Your muscles can grow and become stronger with training but there’s variability in how much an individual’s muscle can grow. Why do some people develop muscle and strength so easily while others struggle? What affects muscle hypertrophy?
You produce the most growth hormone as an adolescent but levels drop dramatically with age. This can lead to the gradual loss of muscle and bone tissue. Can regular exercise bring about a release of growth hormone?
Are you gaining muscle mass? How can you tell? You might get an idea by looking in the mirror but that’s not very precise. Here’s another way to see if you’re building muscle tissue.
You know how important hydration is, especially before a cardiovascular or HIIT workout. How hydrated you are also matters when you strength train. In fact, it can impact your performance and, potentially, muscle gains.
Quality Sleep – are you getting enough? Even if you consume enough protein and train hard, sleep can limit muscle growth and development. Find out why and what you can do about it.
What is leucine and what impact does it have on muscle growth? As it turns out, leucine may have several benefits that speak to the needs of people who strength train. Find out why.
You’re feeling stiff and sore. In fact, you have a bad case of delayed onset muscle soreness. Should you work out and, if you do, how hard?
It’s no surprise that you need protein to build muscle and you need it throughout the day – but what about at bedtime? Can consuming protein before going to sleep help you build more muscle by increasing muscle protein synthesis?
Muscles will grow in size if you force them to work harder than they’re accustomed to. In fact, there are three main ways in which muscles grow. Find out what they are and how you can use them to fine-tune your muscle hypertrophy workout.
Have you hit a plateau or are you looking for a different way to challenge your body? Have you tried giant sets? Find out what “giant setting” entails and what the benefits are for your physique.
Cortisol – it’s a hormone bodybuilders want to keep in check – but why? Does cortisol really have the ability to sabotage muscle growth? It depends. Find out why.
Are you eating right and training hard and STILL not making the muscle gains you expected? Here are four factors that make it harder to build muscle that you may not have considered.
