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Muscle’s Unique Mass Response, Part 2

Tom Platz screaming on leg extensions

In the last training newsletter, there was a list of the reasons why contracted-position exercises, like triceps pushdowns and leg extensions, can be just as important as stretch loading for mass in some cases… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: contracted, contracted position, mass building, muscle building, stretch position

A Muscle’s Unique Mass Response, Part 1

Arnold in a tank top flexing his triceps

Recent studies seem to place stretch-loading and stretch exercises at the top of the mass-building food chain… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: blood-flow restriction, contracted position, European Journal of Sports Science, fiber recruitment, hypoxia, mass building, muscle building, research study, stretch loading

Contracted Exercise Builds Muscle-Fiber Size

Jonathan doing overhead extensions vs. pushdowns

Studies continue to show stretch moves create more hypertrophy than contracted-position exercises. And they do—over a 12-week period. But… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: blood flow blockage, blood-flow restriction, contracted position, hypertrophy, mass building, muscle building

Stretch + Contraction: Double Your Mass Reaction

Arnold doing cable pushdowns

Q: You include both stretch- and contracted-position exercises in the Old Man, Young Muscle workout. I get why that can build more mass. But since so many studies are showing that stretch loading builds the most muscle, should I rely more on the stretch moves, or maybe even eliminate the contracted exercises most of the time?

A: The jury is still out on whether stretch exercises are “superior” to contracted-position moves. How is that possible since studies clearly show that—for example, overhead extensions beat pushdowns hands down—or in this case, hands up—for triceps mass? [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: Chris Beardsley, contracted position, mass building, muscle building, stretch effect, stretch position

Your Best # of Sets for Mass—new study, part 2

Steve with a belly vs. smooth and muscular vs. cut

In the last training newsletter, I looked at a new meta-analysis that determined the best number of sets per week and optimal intensity for hypertrophy… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: age, failure, hypertrophy, mass building, muscle building, recovery, research study

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

All Speed Sets for More Mass? Part 2

Steve doing triceps kickbacks

Yesterday I mentioned why it’s best to do the first set of your ideal exercise with a 1/3 cadence…

The first set acts as a warmup, a slow negative appears to have hypertrophy benefits, a slower-rep set exhausts the slow-twitch fibers transitioning to fast-twitch on the last reps and from the very first rep of the Speed Set that follows. [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: hypertrophy, mass building, muscle building, speed sets

All Speed Sets for More Mass? Part 1

Jay Cutler doing light barbell curls

Q: Speed Sets [1.5-second reps] feel great and are working. Just wondering why not do the first high-rep set with speed to get at more fast-twitch fibers. Or how about all sets in the entire workout in Speed style?

A: Have you been watching elite-bodybuilder training videos? Mr. Olympia winners like Jay Cutler use a rapid-fire cadence on almost all of their work sets… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: Jay Cutler, mass building, mr. olympia, muscle building, speed sets

Shorter Workouts, More Mass?

Arnold making an "angry" mean face

Q: I’ve been using the Old Man, Young Muscle workout for two months now. I’ve seen new muscle, more than I have in a year of training in my old style. Workouts are shorter too, but not 35 minutes as you recommend. It’s taking me an hour. Am I doing something wrong? I try to move around the gym quickly. Sometimes people get in my way, but not usually.

A: You’re not doing anything wrong. And your gains prove that. I know exactly what’s happening… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: long rest, mass building, muscle building, short rest, short workouts

Your Beer-Mile Lesson for More Mass

Steve hitting a most muscular pose outside of his sauna

Fun Fact: In early July 2023, Canada’s Corey Bellemore won the gold at the Beer Mile World Classic in Chicago. The event is running a mile while slamming four beers. His time was an impressive 4:30.8. [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: mass building, muscle building, results, STX

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