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(KungFuJoe @ May 26 2006,18:08)</div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE">Well..the reason I brought this up is, firstly, everyone says that HST is for size, not strength (which, to me, implies that you will get much bigger, but your strength gains will not be in proportion), and secondly because, after completing my first cycle of HST, I have noticable gains in size, but have not been able to increase much, if any, on my 5RM. I HAVE been able to increase my 15 and 10RM (able to do a few more reps), but nothing substantial.
So, I guess I was wondering what I should be expecting and if I was doing something wrong. If everyone says "yeah...that's the way HST works...who cares about strength as long as you look bigger!", then I can be satisfied that I was doing everything correctly. But if everyone says "nah...you should be gaining strength too...I gained so and so on my 5RM after my first cycle", then I'll know I can probably improve or change something in my routine.</div>
Ahhhh. Ok
Let me point out something though that may help clarify this whole issue.
Let's say for sh*ts and grins that neural efficiency, pennation and leverage would always be the same (remember sh*ts and grins here).
If no further of the above increases occured during 1 year of HST yet you added 15 lbs of lean mass this would indicate that at least some of it would have been contractile increases. That being the case the amount of force the muscle was able to produce would increase and hence so would strength. To say HST or any other program that adds lean mass is only for growth with no concommittant strength increase is absurd and the "everyone" who is saying this is off their rocker.
If strength gains are a major emphasis then simply continue using your 5RM for an extended period, the ability of a load to cause a response does not diminish overnight and may take weeks before the load actually begins to produce no growth at all. Using a heavy load, as in the 5RM would also add in some neural conditioning that would impact your strength gains, so best of both worlds.
Lastly the objective of HST is to add weight to the bar cycle over cycle and as Totentanz said, if you pick up heavy things you'll get better at picking up heavy things.