Comments on: What Is Muscle Growth (Muscle Hypertrophy?)

By: Anand

Anand — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 03:28:55 +0000

Thanks Mark.

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 13:28:43 +0000

@Anand. This was an issue talked about much by the late Mike Mentzer. He believed that recovery ability never changed. So the stronger you get, the longer you have to wait between workouts for full recovery and overcompensation to occur. He would say that the bigger you get, the LESS often you should train, not more. However, intensity is always kept high. I don’t know about this. No-one knows for sure. I train with the same frequency as I always did. I seen evidence that the more trained an athlete is, the quicker they can recover. But each person can assess them for themselves without taking someone’s opinion on board. It’s all in the strength increases. If you haven’ fully recovered, you’ll be weaker. If you are making progress from workout to workout, then obviously enough time has elapsed between sessions for full recovery and growth.

By: Anand

Anand — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 04:50:59 +0000

Mark, here’s an observation based on my own experience.
As poundages increase, recovery time too needs to increase.
Else, no hypertrophy / progress.
In my case, I find it best to train again only on the fourth / fifth day – sometimes, depending upon the volume, even sixth / seventh day (especially for the larger muscle groups).
Intensity, of course, remains ‘highest possible’.
At a younger age, one may, perhaps, need less recovery time.

By: Mark McManus

Mark McManus — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 19:32:33 +0000

@Jesh. Have a protein shake or at least, as John has said, some BCAAs. Don’t train on an empty stomach.

By: John A Davis

John A Davis — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 18:10:53 +0000

@Jesh
I have 2 teaspoons of BCAAs every 2 hours starting when I start my workout. Lately I’ve been cutting it down to every 1.5 hours. Either way, that keeps the muscle from eating itself, is low/no calorie. And gets me ready for my big first meal, 2 hours after workout ends. Others would do or say different, but I am still gaining a couple reps every week, most of the time.

By: Jesh

Jesh — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 17:44:04 +0000

hey mark could you give me some advice on working out on an empty stomach in the morning during TSPA? is it safe ? and what should i be watching out for on the carb up during MANS? should i watch out for lactose intake?

By: Arjun

Arjun — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 14:37:38 +0000

Helo
nice workout

By: newyorkcitymale

newyorkcitymale — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 13:26:18 +0000

It should be noted that there are TWO types of hypertrophy: (1) functional (Myofibrillar), and (2) non-functional (Sarcoplasmic).

Functional/Myofibrillar Hypertrophy is what Mark described above… where the muscle fibers get thicker and stronger.

Non-functional/Sarcoplasmic Hypertrophy is when you produce more fluid around the muscles… which will make them bigger & prettier, but not stronger.

Here are a few good articles about it:

https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/hale6.htm

https://jasonferruggia.com/functional-hypertrophy-fact-vs-fiction/