Comments on: 5 Research-Proven Techniques For Faster Muscle Gains

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 17:36:11 +0000

In reply to Scott. @Scott. Yes indeed. All great points, buddy.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 14:11:01 +0000

What about water intake, especially when using creatine?
Or a good night sleep?

By: Joseph

Joseph — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:39:38 +0000

I do all of these but the beta alanine (never heard of it) and the decline dumbbell press. It’s just too much of a pain to get heavy dumbbells onto the decline by yourself. I’ve done decline presses in the past a bit but never really felt my chest getting worked out as much as the front of my shoulders of course it may be because I didn’t do them enough to really get them down.. I’ve also noticed that much of these “must have” exercises are user preference kinda deals meaning according to your body type, I mean if your a tall dude deads are not going to be as beneficial for say a guy that’s 5’7 or so. I mean the tall guy would be basically doing a stiff legged dead lift. They would have to make taller 45 plates for taller people to benefit to the degree it would a shorter person. The 45’s are just about the right height for a 5’7 or so person, it’s in his sweet spot meaning he doesn’t have to go to far down to get the weight and he’s incorporating a certain more even amount of legs (glutes) and back were as the tall guy’s getting more lower back and hamstrings then anything.. Lee Hayward good about mentioning this sort of idea to every one his own meaning everybody’s built differently and there’s no one size that fits all. It’s more of a “general rule” if you will. Just my two cents.

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:31:52 +0000

@Maddox. It’s a hamstring exercise, so substitute with leg curls. Enjoy!

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:30:51 +0000

@Tommi. No buddy. Declines will recruit the bulk of the chest fibers, about 93% of them to be exact. Incline will place more emphasis and stimulation ONLY to the upper region. So for overall pec development, a decline dumbbell bench press works best. Go as low as you can on those negatives – you’ll love it.

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:27:19 +0000

@Charlie. Probolic SR is just a protein blend, there’s nothing unhealthy about it. However, it is a slow-release protein, which no one needs. Solid food is a slow-release protein. Have a solid food protein meal at bedtime, not a protein powder.

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:25:42 +0000

@Omar. Download THT. It includes 10 weeks of training each body part 3 times a week, every 48hrs.

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:24:14 +0000

@Mike. Decline dumbbell bench presses will be a part of THT 5.4, which I hope to have released before the end of the month.
In the meantime, you could replace the crossovers or inclines with these.

By: Maddox

Maddox — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:20:50 +0000

Hi Mark, for leg day on THT on the 5-day cycle, I’m usually unable to do stiff-leg deadlifts due to fatigue from squats and leg press prior. So i wouldn’t even be able to balance myself to position for the exercise. What do you suggest I should do?

By: Tommi

Tommi — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 19:07:02 +0000

Quick question Mark, decline db chest presses is that right? Or would inclines not be more beneficial?

By: charlie

charlie — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 18:45:23 +0000

Ir got a question its is true that probolic Sr its just soy and bad for you

By: Omar

Omar — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:37:44 +0000

What about training more frequently? People recommend a 4 day upper lower split (hit muscle groups 2x per week) to take advantage of the elevated protein synthesis after a workout.

Studies have shown muscle protein synthesis (MPS) to be elevated for up to 48 hours after training.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 17:15:25 +0000

Mark, decline dumbbell presses aren’t currently part of my routine and I don’t see them in the recommended T.H.T. 3 or 5-day workouts. Since they are apparently so effective, how would you recommend incorporating them? On 5-day (chest+abs day), I’m already doing flat bench, dips, incline bench and cable crossovers. Thanks!

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:47:53 +0000

@Juan. Forearms get a lot of work from working all other body parts, but for direct work do dumbbell wrist curls. This is included in THT training.

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:46:46 +0000

@gatianous. The best thing you can do is read my THT Quick Start Guide here, then download the program and look at the workout logs…it’s simple
https://musclehack.com/tht-training-quick-start-guide/

By: Juan

Juan — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 16:37:20 +0000

And what about forearms?

By: gatianous

gatianous — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 15:49:23 +0000

Hi Mark,
I’m completely new to this. THT is totally clear, but I have no idea what half of these routines are at all! Is there “routines for dummies”, how-to videos or something for the ignorant?

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 14:34:45 +0000

@building surveyor. Makes everyone’s skin tingle, buddy. Just a side effect. At least you know it’s working 😉

By: building surveyor

building surveyor — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 14:32:51 +0000

Beta-A makes my skin/face tingle. What’s up with that?

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 13:55:36 +0000

@Mark. Only movements that would involve the biomechanics of the entire body would be of concern to very tall guys. So squats and deadlifts. Apart from that, I can’t see it making any difference at all.
@Tony. Thanks, buddy 🙂

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 13:48:24 +0000

great simple article to remind us of the basics. I like that it has the links to read further. Even a long time subscriber like myself got reminded about BA, which I forgot to pick up.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 13:19:34 +0000

On the Sept 2014 blog post – you mentioned the leg press had been shown to be more effective than the squat for taller gym-goers. I was wondering, are you were aware of any research that focuses on the best (and worst) exercises for the very tall (ie 2m and above) body builder?

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 13:16:05 +0000

Guys, AWESOME comments so far.
Thank you all so much 😀
Mark

By: Blake

Blake — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 13:07:01 +0000

There’s so much garbage out there, it’s great to have an article that simplifies the process. I think a lot of people get intimidated that they’re not doing things accurately to gain muscle. This is a good reminder for me to start taking Creatine again.

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 13:02:18 +0000

This is the kind of information people pay for.

Thanks!