Machine Weights vs. Free Weights for Building Muscle Mass

Building muscle involves a lot of science: a variant workout routine (change it up every two weeks for maximum results), a healthy and high-protein diet (found in Eggology egg whites), and a positive attitude! When it comes to the actual method of gaining muscle, the debate between machine weights versus free weights can be tricky. So what is the big difference?

Machine weights:
These are usually safer than free weights as the machine can act as a "spotter"--so if you can't handle the weight, you don't need extra help to safely put the weights down--the machine does this part for you.

A bodybuilder has the freedom to work out alone using machine weights--the setup process is simple and does not need to involve a lot of teamwork.

Machine weights are great for higher repetitions with lighter weights--this is really effective for toning muscles and maintaining muscle mass.

However: machine weights have a limit on how heavy you can lift--so if you're a heavy bodybuilder, this could be very limiting once you have reached the highest level. (Most machines have a top limit at 200lbs.)

Free Weights:
There is more freedom for the bodybuilder to do various exercises with the same weights to work out different parts of the body--the same dumbbells can be used to train triceps as well as biceps!

The results are fast and noticeable with free weights--when you use heavier weights (and less repetition), you will gain muscle faster.

There is no limit as to how heavy a bodybuilder can go with free weights--up to 500lbs if you're willing!

However: free weights can be quite dangerous--oftentimes you will need someone to spot you to prevent serious injury.

For a successful bodybuilder who likes to spice things up, a combination of machine weights and free weights can make up a fun and effective muscle-training regime. Whatever your weight-training capacity and level, always remember that safe bodybuilding practices are more important than pushing yourself beyond your capacity to get faster results.

Help your muscles recuperate by consuming healthy high protein foods such as Eggology egg whites. Healthy and fresh egg whites has helped many professional bodybuilders achieve their weightlifting goals. Learn more about how you can incorporate egg whites into your daily diet!

Banana Bread with a Twist and Eggology Egg Whites!

We gave you a recipe for an awesome Banana Bread last May and thought it was time to give another. I love banana bread-it's such an easy way to use up old, um, I mean ripe, banana's and have a yummy snack that lasts for a week in the fridge or up to 2 months in the freezer.

This time, we thought we would mix it up a bit and add some applesauce to add moisture and flavor. It's so yummy you might not have any left over for freezing!

Banana Bread with Applesauce

• Prep time: 20
  
• Cook time: 60
• Yield: 1 large loaf or 4 mini-loaves
  

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 oz, Eggology Fresh Egg Whites
• 4 bananas peeled & mashed
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Spray an 8 x 4 x 3 - inch loaf pan or 4 mini-loaf pans (5 x 2 1/2 - inch ) with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the applesauce, sugar, egg whites, banana and vanilla. Add flour mixture all at once and stir gently to blend.
4. Pour batter intoprepared loaf pan or the mini pans and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool bread in the pan on wire racks. Once the bread has cooled, you can enjoy right away, or wrap tightly and put in the fridge or freezer.

Enjoy!

Back To School Eggology Recipe: Vegetable Quiche Cups To Go

I am sharing this classic Eggology favorite in honor of "Back To School". It is difficult for families to transition from the slow and easy pace of summer to the busy school routine: packing lunches, getting to school on time, eating a quick breakfast, doing homework, etc.

These mini quiches can be made ahead of time and make a great Breakfast or Lunch on the go. They also make a very healthy, high protein snack to help your student get through their study time.

Very Healthy Vegetable Quiche Cups To Go

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 package frozen chopped spinach
3/4 cup Eggology egg whites
3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat soy cheese
1/4 cup green peppers, diced
1/4 cup onions, diced
3 drops hot-pepper sauce (optional)

Instructions

1. Cook the spinach according to instructions, then drain the excess liquid.
2. Line a 12 muffin pan with baking cups. Spray the cups with cooking spray.
3. Combine Eggology egg whites, cheese, peppers, onions and spinach in a bowl. Mix well.
4. Divide evenly among the muffin cups.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.


For those really rushed mornings (and you know they will happen), keep some Eggology On The Go on hand so you can enjoy a healthy breakfast or snack in seconds flat.

Got a recipe idea or want to share your thoughts on this one? Tell me in Twitter or on Facebook!

In A Bicep Rut? Try These Two Moves From Bodybuilder Michael Ferencsik

Finding the right bicep moves can be a challenge, especially when we are in a workout rut- how many preacher curls can one do over and over again? Smart bodybuilders know they must maintain a healthy diet rich with essential amino acids like the ones found in Eggology egg whites and add a new range of motion to challenge their muscles to break free from a workout rut. Essential amino acids are proteins that are necessary for good health yet are not naturally produced by the body and are therefore only accessible through diet.

I came across some excellent work out videos from Pro Fitness Trainer and INBA Forever Natural Universe Champion Michael Ferencsik on his site, Ripped Natural Body Building. Michael shares his training expertise in a series of videos designed to help bodybuilders of all levels achieve their goals. This video demonstrates 2 contrasting moves that will challenge and define your biceps and help you break free from “bicep blues”. Try these moves and tell us what you think on Twitter or in our Facebook!





Photo Credit: fitsugar.com

Eggology Egg Whites Make Great Alternatives to Steroids For Muscle Gain

If using drugs to quicken muscle gain is not your cup of tea, Eggology egg whites may just be the solution for you. The latest testimonial that egg whites can truly help bodybuilders attain their weightlifting goal comes from Chris Faildo, the "Hawaiian Hurricane", who chooses to eat only natural ingredients such as egg whites to gain muscle instead of steroids.

Faildo is the captain of a six-member United States team that competed in the World Amateur Championships in Jeju, South Korea. He became the captain of the team by winning the division title at the U.S. qualifier in New York City in 2007. Although Faildo’s decision to not use steroids may have delayed his weightlifting stardom by twenty-six years, Chris deems this delay worth the while because it shows that successful bodybuilders do not have to rely on injecting hormones to win.

Eggology egg whites are great alternatives for bodybuilders who want to keep their bodies free from hormones and steroids. The low-carb, low-fat, and high-protein composition of Eggology egg whites helps generate muscle growth while keeping the body lean.

So if you think you're the only one that does not use drugs to be muscular, you are not alone. Look at what Hawaiian Hurricane was able to achieve on egg whites! That's a healthy inspiration for all the rest of us.

Be an Egghead--Add Eggology Egg Whites to Your Protein Arsenal

Bodybuilders have been exposed to all types of protein from different sources--whey, egg-white protein, casein protein...how does a bodybuilder choose which type of protein to consume as a part of their daily diet?

Early in the 90s, studies revealed that whey gets digested quickly and thereby is a very effective ingredient to boost protein synthesis. Ever since then, people have opted for the less expensive whey protein than the more pricey egg white protein for muscle gain.

Later on, more studies revealed that slow-digesting proteins like casein actually minimized muscle protein breakdown and helped bodybuilders gain muscle.

Additionally, egg white protein digests fairly quickly. This allows egg whites to not only help boost protein synthesis, but also prevents muscle protein breakdown. Egg white protein is practically free of carbohydrates and fat--making it the perfect ingredient for those who are trimming down on fat.

Bodybuilders today are appreciating the value of egg white protein as more and more start to incorporate egg whites into their daily diets. Egg whites make wonderful protein shakes and smoothies--an easy and quick way to get your protein fix for the day!

So the next time you find yourself tempted to reach for the whey protein, take a look at the benefits of egg-white protein and try Eggology Egg Whites instead. Share your success stories with us (in the comment box) and we'll egg you on!

Read more about how egg-white protein helps you gain muscle.

Eggology Egg Whites Promotion by The Marketing Eggspert

Eggology recently connected with Susan Payton, managing partner of Egg Marketing & Public Relations, through Twitter! Susan was interested in our social media involvement! An egg white company with a presence on Twitter, a fan page on Facebook and an active blog? Of course! We, at Eggology, know what's hot and social media is at the top of the list! That is why we want to be part of the phenomenon and use it to reach out to our audience.

So we sent Susan some samples of our very favorite, and popular, On-The-Go egg whites and she proposed that we do a promotion with her!

It's easy to enter and the winner will walk away with enough Eggology egg whites for three months! (They store well in the freezer!). Read about the promotion here!

Bodybuilders Change Up Their Workout, Why Not Change Up Your Food Too?

As a successful bodybuilder, you know that you cannot keep to the same weightlifting routine week after week. Your body is smart and knows how to adapt itself to your workouts. Therefore, if you have been doing the same weight lifting routine every day for the past 6 months, your body will not work harder to gain muscle, it has already adapted to your rigor of exercise.

In order to keep challenging yourself and to keep building muscle, you must change your work out every two weeks to keep your body "guessing." Not only is this physically effective for your bodybuilding goals, it also makes it more fun for you to work out every day!

While you do not need to constantly change up your food every two weeks to keep your body from "adapting to it", it is still a great idea to spice up your old ingredients to make new dishes! After all, a happy and exciting array of healthy food options can make a happy bodybuilder!

Eggology egg whites not only help rebuild muscles and provide bodybuilders with essential nutrients and protein, it is also healthy and delicious to eat in various dishes! Eggology offers several variations of healthy egg white products such as: Eggology On-The-Go, decadent all natural gourmet desserts, Eggology ice cream, and all natural hardboiled eggs.

So spice up your workout and spice up your diet too! Life is short, live it up! Be healthy, be ripped, and be happy!

Protein - Timing is Everything!

Body builders know that protein equals muscle growth. While what you eat is very important, the timing of that is equally a factor in muscle growth. As we mentioned last week, you should consume 1 to 1.5 times your body weight in grams of protein. There is a great protein calculator on bodybuilding.com so you can easily calculate how much protein you should consume. Now that you know HOW MUCH you need, let's take a look at WHEN you should consume your protein.

To maximize muscle growth it is crucial that you eat first thing in the morning, since your body has been in a state of starvation. While you sleep, your body burns your muscle for energy since your glycogen store is low. It's also necessary to consume protein, such as Eggology Egg Whites, between regularly scheduled meals so that your muscles are constantly being fed.

Before a workout, you need to feed your muscles with a protein source and follow up your workout with more protein to repair your muscle cells from your strenuous workout. Don't forget to eat a slow acting protein prior to going to bed too! Muscles experience maximum growth at night, by eating casein proteins , such as an egg white scramble, you encourage them to grow!

Prepare your body for maximum muscle growth by consuming the right protein at the right time!

What is your favorite protein source? Share your favorite combinations!

Eggology Egg Whites and Other Eggcellent Sources of Protein

When you are building muscle, it's important to ensure that you eat plenty of protein. Without protein your muscles just can't grow-it's that plain and simple! Typically you should consume 1 to 1.5 times your body weight in grams of protein. The rule of thumb is that you need between 1 and 1.5 times your body weight (if you are overweight, then substitute your target body weight) in grams of protein. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should be eating between 150 and 225 grams of protein per day if you want to consistently gain muscle. Full time bodybuilders can eat sometimes two to three times their body weight in grams of protein, and sometimes more, but for most of us that would be overkill.

Of course we love using Eggology Egg Whites as our primary source of protein. But even we have to admit that it is necessary to vary your sources of protein so that you maintain a well balanced diet. So, what do we recommend, outside of the normal chicken and tuna realm?

1. Raw Nuts - These provide a great source of protein PLUS they are a great source of healthy fats, minerals and antioxidants. I make huge batches of trail mix-just be sure that you use two-thirds cup of nuts to every one-third cup of dried fruit! Use them in stir-fries or eat them plain...any way you crack it-they are wonderful!
2. Beans - Most beans contain 20% protein and high in carbohydrates which provides long lasting energy. Pair beans with rice to make a great, protein packed meal! (On a side note, check out this awesome blog post on nutritiondata.com to find out why you may not be getting a complete protein by combining these two products!)
3. Milk - It does a body good! There has been talk that soy milk is a better source of protein, but check out this study to see what researchers at McMaster University are saying-their studies "clearly show that milk proteins are a superior source of protein in producing muscle mass gains in response to weightlifting."
4. Quinoa - It is called a "supergrain" because of the wonderful nutrition it offers. It contains more iron than other grains, has high levels of potassium, riboflavin, magnesium, zinc, copper, and folacin. It is a great source of protein. Unlike other grains it contains plenty of the amino acid lysine, as well as the other essential amino acids, so it provides complete protein.
5. Oats - Whole grains provide muscle-friendly protein, along with fiber and other nutrients. For an amazing and healthy and protein packed breakfast, check out this Banana Oat Protein Breakfast Pancakes recipe!

Happy Eating and send us your suggestions for variety in protein sources and recipes that you find help build muscle!

Eggology Egg Whites Are Perfect For Muscle Recuperation

Muscles sore after a workout? Eggology Egg Whites are perfect for fixing up those sore muscles after a tough day of weight lifting! It is recommended to work out every other day so that your muscles can have some "time off" to rebuild. However, for those avid weightlifters and bodybuilders, a day of waiting may seem way too long.

Eggology Egg Whites are perfect for fast muscle rebuilding; the rich protein content provides muscles exactly what they need to recuperate so that you will be able to hit up the gym again first thing tomorrow!

You can incorporate Eggology Egg Whites into your daily diet in many creative and delicious ways! Try one of our appetizing recipes for fresh ideas!

Eggology Egg Whites Make the Perfect Homemade Hair Treatment Product

Who would've thought that egg whites can be used as an organic hair treatment product? Cosmetic companies have known about the healing power of raw egg whites for some time--many stores carry egg white shampoos and conditioners that turn dull lifeless hair into beautiful shiny manes.

According to Stophairloss.com, "egg whites are naturally rich in vitamin A, D, E and several vitamins of B-group. All of them are good for hair: vitamins A, D and E are especially useful to treat hair loss, besides, vitamin A increases sebum production which oils dry hair and prevents dandruff and thick scalp, Vitamin D provides hair growth, and vitamin E increases oxygen absorption. B-vitamins are mostly responsible for hemoglobin. They increase the amount of oxygen and improve blood circulation."

You can make your own egg white hair treatment products at home by mixing 1 Eggology egg white with 1 teaspoon of honey and 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Work mixture through damp clean hair. Leave the treatment in your hair for 30 minutes (sit out in the sun if desired to intensify effect) then rinse out well. This conditioner will tame split ends and give luster to your locks.

Enjoy an afternoon off this summer and rejuvenate your hair by giving it maximum control and shine!

Eggology On-The-Go Egg Whites Featured in Parenting Magazine

Eggology On-The-Go egg whites are making headlines! Recently featured in three popular newsstand and online publications - read our blog post about it here! - and now featured again under our favorite article title - Your Snacks: Second 10am Breakfast! - in Parenting Magazine's August issue.

As we've read about so often lately, people are speaking about eating five small meals per day instead of three larger ones. Eggology fresh, pure liquid egg whites are a perfect "small meal" any time of day! Packed with protein, no fat and no cholesterol, the On-The-Go microwave egg white scrambles make it even easier to get a great healthy meal! As the article says, "heat and eat" - it doesn't get any easier than that!

Great Pre-Workout Snacks - Eggology Egg Whites!

As I was heading into the gym this morning, I started chatting with a friend about what is best to eat before a workout. My friend, who is new to the gym scene asked me why body builders add extra protein to their diet and marathon runners add more carbs. This was a great question! I thought I would share my answer here, so we can all benefit from the question!

When you are training for a marathon, it is normal to load up on carbs, because you want the fuel to help get you through the race or a difficult long, training day. MarathonPal.com gives a great breakdown of WHY you need carbs and you can check it out in full, but the short version is this: "The goal of carbohydrate loading is to super load muscles with glycogen to delay fatigue and enable your to maintain high intensity exercise for longer. When competing for over 90 minutes normal glycogen stores will not be enough to maintain exercise. Carbohydrate loading is a method of increasing stored glycogen by 200-300%, thereby allowing the athlete to delay fatigue and maintain high intensity exercise for longer. Carbohydrate loading is of no benefit for sports of short duration, and is undesirable in sports with strict weight criteria."

The last line answers my friends question! Most bodybuilders are not doing high intensity exercise. Ideally, the amino acids from a pre-workout meal that's high in protein will be hitting the muscle cells at the conclusion of your workout, thus providing ample resources for muscle growth and repair. You'll also feel stronger in the gym, since protein and fat remain in your stomach longer. That being said, you can't totally skip the carbs either! Protein and unsaturated fat may be "king" when it comes to building muscle, but complex carbs have an important supporting role. By eating my breakfast of Eggology On-the-Go (which provides 4 scrambled egg whites in 95 seconds) and combining that with one slice of whole wheat toast, 45 to 90 minutes before hitting the gym, I'm ready for a great workout. And if you don't believe that this works, check out Ronnie Coleman - who uses Eggology Egg Whites as part of his daily diet routine! I think a picture is worth a thousand words!

Purchase Eggology Egg Whites online or at a store near you!

Ask the Eggology Eggspert: Can You Gain Muscle and Lose Fat at the Same Time?

Eggology's blog is dedicated to recipes and information about our fresh, pure, liquid egg whites as well as information about health, nutrition, body building and more. From time to time we also feature Ask the Eggspert where we answer your questions! Below isn't a question that anyone submitted to us, but it is a question that many personal trainers hear time and time again so we thought we'd discuss it. If you have question for Ask the Eggspert, whether it be about egg whites or weight training, email us and we will be sure to feature it!

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I recently opened a discussion on Eggology's Facebook page and in Twitter where I pose this question to bodybuilders- Is it possible to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time? I hear mixed answers when I ask this question. Some experts say yes- and some say no.

Some bodybuilders put themselves through cycles where they spend several months concentrating their efforts on gaining muscle by intense strength training and increasing their daily caloric intake- this is known as the "bulking up phase". Their goal is to increase muscle mass, weight and size. This is often done during the winter or the colder months so the extra weight can easily be concealed. A typical diet during this phase is still healthy and low in fat, but higher in calories, carbs and protein.

The next cycle is putting the body through a period known as "the cutting down phase" where they will change their diet and reduce the amount of carbohydrates and calories- but maintain the same level of protein. They will still do their workouts- but to maintain their strength; not to gain. In addition to strength training they will add in more cardio during their workouts to lose more fat.

What do you think? Please leave your ideas in the comments section and better yet, add to the discussion in Facebook and Twitter!
Photo Credit: hillcountry.hyatt.com