Meal Prep Basics: Making Chicken Delicious
By Evina Del Pizzo Welcome to another mutinous Monday night. You head for the fridge—and that random bunch of ingredients you picked out at the organic section of your favorite grocery store—in hopes that you will muster up the energy to cook a healthy, flavorful meal that meets your fitness goals. You remember that you […]
Unleash the Power of Adaptogens
By Lenda Murray Senior Editor As athletes we all know the importance of adapting to the progressive overload we put on our bodies to strengthen and build our muscles. We often take for granted all of the mechanisms our bodies go through during our grueling training sessions throughout the year. All of this training puts […]
Meal Prep: The Secret to a Controlled Diet
By Evina Del Pizzo Meal preparation, which simply means planning, preparing and cooking meals ahead of time, has become a fashionable tool in the fitness and weight-loss world. People attempting an organized meal-prep program are usually trying to lose weight, gain weight, or maintain weight. All of your meals are cooked in advance, and portion […]
Gut Health: Understanding the Migrating Motor Complex
By Lindsay Kent Your stomach begins to growl and you instinctively decide that you must be hungry. It’s a common association we make in decoding our body’s hunger signals. In fact, a growling stomach does not signal that your body needs nutrients but, rather, that your migrating motor complex, or MMC, is busy at work. […]
Fitness Tips and Fables
By Gigi Amurao As a fitness professional, I’m constantly being asked questions, many which are pretty crazy and that anyone with a little common sense can figure out. Other questions are more complex, and the answers can differ, depending on whom you ask. Here’s my take on a few that seem to come my way […]
Super Soup: How Bone Broth Can Improve Your Health and Vitality
By Lindsay Kent Bone broth has become a buzz phrase in nutritional circles, and many people wonder what all the hype is about. The grocery store aisles are filled with chicken, vegetable, and beef soups, broths and stocks. What’s the difference between them and “bone broth,” and are the benefits of bone broth really better […]
CORTISOL: IS IT REALLY THE DEVIL?
By Chad Nicholls, Executive Editor “Cortisol is BAD!” — The message has been emblazoned in our minds for years, leading us to believe that cortisol is the devil – that we must rid our bodies of it! You read it in articles, see it on television, and hear it on the radio. Over and over […]
Nutrition That Lowers Testosterone?
By Dr. Doug Kalman, Nutrition Editor When you are into bodybuilding, when you are into working out and seek to make muscle gains, most know having normal testosterone levels or even elevated testosterone levels aids in the muscle response to the stress of exercise. Part of the hormonal response in the body to resistance training […]
The Brain – Gut Connection (It’s Real)
By Dr. Doug Kalman, Nutrition Editor Have you ever had the experience of being asked to speak in front of a group of people and you suddenly felt your stomach getting tingly or nervous? You’ve no doubt heard the expression “gut-wrenching” or “butterflies in the stomach”. The truth is, The brain has a direct effect […]
Are you EATING a good night’s sleep?
By Max Plasencia, Lifestyle Editor If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, struggling to fall (or stay asleep) you may need to re-consider your eating habits before bedtime. Several studies have found that eating less fiber, more saturated fat and more sugar is associated with lighter and more disrupted sleep. The studies are […]
The Power of “C” – A Vitamin Unlike Any Other!
By Chad Nicholls, Executive Editor Most of you have grown accustom to reading my advice and theories on hardcore bodybuilding. So this week’s blog article may surprise some of you. Let’s face it, there’s nothing “hardcore” about Vitamins…….but this proves that some of the most valuable supplements can be found in the “simplest” places. […]
Supplement Review: 5% Nutrition’s “Kill It”
By Matt Samansky, Supplement Review Editor Rich Piana has been the victim of internet trolls since the minute he entered the YouTube fitness community almost four years ago, but his pre-workout “Kill It,” is no joke. Whether you know him as a bodybuilder, real estate mogul, or owner of 5% Nutrition, you know Rich as […]
The Vitamin Hot List: Essentials for Performance
By Gigi Amurao Supplements are a billion-dollar industry in the U.S., and many athletes believe that vitamins and other nutritional supplements are crucial to getting the results they want from all their hard work in the gym. In my opinion, though, less is more. Unless you have a specific illness, a nutritional deficiency, or hereditary […]
My New Home Here at Digital Muscle!
By Tad The Diet Coach, NPC Content Editor Hi All, Welcome to my new home here at Digital Muscle! Many of you already know me as a nutritionist and a contest prep coach for the last 27+ years, but I am also known for being Mr. Positivity! Yes, I am a diet coach and I […]
Supplement Review: Machine Whey
By Matt Samansky, Supplement Review Editor Looking at my slate of supplement reviews, it’s no secret that I spend a good deal of time browsing the various bodybuilding forums and YouTube fitness channels. This review will add to that list. Machine Whey is the crown jewel of MTS Nutrition, the supplement company owned by YouTube […]
Tart Cherry Powder: An Ergogenic Aid?
By: Matt Weik In an effort to get one step ahead of the competition, athletes are always looking for the next best thing to allow them to recover faster and boost their overall performance. A study by Texas A&M University is showing Tart Cherry powder could be the answer to endurance athletes’ prayers. Let’s first […]
Stay in the Game….after 40!!!
By Chaundra Tangi For an old-school bodybuilder like me, it was a bit challenging to accept that my 41-year old body isn’t quite the same as my 25-year old body. When I began to seriously lift weights over 19 years ago, I had the mindset of a “smaller” athlete, one who had to lift heavy […]
Let’s Talk Supplements!!
Matt Samansky, Supplement Review Editor Welcome to Supps with Samansky, Digital Muscle’s weekly supplement review series! Before I begin breaking down products, I want to take this opportunity to introduce myself beyond what my short biography reads above. You’ll be hearing a lot from me in the future, so we might as well get to […]
Don’t Let a Diet Ruin the Holidays!!!
By Chad Nicholls During this time of year, there is never a shortage of self-glorified diet gurus and experts out there giving you advice on how to “survive” the holidays without ruining your diet and your physique. Truth be told, if you’ve done everything RIGHT up to this point, enjoying a holiday feast is NOT […]
Pomegranate Juice: Something You KNEEd?
By: Matt Weik Runners and weightlifters know plenty about knee pain. For some of us it’s constant, for others it comes and goes. There are many products on the market that claim to help ease joint pain. Some of them are topical and smell terrible, while others come in a pill form and are taken […]
Muscle Building & Insulin Sensitivity: Understanding the Connection
By Colette Nelson Are some of the things we do to build muscle actually making us predisposed to type 2 diabetes? Let’s start with the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that usually occurs in children; however, we no longer call it “juvenile diabetes,” as we […]
Portion Control and Serving Sizes: How Much Should You Eat?
By Gigi Amurao Over the past decade or so, portion sizes have tripled in the U.S., a key factor in the devastating increase in obesity among children and adults. Supersized portions at fast-food restaurants have distorted what Americans consider a normal meal, and that affects how we eat at home. Larger portions mean more calories, […]
Coffee Talk: A Fresh Cup of New Research!
By: Matt Weik In 1991, the World Health Organization warned coffee lovers that their preferred morning pick-me-up beverage could cause cancer. Never heard that claim before? Me neither. But then again, in 1991 I was too young to even know what coffee was. But the W.H.O. claimed that there was evidence showing coffee was carcinogenic […]
Product Review: Protein Pudding by Musclelicious
By Matt Samansky Supplement Review Editor Are you tired of mixing up chalky protein powders into tasteless shakes and homemade sludge? Yeah, I am too! Today I’m providing the results from my review of the Musclelicious Foods’ Protein Puddings and Peanut Butter Balls! Musclelicious Foods vast menu of rich protein puddings and decadent peanut butter […]
Sports Drinks: A Sugar Trap for Kids?
By: Matt Weik We’ve all seen those commercials. The ones where our favorite athletes are drinking sports drinks and performing at a high level. Kids envision themselves as these athletes thinking that they too can achieve greatness if they drink those same beverages. Little do they know that, in most cases, what they’re drinking is […]
Macros, Food Choices & Long-Term Success!
By Nicole Cress The Beauty Blog Have you ever wondered how many times a day you make choices about food? For some people, the way they eat reflects their way of life. Most people struggle when it comes to dieting because they correlate the word diet with deprivation. Often, they eliminate certain foods because they […]
Moderate Alcohol for Extreme Bodybuilding?
By Dr. Scott Stevenson, PhD House of Pain Blog Decades later, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “advices” about bodybuilding still inspire introspection (or at least an occasional quotation): Is milk just for babies and should real bodybuilders drink beer? Firstly, from a muscle building standpoint, it’s pretty clear that milk is not “just for babies,” as milk proteins […]
Nutritional Science and Gut Bacteria
By Dr. Scott Stevenson House of Pain Blog Good bodybuilders and bodybuilding coaches have long known that everyone’s a bit different: Finding the unique dietary formula that works for the individual is vital for success. Well, there are loads of studies showing biological interindividuality when it comes to things like drug metabolism (e.g., yohimbine (1, […]
Technology Update: The “Shop Well” App is a Must!
By: Matt Weik With so many apps on smartphones these days it almost seems like our phones aren’t only running our lives, but they’re also allowing us to get complacent and lazy as they do a lot of our work for us. Now there’s a new app. This one actually to helps you make better […]
Soy Story: Dr. Kalman Reveals What You Need To Know!
By Douglas Kalman PhD, RD, FACN Nutrition Editor “Soy”, just saying that word, the shortened descriptor for a healthy legume in some circles, can get you in trouble. Can you imagine that? For the past twenty or so years, soy has been thought predominately as a “female” protein. A protein source that was to solely […]
Nutrition Labels. More Changes Coming?
By: Matt Weik Not too long ago I wrote an article about how the nutrition labels found on packaging could soon have “exercise equivalents” on them. The reason for this addition is to make people aware of how much someone would have to exercise in order to burn off a serving of whatever product they […]
Are the Animals Taking Over the Protein Market?
By: Matt Weik Exercisers around the United States are constantly shopping for a quality source of protein to use post workout. What they usually grab is a tub of their favorite flavor of whey protein from a manufacturer they trust. Whey has been used for a very long time, giving the consumer the protein requirements […]
Hardgainer Myth: No, You Can’t Eat Everything!!
By Evina Del Pizzo One of the biggest struggles I’ve had my whole life has been with food. With sports requiring me to eat more, and fashion modeling requiring me to eat less, I couldn’t help noticing that food was the common denominator affecting my weight. There’s a big misconception about the way ectomorphs eat. […]
Research: Can Fiber Fuel Weight Loss?
By: Matt Weik Some might say that we are in a bit of a crisis mode when it comes to battling the bulge. The rate of those suffering from being overweight or obese seems to forever be climbing across this nation. With nearly 70% of adults being overweight/obese, we have a serious problem on our […]
Millions Don’t Know They Have Diabetes!
By Colette Nelson Welcome to my new blog here at Digital Muscle!!! Let’s begin with a topic that far too many people dare to ignore… You can’t escape diabetes. Approximately 477 million people worldwide have some form of the disease, and even more alarming is that currently in the United States approximately 17 million don’t […]
Supplement Review: Artisan Protein Snacks by Chronic Strength
By Matt Samansky Supplement Review Editor Spring has sprung…and so has the elastic on my jeans. It’s finally time to shed the puffy jackets along with the excess fat from those long winter months. Diet programs commence and, let’s be honest, they usually fail. According to a study conducted by Bodybuilding.com, 73% of people ditch […]
Fit Recipe: Spicy Thai Chicken Salad
From the Kitchen of Robyn Maher I love to travel! In addition to the incredible sights I see and the fascinating people I meet, I enjoy the interesting and flavorful new foods that I discover when I make my way around the globe. One of my favorite cuisines is that of Thailand. I love their […]
The Greatest Minds in Nutrition Will Gather!
By Dan Solomon Fitness Addicts – they come in all shapes and sizes; the endurance athlete, the bodybuilder, the sprinter, the yoga fanatic, the powerlifter, the cross-fitter, the bikini model, the tennis player. The list doesn’t end there. While it’s true that the global obsession for a fit lifestyle is divided into countless sub-sections, there’s […]
Dark Chocolate: An Ergogenic Aid?
By: Matt Weik Who would have thought that a visit to Chocolate World at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania would give athletes an advantage over their competition? As ridiculous as it sounds, it could actually be true! Recent studies are showing that dark chocolate is able to boost athletic performance. Elite endurance athletes listen up! No, […]
Antioxidants: The Cell Protector
By: Matt Weik Our bodies are constantly under attack! Thanks to antioxidants, our cells are shielded from harm. Antioxidants help protect the body from free radical damage. Here’s a visual for you: Cut an apple open and sit it on the table and watch it after a few minutes. Slowly you’ll see the apple starts […]
5 Foods That May Be Sabotaging Your Workouts
By Helen Sanders If you’re serious about your workouts, you already know how important the food you put into your body is for supporting your training goals. Food is fuel, and that’s especially true for those who participate in any form of exercise. Time and time again, newbies make the ultimate mistake by following a […]
Egg Whites: Don’t Forget the Basics!
By: Matt Weik With all the latest innovations in supplementation, it’s easy to lose sight of the basics. This blog is an important reminder that if you’re serious about those gainz, then you better have egg whites in your diet. No matter if you’re trying to lean out or put on size, egg whites will […]
Fit Recipe: Robyn’s Pizza Omelet!
I love incredible food! As a busy, full-time-working mom of three, however, I have little time to spend on cooking and creating gourmet meals. Yet I want my food to taste good. Do you have to sacrifice flavor if you are short on time? I say no! This blog here at DigitalMuscle.com gives me an […]
Research Spotlight: RTD Protein
The IML Blog Series: There’s no mistaking the multi-billion-dollar supplement industry these days. Seemingly everyone (and their brother) is trying to break into the industry, looking for a piece of the action. Many of those newcomers fail miserably while others show amazing growth year after year. Innovation has been the great separator in this category […]
Your Child’s Nutrition. Be Accountable!!!
We call this “The Hardcore Blog” (Presented by IronMag Labs). Typically this will take us down a road of hardcore training…..or hardcore supplementation. But for today’s blog I’m going down a different road. It might not seem “hardcore” to some of you. But it’s of HARDCORE importance to those of you who have kids!!! As […]
The Best Bar Ever? (Supplement Review)
By: Matt Weik Every once in a while a product comes to market where all you can say is, “Why didn’t I think of that?”. The Best Bar Ever is one of those products. It was created in response to the company’s founders’ frustration with today’s protein bar landscape. Instead of being driven by health […]
Understanding Inflammation: Nutritional Factors
By Lindsay Kent In Part 1 of this post, I described how inflammation is at the root of most diseases humans suffer from today. When the body is injured, the immune system jumps into action, sending white blood cells to the affected area to promote healing. That is called acute inflammation, and you will experience […]
Does Low Carb Equal High Fatigue?
I am sure by now with the plethora of low carbohydrate foods on the market and the television advertisements for the Atkins wraps at Subway or the reduced carb friendly Ruby Tuesday’s menu that by now you have eaten at least one or two of these foods. Some of you may even be on a […]
50 Ways to Thrash Body Fat
By Dr. Doug Kalman, Nutrition Editor Whether you’re a competitive athlete or you just like the lean look, keeping your body fat in check may help to extend your lifespan. I’ve put together a few tips, 50 to be exact, to help you thrash body fat, and in the process, help you to live life […]
Understanding Sugar Alcohols
By Lindsay Kent The Beauty Blog Planning meals, calculating macronutrients, and carefully reviewing food labels are part of the daily routine of most health-conscious people. To that end, you should be paying attention to sugar, especially if you are focused on carbohydrate control and losing weight. The three main macronutrients are protein, which is calculated […]
Joints: The Painful Truth (Advanced Research Series)
By Dr. Doug Kalman, Nutrition Editor As we age, many of us notice that our joints ache a tad more than they used to. In addition, muscles ache that never used to ache before. Some would say that these symptoms are just part of the natural fabric of aging (for anyone older than 30), but […]
Structuring a Diet for Fat Loss
By Ben Pakulski Question: “How do you structure a diet for fat loss? Diet structuring for fat loss is a very popular and often misunderstood topic. There are many different approaches and methods, such as maintaining a constant deficit by simply adjusting as plateaus are reached, or a calorie/carb cycling routine. I think the first […]
Supplement Review: 3 Protein Bars Rated & Reviewed
By Matt Samansky, Supplement Review Editor Hundreds of protein bar variations have hit the market over the years. Mainstream snacks from companies like Nature Valley, Pure Protein, Power Bar, and Cliff are, to some degree, just glorified candy bars, containing a meager 8-10 grams of protein and loaded with hidden sugars. Let’s take a look […]