“Give me a 64-ounce steak, double-baked potato with extra sour cream and an apple pie for dessert. No, not a slice – give me the whole pie, please.”

If you have ever had the opportunity to go out with a bodybuilder for dinner, you would be familiar with that kind of order delivered to the distressed waitress. These high-carbohydrate, high-protein, and high-fat diet meals were the popular method for packing on muscle and climbing the scale. “I’ll pack on all the weight I can now, then melt off the fat later,” was the common motto.

Many bodybuilders put a lot of focus into the details of their nutritional strategy. A small food scale, calculator, note pad and pencil are common items found in their kitchen. Some competitive bodybuilders go to the extreme of weighing and measuring everything wherever they go and scribbling numbers into their notepad after every meal.

Obviously, not every skinny guy has the same aspirations, desire and determination to live the life of a bodybuilder. Skinny guys will be more successful today if they have a quick and convenient plan to follow that involves minimal measuring and minimal number crunching.

The See Food Diet Is NOT The Answer

The reality is that many skinny guys’ nutritional level does not exceed the See Food Diet, that is, ’see food’ and eat it. Not a bad option if you can avoid getting a potbelly in the process. If this is you, then consider yourself blessed with a Lamborghini-style metabolism. Go right ahead and eat whatever and whenever you want until you’re ready to audition for Rambo IV.

For the most part, the See Food Diet is typically not the most healthy meal plan since it puts zero restrictions on any food categories and is more a concept to shift a skinny guy’s mind-set than anything else. These days, the majority of readers should know the fallacy of a See Food Diet. Sure, you can eat a super high calorie diet, like the See Food Diet, and add some muscle, but you’ll add even more fat. And from personal experience, and I’m sure many of you can personally testify, putting the fat on is much easier than taking it off! Conveniently, bodybuilders now have an “off-season shape” card to flash year-round to excuse themselves of looking like a pregnant powerlifter.

Muscle-Building Nutrition Principles

Mastering the principles of nutrition should be like mastering the principles of training – simple. Master the basics and execute them consistently. Think about the 80/20 rule. 80% of your results will come from 20% of your knowledge. Taking what you already know and putting it into action consistently is the magic formula. Let’s go over the most important nutrition principles you’ll need to practice to get your body growing.

Principle #1: Eat Often – Every 2.5 to 3 Hours

Don’t expect to pack on quality mass – muscle without body fat – on three square meals a day. This would lead to massive quantities of both protein and carbs at each meal. Your body can only store so many calories per meal, so guess what this results in? Bloating, poor digestion and unwanted body fat.

Your first meal should be consumed within 15-30 minutes of waking up and consumed every 2.5 to 3 hours. Set your stopwatch to beep until you get something in your body. Don’t view these meals as burdensome but as opportunities to fuel and grow your muscles. Look at them as growth surges. Think of the next meal as a fuller chest, broader shoulders, bigger arms and rock-hard abs!

And if you miss a meal, visualize a sea of piranhas eating up your muscle tissue like it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet. And those deadly piranhas are eating up your CURRENT muscle that you are not even satisfied with. They are actually making your muscles

smaller. No, you will not lose an inch on your arms if you miss one meal, but once you start averaging 3-4 instead of 6-8 meals a day, don’t be upset when people look surprised when you tell them you work out with weights regularly!

So how many meals should you be eating? That’s easy – just divide the time you’re awake by 2 or 3. I would suggest mastering eating every 3 hours before you consider every 2 hours. So if you’re awake 18 hours a day, eat 6 meals.

What if one of those meals falls right before bedtime? Then eat up! Take the opportunity to eat. If we went to the extreme we would eat every 3 hours throughout the night as well. No matter what you have heard on this (never eat after 7 P.M. garbage) ignore it. Trust me!

Also, don’t view these feeding opportunities as ‘snacks.’ This is a wimpy word mentality that should not be in your vocabulary if you are trying to build muscle. Do you think Ronnie Coleman says, ‘Hey, I think I’m going to go eat a snack?’ Every 3 hours you should be eating decent size meals that will make your body better.

Principle #2: Eat A Variety Of Foods

It is easy to get into a robotic state of nutrition where we eat the exact same foods every day, ingesting the same breakfast, lunch and dinner and the only time we eat differently is when we go out for dinner or someone else cooks for us. It is easier to choose convenience over variety.

Just like our training that we rotate around to prevent boredom, you should rotate your food selection. Normally, you will eat whatever is in your house, so the best strategy to eating a healthy variety is to shop for different foods each week. This will help balance out your diet and help you measure the response a variety of foods. Don’t go for the boring and easy route.

Principle #3: Eat Enough Calories

Building muscle is an eating game because your muscles grow on calories. Not eating enough calories is like an attempt to buy a $50,000 car with only $25,000 in the bank. It’s not going to happen. If you are not gaining at least 1-2 pounds per week, then add some extra carbohydrates and proteins to your breakfast, pre-workout meal or post-workout meal.

THERE IS NO WAY AROUND THIS STEP. Even if you have the perfect training routine, you will never grow unless you provide your body with the proper amount of nutrients. It’s like saying you want to build a house but you do not have enough bricks, cement and wood. It will be impossible to build that house. It’s like saying you want to race a car as fast as possible but you don’t have any gasoline or oil. It’s downright impossible.

If you wish to ensure that your muscles have enough fuel to support your workouts, lift heavy weights for high reps, recover from workout to workout and, let’s not forget, GROW NEW MUSCLE, then you have to keep track of what you are eating every day. There is no way around it. This is the number one reason why skinny guys never gain weight or why anybody for that matter will not make quality gains that they so desperately strive for.

Keeping track of what you eat is a lot easier than it sounds – it’s probably why most people avoid it, because they perceive it to be difficult.

Sure, you’re going to have to take some extra time to read containers and labels, but if this method will promise another 20 pounds in a few months from now, is it not worth it? And the good news is that your brain will create a new file to store all your new nutrient calculations, and since you are eating from the majority of the same foods, your ‘memory food bank’ will expand quickly.

Principle #4: Eat 40-60 Grams Of Protein Per Meal

Building muscle is not on your body’s ‘to do’ list – simple survival is. Not getting enough protein for your internal organs results in your body robbing it from your muscle tissue. Your body cannibalizes itself for the amino acids it needs! This is the polar opposite of what skinny guys want.

Proteins should make up at least 35% of your overall caloric intake. This translates to 40-60 grams of protein per meal for males less then 200 lbs and will be enough to maintain your appetite, increase your muscle mass, accelerate recovery and keep body fat levels low. Hit this level and you’re doing well.

It is better to get your protein from whole, complete, and lean protein. Remember that protein is a costly food and burns twice as much energy as carbs and three times as much energy as fat. You need protein to maximally turbo-charge your metabolism, improve your muscle mass and accelerate recovery.

Aim for lean meats such as ground beef, chicken, turkey, etc. Aim for fish such as salmon, tuna, orange roughy, etc. Aim for Omega 3 eggs and pasteurized egg whites. Aim for dairy from cottage cheese, yogurt and partly skimmed cheeses. And if you have to resort to supplement shakes, go for whey, casein or milk protein blends.

Principle #5: Eat 60-80 Grams Of Carbohydrate per Meal

Not getting enough carbohydrates will make you feel like you’re carrying a bear on your back throughout your workouts. Your body’s gas tank is comprised of carbohydrates. No carbs and don’t expect to get that car too far.

A lack of carbs in your diet can slow the muscle-building process because your muscle tissue can be used as energy if your body’s preferred source of energy, carbs, are not available.

It is best to get your carbohydrates from a variety of high-fiber, complex and low-glycemic carbohydrates as opposed to simple carbs (sugars) found in fast food, fried food, processed food and junk food. Complex carbs release a slower and longer lasting energy that is critical for your intense training workouts. Complex carbs will rarely get converted to fat unless you are clearly eating too many of them. If you are gaining more fat around your midsection as opposed to muscle, then you know you should cut back on your complex carbs or add a few cardio workouts.

Aim for high-complex, muscle-building carbs such as bran, barley, buckwheat, beans, brown rice, cornmeal, oatmeal, pasta, potatoes and whole grains.

Principle #6: Eat 20-30 Grams Of Fat Per Meal

About 30% of your diet should consist of fat – this number should remain pretty consistent for everyone. And as a skinny guy or anybody who wants to maximize muscle growth, then eating 30% of your intake from fat is critical for boosting testosterone levels. However, the key is to balance out your intake between saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. If you achieve 1/3 in each of these, then you will optimize your health and muscle gains. This is not as complicated as it looks.

Since North Americans are harshly deficient in mono (olive oil) and poly fats (from fish oils) and get enough of saturated fats as it is, your job is to simply include more olive oil and fish oil into your diet. This is something that can be recommended for every man and women and has no potential side effects. Again, don’t worry; the meal plans included have got you covered.

The only fats you MUST avoid at all costs – for so many reasons – are trans fats.

Trans fatty acids, also known as trans fat, is an artery-clogging fat that is formed when vegetable oils are hardened into margarine or shortening. It is found in many other foods besides margarine and shortening, including fried foods like French fries and fried chicken, doughnuts, cookies, pastries and crackers. In the United States, typical French fries have about 40 percent trans fatty acids and many popular cookies and crackers range from 30 percent to 50 percent trans fatty acids. Doughnuts have about 35 percent to 40 percent trans fatty acids.

To determine the amount of trans fat in a food you must know what to look for on the food labels. Whenever you see shortening, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil higher up on the list of the ingredients, the more trans fat.

Principle #7: Eat Vegetables With Every Meal

How are vegetables supposed to promote muscle gain? Your mom was right when she told you to eat up all your vegetables if you wanted to grow big and strong. Finally, the ‘muscle-nerds’ are catching up. Not only are vegetables loaded with vitamins and minerals but they also contain important plant chemicals called phytochemicals that are essential for optimal physiological functioning.

The most neglected benefit of eating vegetables is their role in recovery. Sure, you need calories to grow, but you also need these veggies for their high antioxidant profile that will help reduce the amount of free radicals from heavy training, and they will accelerate recovery by healing damaged muscle cells.

Most people are unaware that proteins and grains create high levels of acid loads to the blood, and if this is not balanced out with alkaline rich vegetables and fruits, then too much acid can result in a loss of bone strength and muscle mass. So it is important to keep these acid levels balanced by
ingesting vegetables (and fruits) for their alkalinity to the blood.

The best way to get your vegetables is to cut them all up at the start of the week. This will make life easier and make them more accessible. Aim for at least 2 servings, which is the equivalent of 1-2 cups per meal. Yes, every 2-3 hours you must be eating veggies.

Principle #8: Eat Your Biggest Meal At Breakfast, Pre-Workout and Post-Workout

No matter what anyone says, I believe this is the safest and most effective way to

maximize your muscle:fat gain ratio when bulking. In this article we will not discuss the topic of nutrient timing.

Shortly we will discuss the benefits of packing the bulk of your calories around the most catabolic and anabolic times of the day so you will have sufficient energy to train hard and heavy without any risk of muscle breakdown, not to mention enough calories to support muscle growth. How much food you eat at a particular time of the day should be based on the NEEDS OF YOUR BODY AT THAT CURRENT MOMENT.

Principle #9: Plan Ahead

This principle could easily be number one because oftentimes it is not a shortage of information that creates a roadblock but our lack of CONSISTENCY and CREATIVITY. I bet if you did not change anything about what you are currently eating but ensured food was there when it was time to eat, you would experience a growth surge.

I strongly agree with the famous cliché that states, ‘Failing to plan is planning to fail.’ It is so true. You must have a plan that will ensure you have the food prepared and cooked in the right selection and amounts every time you eat. This might require you to spend a few hours on Sunday evening cooking and storing all your food in Tupperware containers. This might mean waking up half an hour early so that you can cook all your meals for the day. This might require you to carry a lunch bag wherever you go. This might mean packing a few shaker bottles if you know you will be on the road most of the day. Bottom line – be prepared.

Principle #10: Eat Whole Foods 60% Of The Time and Liquid Meals 40% Of The Time

I often have my clients use as few supplements as possible for the first few months of training. You will be amazed at the results achieved by simply putting all your efforts into following your meal plan, proper training and sleep. It’s a very eye-opening experience when they see almost immediate changes in body composition, health and energy levels.

Your food intake should come from high quality food at least 60 % of the time, which means at least 4 of the 6 meals you are eating.

This will ensure more vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber that supplements and pills lack. Whole food is loaded with digestive enzymes as well that help the absorption of food instead of eating too much ‘ground up’ food in the form of powder. Power shakes will make your life much easier and will remove some of the inconveniences of having to cook and prepare food all day. Aim to use these at least 2 out of your 4 real meals a day and never more than three power shakes unless your life is extremely hectic and unmanageable.

Conclusion

Dedicate the next 12 weeks to putting these muscle building nutrition principles into action. Building muscle is really quite simple and exciting because you get to indulge in large quantities of food, try new recipes and become a master chef since you’ll be spending more time in the kitchen. Taking these principles and applying them consistently over time and making them a part of your lifestyle is the secret.

Questions are often asked me, how can I pack on a extra 5 to ten pounds of muscle before the summer or my next vacation? Maybe you can help me prepare for my first bodybuilding or fitness model competition? Could you help me build a body that turns heads and demands respect?

As a skinny guy muscle building expert, These question come up very frequently. Every single hard gainer I consult with wants to know how to gain muscle fast and how to do it safely and effectively.

Hard gainers, please listen up! There is hope for you. I am happy to say that learning how to gain muscle fast is not as hard as some would make you believe but it also not as easy as you might think. However, you must be prepared to train smarter and not harder. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about wimping out during your workouts. I am referring to the big picture of training more intelligently.

Here is some of the most popular advice I give to the hard gainer when he wishes to gain muscle fast.

1. Never Perform More Than 10 Reps.

If you are lifting weights beyond 10 reps than you are emphasizing your slow-twitch muscle fibers which have the smallest opportunity for muscle growth. You are a hard gainer and you need recruit the maximal amount of muscle fibers in every set. You do not want to go passed the 10th rep. If you really want to gain muscle fast you have to get into the mind set of lifting heavier. Every single set and every single exercise. Keep the weights heavy and never more than 10 reps. Approach every workout knowing that you are going to be venturing into new territory and waging war on your skinny genetics. I recommend these workouts with a workout partner so you can eliminate any safety issues, not slack off and push your limits every inch of the way.

2. Reduce Your Workout Time

Try to do your workout faster, and taking a shorter rest to help improve your workout capacity. Work refers to the number of sets, reps and poundage within your workout. Who is fitter? The guy who can do 4 sets of 185 pounds bench press with 30-second rest or the guy who can do 4 sets of 185-pound bench press with 90-second rest? The one who can do the same amount of work in less time. Guess who is more muscular? The one who has a higher work capacity.

Next time you enter the gym, try to complete your current workout in less time. Take shorter rests. Move from one exercise to the next much quicker. Don’t be surprised if you feel out of shape! Your respiratory system is used to taking longer rests so it will a few weeks to get up to the speed that will be more beneficial for you growing added muscle. This is one of the easiest tips you can take away to increase your muscle density and take your fitness to a new level. Be prepared to humble yourself and get out of your comfort zone.

3. Do Only One Exercise Per Muscle Group

Only one? Yes, only one, you do not want to mutilate a muscle for over an hour to try to get any growth out of it. Consider this typical day in the gym. Today is your chest day. Your first exercise is bench press. You perform your first set with 185 lbs, second set with 205 lbs, third set with 225 lbs and fourth set with 245 lbs.

Assuming this is your max weight for the desired number of reps, is it not safe to say that you have used the maximal number of muscle fibers? Your goal is to simply spark your muscles into growth. Not exhaust them to death. Once they experience an unknown assault (stimulus), your body will be forced to grow and create new muscle to prevent future assaults! Therefore, your take home lesson is this: Once you have out performed your last workout, it is time to move onto the next exercise.

4. Do No More Than 3-5 Sets Per Muscle Group

I question a hard gainers workout intensity if they must do more than 3-5 sets per muscle group. Now if you are using anabolic steroids or have muscle friendly genes than you can safely dismiss this advice. Remember, learning how to gain muscle fast for the hard gainer requires following a new set of rules.

Consider the first 1-2 sets at 85% maximal effort. The third set at 95% maximal effort and the fourth (and sometimes fifth) set at 100% maximal effort. It is only this last all out set that contributes to the greatest muscle growth. Anything over and above this last go till you blow set simply exhausts the muscle beyond reason and delays your recovery ability to hit the muscle again. It is this last set that you should perform at least 1-2 extra reps or 5-10 extra pounds than last workout. Mission accomplished. You have sparked your muscles into growth. Time to move on.

5. Increase Your Strength 5% Every Two Weeks

There is one big mistake that a lot of people that workout make. That is not keeping accurate records of each workout and tracking your progress. This is something that you just don’t want to guess about, because it could lead to your failure. They return week-after-week to simply rehearse the same workouts. How do you expect to gain muscle fast if you continue to lift the same weights each workout? Your body is designed to tolerate stress. Assault it and let it get bigger. Assault it and let it get bigger. It’s a simple concept.

So your take home message is to aim for a minimum of 5% strength increase every two weeks. You might progress a little quicker with larger muscle groups like back and legs versus smaller muscles like biceps and triceps. Just think, in six months from now, you will be twice as strong as you are now! I would actually recommend writing down your strength goals for six months from now and than work backwards. If you are currently dead lifting 135 lbs, aim to be dead lifting 270 lbs over the next few months!

Conclusion

I know these five tips were not your typical Muscle and Fitness 101 advice and not your typical generic bodybuilding advice. I learned a long time ago to question everything you read and hear. Learn for yourself by doing and not by talking about it. You cannot follow the herd thinking that you will make gains like the easy gainer. You must take a different road as a hard gainer to shock those muscles into making the gains that you seek. You can do it. The questions is, Will You?

———————————-

No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at http://www.healthywithmuscle.com/

We all want to gain muscle but not many women actually know how to do it. Well I am going to fill you in on a few tricks of the trade to help you be successful. No one wants to sweat to death at the gym only to see no results! So without further delay here are 5 tips for women to build muscle!

1. Its not the number of reps that matter but the intensity and sets. You should be lifting an amount that is near your max. Sets filled with only 6-10 reps are O.K. but you need to do more sets. Aim for 3-6 sets per exercise. This way you are going to get those muscles tired and have them building more muscle in no time.

2. Choose multi-joint exercises over single joint. What I mean by this is basically stop with the machines. These are targeted to one specific muscle and joint so you are not getting the most out of your time. For a full body workout stick with exercises (free weights) that are going to do more than just have you doing a curl. Exercises include (but not limited to): squats, lunges, pull ups, pushups, incline chest press, and the dead lift. These work not only the main muscles and joints but also stabilizer muscles and other assisting muscles.

3. Cut out processed sugars and white carbs. I know we all love chocolate and french fried but if you really want to look the best possible these treats should be saved to just one day per week. Choose whole wheat pasta over white and sweet potatoes over Idaho. Plus say no to calorie loaded drinks like sodas and fruit juices. If you want fruit then it is better to eat the real thing. This is going to help cut the fat out and get those muscles defined and showing boldly!

4. Eat after a workout. During workouts your body uses a great amount of energy sources to keep you going strong. So afterwards to help with recovery and muscle building eat a protein rich snack. Try a protein shake, BP&J, chicken… pretty much whatever you like that is not sugar and high in saturated fats. And always remember to drink plenty of water!

5. Cut down on cardio. If you are doing over 25-30 minutes of cardio during your workouts (most women do) then you might be doing too much. After this time your body is going to turn to its muscle storage for energy and who wants to lose what they are working to gain! I tend to keep my cardio workouts to 20-25 minutes, I still feel great afterwards and I know I am staying away from my lean muscle.

So there you have it. 5 tricks to look lean, strong, and muscular. Women building muscle is a great thing and following these tips will get you to where you want to be!

Do you want the kind of body that burns fat even in your sleep? There is a simple solution to this – just rev up your metabolism. If you already know that, then it’s okay. But are you following the mandatory things to make sure your internal fat burning furnace stays on for 24 hours?

Nutrition tips to rev up your metabolism:

1. Have three full meals a day and also include 2-3 snacks. Balance is the key. Consume enough proteins, lots of fruits and vegetables and a small amount of fat. If your balance is out of whack, you are going to be out of whack too. With proper practice, you will achieve the right balance.

2. Purchase foods that can remember where they came from. Avoid consuming processed junk or convenience foods.

3. Prepare nutritious meals that can be stored for few days. Keep enough food in your refrigerator or cooler at your work and also at home. Purchase a box of nutrition bars or power bars to eat when you are extra busy. Store them in your gym bag, desk drawer and coat pockets.

4. Have a regular check up of your blood sugar and avoid sugar cravings by making absolutely sure that you are having enough proteins.

5. Always remember that your body is only as good as the things you give it.

6. Read all the labels before you purchase the products. Keep sugar levels low, about 10% of the carbohydrate grams. For instance, if you purchase 20 grams of carbohydrates then there should be only 2 grams of sugar.

7. Consuming enough vitamins and minerals help you use the food you eat more efficiently. They help in the process of digestion and assimilation of your food and you can also get an added nutritional boost that your diet is lacking.

8. Scrap diet sodas and caffeine. In order to fight fatigue, you need to drink enough water. Drinking more and more water helps you lose weight, enhance fat burning, control appetite and clean your system.

9. If you go out to eat, eat only half of what you get. Most of the restaurants offer you twice as much as you need. Instead of a salad choose dressing on the side.

10. Prepare your menu that can help in changing your energy needs depending on the activity level. That means there’s no need to count the calories, instead of this you need to naturally pay attention to what your body needs from day-to-day.

11. Follow step 1 in order to keep your energy and metabolism humming.

Work out tips to rev up your metabolism:

12. Try aerobic training workouts. Switch activities every couple of weeks, so your body has to work at re-learning another activity, which burns some more calories. For instance, swap cycling for the Stairmaster one month.

13. Come out of the “maintain” frame of mind. Finally this causes trouble for most people. If you think that once you’ve reached a certain level of conditioning you can back off, then you’re in for a rude awakening. Your body will love it and will begin to start shutting down. This finally results in a slow gradual loss of muscle and metabolism and a slow gradual increase of body fat.

14. Consuming enough iron is first and foremost important. Iron causes the built of most metabolically active tissues.

15. The quick route for muscular development is testing and pushing your muscles to the max. When you assume that you have finished and you want to do more then you can do it. No wimps are allowed.

16. Muscles are not built at the gym, they can be built only when they are given time to rest and recuperate. But they cannot do that if you are getting 4-5 hours of sleep a night and stressing out on a daily basis. You must follow a sound nutritional plan to help you recover faster between the workouts. Visit : Health Watch Center

Back pain treatment comes in lots of forms, from exercise to pain mediction. Standard and most widespread back pain remedy is treatment by cold and hot compresses. In severe cases surgery can also be used.

A few words of caution – in case that after a couple of weeks of treatment you do not experience any improvement or you experience any of the subsequent symptoms call your doctor right away:
-Leg pain, bellow the knee
-Leg or groin numbness
-Excessive sweating, fever, weakness, vomiting or nausea
-Bowel movement or urinary control loss

Here are some examples of back pain treatments:

1. Resting crucial to permit your body to heal after back injury. frequently used with people who experience acute pain. nonetheless do not lie motionless for to long as a little movement can help you relief the stiffness caused by lying still. It might also warm up the back muscles, thus providing further relief.

2. Use cold/hot compresses this home back pain remedy can be used separately or you can alternate between the two. One of the best and fastest back pain treatments, you should feel almost immediate improvement.

Warmth relaxes the back muscles, dilates the blood vessels, which helps to improve blood flow, thus providing injured area with increased oxygen which helps reduce the muscle spasm and pain.

However be careful when using this treatment because prolonged heat exposure can have a negative effect on abdominal region organs. Under no circumstances should you sleep with heating pad. Use it instead for 20 30 minutes max.

Cold packs however are used more to reduce inflammation (sports injuries for example) and back pain caused by arthritis. Cold packs work the opposite way from heat packs. Cold decreases blood vessel size and reduces blood flow to the affected area. Just like with using heat packs avoid prolonged usage.

You can buy special liquid packs which can be heated or cooled and used as back pain treatment. You can find those in every pharmacy.

Or you can use the old fashioned way and place a bag of ice or frozen vegetables, wrap it in a cloth and apply to the injured area. Similarly you can use towels soaked in hot water.

3. Exercise for back pain this is a long term and the best approach to this problem. It will reduce stiffness and relieve the spine compression which will help reduce the back pain.

In the same time suitable exercises will provide additional strength to the muscles of the legs, abdomen and buttocks. This will provide better support for your body in the middle area.

Physical therapist or your doctor will provide training regimen suitable for you.

4. Massage another favorite home back pain remedy. It increases blood flow to the injured area and relaxes lower back muscles at the same time.

You can find registered massage therapists by searching online or through the yellow pages.

A word of caution here, if you have chronic back problem and you need prolonged massage therapy you should get registered trained therapist, because massage by untrained person can cause more damage then good.

5.Using non-prescription medications – a wide variety of medications is used as back pain treatment, ranging from pills to ointments and creams.

Medications such as Tylenol or Aspirin can be used as pain suppressors. Icy Hot, Ben Gay and Zostrix are examples of topical medications (cream, ointments).

Non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory medications are used for swelling reduction. Some of these are Advil, Motrin, Aleve and Orudis.

If non-prescription drugs prove to be ineffective your doctor will provide stronger prescription medications.

And once again at the end – if you constantly feel pain even after a few weeks of therapy go and see your doctor.

There is a wide variety of headaches all with different severity levels. But did you know that the most common type of headache is the tension headache? Tension headaches known also as muscle contraction headache are caused by spasms and tensions of the muscle located in your neck and shoulders. So I guess it’s fair to say that “Neck Spasms headache” is a fairly accurate description of the condition.

Although tension headache or neck spasm headache are amongst the most common type of headaches, they are difficult to treat. To help you overcome this situation, this article is going to resume the various ways that a neck spasm headache can be treated so if you are suffering from this condition you can then take an informed decision about the type treatment that best fits your individual lifestyle and condition.

What are the Real Causes of a Neck Spasm Headache?

Has you already know, a neck spasm headache also known as tension headache is caused by tension in muscles neck, creating pain at the top and the base of the head. But the real question to answer is what the causes of those tensions? Actually there are multiple possible causes for the spasm in your neck, all with different degree of severity.

Some of the most serious causes of muscle spasm in the neck are often related to car accident, like a rear end motor vehicle accident. Of course most of the cases are not that serious and are caused by less important factors such as:

- Bad posture

- Neck held in a bad position for to long

- Work at a computer

- Driving for long period

- Etc…

Available Treatment for a Neck Spasm Headache

There are of course multiple ways to treat a neck spasm headache. One of the most common or used method is “manipulative therapy”. The goal of the therapy is to reduce the muscle spasm allowing the spine to return to its normal position. This method is usually performed by quickly stretching the muscle. Other methods like “counter-strain” are also used to treat this type of headache. If you are the kind of person who doesn’t like to take medicine then manipulative therapy could be a good option for you to get rid of your neck spasm headache.