We sweat when our body temperature rises above a normal range. We sweat based on training style, intensity, humidity, etc, but genetics plays a role here too. Some of us just sweat more, and others sweat less.
How much you sweat is not an indication of training intensity as a general rule, and it has nothing to do with fat burning. The body carries heat out by expelling water through skin pores, and that cools the core.
You are correct that supplements are generally quite expensive. This is one reason why I personally try to limit the amount of supplements I take in...it's too easy to spend $100 a week on supplements alone!
Personally, I used to purchase my supplements overseas. But recently the Australian Government has introduced limitations as to which supplements you can and cannot import. In a nutshell, it's a bit of a minefield. I once had a $300 order shipped back to the USA! So trust me, it's not worth it!
This is precisely why we established our online supplement store where we have a wide range of good quality supplements at low prices. We are a 100% Australian company and will always aim to deliver the best products with the best service. Not only will we send the product to you as quickly as possible, but we will also provide you with answers to any of your questions!
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Your training volume is the primary reason you will or won't gain mass. If you are looking to increase mass (muscle, I presume), the number of repetitions is less important than the intensity and rest periods.
Researchers know that performing sets of 3 is better than single sets for increasing mass in young males. Keep the rest between the sets under 1 minute. Your reps should be tough, not comfortable, but not killer either- you should be able to pump out 1 or 2 more when you finish a set (10 reps at a weight that you cannot perform more than 11 or 12 of).
Mass Gainer supplements are essentially a boost of calories that you can get in one big shot. These are best for guys with fast metabolisms who just cannot seem to eat enough- that may be a good idea for you! Take 1 or 2 servings throughout the day, as directed on your product.
Good luck with your training!
There have been quite a few studies on the subject, many of which have concluded hormonal imbalances caused by stress that seem to either encourage fat gain or inhibit fat loss.
In addition to the chemical imbalances caused, often emotional eating (sometimes leading to binging) is triggered by stress.
Both exercise and a healthy diet have been shown to improve stress levels. Exercise can stimulate the production of endorphins, commonly known as a "runners high" after a workout. Carbohydrates play an important role in serotonin production, (serotonin has been shown to aid stress levels). B group vitamins have also been suggested to aid stress and energy levels. There are many other examples, I have just picked a few of particular interest.
In my opinion, the vast majority of products that you see on the television that are advertised to flatten your stomach are no where near as effective as what they claim to be (most of which I highly doubt are effective at all relative to a sound workout regime). There is very little (if any) scientific backing to many of these products. The main idea behind them is to generate profits by making outrageous claims that are simply too good to be true.
Consider how long these products actually last on the market. Years down the track they are taken off the shelves while something new and exciting replaces it. It's all marketing - the hype has died down because hardly anyone achieves any results. So in order to revive the hype, a new product is released. This is what is known as your fad product - they have been around for the last 30 years. Think about it, if these products really were that great then why on earth would they not render your basic (and proven) exercises obsolete?
The models on the commercials - of course they have been training for years upon years! I feel that it is heavily implied that they have only used this machine to attain a great figure...I can say with absolute certainty that this is not the case at all. If you ask them how they attained their physique, it would have most likely been through a more standardised program (ie. lifting weights combined with a sound diet and cardio routine). Not a fad product.
Sometimes the host actually goes outside and asks passers-by if they can "feel the muscle working". Whilst one may feel the abdominal muscles being used, this does not mean that it will assist the abdominal muscles to grow (or to burn a significant amount of fat either) - it simply means that they are being used...nothing more.
A flatter stomach is a result of losing fat for the majority of people (as most people wanting a flatter stomach are carrying excess fat). This is not achieved through a resistance based workout. It is achieved through a cardiovascular routine. Running, walking, sports, rowing, riding etc. A cardiovascular workout will burn a significant amount of fat in conjunction with a sound eating regime.
Many of these bogus products are based on the premise that it is possible to perform spot reduction (an old wives tail). The spot reduction myth is defined as choosing a specific section of the body to burn fat from. For example, if you carry extra fat around your belly, then the idea would be to perform situps to lose fat from the stomach area. The physiology of our bodies does not allow for this. There is zero scientific evidence that this is possible. Yet this belief is exploited by such companies time and time again.
I'd like to suggest reading an article I wrote regarding this topic:
How To Get Healthy Without Raising A Sweat
