Comments on: Submit Your Article Ideas To MuscleHack

By: Karan

Karan — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 01:52:17 +0000

Maybe a vegetarian MANS diet…if possible?

By: Jarrett

Jarrett — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:21:07 +0000

Ah, sorry, I didn’t post the article URL, did I. Here it is: https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510255,00.html

By: Jarrett

Jarrett — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:04:25 +0000

I just saw an article on FOXNews.com about a study that was done on red meat. I personally love the stuff and I know the benefits to weightlifters in eating a good portion of it. But after reading this, I’m wondering if I should cut down red meat and go for chicken, pork and tuna instead. Any thoughts on a good ratio of the different meats?

Also, I’ve been doing the 2-3 minute breaks between sets as suggested. But I’m starting to wonder if there’d be any harm on putting a set in for a different muscle group during that break. Wouldn’t that be more efficient? Or is there some negative point that I’m missing?

I’m really looking forward to any comments or an article on these points. Have a good one.

Jarrett

By: Danny

Danny — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:32:34 +0000

Could you talk about how you would change or alter a normal diet for people who work out very early and first thing in the morning.

By: sam

sam — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:15:51 +0000

yo mark how long have you been useing that journal thing for? or how long have you been tracking your progress?
.
it would be cool to see an archive article of your physique progression over the years.
.
photos of your physique from when you first started training and what you were eating and training like
.
then we can see how your orignal workouts and meals didnt give you the physique you wanted
.
and so we can see how your muscle hack workouts and eating real made a change on your physique
.
ive never seen stuff like that before and it would be really interesting

thanks mark

By: David

David — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:27:35 +0000

Mark,

Ok, I’ve built a nice body the natural way. Now I just want to maintain the muscle gains I’ve made, and do it with the least amount of effort, and the most flexible diet possible. What types of changes would you suggest that would help me keep those gains while making the routine more sustainable for a guy with a wife, kids, and a full time job?

By: Pece

Pece — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:17:08 +0000

Keep up the good work Mark!
Your site is definitely genuinely useful.

By: Blake

Blake — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:55:15 +0000

Mark,

A couple things I’ve been trying to work out:

1) There are certain exercises that require I go up less than the base 5lb intervals found between most dumbbells. Can you recommend any kind of 1lb / 2.5lb “add-ons” for dumbbells? (only thing I’ve seen that comes close is weight “wraps” used by some joggers)

By: JT...

JT... — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 03:48:07 +0000

Was in the gym the other day doing some barbell curls when I noticed that my left arm seemed to be struggling a lot more than my right. I was kinda shocked that it could be so much weaker. I looked at the weight to find it was actually heavier. Doh! lol
This happened again today to a slightly lesser extent while I was doing some Standing Barbell Presses. My left shoulder was struggling a bit more than my right which meant the form wasnt looking to optimal. I double checked the weights were the same.Yup. So my left shoulder is weaker it would seem.

I’m assuming that I should do an extra set on my left to make it as strong as my right. What do you think?

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 02:12:22 +0000

ROBO

No your fine. I dont get sore anymore unless I take like a week or 2 off any type of training and the initial post lift day is the only time Im sore. Its just your muscles are getting used to the continual stress you put on them.

By: ROBO

ROBO — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:59:57 +0000

Hey Mark. I have a quick question that has been bothering me for a while. I have been working out for a while now, I try to do the Progressive Overload with each practice. Lately though my muscles have been less and less sore after each training. Im woundering if there is something that im doing wrong or is it just how its suppost to be. Is muscle soreness necessary for maximum gains?

By: Matt B.

Matt B. — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:06:14 +0000

JT,

I also had a problem with cramping, though for me it was in my right calf. Increase your potassium and water consumption religiously for the next two weeks and see if it resolves the issue. That solution works for me and lots of other people!

Potassium can be hard, though, since there are few low-carb sources of it. Low-Carb IsoPure protein powder has a whopping 750mg of potassium per serving, and that really helps that particular deficiency.

–Matt B.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:19:15 +0000

I’d definitely like to see all of @Adnan’s suggestions. Especially stretching at the mo.

By: Matt B.

Matt B. — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:31:46 +0000

Wusty,

I’m in Utah, too. What gym do you work out of? I’m willing to drive a bit, and I’d love to hear your thoughts first-hand. I will warn you I’m a formerly-obese low-carb veteran (some would say extremist) but a newbie lifter, only lifting since October 2008.

Love to train with you some time. Just because I think you’re crazy on the “a calorie is a calorie” topic doesn’t mean you don’t have good advice to give elsewhere 🙂

–Matt B.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:37:41 +0000

Hey Mark

Just wondering if you got my Email about an Idea. Well if not Id like to know how long it takes to deplete all of your glycogen stores, after a carb up. Muscles and liver, and what exercises are best at doing this. It would be cool to know because if I knew I was totally depleted I would know where I stand in terms of what exercises I need to do.

Thanx in advance

By: JT...

JT... — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:49:37 +0000

I sometimes get cramps in my abs about the belly button area when doing decline sit ups with and without weights. Crunches are fine though. Am I doing something wrong? I’m following the instructions in the TSPA ebook.

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:52:23 +0000

@Derek – for db curls I count 1 rep when I have completed one on both arms. It really doesn’t matter as long as EACH arm hits 8-12 reps.
@Matt. I’ll be replacing all the old vids with new ones. I aim to illustrate BO form for each exercise on the first cycle of THT training in TA2.0 – this should be a great help for all newbies to the site, and regulars alike.
For body fat, I use accumeasure callipers – they only require one testing site.
In this scenario I would switch the exercise e.g. DB presses to standing BB presses or shrugs for upright rows.
@Jim. Sorry, I don’t know anything about the crossfit system. I’ve only heard the name. Anyway, I truly believe my program builds maximum muscle in minimum time. If that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t say it. Heck, many of my readers are doing what they’ve been told is impossible – burning fat and building muscle simultaneously.
@WAI. Yes I carb-up weekly, apart from when I cut. Yes, it’s true that you can build muscle as you lose fat BUT not at the same rate as when primarily targeting muscle growth rather than fat loss.
For EZ bar curls, experiment with grip width. Also, look into wrist wraps as an option.
@Chris & Mark. Thanks mate. Training without a spot I will do. I will also be uploading new videos over the coming weeks.
@John. Your foods look good for carb-load days. See the forum for a bunch of low carb ideas.
@Jill. I don’t recommend any variations for women. I haven’t seen any compelling reasons to do so. If and when I do, I’ll let you know.
@Derrick. Firstly, congrats! Yes, it will work for your wife. What I suggest is that she let her satiety guide her consumption if she is worried about weight gain.
@Rich. I’ve already done a few but it’s an area I’m hugely interested in. I’ll do more in the future.
The rest of the suggestions seem to revolve around free weights, cardio and other training systems. The suggestions have been great and I’ll put these into the works my friends.
Thanks also to Matt and Scott 😉

By: Rich

Rich — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:39:31 +0000

Hi Mark,

I’d be interested in articles about “mind over matter” and the psychology of strength – I read recently this was what the likes of Arnold and other pros used. Keep up the good work mate!

Rich

By: Derrick

Derrick — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:34:35 +0000

I also think the site should have a suggestion for Females. I have started this diet three weeks ago and have lost 12 lbs all while increasing strength gains. I want to know if it would be good for my wife to go on this diet as I think its really easy to do. She tries weight watchers and ends up starving herself and not having any energy to go to the gym. Will this work for my wife or will she gain weight?

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 03:39:53 +0000

Sorry Wusty but Matts right.

Ive gained 7 lbs of muscle while losing 5% body fat I eat a dickload of calories a day and still lose body fat, very few of which are carbs. So yea to go against conventional wisdom a calorie is not a calorie.

By: Wusty

Wusty — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 00:17:03 +0000

Matt B.

As a 26 year old retired professional freestyle skier, NASM certified personal trainer and gym owner her in Utah. I don’t agree with your facts. Simple as that.

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 20:47:38 +0000

My votes:

* The afore-mentioned split vs. whole body workout debate
* How about something for us girls? What kind of diet/workout modifications to you recommend for the fairer sex?

Keep up the good work.

By: leavingcert

leavingcert — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:47:25 +0000

Thanks for great site. Some suggestions:
1.Some forearm exercises wouldnt go astray
2.A video for Bench press and Inc Bench Press
3.Reviews of different brands of supplements
4.Tips for people who have to play sport as well as workout e.g. Hurling rugby boxing football
5. Tips or people in school/college e.g cafeteria choices

By: John

John — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:14:58 +0000

Hi Mark I would like a simple way to understand carb cycling. I’m 40 years old, 5’8″ tall
161 lbs, 19 % bodyfat which sucks. I want to maintain my current weight if possible but continue to burn fat and reach 7% bodyfat does that make sense. I would like for someone to help me out with a meal plan one for carb deplete days and one for carb load days.

Foods I like to eat: oatmeal,egg whites, sweet potatoes, mixed green salads, extra lean ground turkey/beef and chicken, skinless chicken breasts I snack on almonds and peanut butter.

By: Matt B.

Matt B. — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:29:42 +0000

Hey, uhh, Wusty?

You might want to get your facts straight on calorie deficits and surpluses. I can eat far more calories on a low-carb diet and still lose fat (not muscle, not water, FAT!) than I can on a calorie-reduced or low-fat diet.

A calorie, in fact, isn’t just a calorie. Dietary proteins and fats are digested less efficiently than carbohydrates, and create a measurable metabolic advantage for fat loss.

Mark has also blogged a number of times regarding how to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time using a low-carb regimen. It can be done, and is being done by many people, including me. You need not focus on one over the other necessarily, but if one is more important than the other to you, than by all means focus on it.

–Matt B.
–Currently gained 11 pounds of muscle while losing 44 pounds of fat since September 1, 2008.