• X Shop
  • Checkout

X-REP.COM

Dedicated to Your Physical Transformation

  • Home
  • About Us
  • X Shop
  • X Files
    • Latest Articles
    • FAQ
    • Ezine Archive
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
  • Gallery
  • Subscribe

Your Best # of Sets for Mass—new study, part 1

Mike Mentzer doing a forced rep on a Nautilus pullover machine

I’ve ranted about the workout-recovery moving target: Your best number of sets per week and optimal intensity for hypertrophy can vary… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: arthur jones, fatigue, hypertrophy, intensity, mass building, mike mentzer, muscle building

Mentzer’s High Intensity: Right or Wrong? Part 7

In the last training newsletter I said that volume, intensity, frequency and choosing the correct exercises are all factors governing damage that produces overtraining… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: fatigue, genetics, heavy duty, mike mentzer, muscle growth, overtraining, recovery

Fatigue, Failure, and More Muscle Mass (new research)

Arnold resting between sets...and looking huge

When confronted with study results that contradict something a trainee is doing, most will say, “Well, it works for me.”…

There’s something to be said for that response. Everyone is an individual and may respond to different methods. One example I’ve used in the past is rest between sets…

Pages: 1 2

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: failure, fatigue, mass gains, muscle gains, muscle mass, neuromuscular efficiency, research, rest between sets

Fatigue, Fiber Activation, and Muscle Growth

Jonathan doing cable curls

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…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: actin-myosin strands, Chris Beardsley, fatigue, fiber activation, fiber recruitment, high-threshold motor units, hypertrophic, size principle of muscle fiber recruitment

Fatigue, Light Weights, More Mass

Steve from the side in his backyard after 10 weeks of his diet

I’m often asked how I could possibly build muscle with only a 50-pound PowerBlock dumbbell set and a bench, as chronicled in Old Man Young Muscle.

It’s a common misconception that you need heavy weights to trigger hypertrophy—and besides, I had no choice… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: Chris Beardsley, fast-twitch fibers, fatigue, high-reps, hypertrophy, light training, light weights, mass building, muscle fatigue, pandemic, transformation

New View on LIGHTER Loads for Mass

Jonathan doing PowerBlock dumbbell curls

In yesterday’s newsletter, we looked at a new interpretation of hypertrophy research that suggests going to all-out muscular failure may do more harm than good with heavier loads.

Researcher Chris Beardsley says that heavier sets to failure do most of the damage on the last two reps; therefore you should stop two reps short to achieve most of the hypertrophy stimulation while avoiding that severe damage. [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: Chris Beardsley, fatigue, high reps, high-rep, hypertrophy, light training, light weights, mass building, metabolic stress, muscle failure, protein synthesis

The Power-TORQ Muscle Maker

V-handle cable row

Q: I notice that you guys often use a double-drop set on the last one when you do TORQ. I love that muscle maker variation, and it appears it’s gotten me bigger in the past few weeks. Do you have any other ways to vary that method?

A: To refresh memories, TORQ is tension-overload repetition quantity… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: double drop, double-drop set, Doug Brignole, fatigue, Mr. America, muscle fatigue, Power, power TORQ, power-density, power-density mass workout, rest/pause, Super TORQ, tension overload, tension-overload repetition quantity, TORQ, Ultimate Power-Density Mass Workout

Crashing Through the Growth Threshold

Legendary Pro Bodybuilder Lee Labrada
.tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em} .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="dca4b52ab1d024fb250e76427fcb8de3"] .tb-button__link { background-color: rgba( 9, 90, 138, 1 ); } .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="dca4b52ab1d024fb250e76427fcb8de3"] .tb-button__icon { font-family: dashicons; } .tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em} .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="cf6c19eb6a56eb6752e9269fce94ee82"] .tb-button__link { background-color: rgba( 9, 90, 138, 1 ); } .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="cf6c19eb6a56eb6752e9269fce94ee82"] .tb-button__icon { font-family: dashicons; } .tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em} .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="c4beed0c01721c4d6c1f0fa4b8829420"] .tb-button__link { background-color: rgba( 9, 90, 138, 1 ); } .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="c4beed0c01721c4d6c1f0fa4b8829420"] .tb-button__icon { font-family: dashicons; } @media only screen and (max-width: 781px) { .tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em}.tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em}.tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em} } @media only screen and (max-width: 599px) { .tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em}.tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em}.tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em} } 

Q: You’ve mentioned the Growth Threshold a few times. What is that? What does it mean and how do I use it to get bigger?

A: Growth Threshold is a term we borrowed from champion pro bodybuilder Lee Labrada, pictured below. Here’s Lee’s explanation, from our 4X Mass Workout e-book:

The growth threshold is the point at which the level of fatigue in the muscle is high enough that a growth response is elicited. Your goal during a workout should be to fatigue the target muscles you are training more and more with each succeeding set. In other words, you want the muscles to progressively get more and more tired out, until you reach a point where the muscles are functionally ‘worn out.’ Signals are sent to the brain that set up the compensation, or growth, process during the postworkout period, so that in future workouts you can handle it.

Pro Bodybuilder Lee Labrada doing cable curls, Mike Neveux photo

Because you use the same weight on every set of a 4X sequence, and the first two sets are fairly easy, you gradually approach the growth threshold. The short 30-to-40-second rests between sets ensure that fatigue accumulates to a size-triggering climax at set 4.

For those not familiar with 4X, you take a weight with which you can get 15 reps, but you only do 10 deliberate reps; rest 30 to 40 seconds, then do 10 more. Rest 30 to 40 seconds again, then do 10 more. Rest 30 to 40 seconds one last time, then go to failure. If you get 10 on that fourth set, add weight to that exercise at your next workout…

Jonathan Lawson doing cable curls

As Labrada says,

I do not let my muscles regain all of their strength before starting the next set. After all, my goal is to fatigue my muscles more and more with each succeeding set until they hit the growth threshold.

And that’s what 4X sequences are all about—reaching the critical growth threshold without overtaxing the body’s recovery systems so you continue to ignite new, dramatic muscle growth at every workout. 4X training will give you size increases in both the myofibrils, the actin-myosin strands that produce force, and the sarcoplasmic endurance fluid in the muscle fibers.

And if you use a 4X sequence on the full-range 3-way Positions-of-Flexion programs for each muscle—midrange, stretch, and contracted, you reach the growth threshold for each and get a triple dose of muscle growth.

Get More 4X Info

NOTE: If you’ve been training with standard myofibrillar-dominant heavy sets—tension times of 20 seconds and rests of 2 minutes or more—you may want to increase your sarcoplasmic mass with a few weeks of PURE density training. For that, give 10×10 training a spin. You take a weight with which you can get 20 reps, but you only do 10. Rest 30 seconds, then do 10 more—and so on until you complete 10 sets. The last few rounds will be brutal, but the pump and sarcoplasmic size you ignite will be unreal. Use it on only one exercise per bodypart—10 minutes for each—for two weeks and watch the amazing changes in your physique.

Get More 10×10 Info

Till next time, train hard—and smart—for BIG results.

—Steve Holman and Jonathan Lawson
www.X-Rep.com


Build MASS with bodyweight training

One way you’re guaranteed to pack on stacks of muscle is through a process called muscle protein synthesis (MPS), which more than doubles 24 hours after an intense workout…

Until recently, MPS was only elevated when trainees would lift 70-90% of their one-rep max…



That’s not only dangerous for your joints, but it also sets you up for high injury risk every time you exercise…

It used to be believed that training with your own bodyweight couldn’t get you the same results as training with your 70-90% one rep max… Until NOW. 

–> How to build MASS with bodyweight training

Build Mass with Bodyweight Training

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: 10x10 training, 4x mass workout, 4x sequences, 4x training, actin-myosin strands, bodyweight training, fatigue, growth threshold, Lee Labrada, muscle protein synthesis, myofibrils, pro bodybuilder, sarcoplasmic growth

The Squeeze Technique for a Massive Physique

Contracted leg extensions
.tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em} .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="dca4b52ab1d024fb250e76427fcb8de3"] .tb-button__link { background-color: rgba( 9, 90, 138, 1 ); } .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="dca4b52ab1d024fb250e76427fcb8de3"] .tb-button__icon { font-family: dashicons; } .tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em} .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="cf6c19eb6a56eb6752e9269fce94ee82"] .tb-button__link { background-color: rgba( 9, 90, 138, 1 ); } .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="cf6c19eb6a56eb6752e9269fce94ee82"] .tb-button__icon { font-family: dashicons; } .tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em} .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="c4beed0c01721c4d6c1f0fa4b8829420"] .tb-button__link { background-color: rgba( 9, 90, 138, 1 ); } .tb-button[data-toolset-blocks-button="c4beed0c01721c4d6c1f0fa4b8829420"] .tb-button__icon { font-family: dashicons; } @media only screen and (max-width: 781px) { .tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em}.tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em}.tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em} } @media only screen and (max-width: 599px) { .tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em}.tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em}.tb-button{color:#f1f1f1}.tb-button--left{text-align:left}.tb-button--center{text-align:center}.tb-button--right{text-align:right}.tb-button__link{color:inherit;cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;line-height:100%;text-decoration:none !important;text-align:center;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__link:hover,.tb-button__link:focus,.tb-button__link:visited{color:inherit}.tb-button__link:hover .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:focus .tb-button__content,.tb-button__link:visited .tb-button__content{font-family:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;letter-spacing:inherit;text-decoration:inherit;text-shadow:inherit;text-transform:inherit}.tb-button__content{vertical-align:middle;transition:all 0.3s ease}.tb-button__icon{transition:all 0.3s ease;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;font-style:normal !important}.tb-button__icon::before{content:attr(data-font-code);font-weight:normal !important}.tb-button__link{background-color:#444;border-radius:0.3em;font-size:1.3em;margin-bottom:0.76em;padding:0.55em 1.5em 0.55em} } 

Q: A friend of mine used to compete in bodybuilding contests, and he swears that practicing his posing improved his muscle size and shape. I think it was all in his mind. There’s no resistance when you flex, so it couldn’t build more muscle. I think he believes it did because he just happened to be getting more and more ripped from dieting and training, which made him look better every time he practiced posing. What do you think?

A: Yes, as you get more and more ripped, you’ll definitely look bigger, even as your bodyweight drops. A fat-free physique creates the illusion of mass, as you can see from the photos below of Jonathan from our X-treme Lean e-book. Nevertheless, you’re friend is also right… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: 4x training, blood flow blockage, bodybuilding, fatigue, flexing, look bigger, massive physique, mike westerdal, occlusion, physique, positions of flexion, protect your family, ripped, sarcoplasm, sarcoplasmic expansion, self defense, squeeze technique, x-centric training, x-treme lean

5 Critical Keys to More Muscle Mass

Jonathan Lawson muscular - Step Back to Move Your Muscle Mass Forward

Q: I understand that heavy weight isn’t important for maximum muscle growth. Can you tell me what I should include in my workouts to build the most mass possible in the shortest time. I want to get bigger.

A: Well, “heavy” weights are important, but “heavy” is relative to YOU—and dependent on muscle fatigue. You may struggle with 20 pounds in a certain exercise at the END of a bodypart workout. So that 20 pounds is “heavy” for you on that exercise at that moment… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: change to gain, continuous tension, fatigue, heavy training, hypertrophic, hypertrophic tension time, keys to more muscle mass, muscle fatigue, muscular fatigue, myofibrils, sarcoplasm, stretch, synergy, tension time

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next Page »

:: Get the latest news and specials :: Sign Up for our Ezine!

Shopping Cart

Number of items in cart: 0

  • Your cart is empty.
  • Total: $0.00
  • Checkout

Copyright © 2023 · X-Rep.com