After speaking with Vince DelMonte last week (click here for Part I of our conversation), we now know why building muscle is the fastest way for men and women to burn fat, and get incredible looking bodies.

But can building muscle also save your life?

[Have you ever tried rock-climbing? Bloody hard, but a great test of your mind and body. Give it a whirl at an indoor facility first, before you attempt anything remotely close to the picture above!]

Here’s what Vince had to say in a follow-up conversation:

Vince: Most men follow my No Nonsense Muscle Building program because they want to get huge muscles and impress the

As many of you know, weight training is my main exercise activity when it comes to fat loss. However, training with equipment such as dumbbells and barbells properly is known by very few. If it was easy then you would see a lot more muscular and lean physiques on the streets.

Before you learn how to weight train properly, it is critical that you learn these five weight training tips before you even begin to start hoisting heavy objects above your head.

1. Goal Setting

“Inch-by-inch life is a sinch. Yard-by-yard life is hard.” Words made famous by Vince Delmonte himself. Treat your goal setting the same way. Do not expect to be on the cover of Men’s Fitness by next summer. Decide how much muscle weight you wish

“I need expensive fat loss and muscle building supplements now that I’m exercising regularly!”

People believe there is a shortcut or a faster path to burning fat or building muscle especially when they have incoporated some exercise into their daily lives. Congrats, you’re active again but the second part of the equation needs to change as well-> Diet.

By now you’re probably thinking I regularly eaves-drop on conversations (see Want to Lose Weight and Build Muscle? Don’t Use Supplements!) but I can’t help but think that more people are falling head over heels for the glossy ad prints in today’s popular magazines.

Whether you are a professional athlete or playing on team at your local YMCA or aiming for a personal best in your next workout, what you eat and drink day-to-day will affect how well you can train.

If you don’t eat well you may lack the energy to train with intensity and duration, break down your body’s lean tissue (muscle) for energy, lose bone strength, or get sick or injured.

In today’s post, we take a look at the importance of three key ingredients (carbohydrates, fat and protein) in your daily caloric intake and provide estimates on appropriate amounts for those individuals who have established a regular exercise routine.

Carbohydrate

Why do we need it? Everybody, from marathon runners to body builders, need carbohydrates. It provides quick energy for your muscles

The sentence above was actually blurted out loud by one individual to another in my local gym changeroom. I glanced over hoping to see a coy smile or a sarcastic eyebrow raise, but nothing. I don’t usually eavedrop on other conversations but the exchange continued with the following defending remark:

Downing an energy drink on the way to the gym is the best way to keep your energy levels up for a workout. *snicker*

Really? What happened to healthy eating and consistent chunks of sleep being the keys to long lasting energy to get you through your day and your workout? Contrary to the numerous ads and the abundant gas

In order to reach your fat loss goals or improve your performance, people are often tempted to turn to supplements. Ever flipped through a fitness magazine? You are bombarded with glossy before/after pictures, medical and chemical diagrams, all the while trying to convince you that your efforts are going to waste without their products.

Sometimes supplements can be helpful when you have established appropriate eating habits and exercise regularly. However, sometimes they can be harmful with risks ranging from mild nausea to organ damage or even death. There is no shortage of supplements on the market. Unfortunately, many of them don’t work as claimed and haven’t