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Iso-bolic Hold for Freaky Muscle Size

Q: I am totally onboard with a high-rep set first to fatigue slow-twitch fibers first. I’ve noticed visible size gains in only one week using the Anabolic Reload program. What do you think about an isometric hold (iso-bolic hold) in the contracted position, like the top of a leg extension, for over a minute to accomplish that same slow-twitch fatigue first?

A: That’s an interesting question. Most people believe that a bundle of fibers fire on a rep, then more bundles engage on the next rep, and so on as the set progresses. However… [Read more…]

Muscle-Fiber Research: Double your growth

Q: I find it exciting that type-1 endurance fibers are also capable of showing a significant level of muscular hypertrophy. I’ve already seen significant new growth using the high-rep-set-first method from Anabolic Reload. My question is, Won’t a slow-mo style on that first set work just as well, like your X-centric method [7-second sets] and be good change to gain, and maybe even double your growth? 

To clarify, the high-rep set first helps trigger growth in the slow-twitch fibers AND also pre-fatigues those fibers so you get better fast-twitch activation on the heavier sets that follow. Very efficient for hyper-hypertrophy, a.k.a. freak-physique mass that can double your growth potential… [Read more…]

Volumize for Muscle Size

Q: I’ve been on the Anabolic Reload workout for two weeks and feel considerably bigger. I was wondering if it’s okay to gradually increase volume with drop sets instead of rest/pause? I get a better pump with drop sets and I saw a study that found drop sets very effective for building mass, so you can volumize for muscle size.

A: We saw that 2017 study as well. It was by one of our favorite researchers, Brad Schoenfeld, Ph.D., and the conclusion was… [Read more…]

Best Rest for Freak-Physique Mass

Q: I saw a study that says resting longer between sets produces the most muscle gain. So should I increase the 30-second rests in the STX workouts in Anabolic Reload to 1 1/2 to 2 minutes for best rest results?

A: We’ve seen that study, and it’s right on. But it doesn’t refute our 30-second rests in the Anabolic Reload STX workouts. Why? It has to do with what you’re trying to accomplish with the earlier sets in a sequence and how muscle fibers fire… [Read more…]

Anabolic Phasing = Change for Freaky Muscle Gains

I’ve been training each muscle group once a week with about 15 sets each. My gains have been okay, but how can I be sure that using fewer sets and training each muscle more times a week will get me bigger?

Try it. We’re sure you will be shocked at your surge of new muscle growth from the anabolic phasing. This will get you excited about it… [Read more…]

Your 3 Freak-Physique Hypertrophy Triggers

Seeing the 3 key hypertrophy triggers for muscle growth laid out by Brad Schoenfeld, Ph.D. in Anabolic Reload got me motivated. Interesting that they align with your Positions of Flexion method. So hitting all 3 at every workout is the best way to grow?

For the uninitiated, the 3 key hypertrophy triggers you must attack for mega mass, according to Schoenfeld, are: [Read more…]

Stealth Progression = Muscle Mass Expansion

I’ve been lifting for a few years now, so adding weight to my exercises is rare. I know that “progressive resistance” is important for muscle size, so do I just put up with slow progress, force it or what?

Bodybuilding is called “progressive-resistance” training because adding weight and/or reps to your exercises can increase muscle size. Consider it a stealth progression… [Read more…]

New Study: Sarcomeres — your key to freaky muscle size

In many of our programs, including the new Anabolic Reload Mass Workout, we emphasize stretch movements. Fiber elongation against resistance is one of the keys to freaky muscle size due to the addition of sarcomeres in series…

We often reference the bird-wing study by Jose Antonio, Ph.D., et al., that produced incredible muscle size increases. For the uninitiated, here’s what he said about it:  [Read more…]

Get Eye-popping Muscle Size with “Universal Fiber Hypertrophy”

Q: Getting growth in all of the muscle fibers, even the slow twitch, makes a lot of sense. I’m looking for the most mass possible as quickly as possible, so getting hypertrophy in ALL fibers is the answer. I’m more of a leaner, hardgainer type, so my question is, Should I do more high-rep sets than just the first to get eye-popping muscle size, as prescribed in Anabolic Reload?

It does make sense that wiry hardgainer types have more slow-twitch “endurance” fibers. It’s why skinny guys usually make the best distance runners (Steve missed his calling–Lol)… [Read more…]