Recent content by vicious

One nice touch for making shrugs really work the traps is to look down while doing it. It increases the stretch on the upper traps significantly. Generally, with shrugs, it's really not necessary to go all the way up. About halfway is really all you need, and this will enable you to use more...

If you're interested in, say, endurance-related MMA training, it's actually possible to accomplish both in the same cycle. Now, if you were really out of shape or were interested in surviving a 15-minute sparring match, then it would be better allot one entire cycle for endurance-related...

I admire you people who can do both squats and DLs in the same session. Cheers! :) If somebody wants to include both in a session, they could also implement clustering with the latter or both exercises. Same results, easier on your lower back and sanity. In terms of total GH production, really...

Training to improve your anaerobic/lactic-acid threshhold, with that in mind against all the major muscles (rather than "just" legs), improves mitochondrial density and possibly increases fatty acid usage, post-metabolic stress protein synthesis/turnover levels, nutrition partioning...

With regards to the stretch reflex, there's roughly an inversely proportional relationship between amount of weight needed and amount of time needed. If you're using the same load as your training load (recommended), then you should sense the reflex kicking in about 15-30 seconds when you're...

Seriously, you've helped pull me into new directions with my training. The Gironda variation of cluster training has really messed with my head; I can get pretty sore during 15s without really trying. It's great! :D cheers, Jules

Speaking of falsification, you could say what NWLifter and I do is something of a prolonged dialectical process. It's a lot of fun. Because we basically agree on the surface structure/nominal heirarchy of HST theory, most of the time we go through a lengthy high-level criticism in order to...

One problem with the lateral raise is that, because the max weight is relatively low, there's not a lot of progressive load you can do with it. The trick with the cable lateral is to twist the hip just before the movement goes into proper lockout. Busy with work, mate. But I try to keep...

My understand was that caffeine had a mild diuretic effect (i.e. you pee more), but that the total fluid volume in caffeinated drinks more than compensated. Caffeine pills, which does not necessarily involve a lot of water, may have different results. cheers, Jules

It's counterintuitive but you'll notice about the same effect in terms of DOMS and tightness done either way. Again, you have the option of using a higher start load or hitting much higher load through post-5s. Basically, most questions people have about this exercise vs. that is pretty much...

Zoomz, do you place the weight on the ground while deadlifting? cheers, Jules

The right answer, of course, is heavy deadlifts. ;) Straight bar curls are slightly better (and dumbbells slightly angled away from the body are better than straight bar), but EZ-bar is much more comfortable with the wrist. The difference isn't all that much. What's actually more important is...

In the Customizing section, there's a few lengthy posts about the difference between "peak contraction" and "stretch point" movements, and how tension curves against range of motion causes divergent responses with muscle. Traditional DB lateral raises are peak contraction...

Actually, it's already used in rehab. Whenever you see athletes working with rubber bands and mindlessly doing many repetitions, that's one of the reasons why. The ligaments and tendons adapts less quickly to strain than muscle, and also they can decondition fairly quickly without frequent...

Hmm, isn't this more of a SST question? ;) Short Optimization Technique If you want to make 5x5 REALLY sing, then pre-empt your 5x5 cycle with a 2 to 3 week EDT-style phase in order to jack up mitochondrial density and raise up potential anabolic vs. catabolic energy state. (Try doing with...