veiny arms Archives

Mass Building with a Lean-Machine Edge

Q: I just got your X-treme Lean e-book. I will start ripping it up soon for spring. Lots of great nutrition stuff and diets, but I didn’t even realize it all has a workout program. Is this workout better than the Fat-to-Muscle Workout? I’m trying to decide which one to use in a few weeks to kick in the cuts for spring.

A: The X-treme Lean High-Definition Workout is a 3-way split. It includes lower reps, 8-12, on a big exercise alternated with a high-rep set on an isolation move to give you that lean-machine edge. For example, for upper chest it’s… [Read more…]

Muscle-Growth-Threshold Training for Fat Loss

Q: I know you suggest one second to lift and three seconds to lower. Do you ever use a slower lifting cadence, like lifting in three or four seconds instead of only one? Wouldn’t that produce more tension time for unique muscle-growth stimulation?

A: Yes, it can be a great variation for more mass creation as well as a fat-burning catalyst. But the big reason to slow down on the lifting stroke is for more strength. [Read more…]

Three Quick Sets for Major Muscle Mass

Q: I remember back from your old daily training blog that Steve often did Downward-Progression 4X with only three sets. If I remember correctly, he would add weight so his reps were 12, 10, 8. I like the idea of three sets because I do more than one compound exercise for each muscle. Do you think adding more weight to each set so my reps are 12, 8, 5 will work? I like to go heavier.

A: The reason Steve kept his last set at around eight reps is because he’s old. LOL! However, if you’re a bit younger and like to take your reps down lower, we’d give you the thumbs-up on your idea… [Read more…]

Mass Workout Remix + Size-Packing Tricks

Q: I’m looking for a hot, basic workout that will grow muscle fast. I see lots of people raving about Positions of Flexion, so I thought I’d use a basic POF workout with a proven track record. That would be the 3D Power Pyramid Workout [Chapter 2 in the Freak-Physique Stretch-Overload Workout e-book]. But I want to make a few changes. 1) Instead of 4 days a week, I’ll keep the two-way split and train M-W-F—so Wednesday’s workout will repeat on the following Monday and Friday; 2) I want to use TORQ on the last exercise, the contracted-position move. What do you think?

A: That sounds like a GREAT size-building plan. Here’s why.

The POF 2-way split listed in the Freak-Physique e-book has you hit a lot of bodyparts each day… [Read more…]

Simplify for Size: Back to Basics to Add Slabs of Muscle

Q: In one of your recent newsletters I noticed that you guys recommended using The Basic X-traordinary X-Rep Workout to an advanced trainee. Can someone who’s been training a while really make new gains with such an abbreviated basic program?

A: Absolutely! And the gains can be outstanding, especially after an extreme peaking cycle. When you’ve been training toward a peak day, like a competition, photoshoot, or any other specific goal, you bring yourself to the brink of overtraining—but that’s a good thing, and incredible things happen when you simplify for size… [Read more…]