An Apple a Day ...

… keeps the doctor away – it’s an old saying that’s been around as long as there have been old sayings. But that doesn’t mean it’s not true. For bodybuilders, eating an apple a day may be the best way to keep the doctor away ... from your kidneys.

Chances are that you spend more time thinking about getting rock-hard abs than kidney stones. But a kidney stone can seriously sideline you – to the point of putting you in bed for a week at a time. And that’s not good for keeping your hard-earned muscle growth.

Researchers in Maine examined the diets of over 250,000 people and calculated a special score called the DASH score – Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The higher the score, the more apples the study subjects consumed and the fewer kidney stones they formed.

The highest scoring study participants – i.e., those who ate a lot of fruits such as apples – were 40 to 45 percent less likely to develop kidney stones than the lowest scorers. And the researchers pointed out that these findings held for everyone, regardless of age, weight, gender or ethnicity.

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: You might be focused on getting the best set of abs in your gym, but you should pay serious attention to your kidneys. While you can’t see them from the outside, they’re vitally important to your overall health and bodybuilding career. So be proactive: Eat an apple a day to keep the doctor – and catabolism – away!

www.fusionbodybuilding.com

Source: Taylor EN, Fung TT, Curhan GC. DASH-style diet associates with reduced risk for kidney stones. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Oct;20(10):2253-9. Epub 2009 Aug 13.

Are You an Exercise Addict?

Can’t stay out of the gym? Describe yourself as a “gym rat?”

Every so often, a study is published examining exercise addiction. This particular animal study is especially interesting because of its implications for bodybuilders.

Tufts University researchers had 44 male and 40 female rats either run for several weeks on an exercise wheel or remain inactive. After this initial phase, the rats were divided into two groups. The first group was given food for an hour a day, and the second group was fed around the clock. All rats were then given naloxone, a drug that simulates immediate heroin withdrawal symptoms.

After the injections, the hardest-exercising rats showed the most severe withdrawal symptoms – trembling, writhing, chattering teeth and drooping eyelids. Upon the resumption of exercise, these symptoms lessened or went away.

This led researchers to the following conclusion: “Exercise, like drugs of abuse, leads to the release of neurotransmitters such as endorphins and dopamine, which are involved with a sense of reward.”

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: You hit the iron because you look good and it feels good – it’s the best kind of high there is. But too much exercise can get you seriously overtrained and burned out, costing you muscle now and destroying your physique in the long term. That’s something you want to avoid at all costs.

www.fusionbodybuilding.com

Source: Kanarek RB, D’Anci KE, Jurdak N, Mathes WF. Running and addiction: precipitated withdrawal in a rat model of activity-based anorexia. Behav Neurosci. 2009 Aug;123(4):905-12.

Olive Oyl and OMEGA•OIL

It looks like Olive Oyl is also getting in on the act. Travis Williams of Popeye's Grande Prairie sent us this pic. It really shows how much confidence his customers have the in the FUSION BODYBUILDING brand.

Gym god? Pshaw! You mean “sex god!”

We all know ZEUS does a damn good job boosting your test levels, but a new study on its core ingredient shows that it can help you in the bedroom too. A recently completed human clinical study in Australia showed Testofen to significantly increase libido, including sexual cognition, sexual arousal, sexual experience and orgasm. These results demonstrate that Testofen is safe and effective for increasing libido in healthy males.
So, if you aren't too busy taking advantage of the libido-boosting power of ZEUS, you can hear the details of the study as they're presented at SupplySide West today. Isn't testosterone great?

HOT & FIT 100.

The search is on as Inside Fitness compiles the hottest list in Canada with HOT & FIT 100!

If you have any Canadian females that are Hot & Fit, please email the submission and pictures to Lori Fabrizio: lori@ifmmedia.com

The deadline for entries is tomorrow, Friday November 13th, 2009!

Canada’s hottest and fittest females are finally going to have a place to call home! Only Canada’s biggest fitness magazine could bring you the sexiest women from across the country! Inside Fitness has gone one step further and will compile an annual list of 100 of the hottest and fittest Canadian females. With the expertise of their editors along with the help of Canada’s best photographers and show promoters, women all over the country will be striving to be a part of this elite list.

This prestigious list will appear in the February/March 2010 issue, on sale January 4th, 2010!

Visit www.HOTandFIT100.com to submit pictures and to see which of the hottest Canadian females make the cut for 2009!

Training: Protect Your Mitochondria...

It’s a fact: Although training gets you huge, it does so by inflicting stress and damage on your muscles. But what’s good for your muscles may be bad for your DNA. That can be bad news for your recovery and growth, both now and in the future.

Researchers in São Paulo, Brazil, wanted to see how taking a supplement mixture of vitamins C and E before exercise might affect DNA and mitochondrial health. They measured antioxidant capacity and the healthy appearance of muscle cell mitochondria.

Those who took the supplement mixture before exercise increased their antioxidant capacity by an astonishing 53 percent, and their muscle cell mitochondria were healthier than those who didn’t use the supplement mixture.

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: This is the latest of a series of studies that show that using antioxidants helps increase overall antioxidant capacity, and that this translates into solid muscle and rapid recovery. So get with the times! If you thought that antioxidants were just for after your workout, think again! Take 500 milligrams of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E with a glass of water one hour before your workout. Repeat after your workout for best results. You’ll not only save your DNA and mitochondria but also gain more muscle!

www.fusionbodybuilding.com

Source: Rosa EF, Ribeiro RF, Pereira FM, Freymüller E, Aboulafia J, Nouailhetas VL. Vitamin C and E supplementation prevents mitochondrial damage of ileum myocytes caused by intense and exhaustive exercise training. J Appl Physiol. 2009 Aug 20. [Epub ahead of print]

REMEMBER.

To all our veterans...thank you. Your sacrafice and dedication does not go without notice. You are heros to us all.

New INSIDE FITNESS On Sale Now!

Terry Frendo and the Inside Fitness team have always been great supporters of FUSION. Over the past year they've increased thier page count by 50%. WOW! If the mag was a bodybuilder, what a freak he'd be :-)

Here's the new cover...it goes on sale today:

Popcorn...for Muscle Growth?

Popcorn is a delicious, ideal snack food in the first several weeks of a fat-loss program. It’s relatively low calorie, it’s high in fiber and it contains zero sugar and fat. But would you believe that popcorn may be good for muscle growth and recovery? It’s true.

A new study presented at the 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) examined popcorn for levels of antioxidants, the inflammation-fighting, recovery-speeding, muscle-building polyphenols typically found in fruits and vegetables.

Researchers found that popcorn contains high concentrations of antioxidants and polyphenols – comparable to many fruits and vegetables.

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: You eat fruits and vegetables because they kill inflammation and speed muscle growth. Popcorn may do the same. So if you’re dieting down – and even if you’re not and simply want a delicious food – try popcorn. It may not make a huge difference in terms of your overall growth, especially if you’re already eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, but it’s a nice, healthy snack-food choice. Best of all, it can be made to taste pretty good. Just make sure you skip the sugary syrups and additional calories and stick to healthy toppings such as herbs and other low-calorie options.

Source: Vinson J, et al. Whole grain cereals, popcorn rich in antioxidants, not just fiber, new research concludes. 238th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society; 2009 August 19; Washington DC.

I may not know much, but I know what I like. (Or … I’m gonna buy me some art, maybe a Garfunkel.)

If you happen to be in Pittsburgh in the next week or so and have a little time, head over to the Center for the Arts and check out the work of Dylan Vitone, their 2009 Emerging Artist of the Year. He takes some wide-format pictures that are quite cool. On display is his Miami Project, a series of pictures shot in Miami, which Vitone describes as "a city that wears socioeconomic status and sex appeal on its sleeve." With pieces titled "Body Builders," "Male Model with Lots of Photographers" and "Bikini Models on Steps," he brings different perspectives to the world, including ones with which bodybuilders are very familiar. So get out of the gym and get some culture!

OMEGA•OIL Hits Store Shelves Nationwide.

OMEGA•OIL , the bodybuilders EFA, has hit shelves nationwide and it looks like it’s getting plenty of attention. Mark Garces from Popeye’s, in Burlington Ontario, understands the importance of a good omega-3 product and wants his customers to understand the benefits of OMEGA•OIL. He believes OMEGA•OIL is a good choice for his clientele and says it will benefit everyone from top bodybuilding athletes to the average Joe looking to stay healthy. Mark is impressed with the informative packaging that will assist his customers with their choice.

Mark wanted to create awareness for OMEGA•OIL and displays it in the prominent spots in his store. He choose their health and wellness section where customers have the choice of a variety of products directed towards consumers of all ages to promote a balanced healthy living. He also selected the sports section to remind athletes and bodybuilders of the importance of OMEGA•OIL. In addition, he also displayed the OMEGA•OIL on the shiny silver tray which Popeye holds to serve customers. Apparently Popeye himself understands a person needs more than just spinach alone and OMEGA•OIL is available to support everyone’s health goals.

Thanks for the support Mark!

Mr. Gaza contest held in Strip

Wow. Now you don't think bodybuilding when you think the Gaza Strip, until now that is. Apparently this past Saturday, the Gaza City University sponsored a bodybuilding competition which had 20 contestants. Who would have thunk it?

Who are your heroes?

I was just reading this little article about an appearance by Jay Cutler in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Three things struck me: The first, which has nothing to do with the point of this blog post, was that it was cool that Cutler was doing an appearance at a gym just to help a buddy. The other two were about having our heroes. The article began by introducing Vernon Bradley, a bodybuilder from Halifax, Canada, who drove all the way to Rocky Mount, a 21-hour drive, just to meet Cutler. Then the article ends with Cutler saying he was inspired to become Mr. Olympia after seeing a picture of Chris Dickerson, winner of the Mr. Olympia in 1982. It makes you wonder: Who's looking at a picture of Cutler right now, and will they be standing onstage at the O in a few years, inspiring others?

OMEGA•OIL™ PRESS RELEASE.

For Release Wednesday, October 21, 2009 to industry media
For Release Thursday, October 22, 2009 to all other media


FUSION BODYBUILDING Launches OMEGA•OIL™


For Immediate Release

GUELPH, Canada – October 21, 2009 – For years, research has been singing the benefits of including more essential fatty acids (EFAs) in the average person’s diet, resulting in a multitude of products and supplements with added EFAs such as omega-3s. But needless to say, bodybuilders aren’t average and neither are their goals. So why should they be interested in EFAs? The answer is simple: EFAs can help make a serious difference in their training. But getting enough EFAs isn’t easy. Usually, the body gets EFAs from a variety of sources, including fish, seafood, seeds and nuts, but most of these aren’t a significant enough part of the average bodybuilder’s diet. That’s where an omega-3 supplement such as FUSION BODYBUILDING’s new OMEGA•OIL comes in.

OMEGA•OIL is one of the few EFA products developed specifically for bodybuilders. It’s been scientifically developed for bodybuilders to help them protect muscle, burn fat, reduce joint inflammation and pain, improve insulin response, improve cardiovascular health, increase mood quality and promote brain cell growth. And unlike other EFA supplements, OMEGA•OIL isn’t filled with omega-3 oils from other sources, such as flaxseeds. It uses only an exclusive three-fish blend, because fish oils have been scientifically shown to trigger the most rapid increase of key EFA components in the blood, much faster than flax oil. That ensures bodybuilders get EFAs into their systems sooner so they see results sooner.

“It’s about results and about staying healthy,” Jeff Wilde, one of the developers of OMEGA•OIL, says. “We here at FUSION BODYBUILDING created OMEGA•OIL because we knew how important EFAs were for bodybuilders, and we also know that most bodybuilders aren’t getting enough in their protein-heavy, low-fat diets. We wanted to give bodybuilders an omega-3 supplement made just for them so it could help them stay healthy and reach their goals. OMEGA•OIL has surpassed our expectations, and I’m sure it’s going to surpass the expectations of serious bodybuilders too.”

Founded in 1998 by Ryan Herniman and Adrian Burke, FUSION BODYBUILDING is a top nutraceutical company dedicated to providing bodybuilding supplements to true followers of the sport. All of FUSION’s products start in the gym and are perfected in the lab by its innovative research and development team. FUSION products are sold worldwide.

FUSION BODYBUILDING

CONTACT: culture@fusionbodybuilding.com

A Great SLEEPING•GIANT Testimonial.

Received via email.

Subject: Product Review SLEEPING•GIANT

Just to make a long story short I can go on and on about this stack but I have purchased 2 lots of this stack off a friend of mine who bought a bunch of these in bulk and man o man the gains are unbelievable! I have never been so impressed with a product stack as this one ever. I am on week 3 of this stack and for some reason my body is mutating. I would be more than glad to represent your company with transformation pictures and updates. Just let me know if interested. I will post new pics this week of my crazy gains from my so far 3 week stack. Feel free to visit my Body Blog on BBing.com http://blog.bodybuilding.com/rubarb/2009/08/12/my-first-fitness-blog/?comment=1

Rob Vaters

CONGRATS ALEISHA!

I wanted to send a big congratulation to Aleisha Hart for kicking some ass down in Fort Lauderdale this weekend past. This is only Aleisha’s second show as an IFBB Pro-Figure competitor but she’s making her mark felt with the judges. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with her and her fiancee, Bryan Deasley, at the Olympia. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but what I quickly realized was this duo was the real deal. They are in this sport together and really bring a fresh and honest outlook to the competitive figure scene. Their approach is working as not only does Aleisha continue to improve onstage but she has 2 multi-page spreads in American Curves and Muscle Mag this month…you’ll have to check them out. Here is some of what you’ll find in MuscleMag; keep in mind Bryan’s nickname is ‘Diesel’. :-)

FUSION's New Product - Coming Soon!

Interview with WBFF Athletes Craig & Julie Bonnett.

Our First Female Before and After.

To check out Jodi's full transformation profile, go to: http://www.fusionbodybuilding.com/transformations/



The result...

Caffeine works, right?

Everyone knows that caffeine boosts performance, right? Everyday experience proves it – but not always. Here’s where it gets interesting.

Researchers informed healthy study participants that they were testing the effects of caffeine on performance and post-exercise heart rate. One group of study participants was told it would be given a caffeine drink immediately prior to their workouts, while other participants were told they were taking a placebo, an inert drink containing no active caffeine. However, rather than actually giving a caffeine drink to one of the groups, the researchers gave participants in both groups a placebo.

Researchers then had all participants from both groups perform single-leg leg-extension exercises for 15 repetitions at 60 percent of their one-rep max, and the results were interesting.

Researchers found that study subjects who believed they had received the caffeine drink performed two additional repetitions during the leg extension and reported feeling as though they had worked less hard than subjects who performed the same exercise without what they believed to be the caffeine drink. In this case, believing made all the difference.

Researchers concluded, “the perception of consuming a substance that purportedly enhances performance is sufficient enough to enable individuals to complete a greater number of reps to failure during short-term resistance exercise.”

So here’s your FUSION FACTOID: Caffeine works big time, but not for everyone, and caffeine can stop working for you even if you get a kick out of it now. This research makes it clear that although caffeine works well, it’s really the mind that’s the power behind most of its effects. Caffeine works because it affects your mind and gets you energized and focused. But you can do this naturally by visualizing your workout before you do it. Mix both caffeine and visualization together, and you have a serious recipe for an intense workout and muscle growth! So use them together, but never neglect or forget about the importance of having control over both your muscles and your mind.

Source: Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2009 Jun;4(2):244-53.