static holds Archives

Muscle-Building Tips, Tricks, and Pics

Q: The X-Rep workout program I’m using from the X-Rep Update #1 e-book is amazing. I added a couple pounds of muscle after only two weeks, and I swear I’m seeing new cuts and striations I’ve never seen on me before. Do you notice more size and detail when you use the fascia-expansion techniques?

A: Standard POF protocol is the midrange exercise, followed by the stretch exercise, followed by the contracted exercise. For example, bench presses (midrange), dumbbell flyes (stretch), and cable flyes (contracted). Merely switching the order of the last two exercises provides more of a stretching effect on the muscle-fiber encasements, which allows for more growth to occur…

[Read more…]

Transformation Photos: Girls vs. Guys

Q: I’m a man in my late 30s, but I’m very motivated by Becky Holman’s before and after photos and her story. Is the training program she used okay for men to use?

A: Absolutely. Men and women should both strive to build muscle, and that’s what her program does. Women won’t get bulky muscles no matter how hard they train because they don’t have the hormonal profile for that to happen. It’s a testosterone thing—and as you can see in the transformation photos below, Becky (Steve’s wife, who was in her early 40s below) doesn’t have a lot of testosterone…

[Read more…]

One Quick Tip to Pack on Muscle Mass Fast (it hurts, but it works!)

Q: I just got the Size Surge 2.0 e-book (thanks for the great price). It’s excellent, but you don’t mention X Reps much. I know you said when Jonathan got his great results with the original Size Surge program, you hadn’t developed X-es yet. I’ve built a lot of mass with that technique, so should I include X Reps in either phase?

A: For the uninitiated, X Reps are short eight-inch partials at the end of a full-range set. We’ll give you an alternate end-of-set mass move in a moment, but first, here’s a quick explanation of X Reps… [Read more…]

Low-Rep Muscle-Mass Lowdown

Q: What’s your opinion of low-rep sets, like singles, doubles, and triples? Will they help me build more muscle?

A: Low reps are more for developing strength, but indirectly they can help you add size. We say indirectly because low-rep sets help you develop neuromuscular efficiency, or better nerve force. Eventually, that can help you activate more muscle fibers on your higher-rep muscle-building sets…

However, there are safer ways to build neuromuscular efficiency—like end-of-set X Reps and/or end-of-set static holds (StatX)…

For example, on decline bench presses say you hit full-range exhaustion at around rep nine. Lower to the semi-stretch point near the bottom of the stroke and pulse with eight-inch partial reps. If you can’t do any on your own, have your partner help you with three to five normal-speed X Reps…

If you don’t have a partner, slowly lower your last rep, using a six-second negative, and stop at the semistretch point, just above the turnaround, and hold for as long as possible. Obviously, you need a Smith machine for declines so you can rack the bar in the low position after your StatX. For squats, be sure you’re in a power rack with safety pins set properly.

We’re not big fans of low-rep sets because we’re not powerlifters; we try to leave our egos at the gym door. Several years ago, our egos got the best of us, and we just had to squat 500 pounds. We both finally did it for a few reps—but our legs didn’t look bigger or better. That’s not the worst of it. We accrued so much spine-compression damage that to this day both of us have back problems. We feel like dumb-asses for that lack of common sense…

Remember, you need to be injury-free to train consistently and intensely to make the best muscle gains possible. That’s why we suggest you use X Reps and/or StatX instead of dangerous low-rep sets. Five reps on a set is as low as we ever recommend—and that’s rare. You don’t need low reps to build maximum muscle, as Jonathan’s results show…

Note: For more on X Reps and StatX training, see The X-traordinary X-Rep Workout e-book.

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

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

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Note: This is NOT traditional HIIT or boring steady-state cardio

Tips for Solo Training and BIG Gaining

Q: I agree with your progressive-overload theory, gradually making workouts more intense. You suggest adding a few forced reps every couple weeks in the first phase of the Size Surge program. But I train alone and can’t do forced reps. How can I make the workouts progressively more intense for solo training?

A: For those who missed it, we suggested this progression for the 3-days-a-week workouts in phase 1 of the Size Surge program:

Weeks 1 and 2: Go to positive failure only
Weeks 3 and 4: Add forced reps to set 2 on pyramids
Week 5: Do one forced rep on set 1 and two on set 2
Week 6: Downshift, stopping all sets two reps short of failure, then move to Phase 2

That progressively builds the intensity so you stimulate new gains every week. And, of course, you should push to add weight on that program as you get stronger as well.

But you can’t do forced reps because you train alone, so static holds and rest/pause will give you the Size Surge progressions you’re after. Here’s a good plan:

Weeks 1 and 2: Go to positive failure only

Weeks 3 and 4: Go to failure on each work set and add a static hold at the sticking point on all sets (on your last rep, drive the weight as high as you can and hold for 3 to 5 seconds)

Week 5: Use the static hold on the last rep of the first set; on the second set go to failure, rest for 20 seconds, then do as many as you can with the same weight, ending with a static hold

Week 6: Downshift—stop all sets two reps short of failure for full muscle supercompensation to prepare for the full-range-muscle-training onslaught of phase 2

A static hold won’t be possible on some exercises like squats and deadlifts due to the danger factor. Simply do as many reps as you can and keep fighting to add more weight to the bar for progressive overload.

Note: Jonathan frequently used static contractions when he had to train alone during the 10-week Size Surge experiment. That’s very important and explained in the Size Surge e-book.

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

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

Anabolic Reload

Check out our read-me page that has more on slow-twitch exhaustion training, the key hypertrophic triggers, anabolic interference, the 5 Freak Physique Factors, PLUS, you can get Size Surge, X-treme Lean, and The Anabolic Reload Bodyweight Workout FREE when you order the Anabolic Reload ebook for ONLY $15 HERE

NOTE: The special low $15 price ($45 value) will expire, so if you’re interested, grab it now HERE

Embarrassing Gym Moments

Q: I’m using an X-Rep-based routine in the X-Rep Update #1 ebook I picked up a couple weeks ago, but do I have to use Static Contraction (StatC) sets to get the best results from it? I feel like an idiot holding a weight in the flexed position [on contracted-position exercises]. People at my gym look at me weird. LOL!

A: You don’t have to use any of the tactics if you aren’t comfortable with them or if they cause any embarrassing gym moments. BUT… Are you going to let what other people think slow down your gains?

As we explain in the X Update ebook, that hold technique on contracted-position exercises, like triceps pushdowns (below), added [Read more…]

Fat-to-Muscle Facts and Photos

Q: I saw before and after photos of Steve’s wife, Becky, on your site. Amazing transformation! My girlfriend would like to know what type of program she used. Did she use X Reps, or should women not use that type of intense training?

A: Becky’s transformation took a few months (she kept having to restart due to motivation issues—so much fat to lose was overwhelming to her—and she didn’t use X Reps because we hadn’t developed that technique yet; however, she did use static holds, which we call a Static X. At the end of a set to exhaustion, she would drive the weight up as far as she could and hold for a five count or so to extend the tension time. That had a similar muscle fiber-activation boost as well as occlusion effects. She added muscle and lost fat quickly, as you can see from her before and after photos… [Read more…]

Boost Testosterone… With Cardio?!

Anabolic Reload

Boost Testosterone…
With Cardio?!