Category Archives: FOR THE GUYS

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

3 Natural Ways To Accelerate Muscle Growth

3 Natural Ways To Accelerate Muscle Growth

We’ve all been in this situation before; we look at ourselves in the mirror and just wish our muscles were a bit bigger and more defined. We feel like we put in a lot of work in the gym, so it’s not fair that our results aren’t as great as some of the units you see trampling around the gym floor.

Of course, most of the massive guys in the gym are packed full of so many steroids they could open up their own pharmacy. The question is, can you speed up muscle growth naturally? The answer is yes, and here are a few ways you can do it:

Increase testosterone levels for more muscle growth. Image

Boost Your Testosterone

Have you ever wondered why men are naturally more muscular than women? It’s mainly to do with the amount of testosterone we produce compared to them. Testosterone is the primary hormone behind muscle growth. As a result, if we produce lots of it, our muscles grow faster than someone with low testosterone levels. Consequently, if you want to accelerate muscle growth, then try boosting your testosterone. There are natural supplements on the market, like Tongkat Ali – which is an extract of an Asian plant. Things like this help you raise your T levels without adding anything unnatural to your body. It can take a few weeks for your testosterone to lift itself, but the results after this are astonishing!

It’s important to get your hormones tested to determine your current state. Your primary doctor or clinics like those that provide TRT Rowlett, and elsewhere, can easily test your levels to determine whether you can supplement with diet or need to consider testosterone hormone replacement.

Bad form will slow down your gains. Flickr

Improve Your Form

Loads of people have terrible form when they’re in the gym. Even some of the classic exercises, like a bicep curl, are done with bad form. Why does this matter? Because proper form means you take a muscle through the proper range of motion so it can contract and relax to its full extent. Getting an adequate stretch on a muscle is vital as it leads to more muscle fiber damage, which will result in more significant growth. In fact, your muscles will grow a lot faster if you lower the weight to a point where you can really crank out quality reps that your muscles are in full control of. Don’t assume that lifting heavy is always beneficial – particularly if your form is off. By all means, go as heavy as you can, but make sure your form doesn’t suffer.

Don’t forget to let your body rest and relax. Image Link

Rest Your Body

What’s the natural thing to do when you want to achieve muscle gains quickly? You work out more often and train pretty much every day. You think this helps as you can squeeze in two arm workouts a week, or two leg days a week. Surely, this means you’re overloading your muscles and helping them grow big and strong? Well, no, not really. If you don’t give your body the proper time to recover, then your muscles can’t grow properly. It’s recommended you have at least one rest day per week where you don’t train at all. As well as this, make sure you don’t train the same body part in consecutive days – give it time to heal. For example, train arms on Monday, then legs on Tuesday, then maybe chest on Wednesday, back on Thursday, and shoulders on Friday.

You don’t have to turn to unnatural things like steroids to supercharge your muscle growth. Try all of these ideas, and you’ll soon turn heads on the beach this summer.

​Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

FOR THE GUYS, QUICKIES, SEX & LIFE

3 Tips for Choosing the Right tires for Your Car

By Guest Blogger, Neil W.

3 Tips for Choosing the Right tires for Your Car

Tires weren’t always designed the way they are today. The first models were made of iron bands attached to the wooden wheels. They were used for carts and wagons. The first use of rubber was recorded in the mid 19th century. Still, these were also very simple types of tires where all the load was placed on the rubber.

The first pneumatic tire appeared in 1845. The design patented by R.W. Thomson used air to absorb the shocks of the road. But this type of tire was only the beginning to invent the one we use today. While improving a bike, John Boyd Dunlop created the improved version of a pneumatic tire. That was I  1888 and was noticed only because the rider of the bike won the race.

Andre and Édouard Michelin were the first to use a pneumatic tire on a car in 1895. This is considered the beginning of the global use of pneumatic tires. Countries all around the world issued regulations requiring that all manufacturers start using pneumatic tires in production. 

From then on, tires were only improved to reduce the fuel consumption, handling different types of road and carry an appropriate load. In order to take good care of your car, you have to know your tires. Since we are not all car savvy, here are some easy tips for choosing the right ones.

1.    Let us look at the basics

Tires are rubber containers filled with compressed air. They take the load of the car upon themselves, but also they have to handle the road conditions. Observe them as cushions which reduce the impact of the ride on the vehicle.

Nowadays, tires have from 19 to 25 components. The core of every tire is an inner liner since it holds the air inside and so gives the tire its round shape. Steel belts are used for stability and to flatten the treated pattern as much as possible. 

A sidewall is located, as the name says, on the side. It defines the ride characteristics. For example, the softer sidewall can take a harder impact like bumps, while stiffer provides sharper steering.

Also, every sidewall on every tire has an alphanumeric code. These are dimensions of the tire. Most start with the letter “P†unless you drive a light truck where they start with “LTâ€. This code will help you choose the right tire for your vehicle, however that may not be the only helpful factor. 

2.    Learn to read the code

As we mentioned, every tire has a code on its sidewall which contains information you can use to choose the right one. Correct tire size is a very common mistake, but it’s also an easily solvable one.

So let’s break down the code so you can understand what every letter and number stands for. The code starts with the letter “Pâ€, which signifies the type of tire. Its followed by the three-digit number like 195, for example. This is the tire’s width across the thread and is shown in millimeters.

After the symbol “/â€, follows another number which signifies aspect ratio of the sidewall. Right next to this number is the letter “R” for radial construction and a number which stands for a diameter of the rim. After a blank space comes the number which shows tire’s load rating and a letter signifying the speed rating. If there is M+S at the end of the code, this means that the tire is suitable for all-season driving.

3.     How to avoid mistakes

Even though having this code means that you can simply go to the store and buy a tire, unfortunately, some mistakes still happen. Consulting a car repair center is always the best choice if you’re unsure how to buy the right ones.

For example, you have to pay attention not to choose the lower-load tire. This is especially important when you are buying a spare tire. Traction is another aspect you need to pay attention to. Choosing a tire inappropriate for the road you’ll be driving on is actually a very common mistake. Every season requires a certain type of tires, as well as certain terrains like mountain, dirt or wet roads. 

The cost of the tire differs depending on the vehicle. SUV requires different ones than the passenger vehicle. However, it’s very commonly noticed that SUV owners choose tires intended for the lighter cars because they’re cheaper. This is not only damaging to the car but also dangerous for the passengers.

So make sure that you use tires appropriate for your vehicle type, road conditions and season to avoid accidents and avoidable repairs.   

Finally

This may be a lot to remember since people handle numbers on daily basis. Passwords, PINs, security codes and all other figures can be a little too much to handle. But, now that you know that the code to buy the right tire is right on its sidewall, you can remember fewer symbols. Alternatively, you can always go to professionals for help and have one less worry on your mind.  

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

FOR THE GUYS, SEX & LIFE

Four Ways To Fire Up Your Love Life

Four Ways To Fire Up Your Love Life

Whether you’ve been in a marriage for a long time and want to give your love life a boost, or you simply want to revamp the way that you’ve always done things, your libido needs a bit of help. With work being so busy, raising a family and having an actual social life, there’s always an excuse not to reconnect with a lover behind bedroom doors. There are so many things that you can do to boost your libido so that you can get your sex life back on the right tracks that it’s always been on.

Image Source

Exhaustion, stress and a lack of time can really affect the sex life of a couple, but sex is such an important way to connect on a level that is more than friends and more than just partners. It’s a mind, body and soul connection and when you’re too tired, it’s like someone has hung up the phone and the line is broken. Getting that line back up takes time and a loss of sex drive is only a problem if you believe that it is. Don’t panic though; there are plenty of things that you can do to boost it back up and get those bedroom fires burning again.

Sleep. This may seem like a counterproductive way to get your sex life back but burning the candle at both ends can really take a toll on your sex life. Testosterone has a big role in the male libido and a lack of sleep can reduce the levels of testosterone in you. Extracts like Tongkat Ali can help you to get your testosterone levels back up again. Try not to sleep less than 5 hours a night, regardless, as this is not healthy!

Eat. Everyone knows the sensuality in bringing food into the bedroom, but did you know that there are certain foods that are an aphrodisiac? Figs, bananas, chocolate and avocados are such aphrodisiacs, as are oysters and wine. These all provide the right minerals and vitamins for your health.

Confidence. Sometimes, confidence – or lack of it – is a big passion killer. If you don’t have confidence within yourself, you won’t feel in the mood and you can doubt your own attraction. No one can tell you how you can get rid of the low self-esteem, but you can shift the focus from your own worries to the things that you like about yourself and blow those up in your mind.

Sobriety. A big reason for a flop in the bedroom is too much alcohol or the overuse of drugs. By going sober, you can remove the toxins and chemicals from your system and be the au natural being that you want to be!

Getting the fire back in the bedroom is going to take some time, but if you take a moment to work out what is going wrong and communicate with your partner, you can move forward and slide back into that healthy sex routine you’ve always enjoyed.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

Get Buff: How to Build Muscle Without Fat

By Guest Blogger, Diana S.

Get Buff: How to Build Muscle Without Fat

 

If you’re aiming to get big, you need to know the right formula so you don’t end up gaining too much fat. This is the trickiest part of getting bulk: you need to find a workout that will allow you to build muscle, burn fat, encourage muscle growth and recovery and decrease fat gain. Finding that sweet spot is not easy and is different for everyone, but here are some of the main points you have to follow.

Say no to alcohol

This is an advice as old as time, and yet, not many people seem to follow it. Taking alcohol while bulking (even if you take the right supplements) will tamper with your protein synthesis and it will take you much longer to get back on schedule. The hangover and the general effect of alcohol will slow down the muscle recovery and it will prevent you from giving your all in the gym. Additionally, alcohol is full of calories and can cause increased fat storage, especially around the gut. So, if you’re trying to see real progress and build muscles and not fat, you should stay away from booze.

Hold your horses!

If you’re used to doing cardio every day (which is great for your heart and lungs), you might actually be harming your bulking progress. Over-exercising can destroy your metabolism, so try to take it easy with cardio; otherwise, you can find it really hard to add muscle mass and keep fat at bay. Exercising always produces adrenaline, but too much of it will cause over-saturation that can make some of your organs feel sluggish. This will slow down your metabolism and boost fat accumulation. Additionally, it can also cause your supply of testosterone to get smaller, and testosterone is highly necessary for muscle growth and recovery.

Have a proper form

One of the classic mistakes people make when bulking is lifting too much weight. However, muscle gains are really made when your muscles are already stretched out. That means you should focus on form, especially “on the way downâ€. Here’s an example: when bench pressing, keep the weight up for 2-3 seconds and try to slow down on your way down. Make this portion of the movement last for about 5-7 seconds. Try to do same when doing squats, curls and pull-ups.

Pick the right supplements

Supplements are great—they improve your performance and allow you to shed fat and gain muscles more easily. However, don’t think that more pills automatically mean more muscles. Getting the right type of quality pre-workout supplements and hitting the gym hard will give you the best results. Don’t concentrate on supplements so much that you neglect your workouts!

Be careful with carbs

A little excess of protein will not make a huge damage to your body, but too many carbs will eventually become fat. But you need carbs to grow! They create fuel for your body, they enhance post-workout recovery and keep your cortisol levels low so the stress doesn’t destroy your body. So, how can you find that golden ratio and get enough carbs, but not too much? Most professional bodybuilders and personal trainers advise loading up on carbs after the workout. This is the ideal way to gain muscles and keep fat from accumulating.

Keep track of your progress

If you’re serious about your muscle gain, you have to keep track of your progress ON PAPER! If you can memorize all your measurements and training statistics, then congrats—you’re a genius, but most of us can’t do that. Writing things down is your safest bet. Putting the numbers of your reps and your weight on paper will increase your chances of reaching your goal. Pro tip: sharing your goal on social media and talking about it with your friends will additionally increase your motivation.

Get enough sleep

Catching enough ZZZs is super important during bulking. If you don’t get 7 or 8 hours a night, you can seriously set yourself back and put your progress in jeopardy. Sleep will recharge your metabolism and optimize your body for fat loss!

If you follow these tips and tricks, you’ll manage to gain muscles and avoid getting fat. You’ll also feel full of energy, both in the gym and out of it, and ready to give 100% towards reaching your dream body.

 Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

FOR THE GUYS, SEX & LIFE

4 Tell Tale Signs That Your Relationship May Be Ending

4 Tell Tale Signs That Your Relationship May Be Ending

Breaking up is hard to do, or so Neil Sedaka would have us believe. Any relationship that ends, whether amicably or in a shouty mess is traumatic for everyone involved. You may have been devoted to the same person for years, only to witness the foundations of your bond crumbling. Trying to maintain an amicable end to a relationship is ridiculously hard, even for the most friendly of exes. Breaking up is intense, emotional and bittersweet. Although this may be a mutual decision, there will always be one person in the relationship who initiated the ‘break up’ thought. If this wasn’t you, it could be even tougher to go your separate ways.

 

Often we are caught in a state of flux with our relationship becoming more volatile alongside periods of breaking up and then making up. While the making up can be a lot of fun, the roller coaster motion of the relationship can be emotionally draining and is unsustainable. Something’s got to give. Take a look at these signs that may show you that your relationship is ending.

 

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  1. Things Are Stagnant

 

Often when we are the throes of young love or feel the initial flames of a burning passion, relationships can progress quite naturally. You may begin dating before spending more and more time together. You might introduce one another to family and friends. You move in together, and then, that’s it. For many couples, this suffices, and they build upon the foundation of their relationship with shared experiences and become closer. However, for other people, they hanker after marriage and children. Unless spoken about early on in a relationship, one party could be in for a rude awakening when they realize that their partner is not interested in a piece of paper or becoming a parent.

 

The feeling of being stagnant and going nowhere in a relationship can be crushing. You may have been tactile initially and enjoyed one another’s company. If nowadays you spend your evenings sat on separate sofas glued to a smartphone or tablet screen with barely an utterance between you, it may be time to reassess your relationship. If you want different things from your partner, you need to end the relationship sooner rather than later. The fear of being single shouldn’t keep you tied to an unfulfilling relationship.

 

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  1. Their Cute Habits Are Not Anything But

 

Remember when you first met your partner and they had the sweetest sniffly sort of giggle? Now that noise that emanates from their face every time they find something funny is driving you crazy. Or do you remember when your partner used to leave you sweet love notes in the oddest of places for you to find around your home? Now all you do is wince at the amount of paper litter dotted around your humble abode. If those traits that your partner has no longer give you the warm butterfly feelings that they once did, you may be outgrowing the relationship.

 

If you have been with your partner for a long time or you have even walked down the aisle and said ‘I do,’ it can be hard to make the break. However, firms like USAttorneys are on hand to give you impartial advice on the legalities of divorce, home ownership and assets. While the emotional side of breaking up can be testing, the practical and financial aspect cannot be overlooked.

 

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  1. You Seek Time Apart

 

Often the first sign that we no longer want to be in a relationship is our newfound ability to find any excuse not to spend time with our partner. We may head out for dinner with friends a little more often, decline the offer of dates a little more or choose to spend a night in alone with a good movie and a tub of ice cream rather than spending it with your supposed loved one. If nearly all other eventualities are more appealing than spending time with your partner, don’t fall into the trap of ghosting. This is unpleasant and unkind. Sit down with your boyfriend or girlfriend and make the break. This is easier to do if you haven’t made any sort of long-term commitment such as buying a house together or marriage. In any case, you need to talk. Unless they are in complete denial, they will know that something is awry and possibly has been for some time. Your partner may simply be waiting for you to signal the break to allow you both to carry on with your lives.

 

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  1. One Of You Is More Into The Other

 

While you may not be a commitment-phobe, the fact that your partner professed their undying love for you a fortnight after you first met may be enough for you to call a halt to the whole thing. At the same time, if you are the one who has been struck by Cupid’s arrow early on, it can be difficult to hold down your true feelings. You don’t want to appear clingy or needy when you have only been on a couple of dates. If it’s impossible to slow the relationship train down, one of you will become more emotionally invested than the other which can lead to a traumatic breakup. When someone feels suffocated in a relationship, that relationship will not end up being a long one.

 

Sit down with your partner, talk about your feelings and make an effort to take things slowly. If the next day you find a dozen roses at your door or find that your partner has lined up some apartments for you to view to potentially move in together, it’s time to break up.

 

Relationships, especially those that you thought would last forever, can be difficult to end when you have to wave goodbye to a future that you thought you had planned out. However, it’s better and healthier for all involved to make a clean break rather than make do and wallow in an unhappy relationship. For your own sanity and health, be single for a while, date when you want and enjoy getting to know yourself again.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.