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Mass Workout That Works

Steve spotting Jonathan for forced reps on dumbbell shoulder presses

Q: I have the Size Surge e-book and just picked up the 3D Muscle Building e-book. In 3D there’s a different version of the phase 1 Size Surge workouts [SS Mass F/X Program, pages 81-84 in 3D]. It has rest/pause and drop sets. Should I use that as phase 1 or Jonathan’s straight-set version in the Size Surge e-book?

A: The Mass F/X Program in the 3D e-book is the same 3-days-per-week phase 1 that Jonathan used, but with a few twists: You do a max-Force-generating mass workout for a bodypart, then at the second workout for that bodypart, you do an eXtended-tension-style workout. That gives you the power-density mass-building combination we’re always harping on… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: downshift week, drop sets, eric broser, extended tension time, legend, legend & myth, Mass F/X, max-force generation, multi-rep rest/pause, muscle-building, old-school, power/rep range/shock, rest/pause, Size Surge, vince gironda

Should I Do More?

Jonathan Lawson V-bar chins - 10X for Muscle Size Effects

Q: I’ve noticed in a lot of your e-book routines that you often recommend just two work sets for an exercise Why? Should I do more? I’ve read that most bodybuilders do four or five sets per exercise.

A: As Arthur Jones, the creator of Nautilus machines said: “You can train hard or you can train long, but you can’t do both.” Short and hard or long and not so hard both work. Despite what some die-hard high-intensity trainers say, gradually increasing volume is a form of overload that can result in more muscle—if you don’t overdo intensity. It’s a balancing act. Us? Regardless of whether it’s one of our low-set workouts or high tension time workouts, we’re about efficiency of effort in the gym…

[Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: anabolic environment, arthur jones, do more, drop sets, efficiency-of-effort, estrogen, fast-twitch fibers, fat burner, growth hormone release, growth stimulation, intensity, mass tactic, massthetic, Nautilus, rest/pause, steroids, tension time, testosterone, volume training, X Reps, x-hybrid tactics, x-rep partials

The Rest/Pause Link to Major Muscle and Strength

Q: I’ve been following your newsletters and noticed you guys talking about rest/pause not too long ago. Can you explain the technique a little more and the reasoning behind it?

A: Rest/pause is basically taking a very short break after you hit exhaustion on a set, and then repping out again with the same weight. The brief rest/pause allows the lactic acid to clear somewhat from the muscle and the nervous system and ATP to regenerate to a degree as well.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: 3d muscle building, anabolic, anabolic stimulus, dante, dc training, doggcrapp, Double-X Overload, dxo, forced reps, heavy singles, mike mentzer, mike westerdal, muscle, muscle size, muscle strength, physique, protect your family, pyramids, rest/pause, size, strength, X Reps, x-rep partials

Rest/Pause or Drop Sets: Which is Better?

Q: What’s better, rest/pause or drop sets, and what’s the difference? I mean, I know what they are; you rest about 10 seconds between rest/pause sets using the same weight, but with drop sets you move immediately to a lighter set with no rest. But is one better than the other?

A: We’ve found that rest/pause is best for exercises that use max force as their key growth component (midrange and stretch movements). It’s a great way to add a little more volume and force overload without too much extra time in the gym. The short rest of 10-15 seconds allows ATP and nerve pathways to regenerate somewhat so you can continue the force-overload assault.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: drop sets, mitochondria, muscle burn, rest/pause, rest/pause and drop sets, rest/pause or drop sets, tension overload, X Reps, x update, x-rep update, x/pause

Weekly Change for Big Muscle Gains

Q: I want to thank you for the great programs and excellent tips, like X-Reps. My background is in Olympic lifting, but I’ve been into bodybuilding lately. I made some okay gains training heavy, but I’ve made much better and faster progress training heavy one week and using an all-4X program the next.

A: You didn’t really ask a question, but we just wanted to commend you on being brave enough to give all-4X training—every other week—a try.

So many trainees are stuck in the must-always-train-heavy-to-grow mentality that they miss out on significant muscle-size stimulation. It’s probably the key reason most complain about such slow gains. Plus, they get injured much more often.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: 3d muscle building, 4X, 4x training, beyond x-rep, biotrust, bodybuilding, Double-X Overload, dxo, free protein, gains, growth threshold, heavy training, low-carb protein, muscle gains, olympic lifting, Power, power/rep range/shock, rest/pause, stage sets, weekly change, X Reps, X-Fade, x/pause

Quick-Rep Modification for New Mass Acceleration

Q: I have your new ebooks, Anabolic Reload and Stretch Overload. Both are great, and the simple rest/pause add-on for progression has already helped me add new mass. But I overtrain easily, so I can’t keep adding those. Is there anything else I can do to keep my muscle growth moving forward without more volume?

A: First, bodybuilding is called “progressive-resistance” training because adding weight and/or reps to your exercises can increase muscle size… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: anabolic reload, Charles Poliquin, freak physique, hypertrophic, hypertrophy, mass tactic, muscle growth, new mass acceleration, progressive resistance, quick-rep modification, rep speed, rep tempo, rest/pause, stretch overload, STX, testosterone, Truth About Testosterone, x-celeratoin

Volumize for Muscle Size

JL dumbbell curls - 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…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: anabolic reload, Brad Schoenfeld, drop sets, jonathan lawson, muscle size, progressive resistance, resistance training, rest/pause, Steve Holman, volumization

Stealth Progression = Muscle Mass Expansion

Jonathan Lawson doing one-arm cable pushdowns

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…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: anabolic reload, jerry brain, jonathan lawson, muscle growth, muscle size, progressive resistance, rest/pause, stealth progression, Steve Holman

Mini-Max Mass Method: Blow up lagging muscle groups

Jonathan Lawson Smith front squats - Mini-Max Mass Method: Blow up lagging muscle groups

Q: I train each muscle once a week with about 15 sets. I got some good gains when I first switched to it, but I seem to have stalled due to some lagging muscle groups. Should I swap in new exercises or what? I don’t really want to change my split [training each muscle once a week].

A: Well, how about working some muscles once a week with your normal 15 sets, then do a second “mini” workout during the week? It’s a great mini-max strategy for major muscle gains…

For example, take your two worst lagging muscle groups and add a second mini-workout for each later in the week. Just add it to the end of one of your other workouts. The mini should take you only an extra 10 to 15 minutes…

Say you work quads on Monday with your 15 sets. On Thursday, after your arm workout, tack on a mini-quad attack. You can use any of the mini routines in the MMX Fast Mega-Mass e-book…

For example, you no doubt did squats at your major workout, so your mini could be leg extensions supersetted with sissy squats. Notice that you do both exercises at the same station, and with only two to three rounds, it will take you about 10 minutes.

Or, if you’re more of a masochist and used free-bar squats at your main quad workout, how about hitting the Smith machine for your mini. You could do feet-forward front squats to get at hams and quad for five reps. Then rack it, set the bar on your shoulders and do regular Smith squats with your feet under your hips. Talk about major quad growth burn. Two rounds will take you 10 minutes or less.

Jonathan Lawson Smith front squats - Mini-Max Mass Method: Blow up lagging muscle groups

Other options from the MMX e-book include antagonist supersets, one-exercise rest/pause or Progressive-Speed 6X (different rep tempos over six quick sets), and even 10×10 (grueling—not for those who can’t stand the pain of muscle burn).

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

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


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Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: 10x10, antagonist supersets, belly fat burn, fat loss, gains, hormone trick, hormones, lagging muscle, lagging muscle groups, leg workout, mass methods, mini workouts, MMX, mmx fast mega-mass workouts, muscle burn, progressive-speed, progressive-speed 6x, rest/pause

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

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