Posts tagged ‘recover’

Supplements That Really Work

First off, you do not need supplements in order to gain muscle. Supplements make a 20% difference in your results. It’s the hard work, eating whole foods and recovery that is the other 80% to you reaching your goals. There are many people that are muscular without taking supplements, but honestly most of us do not have the time and/or the dedication it takes to eat a balanced diet and work out consistently. This is where supplements come in to play. Supplements do not build muscle for us, but it helps our body receive the nutrients we are lacking to build muscle.  

You still need to eat properly, work hard in the gym and rest in order to build muscle.    The question many people ask is, "there are so many supplements out there, what should I take?" The answer is not very simple because each supplement is designed to do different things. Everybodys body reacts differently to a supplement depending on each person’s needs and bodily chemistry. With that being said, there are 4 supplements that every person needs and you will find them in the cabinet of any bodybuilders home:  Multivitamins, Protein Powder, Creatine,  and EFA’s      

 

Multi Vitamin 

With all the processed foods inundating our supermarkets, it’s almost impossible to get all your nutritional requirements from food alone. Even if you eat nothing but whole foods, you would have to eat a large amount of food to meet all your nutritional requirements due to the inferior soils used today.   

Your body is a complex machine that conducts millions of functions simultaneously. Each nutrient contributes to thousands of essential reactions that make these functions possible such as B12 for healthy red blood cell production, Iodine for thyroid regulation, and B6 for protein metabolism. Being deficient in just one nutrient is detrimental to thousands of chemical reactions within your body, which in turn will make it much harder for your body to run at its full potential.  

People who put their bodies under physical stress 3-4 days a week have a higher nutritional requirement than people who live a sedentary lifestyle. I’m sure you’ve noticed after a hard workout you’re very hungry.  It’s your body telling you it is low on fuel and needs to be replenished.   To make sure my body is not lacking in nutrients, I like to take multivitamins with a higher potency for two reasons:   

  1. Some multivitamins use inferior ingredients and not all of that 4000% Daily Value of Riboflavin or whatever it may say will be digested by your body.   On the higher potency multi vitamins, I sometimes like to split up the dosage throughout the day as there are some people in the medical field that think there are too many nutrients for your body to digest at one time. 
  2. My body’s demands for nutrients on days that I workout are not the same as the days that I rest. I don’t want to be low on any nutrient if my body needs it. I’ve even heard some people on days of extreme stress like to take two doses a day; one in the morning and one after a really hard workout. The good thing about multivitamins are many of the nutrients such as vitamin C and Vitamin B are water soluble and will be excreted out of you, depending on your body’s needs. 

A good multivitamin I would suggest is Animal Pak by Universal Nutrition.   It is made with ingredients that are easily digestible by the body and they contain a good balance between key nutrients for building muscle, minerals for performance and amino acids for recovery.       

 

Protein powder 

We all know in order to build muscle you need to eat plenty of calories and especially protein. The rule of thumb for protein is to consume 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight for muscle building. With any good muscle building plan, you need to spread those calories into 5-7 meals a day to keep your metabolism high and your nutrient intake steady.  There are some medical professionals who think the body cannot digest more than 35 grams of protein per sitting and therefore is another good reason to spread out your protein intake. With our busy schedules, it is very hard for any of us to eat that many meals a day and the protein shake is the perfect substitute for 2-3 of those meals.      

The three most important times to take a protein shake: 

Morning:  Drink a shake in the morning as soon as you get up because it is quickly digested. Your body has not had any protein for however long you have been sleeping and if your body goes into a catabolic state it starts to eat away your hard earned muscle.  I drink shake as soon as you get up and then 30 minutes later I eat a normal breakfast.   

Pre-workout:  I prefer to take a protein shake before I workout instead of eating a meal because your body digests whey protein powder within an hour as opposed to chicken or fish which takes your body 2 to 2.5 hours to digest. That way I don’t feel bloated at the gym and I know the protein is going straight to my muscles instead of sitting in my stomach waiting to be digested.  

Post workout: This is the absolute most important time to take a protein shake. This is the beginning of the all important "recovery" phase. Your muscles have been broken down from a strenuous workout and you need to get protein to them fast in order to repair and build new muscle.       

It is important to take any protein powder, but I think whey protein is the highest quality protein for building muscle and as a bonus it’s also one the cheapest.    Whey contains all the essential amino acids for building new muscle and is also high in bioavailability so our body can digest a high amount of it. Whey is also high in BCAA which are the amino acids, leucine, isoleucine, and valine, which help with muscle recovery and muscular breakdown.  You can get a 2 lb jug of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard for under $23 dollars.  

 

Creatine 

Has been known to build muscle since the early 1900′s but, creatine was first introduced to professional athletes during the 1992 Olympics. Many English athletes admitted after the Olympics to training with creatine, which angered other athletes as they disputed that "it gave the English an unfair advantage" as they won gold medals in several track and field events as well as rowing.  No penalties or disqualifications were passed out by the Olympic committee as they discovered creatine is a naturally occurring nutrient found in every skeletal muscle in the body. They also determined that creatine is abundant in foods such as red meat and fish and it would be impossible to determine if an athlete supplemented or attained it from natural food sources.

Over the last 15 years, creatine has been the most used supplement by athletes and people wanting to gain muscle. The popularity of this supplement is not a surprise as the main function of creatine is to give muscles extra energy to perform strenuous activities.  Creatine is essential for short duration, high intensity exercise such as sprints or weight lifting with a max of 8 reps.   When muscles are used to lift weights or to perform any kind of work, ATP is broken down to ADP and energy is released. The amount of ATP stored in the muscle will only fuel a maximum effort such as lifting a weight for 10 to 15 seconds. After that, the muscle must rely on creatine to restock its supply of ATP. Creatine promotes intense lifting by replenishing the necessary energy molecule ATP, but there are also other muscle building effects that make this supplement so popular:

  • Creatine buffers the development of lactic acid so you can train harder and longer.
  • Creatine increases muscle volumization by increasing the amount of water stored in the cells. Do not confuse this with water retention as this is intracellular water storage and not intercellular water retention.   This is important as intracellular water storage boosts hydration, resulting in higher rate of protein synthesis.
  • Studies have shown that creatine decreases mental fatigue by increasing the amount of oxygenated red blood cells into the brain. 
  • Creatine can increase strength by 5-15% over a short period of time.   It’s also not uncommon to gain 5 to 10 lbs in a month.  
  • Creatine increases the amount of growth hormone release during exercise. Your body naturally releases growth hormones as you exercise and creatine allows your body to lift heavier loads more frequently, which naturally causes your body to increase the amount of growth hormone secretion. 

 

Like any other supplement, there is the perfect time and amount to take in order to maximize the effects of creatine.   Many say you should "load" creatine, which means, 5-10 grams a day for 5-7 days, but I don’t think you have to do this in order to achieve your desired results. You may achieve your results faster by "loading" your body with creatine, but if you add it to your sports drink before and after your workouts, you will gradually achieve the same results.   Absorption time depends on if you take it on an empty stomach and if you take it with a simple sugar like juice or a sports drink. 

Creatine only stays in your system for 1 to 1.5 hours and if it is not used it is excreted out of your body. To maximize the short saturation period, you should take 5-10 grams of creatine 45 minutes to an hour before your workouts so your workout coincides with the saturation period. You should also take 5-10 grams post workout as you want to keep your muscles inundated with creatine during the "anabolic window". 

Creatine is a must-use supplement because it provides all these muscle building benefits with very minimal adverse side effects. In the early years it was thought that creatine damages your kidneys as it is processed and excreted out of the body through the kidneys, but later research has debunked those claims. Actual side effects are minimal but, in some cases it can cause cramping and an upset stomach. If you drink plenty of water and don’t take creatine on a completely empty stomach, this should eradicate those issues.   

 

Essential Fatty Acids 

Are important for overall health as well as to gain muscle. There are 2 families of EFA’s, Omega 3 and Omega 6.     EFA’s are fats that cannot be produced by the body and therefore must be obtained through our diet. 

Omega 3 and Omega 6 assist with many essential bodily functions:

Heart health- Improves heart rhythm, a mild blood thinner and slows the heart rate.

Vascular health- Increases blood vessel flexibility.

Cell Regulation – Regulates many processes in the cell such as oxygen use, electron transportation and energy production.

Increase Testosterone- Required for healthy testes function.

Improve insulin action- Helps to balance blood sugar levels.

Increase fat burning- Many studies have shown that test groups taking EFA’s lose more fat and retain muscle as opposed to the placebo group.  

Lower cholesterol- Helps transport cholesterol in the blood stream.

Anti inflammatory- Low grade inflammation (type people cannot feel) increases the risk of diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity and many other conditions.

Strengthen Immune system- Promote syntheses of hormones that are responsible for a healthy immune system.

Shorten recovery time- Help reduce fatigue by helping nutrients pass through cell membranes.

Brain development and function- Needed for proper nerve transmission in the brain. As you can see EFA’s are extremely important for overall health.  

EFA’s are also referred to as Fish Oil as a majority of the food sources are obtained from fish and shellfish. You can also find EFA’s in small amounts in food sources such as flaxseed, hemp oil, soya oil, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, leafy vegetables. Widespread food processing has reduced the amount of Omega 3′s that are available from these food sources so it is important to supplement with EFA’s in order to get the recommended daily amount of 1,000-3,000 mg a day. 

 

Conclusion

None of these products contain dangerous hormones or any substances that are not already in your body. These supplements contain nutrients that help your body release muscle building chemicals naturally and safely. By supplementing these nutrients, you’ll be sure your body is working at 100% capacity even if your diet it not perfect.

These 4 supplements will not replace hard work, but combined with a good diet and a workout routine you will be sure to see great results. Like I mentioned earlier, you don’t need supplements in order to gain muscle, but they will help you achieve your goals faster. 

StayFitNutrition.com wants to educate people that supplements are not just for body builders or athletes, but for anybody who want to live a healthy, happy life. At StayFitNutrition.com we have brand name supplements at discounted prices. Lowest Prices, best service and fastest shipping is our commitment to you.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/supplements-that-really-work-1470538.html

Garlic Freshly Crushed For a Healthy Heart

For centuries, people have been partaking in garlic because they sensed that it was in some way good for them to do so, now modern science is finally catching up and telling us why this “Stinking Rose” is so good for us after all.

While much of the focus has been on the compound allicin, which gives garlic its distinctive pungency and taste some scientists are finding out that this herb is more than just a one trick pony. While allicin does seem to be a potent antioxidant that can help us fight off those nasty cancer causing free radicals, there are other compounds within garlic that also contribute to a healthy heart.

Hydrogen Sulfide

Scientists have lately been looking into the properties of hydrogen sulfide, a substance that forms after garlic is crushed or cut. While probably known more for the stuff that gives rotten eggs their rotten egg smell, Hydrogen sulfide also acts a chemical messenger in the body. It causes blood vessels to relax thus allowing blood to flow more freely through the blood vessels.
According to the study, published in the August 12 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food chemistry, the garlic given to lab rats helped reduce damage from the lack of oxygen to the heart. Good flowing blood is essential to a healthy heart and can be the difference between life and death if a heart attack happens.

The catch

The study was conducted using both processed garlic and raw crushed garlic. According to Dr. Dipak K. Das who led the study, while both helped reduce damage from the lack of oxygen, the rats from the fresh garlic group recovered more quickly from simulated heart attacks and had better blood flow through the aorta and increased pressure in the left ventricle.

This is probably because garlic loses most of its ability to produce hydrogen sulfide when it is cooked or otherwise processed. By crushing and eating garlic raw, you increase the chances of ingesting the compound and thereby helping the blood flow through your heart.

Yulia Berry is an independent health researcher and author of the best selling e-books Aloe – Your Miracle Doctor and ‘Pharmacy in Vegetables’. She distributes a weekly newsletter regarding great home remedies and has written dozens of natural health articles published on hundreds of websites worldwide. Yulia Berry’s new ebook Unlocked Secrets of Curative Garlic to be released soon.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/garlic-freshly-crushed-for-a-healthy-heart-1433258.html

The Necessity of a Balanced Weight Loss Plan

A person that is actively training would never want to lift weight with just half of their body.  It wouldn’t make any sense.  While you would be building up and strengthening yourself, it would leave you weak and oddly disproportioned.   While it is obvious that such a weight training program would be ill fitted to a healthy lifestyle, many people will employ the same anti-balanced approach to their weight loss programs.  When they are training they will focus solely on either stretch based exercise, cardio based exercise, or resistance based exercise.  Studies have shown that a large percentage of people with gym memberships aren’t getting a balanced workout.  Balance in a workout is important, but it is also important to have balance in everything you are doing to lose weight.  Nutrition is just as important as the time you dedicate to exercise.  

When you are working out try to balance the amount of cardiovascular exercise with an equal time of resistance based exercise, and include some type of stretching in your workout.  Resistance based workout help your body to create lean muscle.  Lean muscle is very important for a person that is trying to lose weight.  Lean muscle will burn a large amount of calories even when you are sitting idle.  It is a good idea to bolster the amount of protein that you have in your diet to help with the resistance training and lean muscle growth.  Your body needs protein to create new lean muscle, and the best way to get that protein into your system is to take a whey protein isolate supplement.  Whey protein is created from whey, which is a dairy product that is easy on the digestive system, high in protein and low in fats and carbohydrates.  Whey protein should be taken within thirty minutes after a resistance based workout for maximum results.  

When you are planning your nutritional program remember to include a balance of protein and carbohydrates.  Too much of one and too little of the other will not allow your body to function properly.  It can also lead to serious medical conditions and injuries.  As a boost to your diet you should also take a good daily multivitamin.  This allows your body to get any nutrients that might be lacking in your diet, and it will also help your body to avoid any illnesses.  In addition to the proper amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins it is important to get enough fats in your diet.  Not all fats are bad for your body.  There are certain essential fats that strengthen your heart, lower cholesterol, and help your body to recover after a workout.  These are omega-3 fatty acids.  Your body can’t construct these fatty acids from inside the body, these acids must be digested.  The best sources of these fatty acids are fish and organ meats.  Even adding two to three portions of fish to your diet per week often isn’t enough to get the desired effects.  The best way to get these fatty acids into your system is by taking a fish oil supplement.  The supplement is great because omega-3 fatty acids normally take weeks to be absorbed into the muscle tissues, and requires a constant supply in the body.

Bolstering your diet with proper supplements, and increasing your workout routine with proper exercise will help you to reach your desired goals.  Just as you wouldn’t train just half of your body, it is important that you have proper weight loss balance in your weight loss plans.

For more info on delicious whey protein, visit My Top Form Protein

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/the-necessity-of-a-balanced-weight-loss-plan-1411529.html

Discover Fish Oil Health Benefits

Have you read about this recently?  In a recent article written by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, scientist discuss the fish oil health benefits for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and whether it is wiser to eat seafood or take a supplement.  Some research groups recommend eating more seafood.  Others recommend taking a supplement.  A few recommend both.

For example, if you happen to be a pregnant woman, researchers have recommended that you eat two servings of low-mercury seafood per week and take a supplement that provides at least 500mg of DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) every day, as well as your regular pre-natal vitamin.  That recommendation is made, because DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found only in seafood and some types of marine algae, is essential for normal brain and eye development in the fetus.

If you do enjoy seafood, you should check out the consumption advisories published by the Environmental Defense Fund, the CDC and the EPA.  Some species should be eaten no more than once per month.  Some should be avoided entirely.

Women and children are most susceptible to the mercury and PCB content.  But, men should be careful, too.  Too many PCBs can increase the risk of cancer.

The fish oil health benefits cannot counteract the negative effects of consuming mercury or PCBs, but supplement manufacturers can have each batch of oils tested for those contaminants, insuring that none are present.  It is not possible to test every piece of seafood for contaminants, because testing destroys the food.

So, when advisories are made, it is just a “guesstimate”.  There is no way to be certain which species are safe and which are not.  One serving could have two or three times the contaminants present in another.

The North Carolina researchers concluded that more research is needed to investigate the fish oil health benefits, the potential adverse effects of certain species and how cooking affects the nutritional value.  If you read much of the scientific research, you will see that one of the most common conclusions is that more research is needed.

Continuing research is important in order to arrive at specific dosage recommendations.  It will also be necessary if US residents are ever to be aware of all of the fish oil health benefits.  The FDA will not sign off on health claims associated with nutritional supplements, unless there is more research.

Preventing over-stated and unverifiable claims that could be misleading is an important job for the FDA.  But, sometimes, they seem to overdo it.  For example, the company that makes Nyquil added vitamin C to their cold relief formula, without first receiving approval from the FDA.

The FDA told them to change the formula, because there is no “proof” that vitamin C helps people recover from a cold more quickly.  There is no proof that alcohol, which is the main ingredient in Nyquil, helps people recover from a cold, either.  It just helps them sleep.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/discover-fish-oil-health-benefits-1370242.html

The Healing Benefits of Fish Oil In Our Body

Did you know that there are healing benefits of fish oil? Believe it or not, there are actually quite a few, and one of the main ones is helping with cardiovascular disease, as a treatment alternative. Cardiovascular disease is a prominent killer in the U.S., typically brought on by chronic inflammation and poor lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise, too much stress, and lack of sleep.

While the causes of cardiovascular disease are still not entirely known, evidence does suggest that a healthy lifestyle lowers the risk of having it. In addition, experts believe that emotional or physical trauma is an important factor for getting it, and that cardiovascular disease victims suffer from frequent abnormal transmission responses to pain.

Insomnia and sleep disorders take their toll in cardiovascular disease patients, and a lack of sleep is one major cause of inflammation and stress on the body. Not only are the healing benefits of fish oil applicable to cardiovascular disease in general, but they also apply to many symptoms that exacerbate the disease. The potential to alleviate both symptoms and the disease itself is a powerful part of fish growing appeal.

For example, fish oil is known to lower triglycerides, improve cholesterol, thin the blood, and even unclog blocked arteries! It truly is like a miracle cure. Of course it won’t be nearly as effective if you don’t enjoy a healthy lifestyle, but the healing benefits of it extend not only to treatment, but also to prevention, of cardiovascular disease.

Take chronic inflammation as a good example. When you have chronic inflammation, you could eventually suffer from a number of dangerous conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, etc. You can also suffer from conditions that lower your quality of life, such as acne and arthritis. The problem with inflammation is that the body is often attacking itself, a condition referred to as an autoimmune disease (attacking oneself).

Fish oil specifically works to counteract not only the inflammation you’re experiencing, but also many of the other causes of these conditions. If you are suffering from heart troubles, you not only can lower your risk by reducing inflammation, but you can also help by alleviating many of the causes, like clogged arteries and high cholesterol. It helps with depression too, by giving the brain more of what it’s made of: DHA (one of the Essential Fatty Acids found in this oil).

Overall, the healing benefits of fish oil are as astounding as they are numerous. For a huge number of conditions, this allows you to either fully recover from them or provide some relief from symptoms. Best of all, over your lifetime, you’re less likely to develop the conditions that claim so many lives. Just make sure that when you go out and get your fish oil, you buy the kind called “pharmaceutical-grade”, which leaves out all of the nasty toxins and contaminants that are commonly found dumped in rivers and oceans. Hopefully you can start enjoying the many healing benefits of fish oil soon!

Emile Jarreau, aka, Mr. Fat Loss is fascinated by health, nutrition and weight loss. For more great info about fish oil for losing weight and keeping it off visit http://www.MrFatLoss.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/the-healing-benefits-of-fish-oil-in-our-body-1371482.html

Are Omega 3 and Brain Health Related?

Studies concerning omega 3 and brain function have revealed many things.  First, we know that low levels of the nutrients in the bloodstream are associated with disorders that include depression and schizophrenia.

Second, we know that the gray matter contains a great deal of fat and that about 40% of that fat is DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), a specific omega-3 that seems to be very important in many ways.  Third, we know that supplementation or increased intake of DHA and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) is associated with reduced symptoms of depression and attention deficit disorders.

Fourth, we know that DHA is essential for normal brain development in the fetus and during infancy.  That’s why you will see DHA-enriched infant formulas and baby foods.  It is already present in breast milk, although mothers should be sure that their intake is adequate, in order to prevent the depletion of their own blood stores and risk depression.

Studies are currently underway concerning the benefits for neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.  The nutrient may be helpful for those conditions, as well.

Research concerning omega 3 and brain trauma is ongoing at Louisiana State University, where doctors are looking at the benefit to patients recovering from stroke.  The idea is that we want to be able to rebuild damaged brain cells and neurons.  In order to do that, we need the right building materials.  DHA is one of the necessary building blocks.

DHA, EPA and other omega3s benefit the entire body by modulating or reducing inflammation.  We know that omega-3s are used by the body to produce less inflammatory molecules than the omega-6s.  Research indicates that omega-3s stimulate the production of molecules that signal the immune system to stop inflammation.

The latest research indicates that fish oil, which is rich in omega-3s, has natural anti-inflammatory activity.  In some cases, a fish oil supplement has as much anti-inflammatory activity as aspirin.

In addition to the studies concerning omega 3 and brain benefits, there have been hundreds concerning the anti-inflammatory benefit to patients suffering from arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease and other painful conditions.  Fish oil supplements have proven beneficial for people suffering from migraines and cluster headaches, as well.

It is sometimes hard to believe how many benefits are associated with fish oil and the nutrients that it contains.  But, if you think about it, it isn’t really that hard to understand.

The connection between omega 3 and brain function is easy to understand when you know that it DHA is one of the building blocks of neurons.  If you think about man’s traditional diet, you realize that fish was a big part of it.  It has long been referred to as brain food.  We just didn’t know why it was so valuable.

The inflammation connection is more complicated for people that don’t have a scientific background.  Basically, the fats in our diet can contribute to inflammation or reduce it.  We’d prefer to reduce it.

As we learn more about omega 3 and brain function, we may find that there are other benefits.  If you want to think clearly for the rest of your life, take a supplement and hope.

Laurel Cohen is a strong advocate of natural health in all its forms: skin care, supplementation, and farm fresh foods. She enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily. Visit her site http://www.omega-3-for-health.com to learn about the omega 3 fish oils Laurel uses daily for optimal health.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/are-omega-3-and-brain-health-related-1351337.html

What To Expect After Breast Augmentation Surgery

The results of breast augmentation are quite apparent immediately after surgery. However, you will need time to recover before you can start to fully and comfortably enjoy your new and improved bustline. The healing process is an important consideration when you are thinking about breast augmentation. A well-informed commitment to surgery will include taking account of the post surgical steps to achieving your body goals.

Breast augmentation entails the surgical insertion of breast implants, either silicone or saline, beneath your breast tissue and possibly even beneath the muscle tissue of your chest. The surgery is typically an outpatient procedure that lasts from one to two hours.

Depending on what you want for your body and what your physical form can accommodate, breast augmentation can increase your breast size by one or more bra cup sizes. Desiring a fuller bustline and a figure with more pronounced proportions are the primary motivations for women to seek breast augmentation. Reconstruction after breast surgery or injury, rejuvenation after pregnancy and nursing, and correction of breasts that have markedly differing sizes also are appropriate reasons for breast augmentation.

Your First Week After Breast Augmentation

Initially after your breast augmentation Beverly Hills, you will feel tired and sore for several days, but you should be up and walking after 24 to 48 hours. Pain medication will be prescribed as necessary to help you with post-surgical discomfort. You will have to completely avoid strenuous activity and monitor for any post-surgical problems like extreme swelling or bleeding.

After a few days, your gauze dressings will be removed and your plastic surgeon may direct you to wear a surgical bra. At the end of your first week of recovery you could typically return to your job unless your occupation is physically demanding. Then your plastic surgeon would have to gauge your recovery and advise you on the appropriate time to resume working.

Your Second Week After Breast Augmentation

At about the 10 day point, your stitches will be removed. If you have been experiencing a burning sensation in your nipples, this can often persist through the second week. Although your fuller breasts are in place, they will remain sore and you should limit physical contact with them as you continue to heal.

Your Next Six Weeks After Breast Augmentation

Under the supervision of your surgeon, you will begin to resume your regular physical activities in the ensuing weeks. Breast soreness typically lasts for three to four weeks before fading. Swelling should also diminish during this period, except for perhaps minor swelling. The scars from your surgery will be pink and firm for roughly six weeks. It will take months for the scars to soften and lighten. They will never be completely gone, but the scars often will diminish to barely noticeable.

The recovery timelines described above are what you can typically expect after breast augmentation surgery. Individual cases vary depending on physical characteristics, overall health, and how well you follow guidelines for limiting strenuous activity. Although breast augmentation requires a moderate recovery time, many women are immensely pleased with the results and agree that the discomfort was worth the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of an enhanced bust.

Breast Enhancement Pills – Herbal Pills That Really Work

Many women are looking for an alternative to surgical breast enhancement because of the trauma of a surgical procedure and the recovery time needed. There is now available a wide range of herbal breast enhancement pills that are being used with success by thousands of women.

These pills contain various herbs and plant extracts in capsule form that will lead to an increase in breast size and firmness over a period of several months. It will not be instantaneous like surgery, but a result should be seen after a few weeks, and there will not be the post-op problems to contend with. You will find that the various products will feature different ingredients and combinations of ingredients.

You may need to try a few different brands to get the result you want, but give each brand a proper time to work before giving up on it. Never combine more than one herbal breast enhancement pill, as this could lead to other problems. Many of the breast enhancement pills that are on the market contain hormone-like substances and plant estrogens that mimic those found naturally in the body.

As we age, the production of hormones decreases, and many of the brands of pills simply reverse this situation. There has been little research into the effects of herbal breast enhancement pills, and no clinical trials to prove their effectiveness. You may be able to find some personal testimonials on the internet, in forums and chat rooms.

If possible, chat to women who have used the pills and ask questions about any side effects and the results they experienced. Always follow the directions provided by the manufacturer and do not take more than the recommended dosage. When you have reached the breast size you want, continue taking the pills, at a half dose, for another 4 to 6 weeks to ensure that the effects will be lasting.

There is no reason why you should not try some herbal breast enhancement pills, they are safer than surgery. Visit Naturally Bigger Breasts to find out more about breasts enhancement pills and creams.

St. Paul Breast Augmentation: Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

St. Paul breast augmentation is the most common cosmetic surgery performed by plastic surgeons in the area.  Considering breast augmentation?  There are many important considerations to think about before you meet with your doctor.

Perhaps, the most critical decision you will make is to find a highly qualified board certified St. Paul, Minnesota – MN plastic surgeon. With a cosmetic procedure like breast augmentation you will want to feel a deep sense of trust in the plastic surgeon with whom you are dealing.  With thorough research of local doctors you will be able to choose the plastic surgeon that is right for you.

In your search for a doctor to perform your breast augmentation surgery, you should come prepared with a list of questions to ask them about breast implants. This is my list of the Top 10 Breast Augmentation Questions you should be prepared to ask your doctor:

1) How many cosmetic breast enlargements have you done in the St. Paul, Minnesota area?

2) What is the best type of implant for me, silicone breast implants or saline?

3) Do you have breast augmentation before and after photos of your procedures I can see?

4) Of the 4 common breast augmentation incision methods, which can you perform? 1) Inframammary (under the breast fold), 2) Periaerolar (through the nipple), 3) Transaxillary (through the armpit), 4) Transumbilical (through the belly button)

5) What size options are possible for my breasts, and how should I choose my breast implant size?

6) What special precautions do I need to take before the procedure, and how long is the recovery time for each breast augmentation technique?

7) If I choose to become pregnant in the future, how will breast augmentation affect breastfeeding?

8) How do breast implants affect future mammograms?

9) What are the potential complications for this procedure?

10) What are the costs involved in breast augmentation including breast implant sizing, surgical and hospital costs, and recovery garments? What financing options are available?

Make more of your initial St. Paul, MN breast augmentation consultation by coming prepared with a list of targeted questions.  Of course, living in the Twin Cities you will also want to consider plastic surgeons in Minneapolis.

Find your St. Paul breast augmentation doctor at www.lwgatz.com. For more information about breast implant size, choose the Purlz Breast Sizing System.

Breast Augmentation Recovery Bras

Breast augmentation recovery bras are one of your basic needs when you undergo breast implant surgery. Wearing the appropriate bras both before and after surgery can help ease the pain after breast augmentation surgery and can improve your long term results.

If you are considering breast augmentation you should be thinking of both the short term and long term care of your new breasts.  Since the procedure itself is invasive, expensive, and not without risk, plan now for how you will attend to your breasts after they are augmented with breast implants.

The recovery process in terms of breast augmentation bras actually begins before your procedure.  Since the main reason women are dissatisfied with the results of their breast augmentation has to do with their breast implant size, It is critical that you buy a breast implant sizer system to help you decide upon what breast implant size you will want.

Many breast implant sizing bras are fairly flimsy and useful only for the time in which you are choosing your breast implant sizes before your surgery. Other breast augmentation sizing bras are multi-purpose and can be used during the recovery process, as well.  While a bit more expensive, get a system bra that will be useful after your surgery as well as before.

A good breast implant sizing bra will allow you to actually wear the breast implant sizers around for a few weeks while appearing natural within the bra.  By going through this process you will soon get a good idea of what breast implant size you need to be. Hold on to this bra as it will become useful a few weeks after your surgery.

There are typically at least two stages of breast augmentation bras you will need to have ready immediately after your procedure. Plan to buy them before hand so they will be ready to wear post-op.

The first bra after surgery is a plastic surgery recovery garment which is designed to have high compression while being very comfortable at the same time.  A breast augmentation recovery bra will help reduce painful swelling that occurs in the breasts after the procedure. The tighter compression of the recovery bra will help minimize motion of your breasts while keeping the swelling in check.

The breast augmentation recovery bra will help improve your blood circulation, shorten your recovery time, and help flush out potentially harmful bodily fluids. After about one week in this bra, some surgeons will recommend a second recovery bra with a bit lighter compression.

After the first two weeks your surgeon may recommend to wear a good sports bra for about four more weeks before you can wear the pretty bras you have been waiting for. During the sports bra stage you can use the one included with your breast implant sizing system.

At this stage of the processe your breasts will still be healing but will no longer require the tight compression of the breast augmentation recovery bra. A great sports bra will allow for more motion and improved blood circulation while your breasts complete the healing process.

Avoid the most common mistake in breast augmentation by choosing the right size of breast implants the first time with the Purlz Breast Sizing System.