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Issue 15    October 01, 2004
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Contents

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EAS CatapultEAS Catapult - Every workout counts! You can't afford to lose your competitive edge—even when you are training. Without energy and focus, your workouts aren't intense and your efforts are diminished. You need to ignite your inner fuel. Backed by EAS research, Catapult has been designed specifically to boost exercise intensity and energy. Catapult contains L-tyrosine, an amino acid used to fuel cell function and mental focus. That means you will be able to push harder in every training session or race—all while keeping a sharp mental edge. Available in Lemon Lime flavor.


Instone Post-Workout ReloadedInstone Post-Workout Reloaded is a one-of-a-kind stack of creatine compounds, nitric oxide enhancers and insulin potentiators that far exceeds anything else on the market. Taken with protein and carbs, it delivers a powerful blend of nutrients that: Maximizes Strength, Endurance and Power; Increases Muscle Size and Cell Volume; and Stimulates Natural Growth Factors.  Simply put, Post-Workout Reloaded! allows you to turn the ‘Pain’ of superhuman training into the ‘Pleasure’ of building new muscle or totally pounding your opponent in defeat, even if it’s just for bragging rights.

Instone Pre-Workout IntensityInstone Pre-Workout Intensity - Train Harder, Heavier & Longer!  Boost Energy & Increase Mental Focus! Maximize Blood Flow and Muscle Pumps!  These are the goals behind the development of Pre-Workout Intensity™, a scientifically formulated blend of workout amplifiers and muscle growth stimulators that allow you to take each training session to the limit. But nothing worthwhile in life is free, especially when it comes to peak performance. That’s because maximum training requires superhuman recovery.

BSN Lean DessertBSN Lean Dessert Protein Powder is the world's first and only anabolic-sustained release muscle building dessert protein! Designed for athletes and bodybuilders who need a superior protein matrix to help them meet their nutritional requirements and physique goals! Low in carbs, fat, and lactose. No Aspartame or Acesulfame-K. Choose from these mouth watering flavors: Banana Nut Bread, Chocolate Covered Coconut Candy Bar, Fresh Cinnamon Roll, and NEW Banana Cream Pudding, Chocolate Fudge Pudding, and Whipped Vanilla Cream! 

iSatori Lean System 7Lean System 7 is the first and only scientifically based formula developed without ephedrine to help you get and stay lean! The synergistic combination of patented nutrients found only in Lean System 7 was designed to penetrate and attack fat cells by way of three revolutionary mechanisms - to "activate" the metabolism-enabling the body to burn body fat all day strong. Lean System 7 is a natural, better way to burn fat! For a limited time only, get 30 free capsules (120 capsules for the price of 90)!

Molecular Nutrition X-FactorMolecular Nutrition X-Factor™ - If a powerful physique is what you want, then nothing is more important than the “X”. What we are talking about is revolutionary. It is the single greatest anabolic discovery of the new century. It will take your body to a new dimension, with more muscle, reduced body fat, and freaky pumps that will shred your clothes into a pile of threads. X-Factor is a powerful muscle building and definition-enhancing supplement that amplifies the muscle’s anabolic response to physical activity. X-Factor™creates a powerful shift in post-exercise physiology, promoting muscle growth, strength increases, muscle endurance, and fat loss.

MXI XoçaiMXI Xoçai (pronounced "Sho-sigh") is the ultimate antioxidant beverage! It combines the antioxidant benefits of the finest, all-natural European cocoa powder, the açai berry from the Amazon Rain Forest, and other fruits. Xoçai™ is sweetened with agave nectar derived from a Mexican cactus. Xoçai™ is the perfect delivery system for the antioxidants in chocolate because it eliminates almost all of the fat and sugar typically found in other chocolate products. One fluid ounce of Xoçai™ contains only 25 calories, less than one gram of fat, and only two grams of naturally occurring sugar. Xoçai™ has a low glycemic index and three ounces of Xoçai™ is a high source of fiber.

Pure Omega-3 Pure Omega-3 Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil The highest quality, pharmaceutical grade fish oil available! Highly concentrated EPA and DHA levels (516 mg EPA and 276 mg DHA per softgel - in a total of 2714 mg of omega 3 fatty acids per 3 softgel serving!) Cholesterol Free. No Saturated Fatty Acids. Toxin Free - Obtained from carefully selected oils previously checked before processing for 0% pesticide, PCB & heavy metal contamination. Free of any toxic organic solvent residues or impurities. Fortified with Vitamin E to protect the molecular integrity of the purified fish oil. Deodorized - so no fishy "repeats".

6-OXO 6-OXO™ - The most effective estrogen-blocking supplement ever created! 6-OXO™ is what is known as a suicide inhibitor of aromatase - to both reduce estrogen and increase testosterone. This means that 6-OXO™ binds to the aromatase enzyme in a permanent and irreversible manner, rendering it inactive. The result of this is an eventual diminishment of aromatase enzyme in the body and a concomitant reduction in estrogen levels. A corresponding increase in testosterone production is usually experienced as well.

DaVinci Sugar Free Syrups DaVinci Gourmet Sugar Free Syrups are available in over 30 flavors for use in coffee drinks, sodas, desserts, frozen treats, and more. The same world-class flavor as their classic flavors, but without the calories. Thus, they are extremely popular among diabetics, low-carb dieters, and others who are interested in no-calorie products.

Kre-Alkalyn Extreme Kre-Alkalyn Extreme - Designed to safely and effectively increase muscle volume, muscle strength and lean muscle mass. Creatine Monohydrate has been proven to help produce muscle strength and mass through the building of thicker muscle cell fiber and cell volumization. In clinical studies, the active ingredients in Kre-Alkalyn Extreme have been shown to be 100% safe. Some creatine monohydrate products on the market converted to an impurity called creatinine when mixed with a liquid. This impurity must be filtered through the kidneys. Kre-Alkalyn Extreme will not convert to creatinine when mixed in a liquid. Unlike most creatine powders, close to 100% of the Kre-Alkalyn Extreme is absorbed and none was converted to toxic impurities. Sugar-free - so it won't make you fat! Perfect to use while dieting also. Great Cherry flavor.

McCann's Steel Cut Oats McCann's Irish Oatmeal - Steel Cut Oats are whole grain groats (the inner portion of the oat kernel) which have been cut into only two or three pieces. They are golden in color and resemble mini rice particles. Steel Cut Oats are not the same as Rolled Oats which are flake oats that have been steamed, rolled, re-steamed and toasted. Due to all of this additional processing they have lost some of their natural taste, goodness and texture. Steel-cut oats are inherently full of nutritional value and are high in B-Vitamins, protein and fiber while low in salt and unsaturated fat. The quality of Irish Oats and the distinctive crunchy texture make McCann's Steel-Cuts a gourmet delight.

FIBER-Psyll FIBER-Psyll contains Fibersol 2 and Psyllium husks and tastes great. It is designed to add soluble fiber (up to 12 grams per serving) to the diet thus cleansing the intestinal tract and keeping bowel movements regular. Fibersol 2 is a high fiber source which is heat stable, has low viscosity, pre-biotic properties and is highly soluble. It mixes instantly. Most fiber supplements have a gritty and unpleasant taste. FIBER-Psyll has a pleasant citrus flavor with a subtle pulp texture. FIBER-Psyll also helps promote the maintenance of healthy levels of blood serum cholesterol, blood triglycerides, and post-meal blood glucose.

Pro M3 ProM3 provides a unique three-protein matrix of whey, casein and egg albumin to super saturate your muscle tissues with a wide array of amino acids. Amino acids are nature's "building blocks", responsible for muscle growth and repair. And no protein delivers amino acids faster than whey protein. Whey protein is the fastest acting protein around, immediately flooding the body with amino acids, helping to kick your body into an "anabolic" or muscle growing state. On the other hand, casein is dubbed the "time release" source of protein, as the amino acids come into play after those from whey have been fully digested and absorbed. Egg albumin digests slower than whey but faster than casein, acting as the "bridge", filling in the gaps between the two. ProM3 will help build and maintain your muscles long after other proteins are gone from your body. ProM3 is also enriched with a Proprietary Enzyme Blend. This blend is a unique and natural enzyme complex, which assists in the absorption of protein.

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How Much Ya Bench?

By: Charles Staley
Director/CEO,
Integrated Sport Solutions, Inc.

Coach Charles Staley The bench press has achieved almost cult status, reaching even into popular culture. It wasn’t always this way— prior to the 1960’s the most popular upper body lift was the military press— at that time, one of the three lifts contested in the sport of weightlifting (the press was removed from competition in the early 1970’s due to fears that lifters were using dangerous lifting postures in the attempt to press larger and larger weights).

Despite the fact that men tend to turn this lift into a demonstration event, and that women tend to shy away from the lift altogether, bench pressing (and it’s variations) remain the premier upper body development tool for physique and strength enthusiasts. Like any tool, used properly, you’ll get a great result; done improperly, then bench press can tear up shoulders like nobody’s business. here are my suggestions for safe and effective bench pressing:

Bench presses may be performed with a bar or with dumbbells. The bench may be flat (overall pectoral stress), inclined (more stress to the clavicular pectorals), or declined (more stress to the lower pectorals). Lay on the bench, placing both feet flat on the floor (if this causes the curvature of your low back to increase, find a lower bench or place your feet on solid blocks to elevate them). Grasp the bar such that both hands are equidistant to the center, and make sure your thumbs are wrapped around the bar, rather than on the same side as your other fingers. You only have to drop a big weight on your chest one time to become convinced that a thumbless grip is a big mistake (assuming you survive it).

Although it is difficult to articulate this concept in writing, the shoulder blades should be tucked together prior to unracking the bar. Do this while your hands are on the bar— lean to your right side and pull the left scapula inward, and then put your weight down on it. Then, leaning on your left scapula, tuck your right side in and then center your bodyweight. When the scapulae are tucked (retracted), the shoulder joints will be afforded additional range of motion as the bar descends, thus adding a measure of safety to the lift.

Immediately prior to unracking, the bar should be directly over your nose—if it isn’t, slide yourself up or down on the bench until it is. Inhale and unrack the bar from the supports. Pause in the top position for a brief moment, rather than making a “B-line” from the supports to your chest. At this time, take in as much air into your lungs as possible and hold until the bar has ascended through the sticking point. Why? Ever notice that great bench pressers have “barrel” chests? This gives the pecs better leverage. You can give yourself a temporary, artificial barrel chest by inhaling as deeply as possible and holding throughout the lift.

As you lower the bar to your chest, keep your elbows directly under the bar, rather than in front of, or ahead of the bar. At the bottom of the movement, the bar lightly touches your chest at nipple level. Return the bar to the starting position (it should actually travel up, as well as slightly back) by contracting your pectorals.

(Note: there are in fact many different variations regarding grip width, elbow position, and contact area on the chest. The variation I’m describing here is intended for muscular development more so than maximum bench press strength. Competitive powerlifters use an array of techniques designed to maximize leverage, but I assume readers who are also competitive powerlifters will already be familiar with these techniques).

Grip Width

Viewed from the head of the bench, your forearms should be perpendicular to the floor at the bottom position.

Torso

Keep your torso flat on the bench at all times— the bench press is not intended to be a hamstring exercise, despite my sarcastic article called Bench Pressing: The Forgotten Hamstring Exercise which brings me torrents of hate e-mail  every month.

Speed

Although a variety of speeds can be employed, the eccentric phase should always be “tight and controlled.” If in doubt, allow two seconds to lower the bar. If you wish to eliminate the stretch shortening aspect of the lift, you can pause for two seconds at the chest, but don’t relax while doing so.

Depth

Although the most common variant is to bring the bar down until it touches the chest, for some athletes with poor shoulder flexibility, this position may be too deep. As a rule of thumb, the bottom position you choose should not use up all the shoulder flexibility you have—you should be able to go deeper with no discomfort if you had to. For novice athletes with adequate shoulder flexibility, you can use depth as a method of progression, by using a constant weight over several workouts, slightly increasing the depth every session.

Transition Position

Most bench press injuries occur during the transition between the eccentric and concentric phase, according to Dr. Sal Arria, Executive Director of the International Sports Sciences Association. A common technique flaw involves the fatigued lifter allowing the bar to “bounce” or “chop” down onto the chest, which subjects the pectoral attachments to sudden loads, which is often the stimulus for injury. A 200 pound bar lowered very slowly exerts about 200 pounds of pressure. But this same bar lowered quickly, may put many hundreds of pounds of tension on the target muscles and their attachments.

Bench Press Standards

According to Strength and Speed (Dale Harder, © 2000 Education Plus), a man who weighs 181 pounds is World class if he can bench 435, National class at 420, College star at 330, College letter at 275, and HS star at 215. Anthony Clark, weighing 372, bench pressed 780 in 1996, and I recall hearing that he did 800x2 in the gym recently. Chuck Ahrens, weighing 280, benched 400 for 28 reps. Chris Confessore was the heaviest man to bench press triple bodyweight— 741 pounds. Tamara Rainwater was the first woman to bench 400 pounds. The heaviest woman’s bench press may have been an unofficial 440 by Fibingerova, a Chech shot putter.

Safety

ALWAYS employ (or become!) a competent spotter when performing any bench press variation.

 

 


About the Author: Charles Staley is known as the “Secret Weapon” by his Olympic and Professional athletes for his ability to see what other coaches miss. When the elite of the sports world want innovative, “out-of-the-box” solutions in their quest to reach World-class levels of performance, they come to Charles.
 
Coach Staley also publishes a free online newsletter featuring the latest in advanced training techniques as well as a private coaching group of physicians, sport coaches, personal trainers, athletes, and everyday people seeking enhanced physical performance and physique transformation. For more information, please visit www.EDTSecrets.com or call 800.519.2492.