When you first started weight training, you probably stuck to mostly full range-of-motion reps, but as you progress you may look for ways to work your muscles differently in hopes of gaining more strength. One alternative is to do partial reps where you work a muscle or muscle group through only a portion of its range-of-motion. Are there benefits to doing this?
Muscles grow when you subject them to heavier loads than their accustomed to. One way to do this is by lifting to muscle failure. This technique is common among lifters trying to develop strength. Is it necessary to use this technique to maximize muscle growth? Find out what research shows.
Is your primary goal to become stronger? This article discusses the difference between strength and hypertrophy workouts and how to maximize strength with or without building muscle. It also points out the importance nutrition plays in strength-training gains.
You probably already know that you need to overload your muscles to get them to grow but that overload can come in a variety of forms. This article discusses the concept of muscle overload and different strategies for increasing muscle size and avoiding plateaus.
For many bodybuilders, the focus is on getting enough dietary protein – but what about carbohydrates? This article discusses the role carbohydrates play in muscle growth and maintenance and whether low carbohydrate diets make it hard to preserve muscle.
Loss of muscle mass with age is a major health problem. No wonder researchers are looking for natural ways to preserve muscle strength and mass. Could a natural ingredient in green tomatoes offer benefits? Find out what a new study shows about muscle growth and an ingredient in green tomatoes.
If your ultimate goal is to build lean body mass, does cardiovascular exercise make it harder to reach your goal? This article looks at the issue of “concurrent training,” whether aerobic exercise interferes with muscle development. Find out what research shows and tips you can use this information to enhance your own training.
What’s the deal with nutrient timing? How important is timing your nutrient intake for muscle recovery and growth? Find out why post-exercise nutrition is essential and how to maximize it.
How does the hormonal response to resistance training differ from endurance training? Do they interfere with each other? Find out how your body responds to resistance training, high-intensity cardio and longer periods of moderate-intensity endurance exercise from a hormonal standpoint.
Muscles grow when you expose them to greater stress than they’re accustomed too. There’s more than one way to increase the intensity of a resistance training workout and stimulate muscle growth. Here are some ways to make a resistance training workout more challenging.
Testosterone is an anabolic hormone that boosts muscle growth. Men have significantly higher levels of testosterone than women, putting them at a disadvantage when it comes to building lean body mass. So how is it that some women can build lean body mass through training? Find out more about the testosterone response in women and another anabolic hormone that helps women build muscle and burn fat.
Have you ever noticed how your muscles look larger and more defined after a resistance workout? Why does this happen? This article discusses this phenomenon and what distinguishes it from true muscle hypertrophy.
