Food for thought on your training

Frink'

Don Juan
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Alot of people want to start bodybuilding to become bigger for whatever reasons. Normally, they start out with a typical bodybuilding split with reps between ten to twelve. This rep range is considered the "bodybuilding rep range". Usually, a person can gain weight faster with higher repps in the short term. But often times, I see people stagnate after 20 lbs of weightgain and gain 5 lbs a yar after that. If they stop working out for a period of time due to whatever reason life brings them - their size shrinks fast. And why is this? Yess, you see the normal 10-12 repp range builds volume faster in the short term because it pulls water and glycogen into the muscle. So the musclecells get volumized, and it appears like they have built muscle when they in reality just hold more water and glycogen.

If you train for strenght and the repps are in that strength rep range of 1-6 repps, the musclemass the scale weight might move slower in the short term. But in the long term, you will have a much more stable weight gain and over time you will have more pure musclemass -- meaning that it won't be just water and glycogen. The low rep strength range grows and thickens the actual muslefibers instead of just pulling more water and glycogen into them. What I mean by longterm is ... it might take between two to five years to accheave a 500 lbs deadlift and squat and a 350 bench, but you're gonna be one of the thickest most muscular guys in the gym. And it will be hard grainy quality thick muscle fibers instead of the smooth and mushy water retainers. If you're a total beginner to this type of training, you can read waboss and the other guys' posts. For the simple starter solution on powerbuilding you can start with today -- the max-ot trainingprogram and eating 2 times your bodyweight in protein with moderate carbs and healthy fats is a good start. Theres no reason to get fat. Gain between 1-3 lbs a month, and you'll gain muscle and keep bodyfat at the same level or maby a slight increase.
 

stronglifts

Master Don Juan
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Good post Frink'

Myofibrillar vs. sarcoplasmatic hypertrophy. As someone who did bodybuilding for several years: strength training gives a much "denser" look. Agreed you'll look smaller at the same bodyweight, but it looks better. And you not only look strong, you are strong.
 

Drum&Bass

Master Don Juan
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Nothing wrong with staying in a high rep range for a certain period of time, eventually you work your way to a lower rep range and then you start all over again with high reps and then gradually begin to go low rep heavy weight.

If you only stay in the low rep range you won't develop any muscular endurance.

however if you only stay in high rep range you maintain what you have and won't see any significant hypertrophy.

It's not rocket science nor is it complicated...Start light and plenty and work your way to heavy and few..then RESTART the cycle again..simple !
 

Frink'

Don Juan
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Look at elite powerlifter Dave Gulledge at 265 lbs. I'll quote Mike robertson on this one:
Whether it's the back of a bodybuilder like Dorian Yates or Ronnie Coleman, a powerlifter like Ed Coan, or an Olympic lifter like Pyrros Dimas, big backs are a byproduct of moving heavy iron for an extended period of time. You can't pump and cramp your way to a big back.



 

stronglifts

Master Don Juan
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Who is that guy on the pic?

Oleksander Kutcher Has an big thick back from all the pulling he does.
 
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