Raises for big shoulders part 2

By Caleb Lee

Here we go again on shoulders. For beginners, or serious bodybuilders, everyone wants to fill out their clothes better, without those shoulder pads that are out of fashion anyways. In my last article I dealt with presses and now (as you can see from the title) I'll be talking about raises.

Raises work the deltoids and compliment press exercises for building up the shoulders. Raises use isolation, meaning you use lighter weights than you normally would, but still get excellent results. Each of the exercises below works a different part of the deltoids: front, back and side.

Front Dumbbell Raises:

In standing position, hold a dumbbell at each side with your palms turned towards your body. Raise one dumbbell up, using a sweeping motion, until it is over your head. Lower to starting position while you sweep the other dumbbell up. Repeat.

You will find this is a very effective but simple exercise for the front deltoids.

Lateral Raises-Standing with a Dumbbell:

With a dumbbell in each hand bend forward 45 degrees. Let the dumbbells hang at arm's length; palms facing each other. While bent over, lift the dumbbells out to either side. Slowly return to beginning position and repeat.

Bent-Over Raises (Lateral):

Stand while holding a dumbbell in each hand. Bend Forward 45 degrees. Let the dumbbells hang at arms length. Your palms should face each other. Remaining bent over, lift the dumbbells out to either side. Slowly return your arms to the starting position and repeat.

Whew! If you haven't done shoulder work before you will find this a bit of a challenge but I can guarantee you'll love the results. Catch ya later-I'm off to the gym.

About the Author:

author Caleb Lee knows a lot about building muscle. His website will teach you how to build muscle fast.

Steroid Hormones And Stretch Marks: The Connection Between Them

By Maia Pells

Stretch marks is usually defined as the scarring when the dermis tears just underneath the skin due to rapid skin expansion or growth. The area where the tearing occurs redden over time then takes on a color that is silvery to the naked eye. It is these silvery areas that we know commonly as stretch marks.

Since stretch marks occur when there is rapid growth or stretching of the skin, this can lead to the assumption that steroid hormones and stretch marks actually do have a connection. This is because steroids stunt ordinary growth which is something that our skin is not ready for naturally.

Stretch Marks & Athletes

Muscle Building - In order to vastly boost athletic performance, some people work out so that it will build their muscles faster and make them more efficient. Most athletes have stretch marks because of this heightened physical activity. It is simply because their dermis is not ready or strong enough to hold together from all the muscle growth and therefore the tearing begins and the stretch marks start to form. This is a common occurrence mostly in bodybuilders. Stretch marks that do occur usually are found where the greatest muscle mass has formed in a short period of time.

How Does This Happen?

Glucocorticoids - There are many different theories today that are being tested so that people understand stretch marks even more. One of these theories suggests that they are a result of what are known as glucocorticoids. When these substances are richly present in the bloodstream, they are assumed to cause stretch marks more than anything else.

The interesting part is that these substances are a class of steroid hormones that are produced by the body. We can actually cause the substance to be released when we are in a state of physical or mental stress by producing cortisol which is a group of hormones glucocorticoids belongs to. Bodybuilders do go through a lot of physical and mental stress and this is how we connect the steroid hormones and stretch marks formation.

How It Works - When this hormone is released, the body is sent signals and the body will react in many different ways to the stress that released the hormones. This leads us to eat more so that we can balance the glucose that we feel is lost when we are stressed. If this stressed state is prolonged, then there is a greater tendency for the body to burn excess fat a lot slower. We therefore gain weight a lot quicker than normal and this can produce numerous stretch marks around the body where skin is stretched.

It is essential to get to the root causes stretch marks so that we might be able to counter the effects or prevent the marks from occurring. But other people who are more wary of their skin can take more natural methods in making sure that they do not produce stretch marks. This involves a good diet and just the right amount of time of exercise.

About the Author:

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