I had a guy friend me on bodybuilding.com and he is very supportive and positive. He posted something about him starting a blog and wanting people to check it out. I found it quite interesting. I am going to have to do more research and see if I can find more out about it. If anyone knows anything on this subject please let me know! Thanks! ...and maybe this could help me train for my marathon one day!
So... to start of a series of blogs, I figure I would talk about Cardio.
Say WAH??? Cardio SUCKS!!!
(ahem)
Actually...
...yes. Yes it does.
I am not going to deny how long and boring it can be. I know it's good. That it improves the VO2Max ( pronounced vee-oh-too macks: a measurement of the total volume of Oxygen efficiently used/in your lungs - or whatever).
But is it possible to simulate some of the cardio results, without actually going long distance?
Well... maybe there is a way.
In my research ( propping up imaginary glasses... clearing throat - "ahem", I discovered a fascinating lecture on the "inter-web". Deep in the recesses of the journal called "YOUTUBE" ( pronounced yoo-too-bh), one may discover several things.
Some already know, there are three "energy pathways" during a work out. The first two are anaerobic, and the last is oxidative/aerobic. Cardio (running, long distance stuff) is aerobic. But marathon runners also train anaerobically in order to increase their VO2 Max by also increasing their Lactic Acid (Lactate) Threshold.
- Lacti wah?- Lactic acid threshold. Pronounced llllaahhhckkk...-I got it! I got itOK. So lactate threshold is the moment during anaerobic work, that the body is producing more lactic acid than the body can deal with. It can happen soon after someone hits their VO2 Max. The cardio-buff's workout of choice for training this is interval workouts. In a way, we who hate cardio and love weights, do this during circuit-like work outs (crossfit, HIIT, bootcamp,etc.).
When a set is completed, but rest periods are shortened, increasing intensity, we also are doing intervals.
Lactic Acid IS NOT A WASTE PRODUCT!!!!
It is a BYPRODUCT (not the same - technically).
The body reuses the lactic acid for energy (to keep on pumping during lifts).
Running in intervals pushes the runner for short periods to "shock" the body into crossing it`s lactic threshold. They rest to recover and repeat again.
Why?
Because not only does your body produce creatine, but it also produces sodium bicarbonate (aka. BAKING SODA).
Check it... creatine bonds with ADP (adenosine diphosphate) to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), in the ATP-CP cycle (CP stands for creatine phosphate). Most know how creatine supplementation benefit lifts.
But I don't read too much about baking soda supplementing?
See. The body produces its own to balance out the acidity of lactate. Baking soda, being a base, brings down the acidity level in the blood.
Benefits:
- Nausea reduced (caused by high acidity). Less vomiting after "pushing the limits".
- Salts(sodium) allow runners to keep going (electrolyte)
- Lactic Acid re-uptake allows for further "burning" of carbs in the blood stream.
- More work means more gains.
- Some studies have shown that athletes (sprinters) were able to increase speed, because their intensity didn't drop until later (when compared to times without baking soda).
WARNING:There are some (sigh) cautions to take. This doesn't mean you will be invincible in the gym.
-Not recommended if you already have high blood pressure (sodium intake can cause increase in blood pressure)
- Properly loading IS ESSENTIAL. Too much baking soda can MAKE you do some unwanted Cardio (SPRINTING to the WC, LOO, PORT-A-POTTY, RESTROOM, with some serious case of explosive number 2!).
-IT IS SOOO SALTY!!!
In Conclusion...To test this, I am splitting my servings of baking soda into two servings. 5g (1tsp) in the morning with my morning drink (25g whey, 5g bcaa, 5g glutamine), and repeat at lunch or pre-workout (pre-workout includes 5g of creatine).
This is done on workout days. On rest days I would only do 5g in the morning drink - and end at that.
So far, my results:
-Definitely am pushing my boundries more. I sense the feeling of being tired, but muscles don't ache. So I go on.
-Noticed my eye sight wasn't great on some days, so I am going to only plan to "soda dope" on workout days. I am assuming that either my eyes are tired, or a sign of higher blood pressure. I will be "cleansing" out sodium on rest days with calcium citrate supplements and milk (another topic for another blog).
-My servings haven't caused any "washroom" issues (THANK GOODNESS!)
(resource for your leisure)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X84RegWOLQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4X0dxCXfLA8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EVsA2FlXEo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRiNH-jp1tU
That was his blog. That was all of his research, thinking, and writing. If you want to check it out and talk to him more about it here's the link to his blog
http://blog.bodybuilding.com/marshallkmw/2013/01/12/creatine_hmb_and_baking_soda/
And here is the link to his bodyspace
http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/marshallkmw/
Please give him all credits for this post. Thanks guys!
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