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Change-to-Gain Mass Method #3

Ronnie Coleman shrugs

I’ve talked about these change-to-gain methods so far…

1) Exercise switch
2) Altered rep speed

Next on my list is… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: change to gain, double-x overloads, dxo, eccentric, mass gaining, mass method, muscle gaining, speed reps, stretch-pause, x-centric, x-reps

Mr. America’s Stretch Take

Doug Brignole performing the lat pull-in exercise

Mr. America/Mr. Universe Doug Brignole has some thoughts on my recent musing on stretching and stretch moves for mass.

He makes the observation that some muscles respond better than others to full stretch, and putting some into a full stretch can be dangerous, such as rear delts. Bringing the arm too far across that body can damage the shoulder joint…

And also lats. Here is Doug’s take… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: contraction, Double-X Overload, Doug Brignole, dxo, Mr. America, stretch exercises, stretch overload, stretch position

Can I Train Each Muscle Once a Week for Mass?

Steve and Jonathan flexing

Q: I have two questions. First, the photo from your 2005 using X-Reps and [Double-X Overload] is impressive for an ecto. How much did you weigh? Second question: Many bodybuilders in the gym train each muscle only once a week. Do you think that’s a good way to train if I increase my sets?

A: If I remember correctly, I weighed right around 190 in 2004, Jonathan was just under 200. The following year, adding DXO to our X-Rep workouts, I clocked in at 195, and Jonathan was 205. [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: Brad Schoenfeld, Double-X Overload, dxo, once-a-week, research study, Richard Winett, study

Double-X Overload Mass Tactic

Steve's before and after X-Rep pics

Jonathan and I first began experimenting with Double-X Overload, or DXO, way back in 2005, the year after we introduced end-of-set X-Rep partials into our training… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: Beyond X, Double-X Overload, dxo, mass gains, mass tactics, muscle gains, stretch overload

Get a 3-Way Rise in Size from Staged Muscle Growth

Lateral raises

Q: You’ve mentioned Stage Sets. What are those, and should I use them to get more size? Also, are Smith-machine squats a midrange exercise for quads or hamstrings in the Positions-of-Flexion mass-training system? I’ve seen it classified as both.

A: We discuss Stage Sets as one of our favorite X-hybrid techniques in Beyond X-Rep Muscle Building, along with Double-X Overload and X-Fade. We first tried Stage Sets after reading about them in one of Ellington Darden’s High-Intensity Training books back in the ’80s. So what the heck is a Stage Set? [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: beyond x-rep muscle building, biotrust protein, double-x over, dxo, ellington darden, free protein, free supplements, high-intensity training, low-carb protein, stage sets, X-Fade, x-hybrid techniques

Double Up to Muscle Up

Traditional squats in power rack - Mass Rules: Get Huge With These Moves

Q: In a previous newsletter you talked about using DXO [Double-X Overload from the Beyond X e-book] on stretch-position exercises like flyes. I tried it on squats , and it felt incredible! I backed off on the weight, but my quads were on fire and I really felt them working better than a regular set. Is it good to use DXO on the big midrange exercises like squats and bench presses along with stretch-position exercises?

A: Absolutely. You have to use less weight, and that allows you to do the DXO set in perfect form and really connect with the target muscle—plus get unique muscle-fiber activation for new growth. You could end your squats with a DXO set… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: Double-X Overload, dxo, home protection, mike westerdal, muscle building, muscle growth, muscle up, protect your family, self-defense, squats, x-rep partials

Inside Muscle-Growth Secret

Q: I need to build up the inside of my chest, the cleavage, so to speak. A training friend told me that really squeezing and flexing at the bottom of cable crossovers will get my inner pecs popping. Is that true?

A: While full-range cable crossovers can help develop the entire pec muscle—even the inner sections—believe it or not, the BEST way to attack that insertion point of the target muscle is by emphasizing stretch overload… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: anabolic fasting, best chest exercise, beyond x-rep, brad pilon, chest exercises, chest workout, Double-X Overload, dumbbell flyes, dxo, eat stop eat, inner chest, inner pecs, intermittent fasting, Jacob Wilson, mass-boosting, muscle gains, muscle growth, partial reps, secrets, stretch overload, X Reps, x-rep update

Double-X Overload Everything

Jonathan Lawson doing incline dumbbell flyes

Q: I have almost all of your e-books. They’re all great, and I reread them often for motivation and ideas. Right now I’m on The Ultimate Fat-to-Muscle Workout. Can I Double-X Overload everything stretch-related in that program? It seems like that would produce even more muscle microtrauma similar to the negative-accentuated sets on the big exercises. That should speed up my fat loss and muscle gains, right?

A: If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day; if you teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime. What does that have to do with your question? We’re just glad to see you taking techniques from our other e-books and applying them to your current workout. You’re learning how to “fish”—grasping the mass-building concepts and applying them when and where appropriate… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: anabolic hormones, bodyweight training, Double-X Overload, dxo, fat burning, fat loss, fiber splitting, hyperplasia, muscle microtrauma, muscle protein synthesis, myotatic reflex, stretch overload, x-hybrid, x-hybrid techniques

Double-X Overload Warmups?

Vascular forearm - 2 Easy Ways for BIG Muscle Gains

Q: I’m making some incredible progress using your Double-X Overload technique, but I wanted to let you know that I don’t just use it on my work sets. DXO works for warmup sets, too. I usually use it on at least one of my two warmup sets for the big [midrange] exercises, and I feel much stronger on my work sets. Great technique!

A: That’s a good tip. We love feedback from fellow weight trainers who think instead of just following the pack. One reason Double-X Overload (DXO) works so well on warmup sets is because of the enhanced occlusion and nervous system activation.

For those unfamiliar with DXO, it’s an X-Rep partial in the semi-stretch position between each full rep. That provides a slightly more explosive action, which has been shown to heighten nerve force (many top-level powerlifters do light, explosive sets for that very reason—it helps them lift more weight). [Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 3d muscle building, alpha muscle, alpha-3 specialization, beyond x-rep, blood flow blockage, bodybuilders, Double-X Overload, dxo, explosive reps, growth hormone, iso x, journal of strength conditioning research, nervous system, occlusion, powerlifters, progress, stage sets, warmup sets, warmups, x-hybrid tactics, x-rep partials

Try These 3 Wicked Mass Tactics for New Size Now

Overhead close-up of front squat

Q: I like the idea of training quads by doing front squats supersetted with back squats. My quads get almost a pre-ex effect from the strict fronts, then my glutes get better leverage on the backs to drive my quads for more growth. But I’m not very strong on fronts and can get a lot of reps when I immediately go to back squats after. Should I just do high reps on the back squats—say 6 on the fronts and 12-15 on the backs?

A: Definitely an option—if you don’t get too breathless. When training quads with higher reps, the lungs often fail before the target muscles. That’s a problem, to a degree…

You do want the breathlessness, as that’s hypoxia that can boost metabolic/anabolic drive for new size. Here are a few other options…

[Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: anabolic drive, back squats, belly fat burn, Beyond X, beyond x-rep muscle building, dxo, fat loss, front squats, glutes, hormone trick, hypoxia, leg workout, legs workout, mass tactics, metabolic drive, new size, physique, quads, slow negatives, stage sets, x-centric

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