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Are Behind-the-Neck Pulldowns Safe?

Jonathan Lawson outside

Q: I’m in the first phase of the Size Surge Workout, and it’s incredible! I’ve already gained 4 pounds in three weeks. That’s more than I’ve gained in the past year. I’m super psyched for the next step, so I was looking over phase 2 and noticed behind-the-neck pulldowns. I’ve read those are dangerous. Can I substitute something else?

A: Behind-the-neck pulldowns should be safe for most trainees in the phase 2 Size Surge program because of 3 reasons: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: behind-the-neck pulldowns, fat burning, fatigue, over-40, phase 1, phase 2, rotator cuffs, size surge workout, testosterone, Truth About Testosterone

Ultimate Exercise for Shoulder Size

Jonathan Lawson, wide-grip rack pulls

Q: Maybe I missed it since I’m a relatively new subscriber to your newsletter, but what is the Ultimate Exercise for shoulder size; wide-grip dumbbell upright rows or dumbbell presses?

A: We first identified each Ultimate Exercise for every major bodypart in our first e-book, The Ultimate Mass Workout. There’s a comprehensive chapter on each one, why they are best, and also a few complete programs with just those moves—like V-handle chins for lats… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Blog, X Files Tagged With: 2a fibers, bodybuilders, density, Dr. Dimitrios Stamou, eat the fat off, endurance fibers, fast-twitch fibers, Harvard research, Lou Ferrigno, Power, power pyramids, power-density workout, pumping iron, pyramids, ripped muscle, rotator cuffs, shoulder size, ultimate exercise for shoulders, Ultimate Mass Workout

Old-School Muscle Moves

Q: I noticed in some of your newsletters and in articles on your website that you guys do behind-the-neck presses and behind-the-neck pulldowns. Don’t you know those can trash your rotator cuffs? 

A: You’re not the first to reprimand us for using those so-called dangerous old-school muscle moves. However, we think the injury potential of behind-the-neck pulldowns and behind-the-neck presses is overblown because it’s dependent on genetics, exercise form, and where you place them in your program.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: back, back extercises, behind-the-neck presses, behind-the-neck pulldowns, belly fat burn, exercise form, fat loss, hormone trick, injury, lat exercises, midback exercises, muscle-building, new-school, old-school, old-school muscle moves, physique, results, rotator cuffs, shoulder exercises, shoulders, Size Surge, size surge workout

Press Here for Shoulder Size

Q: I’m using Jonathan’s 10-Week Size Surge Workout [in the 3D Muscle Building e-book], and for shoulders, it has dumbbell upright rows as the first exercise for midrange work; then I do incline one-arm laterals for stretch, and then standing laterals [contracted]. I added two sets of dumbbell presses after that for more shoulder size, as you’ve suggested, for some overhead shoulder work. My question is, Why do you sometimes recommend presses first? Aren’t those dangerous for your shoulder joints?

A: We only do behind-the-neck presses first if we use a technique that allows lighter weight, such as negative-accentuated (six-second lowering), 4X, 10×10, TORQ, etc. As you said, in the quest for shoulder size, heavy weights on behind-the-neck exercises can wreck your rotator cuffs.

For heavy pressing at the start of a shoulder workout, we use either Smith machine military presses (to the front) or dumbbell presses…

[Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: 10-week Size Surge, 10x10, 3d muscle building, 4X, behind-the-neck presses, dangerous, mike westerdal, negative-accentuated, protect your family, rotator cuffs, shoulder joints, shoulder presses, shoulder size, shoulder workout, TORQ, variation

Speed sets and muscle growth—key exercise exceptions

Behind-the-neck presses - Speed-sets muscle growth—key exercise exceptions

Q: I tried DP 4X (downward-progression 4X) on my big midrange exercise with a speed drop set after the last one. Wow, what an amazing feel and pump. I do behind-the-neck presses for delts. Can I use speed sets on those too if I’m careful?

A: You could—but you may end up needing rotator cuff surgery… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: don't do these, dormant muscle fibers, downward-progression 4x, dp 4x, growth fibers, joint damage, muscle fibers, muscle gain, muscle tension, rep cadence, rep speed, rotator cuffs, speed drop, speed sets, x-celeration sets

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