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The Truth About Glutamine

January 19, 2012 | No Comments | Experts Articles, Supplements, Vince Delmonte Articles

Glutamine is a “No Brainer” supplement. This is the common belief amongst bodybuilders. Vince disagrees with that and presents what could be the first article discrediting the effects of glutamine. Vince believes that Glutamine has no muscle-building effects whatsoever and stands by that. Now before you give up on Glutamine just read till the end to know what benefits of Glutamine have been proven. Yes benefits ! Glutamine still effective in certain situations. In the end it is your own choice.

Vince’s program, No-Nonsense Muscle Building, makes you a master in muscle building dieting, training and all other factors. It also has a version for females (Body Sculpting for women). This version addresses the concerns of the females and helps them build the fitness model body they want. Great stuff and highly reccomended for those serious about making a dramatic change in there physique.

The Skinny Guy’s Guide To Glutamine

By Vince Delmonte

When was the last time you read an article discrediting the effects of glutamine? Maybe this will be your first one? Unfortunately, the majority of bodybuilding and muscle magazines still have this supplement on their “Top 5 Lists.” I am not here to convince you to never buy another tub of glutamine again, but if stay with me, I will do my best to debunk some of the common myths that have led you to believe that this expensive supplement is necessary.

But I Thought Glutamine Was A “No Brainer” Supplement?

Creatine is a ‘no brainer’ supplement, protein powder is a ‘no brainer’ supplement, multi vitamins and fish oils are ‘no brainer’ supplements. Sorry, Glutamine, you did not make the team – despite the fact it gets its own message boards, chat rooms, magazine articles and its own section in the supplement store. I don’t need to remind you that the supplement industry is a billion-dollar industry. Since I used to be a skinny guy myself, I know how badly you want to build the perfect body – or at least one that gets you more dates and more respect at the gym!

Since I have already wasted thousands of dollars on certain, not all, supplements myself, I feel an obligation to tell you the other side of the story. To reveal the glutamine research that NOBODY wants you to read. But this is obvious – nobody makes money disproving the credibility of a hot selling supplement!

So here is where I will make my stand. Glutamine has no muscle-building effects whatsoever. Now before we get too deep, remember that I am not a PH.D student or a research geek. I will pass along the information and let you decide for yourself, and, in the process, do my best to make this fun and interesting.

Glutamine 101

Here is a quick introduction for you skinny guys who have never heard of glutamine. Glutamine makes up 2/3′s of the amino acids in our body, which could make a strong case for it being the most important. Understand that glutamine is also a non-essential amino acid which means your body produces it by itself. This does not mean you do not need it – only that external consumption is not mandatory. The most interesting fact about glutamine is that during times of stress (which is not clearly defined), our amino acid pool is depleted which can prevent muscle growth since glutamine makes up the greatest percentage of amino acids. Hence, the theory for supplementing with glutamine if you weight train.

Glutamine Claims

I cut and pasted these right out of random chat room just to show you I am more in tune with the word on the street:

“…glutamine helps with weight training and prevents muscle soreness…”

“…you need glutamine to repair your muscles.”

“…supplemental glutamine can help prevent your body from losing muscle.”

“…glutamine is not worthless. I train with bodybuilders every day and they recommend it.”

“Glutamine is the most important supplement for bodybuilders…”

“It boosts immune function which helps you recover from colds much quicker..”

“Taking large amounts of glutamine before a workout contributes to huge pumps…”

“Glutamine assists in situations of trauma which contributes to faster recovery…”

What Glutamine Sales Reps Are Afraid Of You Discovering

Although the majority of glutamine supplementation hoopla praises its contribution to increased muscle size and strength, decreased chance of overtraining and the other claims above, current research today gives no evident benefits for the skinny guy who wants to build muscle – never mind for any weight trainer in general.

Recently I received an article from a fellow colleague, David Barr MSc., who collected a large batch of research with an exhaustive reference list supporting the notion that glutamine is useful for only very specific conditions (which we will discuss shortly).

Here is a list of some of the most interesting data that David Barr found in his research with my extra commentary:

Just because glutamine has been proven to work in clinical stress testting does not mean it equates to exercise stress that you experience after a killer workout. Clinical stress such as severe burns, AIDS and extensive surgery are good reasons to warrant its, use but you simply don’t cause enough muscular damage during your workouts to justify its use.

A 2001 study by Candow et al determined that 0.9g of supplemental glutamine/kg/day during weight training resulted in no considerable effect on muscle performance, body composition or muscle breakdown on healthy adults. Since I am just over 200 lbs that is 80 grams of glutamine a day or over $1000 US in glutamine a year! If 80 grams was shown to have no anti-catabolic effects, why would you waste your money on taking the recommended 5-10 grams per day?

The majority of the research on endurance athletes has revealed minimal contribution in regards to enhancement of the immune system. More significantly, a number of studies disclosed information that glutamine supplementation does not alter exercise-induced suppression of the immune system. Contrary to popular belief, whether your glutamine levels drop or not after training, they have no impact on immunity. – Hiscock N, Pedersen BK. Exercise-induced immunodepression- plasma glutamine is not the link. J Appl Physiol 2002 Sep;93(3):813-22

Many claim that glutamine helps increase your ‘pump’ by improving cell volumization. Dr. John Berardi, Ph.D, did some preliminary testing and discovered nothing to support this. Glutamine supplementation has no response on total body water, intra-cellular fluid levels, or extra-cellular fluid levels. – Dr. John M Berardi, Ph.D., Appetite For Construction, JohnBerardi.com 2002 Nov 8

It is still a question whether or not glutamine improves glycogen stores post-weight training. But why should you care? If you are already consuming a post-workout drink with sugary carbs to replenish glycogen (this is mandatory for any skinny guy who wants to build muscle), then further supplementation with glutamine is unnecessary.

In conclusion, studies that tested athletes who consumed an amino acid drink post-workout showed an increase in protein synthesis by 48%. However, when glutamine was added to the drink, no additional benefits occurred. That blows the muscle-building theory out the window!

So Is Glutamine A Worthless Supplement?

Well, if you stopped reading right now you would think so! And you are probably confused as heck right now because everything you have heard on glutamine before today praised its holiness. Remember, the supplement industry is a billion-dollar industry and nobody makes money by disproving the effectiveness of supplements. In the end, you must decide for yourself what you wish to believe.

When Glutamine Is Worth Using

David Barr fingers a few situations when glutamine supplement will prove useful for the bodybuilder, so here is a chance to see if your glutamine should still be in your budget:

Glutamine supplementation could prove useful for bodybuilders who decrease their testosterone levels after coming off a cycle improperly. Muscle breakdown is at its highest in these circumstances despite a quality nutrition plan, so glutamine might help.

During a pre-contest training regiment that consists of very low calories and high volumes of exercise, protein breakdown is much more likely. Basically, any extreme dieting or fat loss program with the hopes of getting extremely lean can result in increased stress, therefore increased catabolism. Competitive bodybuilders and fitness models are perfect examples of those who might benefit from glutamine supplementation in this above-normal fat loss situation.

During incidences of extreme weather conditions and/or multi day training, there are situations where extreme stress can be counteract with glutamine supplementation. Triathletes and endurance athletes come to mind.

” Glutamine supplementation would be beneficial for conditions where catabolic waste is at its peak. Severe burns, severe colds or flu’s, severe allergies, alcoholism, chemotherapy, HIV/AIDS, irritable bowel syndrome are a few examples.

In Conclusion

At the start I stated that, “Glutamine has no muscle building effects whatsoever.” After reviewing this article, you will notice that is not as black and white as that. However, the take home message, especially to you skinny guys, is that if you are on a proper muscle-building meal plan and using solid post-workout nutrition strategies, glutamine is not a worthwhile supplement for you. Save your money and put it towards food if you are motivated to gain muscle weight.

Save your money and put it towards food if you are motivated to gain muscle weight.

I hope this supplement was a good example of looking at the evidence rather then the hyped-up muscle rags and advice from the ‘expert’ at your gym. In the end, you are free to believe what you wish, but remember that the current research today does not support the spectacular muscle-building effects supplement companies claim.

References

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1. Barr, David J., CSCS, MSc. Candidate.

Glutamine Destroying the Dogma,

Part 1

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=461188

Part 2

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=459884

2.Berardi, Dr. John M, Ph.D.

Appetite For Construction, JohnBerardi.com 2002 Nov 8

http://www.johnberardi.com/articles/qa/afc/afc_nov082002.htm

More about the Author Vince Delmonte

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Get Your Dream Body in 2010

January 5, 2012 | No Comments | Experts Articles, Main Content, Muscle Gain

To defeat your skinny genetics you need to play with different rules. This is one of the main statements Vince stands by in many different topics regarding skinny guys. Vince focus in this article on one of the main training technique most skinny guys forget about (i.e. strength training). Vince explains the six main reasons skinny guys should focus on strength training. After that he give you his 12 weeks strength training program for skinny guys “The 1 + 1 Skinny Guy Strength Program”. I suggest you give it a try and see the results yourself.

Vince’s program, No-Nonsense Muscle Building, makes you a master in muscle building dieting, training and all other factors. It also has a version for females (Body Sculpting for women). This version addresses the concerns of the females and helps them build the fitness model body they want. Great stuff and highly recommended for those serious about making a dramatic change in there physique.

Defeat Your Skinny Genetics and Own 2010 : The 1 +1 Skinny Guy Transformation

Program

By Vince Delmonte

It happens every year. The New Year comes and every scrawny twerp on the planet swears this is going to be the year that he slaps on an extra 20 pounds of muscle. But if you didn’t pack it on successfully last year, what makes you think this year is going to be any different? Seriously?

Did you spend hours in the gym with no results? Did you spend the last year blindly following the muscle magazines only to look the same as you do now? Did you spend the year filling your body with mysterious supplements that only make you sick? Did you watch your friends train less than you but get twice as big? Sound familiar doesn’t it? I thought so. So the question is, how are we going to get a different result? The answer is simple. By doing something differently. Would you agree the best way to get the same thing is to do the same thing? And would you agree that the best way to get a different result is to do something different? Give me a amen if you have decided that 2008 is going to be different. Give me a amen-hallelujah if you are prepared to be a different person and prepared to do something different this year. Commit to having your best year, and I’ll take care of you, providing you with the best skinny guy transformation program.

My Own Skinny Guy Experience

Trust me, I know. I was a skinny beanpole all through high school and university and gained the nickname Skinny Vinny. I gawked at my room mates how displayed copious amounts of rock-hard brawn on there frame. I was inspired by the spectacular ‘before and after’ pictures in bodybuilding magazines. I read every piece of bodybuilding literature I could, got misguided by a slew of personal trainers, experimented with every legal supplement I could purchase, but despite my efforts, my 12 week pictures looked nothing like the supplement advertisements. The cruel scale needle stayed the same like it was cast in stone. Perhaps I was doomed to be skinny for life…

Skinny Guys Must Play By A Different Set Of Rules

As a weight training enthusiast, figuring out the most effective workout routine can become an endless source of confusion and frustration. Every single fitness expert and magazine has a different training theory or training angle which becomes more confusing than a trip for Jessica Simpson at Home Depot!

Most skinny guys end up using routines designed and touted by those freaky monsters seen in the hardcore rags who have more than a little chemistry lab going on inside of them. Programs that include hitting the gym more than five times a week, focusing on 1-2 exercises per workout, 12-24 sets per exercise and overemphasizing isolation-type exercises. None of these components of a program helps improve the underlying foundation of a hardgainers success. Training to get bigger and more muscular, that is – your best body ever, must revolve around getting stronger and I mean really, really stronger. Increasing your strength remains the rock-solid foundation for defeating your skinny genetics and getting a head-turning physique for 2008.

Since the vast array of exercise machines came on the market, along with infomercials, instant result programs, and fancy dressed supplement ads, people are no longer willing to spend the time in the gym to build the solid strength foundation that is critical for long-term progress. Since you’ve read this far, you won’t be making that mistake this year!

Six Reasons Skinny Guys Must Focus On The Forgotten Factor: Strength

Strength training is incredibly taxing on the body’s central nervous system. Increasing your central nervous system’s work capacity through heavy and/or explosive movements; you directly increase the ability of your muscular system to produce increased levels of strength.
Strength training releases more growth hormone and testosterone. Using greater resistance loads than normal will release a greater abundance of these muscle building hormones necessary to maximize your genetic potential which will result in new muscle growth all over – especially on those lagging body parts!
Strength training creates a platform to achieve more sets and reps. When you build a stronger foundation, your ability to handle heavier loads in the higher rep ranges will dramatically increase, resulting in some impressive muscular hypertrophy.
Strength training benefits the smaller muscle groups as well. The pure strength movements do not just benefit the larger muscle groups such as the chest, back and legs but the smaller ones as well. An example: A skinny guy increases the amount of weight he can do on the bent over row from 135 to 225. The heavier poundages will result in significantly strengthening the assisting movers of the upper arm – brachialis and the brachioradialis – allowing him to curl much more weight on his curling exercises.
Strength training involves the maximal amount of muscle fibers. To defeat your skinny genetics you must use the maximal number of muscle fibers in each set. Do you think lifting weights at 60-80% of your threshold is going to stimulate the maximal amount of muscle fiber? Think of your muscles as lazy. They would prefer to sleep this entire next year. They would prefer to stay small. They have zero interest in growing larger. That is something you want to do. The only reason they will wake up (get bigger) is if they are attacked. If they are exposed to an assault (heavy weight) they have not experienced before. Out of survival, your muscles will grow bigger to prevent the same assault from occurring again.
Strength training does not eat up your precious calories. Unlike the 1-2 hour marathon training sessions that involve 12-24 exercises per body part or workout, strength training is much less demanding calorically. It does not burn up the calories your muscles need to grow because of the longer rests and shorter sets.
Strength training leads to progressive overload. If you are thinking, “But I don’t care how much I can lift. All I care about is not being skinny anymore and building a good physique. I’m not a power lifter or bodybuilder.” I would reply that strength training is a fundamental principle of muscle growth because it leads to progressive overload. The only way to make a muscle grow is to subject it to unaccustomed stress. Progressive overload basically implies that when a muscle is subjected to an usual amount of unaccustomed stress and effort, the muscle must respond by getting larger to manage and cope with the new stress.

Still Not Convinced That Strength Training Is The Answer To Your Best Body This Year?

How many people do you see with skinny arms that can curl 135 pounds? How many people do you see with no chest who bench press 275 pounds? How many people do you see with massive upper girdles that can dead lift 315 pounds? How many people do you see with chop-stick legs who can squat 400 pounds?I would say – not many. There are many more reasons why strength training will help you defeat your muscle unfriendly genes and get the body you deserve this year but I think you get the point. If ever in doubt, just take a look at the biggest guys in your gym. I bet they are lifting 3-4 more times the weight as you!

The 1 + 1 Skinny Guy Strength Program

Stage 1: 4 x 4 Strength Phase Week 1-3

Monday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Back Squats	4 x 4	311	2-3 m
Bench Press	4 x 4	311	2-3 m
Bent Over Rows	4 x 4	311	2-3 m
Upright Rows	2 x 20	211	1 m
Calve Raises	2 x 20	211	1 m
Wednesday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Lunges	4 x 12-15	311	2-3 m
Stiff Leg Deadlifts	4 x 12-15	311	2-3 m
Dips	4 x failure	311	1 m
Chin Ups	4 x failure	311	1 m
Weighted Abdominal Work	3 x 30	211	1 m
Friday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Deadlifts	4 x 4	311	2-3 m
Military Presses	4 x 4	311	2-3 m
Wide Grip Pull Ups	4 x 4	311	2-3 m
Barbell Shrugs	2 x 20	211	1 m
Calve Raises	2 x 20	211	1 m

Stage 2 – 5 x 5 Strength Phase Weeks 4-6

Monday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Back Squats	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Stiff-Leg Deadlifts	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Barbell Curls	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Barbell Shrugs	3 x 30	311	1 m
Calf raises	3 x 30	311	1 m
Tuesday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Dumbell Bench Presses	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Barbell Rows	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Dumbell Shoulder Presses	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Weighted Abdominal Work	3x 30	211	1 m
Thursday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Deadlifts	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Lunges	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Close Grip Presses	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Barbell Shrugs	3 x 30	311	1 m
Calve Raises	3 x 30	311	1 m
Thursday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Incline Bench Presses	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Seated Row	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Military Presses	5 x 5	311	2-3 m
Weighted Abdominal Work	3 x 30	211	1 m

Stage 3 – 6 x 6 Strength Phase Weeks 7-9

Monday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Back Squats	6 x 6	311	2-3 m
Bench Press	6 x 6	311	2-3 m
Bent Over Rows	6 x 6	311	2-3 m
Upright Rows	3 x 15	311	1 m
Calve Raises	3 x 15	311	1 m
Wednesday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Lunges	4 x 8-12	311	2-3 m
Stiff Leg Deadlifts	4 x 8-12	311	2-3 m
Dips	4 x failure	311	1 m
Chin Ups	4 x failure	311	1 m
Weighted Abdominal Work	3 x 30	211	1 m
Friday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Deadlifts	6 x 6	311	2-3 m
Military Presses	6 x 6	311	2-3 m
Wide Grip Pull Ups	6 x 6	311	2-3 m
Barbell Shrugs	3 x 15	211	1 m
Calve Raises	3 x 15	211	1 m

Stage 4 – 7 x 7 Strength Phase Weeks 9-12

Monday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Back Squats	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Stiff-Leg Deadlifts	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Barbell Curls	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Barbell Shrugs	3 x 30	311	1 m
Calf raises	3 x 30	311	1 m
Tuesday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Dumbell Bench Presses	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Barbell Rows	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Dumbell Shoulder Presses	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Weighted Abdominal Work	3 x 30	211	1 m
Thursday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Deadlifts	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Lunges	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Close Grip Presses	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Barbell Shrugs	3 x 30	311	1 m
Calve Raises	3 x 30	311	1 m
Friday
Exercise	Work Sets	Speed	Rest
Incline Bench Presses	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Seated Row	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Military Presses	7 x 7	311	2-3 m
Weighted Abdominal Work	2 x 20	211	1 m

Weight Training Program Notes:

You will notice Monday is a Quad Dominant day with Horizontal Pushing (Chest) and Horizontal Pulling (Rows). You will notice that Traps and Calves are opposite movements so have been paired up respectively.
You will notice Friday is a Hip Dominant day with Vertical Pushing (Shoulders) and Vertical Pulling (Lats). You will notice Traps and Calves are opposite movements so have been paired up respectively.
You will notice slight variation on some of the exercise selection. The exercise selection is not as critical as the load and set protocol. Feel free to tweak the exercises based on your personal preference. For example, if a Trap Bar Deadlift feels better for you than a normal Deadlift – go for it. If you know you will get better results with dumbell’s instead of barbells – don’t be afraid to follow your instincts and be involved in the training process.
For some, the 6 x 6 phase and 7 x7 phase will be too much volume on muscle groups like biceps and triceps. Feel free to modify these to only 3-5 sets. The goal is to keep the weight the same the entire workout. If your weights start to drop than simply record the number of sets you were able to do and try to beat it next week.
I am guessing 4 x 4 will be your first exposure to heavy lifting. Remember, next phase, you will be focusing on adding one extra rep to the same weight with one extra set hence the 1 + 1 Program. This program is based on increasing the amount of work you are capable of performing over a 12 week period.e.g. Let’s say you can do 185 lbs for 4 x 4 in phase one. Next phase, you will be aiming to do 185 pounds for 5 x 5. You might even be able to slip a few extra pounds on the bar, depending on the rate that you super compensate which will be bonus.
For time efficiency, opposing muscle groups like Shoulders and Lats, Chest and Rows and Shrugs and Calves can be super set together. I would not recommend super setting your legs. This is your personal choice though.
The 2 x 20 and 2 x 30 are unique additions I have added from my own personal experience. I have found, generally, that skinny guys responds better to higher rep ranges for the calves and traps.
You will notice that Monday and Friday can be classified as your Heavy days and Wednesday is an opportunity to increase your body weight strength and prevent your metabolic system from de-training. These higher rep exercises will counteract and help balance out the dominance of central nervous system training occurring.
The weighted abdominal work should come from Hanging Leg Raises, Weighted Ball Sit Ups, or Cable Crunches.
You will notice this is a three day program which will be alternated every three weeks with a four day program. I might suggest taking a ? week off at the six week mark if any symptoms of overtraining are suspected. Take at least one week off from the gym at the completion of this 12 week program.

Cardiovascular and Flexibility Training Tips

During phases 1 and 3 while you are doing only three day of weight training per week I would recommend the following:
- At least two or three 20-30 minute cardio sessions placed either on your non-workout days on immediately after you weight training workouts.
- Use the form of cardio that, in your experience, holds the most muscle on your body. For some, this will mean doing shorter interval cardio sessions. For some, this will mean going for a easy run or swim.
- Incorporate the cardio work to enhance your muscle gain goals – not detract. For example, you might benefit from a easy swim workout after a heavy upper body day. You might benefit from a easy bike ride to loosen up from a heavy lower body workout. Use common sense when choosing your cardio activities. For example, don’t try out for the soccer team at the same time you are trying to transform your body!
- Incorporate your cardio based on your nutrition intake. Remember, your muscles grow on calories so the more cardio you incorporate, the more overall calories you will need to counteract the lost.
- Try to stretch at least ? the amount that you lift. Heavy lifting requires long and lengthened muscles to allow full range of motion. Shortened muscles perform weaker and slower and have a higher incidence of injury. If you are weight lifting 4 hours in the week, you should be stretching at least two. This means at least ? hour of stretching before or after you weight training workout. This is my personal recommendation, any less, and your body will screaming for a injury.

Take The Challenge

Give the 1 + 1 Skinny Guy Strength Program a honest effort for the next 12 weeks and commit to making 2008 the year that you defeat your skinny genetics and build a body you can be proud of without spending any more time in the gym than you have to. Believe that you can do it. It can be done and it will!

More about the Author Vince Delmonte

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