WHAT YOU DON'T

A father comes home from work to find his son upstairs sulking in his room.  The father asks his son what's wrong.

"I got in trouble in school today dad, over something I didn't do!"

"What didn't you do?" the father asks.

"My homework"


An old joke, but one I am using to illustrate my point.  There is a culture in lifting that is built around an odd ideal.  Normally, when you think about lifting, you think about the results.  Someone getting bigger, stronger, faster, leaner, whathaveyou, it's an instance about what someone did.  But there are individuals that take an opposite approach, those who instead take pride in what they didn't do.

When these guys hit their 315lb deadlift, they make sure you know that it was done without a belt, straps, chalk, the right shoes, deodorant, and they only slept 3 hours because they work 2 jobs to support their drug habit (oh, but they're also drug free for life).  The hidden implication here is that the only reason the weight isn't higher is because they're not "cheating" by using all this other junk.  They train RAW (raw is of course always in all caps, because).

Why do these folks pride themselves so much on what they aren't doing?  Because they excel at not performing.  These people have both lackluster physiques and strength, and they need to tell people about their lifts because it isn't obvious in any way that they train.  Their training isn't producing results, so they need to reinvent what constitutes a result in order for them to be succeeding.

This is the same insane mentality behind the "perfect form" guys who never go above 225 on any lift and talk down about Johnnie Jackson's form when he lifts, or the bosu ball generation that can't ever get any sort of weight on the bar because they're too busy trying to balance on one foot.  It's simply a creative way to be lazy and justify weakness and frailty.

Not shown: Muscle, strength, power, competence, self respect

What would be the terrible ramifications of these people using some sort of assistance gear?  It might mean that they actually have to lift something heavy and exert themselves.  They may have to strain and push themselves beyond their limits.  If you're telling people that you didn't use straps and a belt on a deadlift, and that in turn means you could have lifting heavier if you used them, then you're an idiot if you aren't using straps and a belt.  These are simply tools, and if used properly, they can allow you to get bigger and stronger, even without their presence.  Do what it takes in training to meet your goals outside of it.  

Start worrying about doing something before you start worrying about what you aren't doing.  Here is a classic photo making the rounds these days

What makes this photo impressive?  Is it really the lack of belt, wraps and spotters?  I don't know, lets try an experiment.

Also no belt, wraps or spotters.  Seems lacking, no?  

It's not the "nothing" that makes this stuff impressive.  It's the big f-ing weight on his back. 

Work on making yourself a badass in any capacity before you start worrying about the stuff you aren't doing.  An 800lb deadlift is impressive.  That deadlift is impressive with an 8" wide, 20mm thick belt, wraps, and a suit.  A man with that sort of pull is impressive, regardless of what he does to do it.  

RANGE OF MOTION (ROM) PROGRESSION

This was originally posted at Allthingsgym.com, but I thought I'd bring it over here.  I am a big advocate of ROM progression, and first read about it in Pavel Tsatsouline's "Beyond Bodybuilding".


The basic premise is simple, almost absurdly so.  Take a weight that you can only lift for part of a range of motion (hereafter referred to as “ROM”), and then stick with that weight as you increase the ROM.  This is a boon for deadlifts, especially as you reach higher weights, as it means spending less time breaking heavy weights off the floor.  This is far less taxing and easy to recover from.

I use rubber patio pavers for my progression, found at any hardware store.  These would do the trick just fine

http://www.amazon.com/Recycled-Rubber-Patio-Brickface-Brown/dp/B004RV6U4S/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1334017017&sr=8-15

I stack 7 of them on either side of the plates.  I’ve been asked “why 7” before, and the answer is simply that’s how many I had at the time.  It puts the bar slightly above mid shin for me.  I will pull for 1 set of max reps, allowing myself 1 rest pause at the end of the set to attempt to get a few more reps and increase the total volume.  Given that I pull exclusively touch and go (which I can address in another post if desired), this also gives me extra practice breaking weight off the floor.

Each week, I take away 1 paver and attempt to pull for the same amount of reps as I did in the previous week.  It’s a very gradual transition, one you will barely notice as you do it, but it will become significant once you realize you have gone from a partial dead to a full pull with the same weight.  I tend to lose 1-2 total reps as I go from the 2-3 mat height to the floor, but it’s an acceptable loss.  I also tend not perform a 1 mat pull, going straight from the 2 mat height to the floor.  Since I’m trying to minimize stress on the body, I find little value in spending 2 training weeks pulling at a height so similar to the floor.

After a full cycle of ROM progression, I deload for a week, increase the weight, and start over again, aiming for the same amount of reps as last time.

Here you can view a full series of pulls and witness how gradual of a change the ROM is (enjoy the blooper on the final set).

In regards to personal implementation, I will say that the rack pull is a very poor parallel to the mat pull.  The form is different, as is the feel of breaking the weight off the pins.  The mats are far more natural, and its much easier to transition between pulling from mats and pulling off the floor.  I have seen people pull off of bumper plates before, and I imagine that would be a good substitute, as long as you are able to make a gradual enough change.  Big changes in ROM are not going to be as beneficial.  I have also seen people have success with aerobic steppers, so give that a try if you have those.  Basically, have the plates be your point of contact, not the bar.

For fitting this into a training schedule, I have done this a few different ways.  At present, I’m running a modified version of 5/3/1, and for my deadlift day, instead of following the 5/3/1 protocol, I simply stick with ROM progression with 5/3/1 assistance (BBB style squats).  I have also trained in this manner on a 3 day a week squat program, where I performed my ROM progression dead as my final movement on the middle training day.  Since it’s only one set, and mostly a partial movement, you can fit it into most programs with a deadlifting component.

If you want to run your own cycle, I’d suggest starting with a higher rep range, around 10 or so.  Pick something you can lower evenly for 7 weeks and see where it takes you.  I HAVE trained this way with lower reps (the 5 rep range), but find that it’s possible to overload yourself too much on the first 3 weeks of pulling and burn out your CNS.  It can be very useful for developing lockout strength, but in terms of adding straight poundages to your deadlift, higher reps seem to work better.

At my present progression, I seem to be losing a rep per cycle.  When I find myself eventually unable to progress past a certain weight, my intention is to reset back to a previously accomplished weight and attempt a rep PR from there, and then just keep progressing back up while trying to hit greater reps at previously accomplished weights.

This post was solely about deadlift training, but this style can be applied to just about anything.  Paul Anderson implemented it with his squat training by squatting some 55 gallon barrels while standing in a hole.  To increase the ROM, he would fill the hole with more dirt.

Insert obvious joke about "picking up women" with squats

Being that I am a mere mortal, I have instead resorted to suspending my bar in the rack via chains and tow straps, which allows me to increase the ROM by 1 chain link each week to gradually work to the full range of motion.  You can see the end result of a cycle in this video

This also has a carry over benefit of being able to work around a hamstring injury that gets aggravated by heavy eccentrics, as I have basically turned the movement into a concentric only squat.

For those with short attention spans, here is the summary

-Make small, gradual progressions on the ROM while keeping the weight the same

-Rack pulls are terrible

-Paul Anderson is the man

FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH

Functional strength.

Oh yes, we're doing this.

This phrase has been huge for a long time now.  It's right up there with "lean muscle mass" and "dynamic inertia".  The informercials tell you that you want, nay, NEED functional strength, and many a fitness program has been constructed around the goal of chasing down and obtaining this jewel.

What a crock.

Wrong Kroc, stick with me here

Since I tend to understand language in a way fundamentally different than most humans (I attribute this to sustained head trauma from years of boxing), let's look at what is being implied by the phrase "functional strength".  To have such a thing as functional strength is to imply that there is a converse type of strength.  Unfunctional strength?  Non-functional strength?  Or perhaps even dysfunctional strength, that kind of strength that gets drunk and can't hold down a job but you're sticking it out together for the kids goddamnit.

But it scored 4 touchdowns in a single game!

What could this even be?  Can you think of an example of strength with no function?  How would you train to acquire such strength?  Even the most bizarrely isolated and esoteric movement you could contrive with a bosu ball, kettlebell, smith machine and bands would still have some sort of function it could provide.  Your body cannot simply get strong without being able to display the strength in some capacity, it just so happens that the capacity can be limited and highly specialized.

Does that mean the strength is without function?  Or does it simply mean that the strength is not ideal for YOUR intended function?

And this is why the language is stupid.  Strength is strength.  It has no morality attached to it, it is simply binary.  Your body gets stronger, or it does not.  It is the user that decides the function, not the strength.  If you are training to be a better basketball player, and your primary means of training is flipping tires, you did not develop functionless strength, you simply did not develop the most ideal strength for your intended function.  This is user error, not biological, for this strength that you did develop has many applicable functions, they just don't relate to your goal.

This of course relates to the value of having a concrete and defined goal, and also explains the verbal sorcery that many "functional strength" advocates utilize to sell their snake oil.  Lots of folks define functional strength as this notion of being able to do "useful" things like scale fences, climb trees, fight off attackers, etc etc.  With this school of thought, being able to deadlift or squat heavy weights isn't functional.

Typical day at the office

Seriously?  Are you Jason f-in' Bourne here?  Run a quick mental recap on how many times you have needed to scale a fence, climb a tree or fight off attackers in your life.  Now, compare this number with how many times you have ever needing to pick up something heavy.  Whether you were moving into an apartment or relocating some office furniture or picking up a box that got shipped to your door.  I will bet that if you combine the total number of times you have had to be a secret agent, it STILL wouldn't equal how often you have needed to pick up and move stuff.

But let's be stupid and pedantic for a second here, because that's how I operate.  The functional strength camp likes to make the argument that you don't need to train to squat 500lbs, because when will you ever need to do that?  My answer: in a powerlifting meet.  And if you are a powerlifter, that is a very "real world" scenario you will find yourself in, where 500lbs (or whatever weight) is on your back, threatening to crush you.  Once again, the strength is defined by the function of the user here.  If all you want to develop is the strength to make it through life, for most office drones this just means a strong core to support the terrible posture office chairs promote with minimal back pain.  If you engage in any sort of outside activities, you then train to supplement these.  Unless you are climbing trees and krav maga-ing ninjas constantly, training for that just plain ain't functional.

The other argument we see in the functional strength camp is about how pro-bodybuilders are massive but not as strong for their size compared to those elite individuals who train to be functional.  This is two-fold stupidity.  First, bodybuilders have strength that is VERY functional, as it allows them to be better bodybuilders (improving their function).  More importantly though, this argument isn't about strength, it's about mass, an entirely different entity.  Size is not strength.  Strength is strength and size is size.  A man who gets bigger is not necessarily a man getting stronger, and to point to a large man and say "look at all that functionless strength" is akin to complaining that your grapes are being too noisy and everything tastes very yellow.

If your beef (pun partially intended) is that people are putting on mass that is only good at being big and not for making one stronger, this is no issue with strength at all.  Do not fall for the tricks of charlatans and salesmen here.  Know what your function is and train for it, and all of your strength will be functional.  Train without goals, and you will develop very functional strength, it will just be useless to you.

TRAINING VS COMPETITION

Lets do a fun experiment.

Here is a video of Matt Kroczaleski doing 30 rep chins.  Give it a watch.

Now, read the comments.

(Yes, I realize forcing someone to read youtube comments can be considered cruel and unusual punishment in some states, but stick with me, this is for science)

Look at how many of these comments talk about how Kroc's chins "don't count".  He has violated the rules of the event, and got 3 reds.  Matt was most likely having an off day, as he's usually a very strong performer.

Wanna see this again?  Here is Konstantin Konstantinovs doing 55 pull ups.

If you are having difficulty understanding the comments in the youtube video, it's most likely because they are in Russian.  That, or it is because the language skills of many youtubers have rapidly deteriorated and become indecipherable.  In either case, they are akin to the Kroc video.

The experiment here?  What were your thoughts upon seeing these videos?  Were you in the "don't count" camp?  Were you wondering how these two got so big and strong with bad form?

Or maybe you thought "so this is how an 800lb deadlifter does chins".  Or perhaps "that's what the pull ups of a 900lb deadlifter look like".

This is the difference between the mentality of training and competition, and it is vital that you understand it if you ever hope to succeed in either endeavor.  Many times, the downfall of those who do not compete is that they treat every training session like it is a competition, because this is their only competitive outlet available.  This means that EVERY movement has rules to follow, and if you don't follow these rules and regulations, your lift "doesn't count".  You see this applied to everything from push-ups to pull ups, lunges to crunches, etc to I am terrible with examples.

These rules are always arbitrary  and based around some ill-founded notion of what "good form" looks like.  The focus isn't on what the movement accomplishes, it's just about what the movement looks like.  This is a great idea...in a competition.  That is why powerlifting has rules specifically based around how the movement looks, with no concern about what muscles you are recruiting.  If you can get your hips below your knees through some sort of sorcery that completely removes your glutes and hams from the lift, you're going to get your whites.

Why the difference?  Because the competition is the validation of the training.  It is not training in and of itself.  No one shows up to a meet hoping to get a good workout in and get stronger, they are there to display strength.  So why wouldn't you do this in reverse when you train?  Why would you concern yourself with how the movement looks, when you should be concerned instead with what results it produces?  If your chins aren't deadhang but your bench and deadlift keep going up, what does it matter?  If your squats aren't competition legal in training, but your squat goes up and you never get called for depth in a meet, why should you care?  And if physique is your goal, why do you care at ALL about what your lifts look like compared to what they are doing for your body?

The form police are in full force on youtube, and these self important nitwits never have a physique or lifts that are in any way admirable.  They just KNOW that they are right, but have nothing to show for it.  These are the same people that will come up to you in the gym to tell you that you are going to blow out your knees with your squat style before they waddle their way back to the leg abductor machine for an intense pump.  Why would you care about their opinion on anything?

Training is training, and competing is competing.  When you are in the gym, you are there to make yourself better OUTSIDE of the gym.  If you make training the competition, you will not succeed in either endeavor.

WHY ABBREVIATED TRAINING?

As many have noted, I am a fan of abbreviated training.  I grew up under Pavel's 3-5 and 20 rep squats, and have only recently begun training higher volume with 5/3/1.  This post should explain why I advocate this training style.


The name "abbreviated training" indicates that the training is low volume with limited movement selection. This name is something of a misnomer, for this style of training was en vogue from the late 1800s to about the 1960s-1970s. It was the method of greats like

Eugen Sandow

Bob Peoples

and Paul Anderson

Once steroid use became more prominent, trainees could train for much higher volume sessions while still eliciting great gains, so training became higher volume with more movements, and thus anything not following this approach was deemed "abbreviated training".

You'll note then that abbreviated training was utilized and effective during an era where people did not have access to performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), and as such is still an effective choice for trainees who are training in a similar style. If you are making use of PEDs/chemical assistance, abbreviated training most likely is not the best choice for you.

The stuff they're using is a little more powerful than this

Why does abbreviated training work so well for a beginning, non-drug enhanced lifter? It operates under the premise that this type of lifter is primed to make rapid gains as a result of them being so new to training. The majority of "strength" gains that occur with a new lifter are simply the result of them becoming more proficient/efficient at the movement they are training. It is not unheard of for a new trainee to add 20-30lbs to their squat in 1 month, but this is not an indication that the trainee has gained the strength to move 20-30lbs more, but simply that they improved their coordination to the point that they were better able to recruit the muscles/motor units necessary to move more weight than before. This principle is critical to understanding why abbreviated training is advocated to beginners.

Whenever the topic of bulking is brought up, people love to quote stats about how much muscle someone can put on in a month, and why it's stupid to overeat. Numbers are thrown around from ranging anywhere from .25-1lbs a month being the max level a non-PED using trainee can put on. I don't know which study is the best, but in either capacity, using this same line of thought, it is unreasonable to expect a new trainee to be able to put on a great deal of muscle mass when they first begin training, especially if you get them to follow the supposed "hypertrophy routines" that are based around splitting muscle groups and high volume/low frequency. However, due to the fact that strength is gained by a new lifter more as a result of becoming a better lifter rather than a stronger lifter, it is not unreasonable to expect a new lifter to make great jumps in their lift numbers when they first start out. This is where abbreviated training is a boon, for the low volume of the training facilitates recovery for a trainee with a lacking work capacity, while the high frequency allows for many opportunities to make progress in the gym.

If you squat only once a week, you have 52 opportunities a year to progress in the squat. If you squat 3 times a week (like a lot of abbreviated training programs advocate), you now have 156 opportunities to progress within the same training period. This is 104 more opportunities to improve the mechanics of the squat for the sake of being able to lift heavier loads. Since you are in a period of rapid adaptation at this point, these multiple opportunities to excel mean much faster gains compared to a lower frequency approach.

One must understand that this is the point of these programs: to quickly reach peak levels of strength in a beginner trainee. By doing this, one has laid down a foundation of strength, coordination and (if you have been eating correctly) mass which can now be implemented toward a variety of training goals. Once this foundation is established, one can move toward bodybuilding, powerlifting, strongman, Olympic lifting, crossfit, etc. This is not a lifestyle, this is fleeting and ephemeral. Your goal should be to make the most of this phase and then move on to your real goal.

This is why when people say “these routines don’t make you look better” that it’s not a legit criticism. That is not their intent. Their goal is to get you to the point where you can finally start training to look better. The sad reality is that a sedentary lifestyle has become the norm, and most people enter lifting with almost no athletic background. These programs intend to make up for that by being a crash course in strength building so that one can actually start training.

You aren’t going to build an impressive physique with a 100lb bench. It’s just not going to happen. That is why putting a beginner on a high volume, high variety, low frequency program is a poor decision, as they simply will not be strong enough to lift heavy enough weights to make a meaningful impact.

So when is a good time to move on from abbreviated training? One of the best bench marks I’ve ever seen came from Stuart McRobert in “Brawn”, who advocated that a 5’9 man standing at 190lbs being able to bench 300lbs, squat 400lbs and deadlift 500lbs would be in a position to be able to start training with higher volume and more detail work (if their goal was bodybuilding). If the goal was powerlifting, this would be a great time to move on to something like Westside, Sheiko, 5/3/1, or a variety of other high volume programs.
If you find these numbers to be absurd, it is an indication that you need to be pushing yourself harder in your training. These are not the end of the road at all, but the beginning of a journey. A 1200lb total should not be daunting to a nearly 200lb man, but simply a stepping stone.

And in that same line of thought, one should not be married to abbreviated training, but instead realize what it is there for. Exploit it for all that you can, and move on. The zealots on either side of the training camp are equally annoying. Additionally, if you have completely stalled out on abbreviated training before hitting your goal numbers, and you cannot simply out eat or out sleep the stall (rare), try some higher volume training for a brief period to break past some plats. And even then, there are abbreviated higher volume programs, like 20 rep squats, which can be valuable both for mass and mental toughness building.

INTRO

WHO AM I, AND SHOULD YOU READ THIS?

Like it says on the side of the site, I am a powerlifter.  I compete in the 181lb class, with an unequipped total of 1439, with a 502lb squat, 336lb bench and 601lb deadlift.  I will post videos of those lifts in a bit.  

The intent of this blog is basically for me to write down my thoughts on training as they come to me.  I am obsessed with getting stronger and being strong, and I will be the first to tell you this.  Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to be strong.  I read stories about legendary strength like Samson and Heracles, I loved superheros with superhuman strength, I always pick the (physically) strongest characters to play in video games or invest all of my points into strength when given the option.  I have a problem.

This obsession also means that I can't shut my brain off when it comes to thinking about how to get stronger, and whenever my mind idles, it idles on this subject.  When I am not reading about getting stronger, or watching videos on how to get stronger, or trolling the internet about getting stronger, I am coming up with ideas about getting stronger.  My intent is to transform this stream of consciousness here and give other strengthophiles a place to also read and contribute.

To understand my philosophy and approach, give these videos a watch

And for the videos of my lifts, here you go

491lb  squat (second attempt, don't have video of the 502 on youtube)

336 bench

And 601 dead

And if you want to know if you want to follow my advice on putting on muscle, these are my photos

 

So now that you have seen me mostly naked and going off on rants, I feel like we really have something good here.  Like we really connect, and that I can open up and be vulnerable with you.

Stay tuned.

All Natural (Drug Free) Bodybuilding Secrets

Natural bodybuilding refers to bodybuilding without muscle enhancing drugs or anabolic substances. In other words natural athletes who choose to build their body with all-natural have to stick to a regimen of well structured bodybuilding diet along with some performance enhancing supplements like whey protein, creatine & l-glutamine. There are however other natural athletes who go all out ie they don't even use over the counter products to help them supplement their daily diets. Their nutrition consists solely on natural foods!

Natural bodybuilding is a very specific sport. There are national bodybuilding organisations that organize natural bodybuilding contests for men and women. For more information or if you are interested in entering a natural bodybuilding show please get yourself a copy of Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness magazine at your local newsagent. Some of these shows are drug tested and some are not. The choice on which one you compete is completely yours.

A natural bodybuilder must learn to build his body in the most precise way possible. Learning as much as possible about natural bodybuilding dieting, training, supplementation is essential if one is to successfully build a natural physique of national caliber.

One of the keys to a great natural body is persistence. I don't care how well you eat or how hard you train! If you do not have the necessary persistence to keep it up for months & years you will just be spinning your wheels with no results to speak of. Building natural muscle mass takes time - sometimes a lot of time! Always be patient and expect success through your nutrition, contest diet and training.

Along with persistence you need to set up some specific, clear cut goals for yourself. If you do not know what your goals are chances are you will not make significant progress in the gym. Short term goals set up every week are great for
short term progress in the gym. For example you can set a goal of increasing your bench by 2 lbs in your next week's incline bench press session! Take these small goals and add them up over 6 months and they really make a big difference. Long term goals need to be set up as well. For example - "12 weeks from now my goal is to have lost 15 lbs or pure body fat and win my upcoming natural bodybuilding contest". You need to constantly remind yourself of your big goals in order to not lose track of the reasons you are training and dieting so hard. Reading your goals every day helps you stay on track, train harder and not cheat on your diet. Trust me! When you are carb depleted for 3 days and pizza is calling your name, a reminder of your goals is what puts you back in track.

Nutrition is probably half the battle to getting muscle to grow OR to burn body fat. A general guideline is to eat 12-13 calories per lb of body weight if you are trying to get ripped and 17-19 calories per lb if you are trying to gain muscle. 30% of your calories should come from protein, 50% from natural carbohydrates and 20% from
healthy fats (olive oil, canola oil, flaxseed oil etc). Try to avoid sugars & processed foods at all costs. Most of all, make sure you get 1 gram of protein per lean pound of body weight per day no matter what! Hardcore weight training breaks down muscle fibers and it is absolutely necessary for our body to be able to recover from these hard workouts with the use of protein.

As far as working out is concerned, forget all you read in the most popular bodybuilding magazines in the market. The routines posted in most magazines by the "pros" will do absolutely nothing for you if you want to grow muscle naturally. Fact of the matter is, most people who start bodybuilding DO follow these routines blindly. They do the same thing week after week, expecting results but nothing ever happens. Sure they gain some strength in the beginning but plateaus soon hit them. They then decide to buy the next "magic pill or powder" in the market that will
"jump start" their results. The result is a very rich supplement company and a very frustrated athlete. There is a large amount of information out there that is totally unsuitable for the majority of people who want to grow muscle naturally. My point is to educate yourself on how the body works before you start training haphazardly just because you read an article in a magazine. Stick to the basic exercises that have worked for years for most people and do NOT overtrain. Each muscle needs to be fully trained only once per week for muscle growth to occur. Ovetraining is the biggest single mistake most people do and is the reason why people quite bodybuilding & weight training.

Bottom line? You are either 100% natural or you aren't! There are no shortcuts and there are many obstacles. In the end however, you will be satisfied in knowing that you achieved results that are comparable to those of drug enhanced athletes, 100% naturally. Trust me, it's the best feeling in the world and it IS achievable. All you have to do is set goals, work hard, be consistent and have patience.

Copyright 2005 - Kostas Marangopoulos

Kostas Marangopoulos is a natural bodybuilder, nutrition consultant, freelance writer and editor-in-chief of one of the best natural bodybuilding diet websites on the net, Bodybuilding Applied.com

His educational background includes a Master's degree and he is also a certified personal trainer (CPT) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Kostas' educational and informative bodybuilding diet articles have been featured on hundreds of leading websites including the most complete Natural Muscle Building Diet & Nutrition site online, NaturalMuscleBuilding.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/81906

Does Natural Bodybuilding Still Exist?

The term "natural" has undergone multiple revisions in the last few years. New and high tech bodybuilding supplements have blurred the distinction between legal supplementation and steroids. The addition of various pro-hormonal stacks and related supplements to the bodybuilder's arsenal has caused many to conclude that natural bodybuilding no longer exists. One could ask also,

Is it natural to consume 5 grams of Creatine-Monohydrate or 10 grams of L-Glutamine in a single serving?

Is it natural to use Taraxatone to increase muscular definition and then apply 5 coats of Pro-Tan prior to competition?

Does pre-digested ion exchange whey protein exist naturally?

The obvious answer to these questions is NO!

On the other hand, while it is possible to achieve an impressive and healthy physique without supplementation you need to be aware that the proper use and combination of legal supplements will increase the speed of your physical transformation and that your competitor (should you decide to compete) is likely using them to his or her advantage. So how do we resolve this conflict.


Does Natural Bodybuilding truly exist?

For the competitive bodybuilder the answer lies within the rules of the sanctioning organization that he or she competes in. ALWAYS CHECK THE BANNED SUBSTANCES LIST FOR
THE COMPETITION AND OR SANCTIONING BODY THAT YOU ARE COMPETING IN! If you meet the requirements of the sanctioning body (recognized group or authority that sanctions and validates competitions) then you can consider yourself to be "natural". On the other hand, many events are not drug tested at all. If you know in advance that you are competing in a non-tested event and then loose to someone that you believe to be an enhanced athlete, you have no right to complain. You chose to compete under those conditions.

A natural bodybuilder must understand and respect their own genetic limitations. It is important that our physique goals be reasonable and obtainable. If your goal is to eventually look like an Olympia contender, than you need to find a black market pharmacist and start looking over your shoulder. I have spoken with many nationally ranked competitors who were sadly asking the question, "How many more drugs do I have to take".

 Some were frightened, they see a very dim light at the end of the tunnel and they know where it is leading them. Therefore, as a natural trainer, you must respect your genetics, you must respect your limitations and you must respect your long term health. Your training, nutrition, supplementation and recovery program must reflect your goals. If you're going to call yourself a bodybuilder, then train like one and educate yourself. Anything less and your just a person who works out.

You should be aware however that valid and accurate drug screening is expensive and that cheaters occasionally go undetected. This is a sad fact about our sport because
natural athletes need and deserve a level playing field. Once caught however, a failed drug test is usually sufficient to ban the competitor for life. For the purpose of attempting to define the term however, suffice to say that the term "natural" implies that the athlete has not engaged in the use of performance enhancing drugs or substances banned by the sanctioning organization of a competitive event.

While this topic is controversial in some circles, it is important that natural athletes not try to assume a moral superiority over our enhanced brothers. Our sport has yet to receive full recognition by the public and quarreling amongst ourselves will not help our cause. The important thing is that you remain true to yourselves as athletes, and promote our sport, not only in word, but in deed.

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Attention Athletes - Become As Fit As A Caveman By Complying With The Paleo Diet

When we compare our regular lives to that of professional athletes, it is obvious that they follow a much different lifestyle than we do. Because they participate in such extreme sports, they push their body limits on a regular basis and in doing so
they require a regimen that allows their body to mend injuries and recover at a speedy rate, so that they can continue to participate in their respected sport. The paleo diet for athletes is a great remedy for these requirements and it is no wonder it is recommended by health experts and athlete trainers.

The paleo diet, which founded its name from Palaeolithic is developed from the food plan of the hunter gatherers centuries ago. It mainly contain foods such as lean meats and seafood hunted from animals, fruits, vegetables, in addition to nuts and seeds gathered by our ancestors. Dairy products and crop food products are on no
account a part of the diet because they were produced by man following the formulation of agriculture, not by nature. Athletes who follow the paleo diet enjoy a healthy body oozing with an abundance of energy. By making a few minor corrections towards the diet, paleo athlete enthusiasts favor lowered recovery times leading to a massive enhancement in performance.

How can the paleo diet be favorable for athletes? Well, if you remember from history lessons you will know that hunters and gatherers were mobile people. They moved from domain to domain eating the foods that were available to them up to the time when all sources in that particular vicinity were depleted. Their lifestyle necessitated a lot of energy to perform day-by-day tasks crucial to their survival.

 Be it hunting, fishing, traveling, or trying to evade predators, they required energy to succeed and also the food they ate provided to them. This is the equivalent case for athleres. Important nourishment with a healthy dose of carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats are staples of the paleo diet, in addition to supplying the necessity of glycogen return for athletes after exercise, these glycamic based carbohydrates are to be eaten quickly after a workout routines.

A paleo athlete's routine will be to eat before, during and after training. Food for example fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, and nuts and seeds. Food to stop eating would be bread, pasta and also other non paleo foods. Following this plan will end in bigger muscle increase and an abundance of energy that can help with performance. Not only that, their body can achieve much higher limits. For instance runners observe that they run far more time and more rapidly without experiencing fatigue, as opposed to a grain-based diet which would leave them feeling wolfed and starving.

A down side is that the diet is considerably better for endurance athletes not strength athletes, as a typical athlete diet needs not less than more than 60% of calories, and the rest from protein and healthy fats. Because the paleo diet is naturally has you consuming less carbs, some athletes won't find it ideal for their daily regimen. A big change that could be fabricated could be to cheat a little and then insert starchy vegetables like potatoes and beans, in addition to some grains so as to receive the crucial energy and nutrients needed.

By following the paleo diet for athletes you can be sure to notice a significant change to your performance during major sports events, who knows, you may even end up beating your rivals.

For more information on how you can become a paleo athlete be sure to check out Amy's website. There you will find resources to help you with your paleo journey and lead you on your way to attaining your health goal

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A Champion's Path to Victory - Great Coach - Mentors Required For Success in Athletics and Business

As a former, world class Greco Roman wrestler, I learned an important lesson that has served me well in my life after athletics. It is what I call "The Champions Path to Victory". I have shared this theme many times with young athletes that I have been fortunate enough to work with at camps or on international sports tours, which I have led.

I spent nearly twenty years of my life pursuing an Olympic dream. In the end, I finished third in the U.S. Olympic Trials, which was good enough to call myself an Olympic alternate, but not good enough to allow me a chance at Olympic glory. Although, I spent so many years pursuing a dream I didn't reach, I have no regrets. The experiences I have had, the relationships I built, and the lessons I learned are worth more than gold.

Early on, in my athletic career, I discovered a common ingredient that all successful athletes had. I am not talking about great motivation and drive. Yes, that is very important, but in itself it is not enough to reach the highest levels of achievement. A high level of motivation might lead an athlete to a great high school career but not to an Olympic Gold.

What about God given natural athletic ability?

Well, that sure doesn't hurt and we'd all like it, but that's not it either. I have seen many athletes of average natural ability achieve great accomplishments and athletes of exceptional ability do nothing.

What about writing down your goals? This is also very important and I highly recommend it, but it's not that final missing ingredient.

So here it is! Every great athlete seeks out the best coaches and the best workout partners (teammates).

They learn from the best and they train with the best. Soon they become the best. A great coach will guide his athletes in what they need to do to win. The coach will be knowledgeable of the most effective techniques and strategies required for success. He will build a relationship with his athletes and learn how to motivate them and keep them on course when they start to wander in the wrong direction.

Having great workout partners is as important as having a great coach, and possibly more important. Having great workout partners can keep an athlete motivated even without a word of encouragement being spoken.
 
When I was preparing for the Olympic Trials, I trained with a club in Albany, New York led by a great coach named Joe DeMeo. I learned many high level techniques from him and he was a great motivator. He impacted my wrestling career more than any other coach. As great as he was, my training partners were my greatest benefit. At that time, you couldn't find a wrestling room filled with more talent anywhere in the country.

We had 17 All-Americans in our small club grinding it out everyday. In 1984, three of our wrestlers earned a spot on the Olympic Team and three more were alternates. One, Jeff Blatnick, went on to win the Gold Medal after winning a battle with Cancer. There was no pep rally needed in our room. Our club repeated the feat in 1988 with three more Olympians and three more alternates.

Now, here is the real jewel. When a less talented athlete trains regularly with a more talented athlete, the weaker athlete will close the talent gap 95% of the time. It is very unlikely that the more talented athlete will pull further away from his less talented partner, with all other variables remaining constant.

An example of this was at the 2000 Olympic Wrestling Trials. I watched my friend; Brandon Slay beat his coach and mentor for a spot on the Olympic Team. Brandon attended college at the University of Pennsylvania. His college assistant coach, who became his workout partner, was still competing and was one of the top ranked wrestlers in the nation. When they first started training together, Brandon was certainly not in the same league as his training partner and coach but a few years later Brandon defeated him in the trials. Brandon went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal!

In business, there are many stories of people who have achieved great achievements solely by their own drive and ingenuity but the vast majority of high achievers had mentors or coaches if you will. They had someone who showed them the way, and helped them to avoid unnecessary mistakes.

Successful business leaders surround themselves with other successful people, whom they assimilate further knowledge from. They pick up business techniques and strategies in the same way an athlete learns from his workout partners.

So the "path to victory" is a path that is crowded with successful and victorious people. Stay on that path, grab a coat tail if you must and keep moving forward, toward the front of the line.

Recently, a friend asked me if I would be interested in helping him launch a new company that was pioneering new inroads in genetically guided nutrition. The first thing I thought was; who would be my coach and where am I going to find workout partners that will challenge me?

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The Golf Swing is an Athletic Move

Have you ever noticed a lot of the top athletes in other sports are very good golfers. Quarterbacks in football are good golfers. Case in point: Tony Romo, who is the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys is a very good golfer. He missed qualifying for the U.S. Open and the Byron Nelson golf tournaments by only a couple of strokes. Pitchers in baseball are very good golfers as well. Another case in point: Rollie Fingers, who is a retired pitcher qualified for next year's Senior Tour.

The reason athletes in other sports are good golfers is because the golf swing, when executed properly, is a natural athletic move. What is a natural athletic move? A quarterback throwing a football, a pitcher throwing a baseball, hitting a baseball, a forehand in tennis, and a hockey player shooting a puck are all natural athletic moves. The golf swing shouldn't be any different. The problem that most middle and high handicapped golfers have is trying to make a "golf swing" instead of a natural athletic move which other athletes make in their sports.

Try this image and feeling out next time you practice or play. You can even practice this in your garage or yard without hitting balls. Do you remember skipping stones across the lake when you were a kid? How about throwing a ball side arm? Go ahead, get up right now and mimic one of those motions. Did you notice anything resembling a golf swing...? If you made a natural motion of skipping a stone or throwing a ball, you made a motion of a correct golf swing. You also made a natural athletic move.


Full-time golf instructor and coach with The First Tee in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information go to golfswingconnection.com

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Using Nature's Remedies To Scratch Out Athlete's Foot

What is athlete's foot?A common fungal infection of the feet which typically thrives in the area between the toes, but in severe cases may spread to the toenails, the sides of the feet, and the soles.

Contracted generally in locker rooms and communal showers shared by athletes, this infection is highly contagious and easily transmitted to others whose feet may come in contact with tiny skin flakes shed by an infected person.

What causes it?

Rapidly multiplying microorganisms, including the bacteria and fungi which cause athlete's foot, thrive in warm, moist, dark environments -- like showers and sweaty gym shoes. Contact with contaminated floors, water, mats, towels, rugs, and clothes then transmit the fungus from one individual to another.

What are the symptoms?

The typical signs of athlete's foot are: dryness, itching, stinging, burning, and/or scaling between the toes, and sometimes spreading to other areas of the foot.


How can it be treated and controlled naturally?

Common sense measures such as keeping feet dry, frequent changing of socks, wearing waterproof sandals in public showers, and the application of anti-fungal powder will go a long way toward the prevention of athlete's foot.


However, when an outbreak does occur, several natural remedies are known to offer relief.

TEA TREE OIL has many anti-fungal properties and can be used to relieve itching and control infection.

WHITE VINEGAR mixed in a one-to-four ratio with warm water helps as well. Soak feet twice daily in this solution for twenty to thirty minutes until the infection disappears.

BAKING SODA, or sodium bicarbonate, is also an excellent fungicide. Combine one tablespoon of baking soda with warm water and rub the mixture on the affected area, allowing it to sit for 15 minutes or so before rinsing.

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Best Natural Treatments For Athlete's Foot

Athlete's foot, is a fungal infection of the skin. Also called tinea pedis, the fungus flourishes in dark and damp conditions, and sweaty feet trapped inside shoes for long periods of time are main candidates for the growth of fungal infections. The symptoms of athlete's foot vary, but generally include peeling, cracking, redness, itching, and burning.

This condition may spread to other areas of the body, such as the groin or underarms, if left untreated for any length of time. There are a number of other medical conditions can imitate the symptoms of a fungal infection, such as eczema, psoriasis, allergic reactions to dyes or other chemicals in shoes and socks, and bacterial infections of the skin.

If you are unsure of the cause of your symptoms, or if your symptoms fail to respond to treatment, these must be reported to a podiatrist.

Natural, Herbal Treatments For Athlete's Foot

Ginger: This herb contains a compound called caprylic acid, which has proven antifungal properties. Simmer about an ounce of ginger root in a cup of boiling water and then apply it directly to the affected area of the foot at least twice a day.

Garlic. Laboratory studies have shown garlic to be an effective remedy for athlete's foot and other fungal infections. Soaking the affected foot in a tub or pail of warm water that contains several cloves of garlic generally relieves itching and burning. Garlic can also be mixed with olive oil and applied directly to the affected area once or twice daily.


Teatree Oil. Teatree oil is a very potent antiseptic and can be diluted with a base oil and applied directly to the skin of the foot three times a day. It is important to remember, however, that teatree oil can be dangerous if ingested. Use extra caution when using this essential oil

Licorice: Folk medicine practitioners have used licorice to treat fungal infections, notably ringworm, for centuries. This is because licorice contains the greatest number of antifungal compounds of any of the herbs. You can either add some licorice to your garlic foot bath, or boil six to seven teaspoons of dried licorice and apply it directly to the affected area.

Black Walnut. Used as a tincture or tea, can be applied for oozing skin.

Calendula. Calendula cream can be applied topically to help skin heal.

- Goldenseal. This herb contains anti fungal and antibacterial properties. Tincture is used internally and the powdered herb is made into a poultice and applied topically.

- Olive Leaf Extract. Thus extract has a powerful anti fungal which helps to heal microbial infections.

Camomile Oil. Camomile can be a very effective and soothing treatment for athlete's foot, and can be used alone or in combination with Teatree oil. A lot of people are allergic to chamomile, so test a small drop of the oil on the skin of your arm before rubbing it all over your infected foot.

Lemongrass: Lemongrass is an excellent herb for curing fungal diseases, and drinking lemongrass tea makes a nice medicinal addition to the remedies listed above. Drink a cup of lemongrass tree three or four times a day, or apply the tea bags directly to the infected areas of the foo

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Athletes Foot Cures That Work

With the beating our feet take on a daily basis it's a wonder there is any athletes foot cures that work. Think about it for a minute. Our feet are stood on for countless hours each day under our bodies tremendous weight, walked on, ran on, and often times crammed into shoes that are too small or distort our feet. (high heels) Athletes foot is really only one of the problems we sometimes have to deal with.

But, even with that said, if you've ever suffered with athletes foot you know how bothersome it can be. The itching and scratching just won't end it seems. You can literally continue to scratch until your feet become raw! So, are there any athletes foot cures? What can I do to get it to stop?

Well, there are certainly no shortage of athletes foot cures. It seems like everyone under the sun has some kind of remedy. The real question is, which ones actually work? Let's take a quick look at a few of them:

Soaking your feet in baking soda. This athletes foot remedy is an easy one and it works. Simply fill a bucket with warm water and mix in plenty of baking soda. Soak your feet in it for approximately 30 minutes once a day after work.

Aloe vera gel. This is another natural athletes foot cures. Rub aloe vera gel on your feet twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening.

Sprays and powders. You can easily purchase one of the many name brand sprays or powders for your athletes foot remedy at your favorite discount store.

Rubbing alcohol. Apply rubbing alcohol with cotton balls to the infected area. As one of the many different athletes foot cures, it seems to work very well.

Tea tree oil. This is another favorite athletes foot remedy that works remarkably well. The ingredients in tea tree oil have been proven effective in eliminating the fungus.

Some other natural athletes foot cures include using cinnamon, onion juice (no...not mixed together), grapefruit seed extract, boric acid, apple cider vinegar, raw garlic (if you can take the smell), and even raw honey.

The next time you notice yourself itching and scratching your feet, try one of these remedies. It should quickly give you relief and have you saying thank you for the athletes foot cures.

You can find much more information on Athletes Foot as well as get FREE tips and

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Athlete's Foot Treatment

Those who get athlete's foot tend not to be even an athlete. If you're athlete or not you will still need an athlete's foot treatment. Athlete's foot is very common and can be treated just as easily. I had athlete's a few months back and now I'm "clean" which is a relief. You can go down two roads and use natural and organic means to sure your athlete's foot or use the over the counter medications, there really is no wrong choice because both will help you get rid of it.

What I did use was apple cider vinegar with water. It's very simple just get a large bowl so both of your feet will fit and soak for 20-30 minutes. I did this a couple times a day for a few days bye bye athlete's foot. I have an idea how it came about I start working out on a regular basis again and running in the morning. My feet would get sweaty and I didn't clean them as much as I should I guess. I also was running in these old cross training shoes and that could have contributed to the athlete's foot.

Another reason may have been I would swim at the gym and walk around the side of the pool and maybe that also had something to do with it. Now I wear sandals all the time when I'm out the pool. I don't take showers at the gym because I don't want to look at the old guys who frequent the gym often.

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How to Treat Athlete's Foot Naturally

I'm not going to go into what athlete's foot is and how you can 'catch it' here because that would just take too long, and if you've already got athlete's foot then I'm pretty sure that you just want to get rid of it as soon as possible!

Out of all the athlete's foot and fungus creams I've come across there has only ever been one natural skin care product I've witnessed that really works.

It's an Aloe Vera product and it's probably one of the best natural skin care products I've seen in a long while. Aloe Vera is one of the most powerful natural skin care products available and has been proven to kill germs, bacteria or fungi of just about every imaginable description. So, when I came across Aloe Liquid Soap, Aloe Propolis Creme and Aloe Vera Gelly, I began to use them and the results were amazing. The athlete's foot has totally cleared up.


To begin your athlete's foot treatment, follow these simple steps:

- Wash or bathe your feet in a product called Aloe Liquid Soap. It comes in a plastic bottle with a pump dispensing top. Add 1 or 2 squirts of the aloe liquid soap to warm water. Make sure that you gently massage your feet whilst they are soaking so that the Aloe Vera can do its job using its natural properties to soothe, clean and heal your feet. Soak your feet for as long as you wish.

- Next, dry your feet thoroughly, but make sure that you do not leave them to get 'bone-dry' because of the following step. Your feet must still feel hydrated.

- Apply a liberal amount of Aloe Vera Propolis Crème all over your feet. This is where you are going to focus most of your attention now. Make sure that you really massage the crème between your toes. Applying this crème to 'hydrated' feet allows the healing properties of the Aloe Propolis to be grately absorbed. Get it into every little crack, especially if you have any weeping cracks in between your toes. Also, make sure that you also apply the propolis crème to your toe nails whether they are all infected or not.

Do this procedure as often as you can and in due course you will be rewarded with healthy feet. Take the time to really apply a good amount of the propolis creme all over your feet. Work it into the direction of the cracks and really try, but gently, to get the creme sort of under the cracks so the aloe can get to work. You'll be glad you did.

The Aloe Propolis Crème is a natural antifungal product. If you are currently using any sort of antifungal medication, you have the choice of whether or not you wish to continue using it. But after experiencing the healing benefits of the Aloe Propolis Crème, you may not look back.

How To Treat Athlete's Foot Naturally In Children

If you have ever wondered how to treat athlete's foot naturally in children, then the above procedure applies to you also.

The Aloe Propolis Crème is a 100% totally natural skin care product and will treat and heal your child's athlete's foot naturally. There are absolutely no steroids or any other additives or preservatives here, which is good news because this means that you can use as much of this crème as you need.

Athlete's Foot: How to Stop the Burning and Itching Cycle?

Another method used to treat athlete's foot, especially to get rid of the burning and itching cycle, is to use Aloe Vera Gelly.

If you followed the procedure above, soaking your feet in warm water with the Aloe Liquid Soap added to it, then after you have dried your feet, you also have the option of using the Aloe Vera Gelly.

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The Standard Schnauzer - A Natural Athlete

Depending upon the climate in which an owner lives, a Standard Schnauzer can adapt easily to both indoor and outdoor life. The Standard Schnauzer is an extremely athletic dog breed which needs to receive plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. The dog has a keen and sharp mind, high energy level and needs to have a wide array of fun and entertaining activities to keep them occupied.

Playing a simple game of fetch is not challenging enough to keep the Standard Schnauzer entertained for very long. An owner should throw a bit of hide and seek into the mix to allow the dog to exercise the body and mind. The dog loves to solve complex issues and will thrive when given a challenge. The breed has been used in the search and rescue capacity, and loves a good game of sniffing and finding a hidden object. Exercise caution when allowing the dog to find a hidden object and what is offered in terms of a reward. The dog may just choose to ignore the game and devour the treat when you aren't looking.

A casual stroll around the neighborhood block is not going to suffice for a Standard Schnauzer. The dog needs a brisk walk on a regular basis to cater to its natural athletic abilities. The Standard Schnauzer also craves mental stimulation and loves to play games and other exciting activities. The dogs love attention and participating in a play session where they can run freely. If you are currently in the process of getting physically fit, a Standard Schnauzer makes a great workout partner.


It is a good idea for the owner of a Giant Schnauzer to engage the dog various sporting activities. The breed absolutely loves to compete and sports provide them with another great outlet for burning energy. The competitive nature and natural ability of a Giant Schnauzer makes the breed ideal for a variety of different doggie sports.

The Standard Schnauzer is adept at agility trials. Agility trials are a simple obstacle course over which the dog will run through in the direction of the owner/handler. The owner/handler is forbidden from touching the dog, the breed loves the challenge and stimulation as well as the various jumps he or she can do. It is a great exercise which provides them with both mental and physical stimulation.

The breed also excels at Schutzhund, which is a sporting event. There are very few breeds which can compete in such a sport as this. However, the Standard Schnauzer is a natural athlete which shines in the sport. The trial consists of a series of tests which has three separate components; the dog must successfully pass each portion in order to advance through to the next round of competition. The Standard Schnauzer must succeed in the areas of obedience, tracking and protection and the sport somewhat resembles the training a police dog would receive. The Schnauzer is great in this capacity and is used by Germans for police dogs.

The Schnauzer must be taken out and allowed to participate in athletic competitions. The most important thing an owner should always remember is to get the dog out of the house and allow them to be as active as possible; this is what the breed craves and must have in order to be a well-adjusted pet.

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Natural Bodybuilding Versus The Typical Meathead

Natural bodybuilding in many respects is still in its infancy. Stemming from the infamous traditional bodybuilding industry, to get away from all the hype and stigmas associated with the industry. I want to dive in a bit to explain the main differences and ideologies of the natural bodybuilder versus the typical bodybuilder.

Since the days of Eugene Sandow bodybuilding has really taken a turn for the worse. When we think of the bodybuilding industry what is the first thing that comes to mind? Well, for me it is steroids, drugs, meathead, roid rage, etc. It is very frightening this has become the issue. Because of the stigma associated with the industry people have begun to try and separate them selves away from this kind of thinking, and have strived to advocate the right way to do things.

Sandow in his early years was a big admirer of the ancient Greek and Roman statues that demonstrated the beauty and art that lies within the human body. Natural bodybuilding has taken a stance that is trying to get back to this methodology of doing what the body can already do naturally. Sandow's original intention was to create a weight lifting spectacle to demonstrate how much weight a person can move. This was the introduction to the strong man competition. Because of the popularity of this strong man spectacle Sandow became popular and began to help others with training and diet.

The biggest difference between the natural 'drug-free' bodybuilder versus a typical bodybuilder of today is the way they look and train. The natural athlete typical trains more rigorously and diets harder to maintain what he has at the beginning. Another big difference is when a person stops taking steroids or other stimulants their physique typically goes with the stimulant. I have found that the natural athlete stays younger longer and can maintain their physique a lot easier especially in the latter years of life.

Since natural bodybuilding started the 'break away' the industry has grown pretty dramatically. Within the past 10 years there has been a big push to be "natural." Supplement companies such as Dymatize and Muscle Pharm proudly state on their products they are stimulant free. Being part of this industry is like being part of a exclusive club or movement. The challenge is being patient with your gains and realizing this includes a lot of hard work that will take you years to build solid musculature.

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Athletes Foot Remedy - Natural Cures For Athletes Foot Fungus

We have all had the itching and extreme frustration that can stem from something so minuscule and small you would not think of the damage that it could do. The culprit I am talking about is athletes foot which can make you want to simply hang your foot out your car door so that you can get the relief from the itch. Fortunately, there is an athletes foot remedy that will help you achieve the relief you so desperately seek.

If you are unsure if that scratch is more than just a bug bite gone awry then you should take a look at the symptoms of athletes foot. Athletes foot is actually a type of fungus that most generally forms between the toes and can cause an itching or burning sensation accompanied by some skin peeling on the foot. Skin peeling is a good sign that this is more than just an itching foot.

Breeding grounds for athletes foot are places such as pool decks, locker rooms, and shower booths. That is why so many people have resorted to wearing the ever-lovely flip-flop when they are in places such as that. They keep you from having to touch your foot to the possible fungus that might have formed on the floor and also help you keep your feet clean.

An athletes food remedy that is very popular is something that you can find in most any home and has a multitude of uses. White vinegar could be your greatest natural athletes foot remedy as it will work to kill off the fungus that has formed on your tootsies. To try this athletes foot remedy you simply soak your foot in a white vinegar bath for twenty to thirty minutes twice a day. Not only is it easy, it's a one hundred percent all-natural remedy that will cost you very little compared to some of the prescriptions that can be shoved your way.

Something else that is a true one hundred percent all natural athletes foot remedy would be to try rubbing tea tree oil on the affected area. Tea tree oil has been used for centuries as a cure all for most everything because of its natural healing abilities. Tea tree oil could be the savior you were waiting on.

Things that you can do to prevent athletes foot would be to wear cotton socks to pull away the moisture and if you are a person that has very sweaty feet try putting some foot powder in your sock. That will also absorb any extra moisture and also help those feet smell a little better as well.

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