009

Question this blog.

It amazes me what passes itself off as expert advice on the web, and yes before you point it out, I see the irony of saying this on a blog. While I was surfing around I came across this bit of junk: http://bit.ly/4ERj5. It’s a perfect example of half truths, misinformation and downright ignorance, and what’s even worse, it’s coming from someone who should apparently know better, a supposed Navy Seal. First let’s see what this “expert” is saying:

“The whole thing behind "creatine" (the secret bodybuilding fix) is that you have to drink constantly to keep it moving through your system. These bodybuilders are dopey. They've been lifting dehydrated for so long that when the prescription for creatine calls for drinking 10 large glasses of water per day, they assume that it's the creatine that makes them able to lift longer and heavier. That, my friends, is the gimmick behind this whole creatine fixation! During these big weightlifting competitions, competitors are supposed to quit drinking liquids of any kind 24 hours before a show. So we can all just push these huge steroid monsters over with one hand tied to a scuba tank!”

Now let’s break it down:

“…you have to drink constantly to keep it (creatine) moving through your system.”

This in a way is true, creatine fundamentally uses water. It increases the intracellular (in the cell) water volume. Therefore it’s important to increase your water intake when taking creatine. However this increase in intracellular water volume is not creatine’s primary function.

“These bodybuilders are dopey. They've been lifting dehydrated for so long that when the prescription for creatine calls for drinking 10 large glasses of water per day, they assume that it's the creatine that makes them able to lift longer and heavier.”

Unless you a complete noob every bodybuilder knows you need to be well hydrated to lift your best. In fact, there isn’t any group that I can think of more aware of what their bodies need – be it protein, carbs and yes even water. And I’m not just talking the pros here. I’m thinking the guys in my gym. Maybe this “Navy Seal” is saying this because he only sees the bodybuilders at his gym just taking little sips of water while they work out. Of course we all know that’s because you start hydrating long before the gym, not while you’re there.

“That, my friends, is the gimmick behind this whole creatine fixation!”

No, the “gimmick” behind creatine that has made it one of the fundamental supplements is its scientifically proven ability to increase the muscle’s available energy. Creatine achieves this by increasing the availability of Adenosine TriPhosphate (ATP), which is used by the cells as fuel. While creatine doesn’t increase the amount of ATP stored in the cell, it “revitalizes” it.

Here’s how the process works. (You can skip this if you don’t want to wade through the quick and dirty science.) To become physiologically active creatine needs to bond with a phosphate group to form PhosphoCreatine (PCr). When you lift weights your muscles needs energy quickly and get it by breaking down ATP by removing one of its phosphate molecules. The result is the ATP is converted into ADP(Adenosine DiPhosphate). This is where PhosphoCreatine goes to work. In the seconds following an intense muscular effort PhosphoCreatine donates its phosphate to the ADP which renews the ATP molecule and it can now produce energy. Whew!

“During these big weightlifting competitions, competitors are supposed to quit drinking liquids of any kind 24 hours before a show. So we can all just push these huge steroid monsters over with one hand tied to a scuba tank!”

What does competing have to do with training? The off season is about building muscles, competitions are about showing off those muscles. Bodybuilders cut water before a competition to reduced the volume of subcutaneous water (water below the skin) to cause the skin to wrap tightly around underlying muscularity. Correctly done this gives a bodybuilder a shredded look that shows off their muscle striations. I feel confident in saying that no bodybuilder ever has tried to build muscle while cutting water. Water reduction is only done for the stage, and even then if overdone it can be very dangerous as it could potentially cause grave injury or even death. As for having this guy push one of us over he should give it a try, I’ll bet he might be surprised.

Bottom line folks, don’t blindly believe everything you read on the web. Whether it’s supposed experts like this, sites like Wikipedia or even guys like me, do a little research and draw your own conclusions. And yes before anyone points it out I might appear bias as FUSION has its own completely wicked, awesome, mind-blowing creatine product PURPLE-K, but at FUSION we don’t ever ask you to blindly accept supplement hype, we always want you to make up your own minds. So get out there and lift! Oh, and go have a big glass of water on me.

500 LB SQUATS.

Here's a little Monday morning inspiration.

Friday, July 03, 2009

All Roads Leads to Arnold.

As you may have heard character actor Karl Malden died on July 1st. He was in several notable movies such as A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, Patton, Birdman of Alcatraz, One-Eyed Jacks and one I’ll always remember the schlocky, but amusing, disaster flick Meteor with Sean Connery. Now I can hear you asking, “what the hell does this have to do with bodybuilding?” This, smart alec. Malden was also on a little TV cop show in the 70’s called The Streets of San Francisco. And guess what? So was Arnold. In one of his very early roles Schwarzenegger played a huge, but mentally slow bodybuilder that unintentional kills a woman. Look at that. Don’t all roads lead to Arnold? I think so.

Check out this clip.



Hey Canadians, hope you enjoyed the 1st. And you Americans enjoy the 4th.

GLUTAMINE: Gets You Pumped.

You’ve been hearing it for years from bodybuilders, doctors and chemists: When it comes to getting a pump, enhancing blood flow, increasing muscular contraction quality and more, arginine in its various forms is king.

But a new German study shows that arginine isn’t the only kid in town. Enter glutamine.

Researchers examined the metabolism of glutamine, arginine and citrulline. They found that glutamine contributes 64% of the arginine production that results from a single dose of citrulline. The researchers concluded that glutamine is important for natural arginine production.

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: Arginine may be important for the pump, enhanced blood flow, increased muscular contraction quality and more, but glutamine plays a central role in arginine production. No glutamine, no arginine. No arginine, no pump. It’s pretty clear that you need glutamine, so if you want to get pumped and build a bigger physique, get on glutamine! It’s best to take glutamine in four equal doses of 5 grams each on an empty stomach, four times per day – once upon rising, once before your workout, once after your workout and once again prior to bed.

Source: Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87:1282–9.

Thursday, July 02, 2009

'Nother Naugler Update...

Well...this is just getting silly now. Every time I see pix of FUSION athlete Dave Naugler I can't help but shake my head in disbelief. He is about 7 weeks out from the Canadian Nationals and he's looking thick and dicing it up. He has made some great improvements on his back this year...here's the proof:

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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

WBFF Alberta Championships This Weekend!

If you want to truly see an amazing bodybuilding show, the way it should be done, then don't forget to check out the WBFF Alberta Championships this weekend in Calgary. Come see what Paul Dillett and his great team are doing for the sport we love.

www.wbffshows.com

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Monday, June 29, 2009

Training Tips from Paul 'The Mauler' Lazenby.

As a guy who has competed at both weight training/strength sports and competitive fighting, I can say with authority that the two have some very important similarities that athletes in both arenas need to address if they want to attain success.

First of all, it is crucial that both the dedicated bodybuilder and the competitive fighter have an innate ability to push their own limits, or at least allow them to be pushed by a trainer. In bodybuilding, one is looking to force the body to carry muscle in a quantity and configuration that are not natural to it, while in fighting one is voluntarily placing themselves into a situation where a lack of performance can result in great bodily harm, or even death. In both cases, if the athlete does not have the willpower and ability to push themselves well beyond their normal, "God-given" limitations, then they are going to come up tragically short in the competitive arena, and end up being laughed off the platform or beaten down to the canvas. To put it bluntly, if you're going to wimp out in training then don't even bother trying to compete.

The second aspect (and probably the most tragically underemphasized) is DIET. I've met so many athletes who give minimal attention to what they're shovelling into their cake-holes, and yet they complain about not meeting their physique and/or performance goals. Your food is your fuel--if you pour grain alcohol into a Ferrari, it certainly isn't going to perform up to its potential, and your body is the same way. Whether you're looking to be a shredded beast or a killer in the ring, my advice is to have your diet professionally tailored. In every contest I ever competed in, no matter if it was strongman, powerlifting, MMA or Muay Thai, my performances were night-and-day different when my diet was on point.

And of course, there's the issue of supplementation. In different ways, both bodybuilders and pro fighters push their bodies to the absolute extreme and beyond. To both aid in the ability to do this and recover from the after-effects of training, a solid supplementation program is an absolute must. Sometimes there's one factor that separates winners from losers, and often that factor is the quality of the supplement line that the winner has added to a proper diet. That's why I've been a FUSION athlete for the past ten years, and that's why I've won three Canadian titles under the FUSION BODYBUILDING banner.

So follow those three simple rules--bust your ass, follow your diet and take your FUSION supps--and one day you too could find yourself standing atop the podium holding a trophy over your head, or wearing championship gold around your waist!

Train hard, good luck, and NEVER quit!!!

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Paul "The Mauler" Lazenby
NFC Canadian Superheavyweight MMA Champion
3 time, Undisputed, Undefeated Canadian Superheavyweight Muay Thai Champion
Silver medalist, Canadian Jr. Powerlifting Championships
3rd Place, Canadian Strongman Championships
Stuntman/actor

FUSION Athlete Wins WBFF Hot Bod.

Wow, what a roll FUSION athlete Mark Wingson is on. After taking the second place trophy at the provinicals he rolled on up to the WBFF Hot Bod stage this past weekend and stole the show. Congratulations Mark!

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Antioxidants & Food: Does it make a difference what you eat?

We all know that exercise triggers the generation and release of harmful oxidants that can damage your muscles, organs and DNA. It’s also well-known that eating itself generates harmful oxidants. But whereas the harmful oxidants generated from your normal diet are well-managed by your body, the harmful oxidants generated by exercise aren’t. Many experts think that the solution to exercise-generated harmful oxidants is eating.

To this end, many experts recommend consuming foods high in antioxidants – dark fruits, a wide variety of colored vegetables and more.

But does eating a lot of foods with a high total antioxidant capacity (TAC) really have any effect on traditional markers of antioxidant stress?

An Italian study found that it doesn’t matter much how high the level of antioxidants you consume is, but it does matter when you consume them and, most importantly, if your blood level is already sufficient when required.

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: If you want to stop intra-workout muscle loss, make sure you’re armed to the gills with antioxidant-rich blood before you set foot in the gym. Coffee is a great source of antioxidants before working out, and it also gives you a major performance-enhancing boost, so take advantage of it. Finally, make sure you consume dark fruits and berries within four hours of your workout. This helps dramatically tone down inflammatory signals and helps speed you into the anabolic growth phase.

Source: Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;87:1290–7.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Big Screen is Getting Crowded.

Rumour has it that Roland Kickinger is going to be steeping into Arnold’s sandals as the next Conan the Barbarian. Though Arnold had garnered some critical acclaim from his roles before Conan, notably a Golden Globe for New Male Star Of The Year for his role in Stay Hungry, it was Conan that truly was his breakout role. It looks like the role is going to give Roland the same opportunity, the question seems to be is he being cast to be Conan, or is he being cast to be Arnold? The parallels between Arnold and Roland and unquestionable. They were both born in Austria, and obviously they’re both bodybuilders. Roland played a T-800 Terminator in the most recent movie, the same model that Arnold made famous. In fact, Roland actually played Arnold in the biographical move See Arnold Run. On the other hand there aren’t that many other actors out there with the physique, or inversely, bodybuilders with the acting experience, to pull off the title role in a feature film. Roland has been acting for years, and while he may not have a Golden Globe for his role as Chip Rommel on Sun of the Beach (check out this clip, he talks after the catfight – you’re welcome > link: http://bit.ly/TpwRJ%20 ) it is acting experience. What other choices are there? A CGI Conan? A Hollywood actor buffing up to wear the loincloth? It’s not as if Jay Cutler is going to be asked to tone down his muffin-top hairdo and pick up a sword. So it’ll be interesting to see if Roland is the barbarian of choice, and if so how the Conan reboot will be approached. Regardless, you know I’m going to go see it. The question is how am I going to sneak my cooler full of chicken into the theatre?

Gaining Inspiration.

By all accounts FUSION athlete Lauriston Maloney is a well accomplished bodybuilder...he is huge. But even he finds it inspiring to watch the likes of Branch Warren step onstage with the hulking mass of a t-rex. I was there to witness this larger than life Texan raise the roof on a packed house at the Provincials this past weekend. Branch gave the crowd exactly what they came to see; muscle, and plenty of it. But aside from his freakish display, Branch proved to be a gentleman and a true ambassador to the sport of bodybuilding.

So, if you're feeling a little uninspired as of late, try hitting your local bodybuilding show and I bet you'll leave refocused and ready to take on new goals.

Here's is a pic of Lauriston meeting one of his idols.

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Monday, June 22, 2009

Updated pic of FUSION athlete Dave Naugler.

It's always cool to see how much difference a week of dieting makes. Here's Dave looking like he's fine tuning his prep...looking more polished.

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A Great Weekend For FUSION Athletes.

I attended the 2009 Provincial Championships in London Ontario this past weekend and what a great event. I feel like there is a new found energy in bodybuilding and looking at the crowd and quality of competitors confirms that feeling. A packed house and a great line up of athletes set the backdrop for two of FUSION's athletes to show off their hard work. At the end of the day Shannon Anstey and Mark Wingson both came away with some hardware. Mark claimed the second place position in his tough weight class while Shannon won convincingly in the middleweight division. Congratulations guys...time to eat!

Shannon Anstey, pictured below, is the newest FUSION BODYBUILDING athlete. Welcome aboard!

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Friday, June 19, 2009

Taking on the Provincials...

I'd like to wish FUSION BODYBUILDING athlete Mark Wingson the best of luck as he takes the stage at the Provincials this weekend in London, Ontario. I've known Mark for 6 years and he has really made some great strides in his bodybuilding career. Kick some ass Mark!

This is the transformation Mark did for us last year.

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Thursday, June 18, 2009

The Next IFBB Pro?

Well, August 22nd is fast approaching and FUSION athlete Dave Naugler is deep into his contest prep. I've been talking to him almost daily and he's super focused and has his eye on the prize. Will Dave be the newest IFBB Pro?

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