• 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

The Great Gains Experiment

Jonathan Lawson delts abs

Q: I’ve read that training all out [to failure] is not the best way to grow muscle. The argument I read said that it causes nervous system and adrenal burnout as well as higher levels of muscle-eating cortisol [stress hormone]. Don’t you think bodybuilders will grow better if they use more sets, stopping short of failure to avoid those problems?

A: No doubt about it, training all out is traumatic. It’s brutal on the body, but that’s what makes it so effective—if you use it correctly… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: bill pearl, cortisol, great gains, high-intensity training, medium intensity, muscle growth, nervous system, new e-book, physique, quick-start muscle building 2.0, size principle of muscle fiber recruitment, stress hormone, subfailure, supercompensation

Less Time, More Muscle: Cut Back to Grow Big?

Q: Most of the programs in your e-books don’t have a lot of work sets. Pro bodybuilders use a lot more volume than you recommend, and they’re obviously pretty huge and ripped. Are there any studies that prove less time in the gym is good or that show the best number of sets for a workout?

A: Too much stress, whether in relationships, in the gym, or on a bungee-jumping platform, causes cortisol to surge. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can force your body to eat muscle tissue for energy. Not good! And it lowers testosterone, which also can cause muscle loss (not to mention a lower sex drive). A study that looked at how training volume affects testosterone in men was done several years ago (Alemany, J.A., et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 36:S238)… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: alain gonzales, arnold, athletic-aesthetic physique, brad pitt, cortisol, cut back to grow, drug-free, elevated testosterone, freak physique, freak-physique stretch-overload workout, less time, more muscle, muscle loss, perfect physique, pro bodybuilders, ripped, stress, stress hormone, stretch overload, study, testosterone, training volume

Build muscle, burn fat, get jacked: the #1 key

Q: I need to get leaner, and I think I’d better start now if I want abs by springtime. I know I need to diet, but I don’t want to lose muscle. What’s the best way to build muscle and burn fat?

A: Many will say that you will lose muscle if you reduce your calories enough to burn fat, but we disagree…

[Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: abs, anabolic, anabolic hormones, biotrust, build muscle, calorie reduction, cardio, contracted, cortisol, fat burning, fat gain, fat-burning hormones, fat-to-muscle, fat-to-muscle workout, full range of motion, get jacked, get lean, growth hormone, hormones, midrange, negative-accentuated, POF, positions of flexion, pro-x10, probiotics, protein farts, pyramids, stress hormone, stretch, testosterone, triple-shredded combo, x-centric, x-traordinary abs, x-treme lean

Are You Working Out Too Hard?

Steve spotting Jonathan for forced reps

Q: I train my butt off in the gym. I hit it harder than every other guy in there, but I haven’t gained much muscle in a long time. Is it my genetics? My nutrition is perfect, so I should be growing like crazy, but I’m not. It’s very frustrating… Help?!

A: Yes, your genetics could have something to do with it; HOWEVER, you may have just been working out too hard for too long. It’s time to step back with a new plan… [Read more…]

Filed Under: X Files Tagged With: 4X, 4x mass method, 4x mass training, 4x mass workout, building muscle, burning fat, cortisol, danny padilla, dieting, gain muscle, genetics, growth threshold, hardgainers, intensity, mass accelerator, mass building, muscle gaining, overtraining, phase training, results, ripping phase, stress, stress hormone, supersaturatoin, testosterone, working out too hard

:: 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

Log In

Copyright © 2025 · X-Rep.com