Researcher Chris Beardsley recently observed that the elbow flexors do not display as much potential for stretch-mediated hypertrophy as the elbow extensors. [Read more…]
Squeeze the Muscle for Mass? Maybe Not…
Q: Should I flex and squeeze the target muscle at the top of each rep? I don’t like wasting time in the gym. I want to get the most out of each set.
A: Only on specific exercises should you squeeze at the top of each rep… [Read more…]
Frequency, Intensity and Muscle Immensity (Study)
Hypertrophy researcher Chris Beardsley has said that a muscle recovers after only 48 hours—but as Mr. America/Mr. Universe Doug Brignole noted, that doesn’t include the supercompensation “growth” phase, which occurs after damage is repaired… [Read more…]
Mass-Building Puzzle Solved—For Now, Part 2
I mentioned that hypertrophy researcher Chris Beardsley has said that a muscle recovers after only 48 hours. That’s two days. So does that mean we should train each muscle three times a week: M-W-F, for example?
There are considerations, such as intensity, muscle damage, and supercompensation… [Read more…]
Fatigue, Fiber Activation, and Muscle Growth
Q: I can’t wrap my head around lighter weights getting me as big as heavy weights. Wouldn’t fatigue from high reps cause you to stop a set short before you get enough fibers involved? [Read more…]
Cardio Muscle Mass
All of my pondering and research into the leg development of sprinters and cyclists has changed my cardio… [Read more…]
“Explosive” Mass Research Wrong?
Q: I read with interest your explanation of [researcher] Chris Beardsley’s take on explosive movements. If he’s right and the 2X explosive fast-twitch fibers don’t have hypertrophy potential and explosive actions can cause a transition of other type 2 fibers into 2X, how do we explain the muscular quads and calves of sprinters? [Read more…]
Explosive Mass Moves = Explosive Mass Gains?
Q: I remember a program years ago, I think it was called Cybergenics, that included explosive moves like jump squats. Do very fast reps increase muscle size like your Speed method?
A: You’re talking more plyometrics—ballistic reps. The Speed sets in Old Man, Young Muscle are just slightly faster regular sets using about a one-second lift and a one-second lowering—not explosive. [Read more…]
Mr. America on Muscle-Morphing Mayhem
Q: You did a good job of explaining the research on area-specific muscle-fiber growth from Chris Beardsley. I know Doug Brignole is a fan of Beardsley, so why does he disagree with the idea that a fiber can grow in different areas depending on the applied stress? Even researchers like Brad Schoenfeld, Ph.D., agree that it’s how growth happens. [Read more…]
Massive Tradeoff? Cardio vs. Muscle Size
Q: Love Old Man, Young Muscle. It’s helped me get bigger with shorter workouts. My joint pain is almost gone too. In the ebook, you mention your runs. You’re doing four miles twice a week. Don’t you think that is detracting from your muscle-building endeavors? I’ve heard cardio makes it harder to put on mass.
A: I’ve seen studies that show cardio can make it harder to build muscle, and I’ve seen others that say just the opposite—with a boost in testosterone. [Read more…]