Happy Thanksgiving!!

Most people are aware that turkey can make you a little sleepy after a nice big serving.

This is due to the amino acid tryptophan.

When ingested tryptophan will cause an increase in the neurotransmitter sarotonin (responsible for a calm mood) and the hormone melatonin ( a sleep inducing hormone).

Several clinical trials show that the regular intake of tryptophan may be a much more effective antidepresent when compared to its prescribed counterparts.

Well thats it for this week. Please send your questions to ask@thebuffgeek.com

PS Its Thanksgiving so stop paying so much attention to your diet today. A little extra pie isnt going to hurt you. Everyone needs a break once in a while. Not to mention it will help give your metabolism a little extra boost when you get back down to business on Friday.

I think in todays nutrition conscience world everyone is too afraid of the word sugar.

The problem is there are much worse things out there than sugar that can cause major harm to ones diet.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

If you work out on a regular basis a little sugar isnt going to kill you. It can actually help you replenish the glycogen stored in your muscles. HFCS on the other hand is metabolized much differently than sugar. The body can not use it to replace glycogen in skeletal muscle so the body has to find somewhere else to store it. The liver cant hold it all, so guess where it goes.

The thing that gets me the most is how popular sports drinks are now switching over to using HFCS without informing the consumer. Why? Because it saves them a few dollars, HFCS is fairly cheap when compared to “sugar”.

How silly is that? Especially when all the studies that show said product improving performance were done using a completely different chemical makeup.

So there you go, check your favorite sports drinks (if you use them) and dump them if they have HFCS in them instead of the old tried and true (sugar).

Send any questions to ask@thebuffgeek.com

The thing I see most in gyms today is peoples inability to use their workout time efficiently and effectively. Everybody is on a schedule and they need to be in and out as quickly as possible.

So why do I keep seeing people wasting their time with biceps curls and triceps push-downs?

Keep it simple and use the exercises with most bang for your buck. You’re still hitting those triceps just as hard if not harder when you do a push-up. The same goes for your biceps when you use any kind of row or pull-up. Even leg machines are a waste of time when you have enough floor space for a lunge.

Bottom line, you’ll get more work done in less time, you’re less likely to create any over use injuries in your elbows and knees. Not to mention the greater affect compound movements have on your metabolism.

Not convinced compound movements are enough for your arms and legs? Take a look at any competitive gymnast, rower, power lifter etc. I guarantee none of them are wasting their time doing preacher curls.

Keep sending those questions to ask@thebuffgeek.com