Building muscle is your key to longevity and health. But don't waste years trying to figure out what works. After 8 years as a Professional Athlete... These are the 7 most important training tips I wish I knew when I first started: = Thread =
Muscle is one of the biggest indicators for longevity. And it's how you lift that matters. You need "mechanical tension" The force/tension exerted on muscle fibers during a lift. The more tension you generate, the more fibers you recruit and stimulate, leading to growth. But
Most people completely ignore this when they workout. ▫️ Terrible exercise selection ▫️ Crappy intensity ▫️ Terrible form Letting their ego get the better of them by swinging weight around. Stop spinning your wheels with basic errors... This is what you need to do...
1. High Intensity (reps in reserve): Vital for building muscle. It takes time, but is extremely common for people to not take working sets to the necessary intenisty. You need to learn how to push sets close to failure to challenge your body to adapt. Use reps in reserve...
To hit the intensity to elicit muscle growth each working set needs to hit 0-2 RIR (reps in reserve) This means at the end of the set you could not perform more than 0-2 reps with perfect form if your life depended on it. Your last reps should be involuntairly slow like this...
2. Use Machines Huge ROI for building muscle. Why? Machine-based exercises allow an increased loading on the target muscle. Machines create greater external stability and an improved range of motion throughout the movement. Thus more mechanical tension = more muscle stimulus
3. Use perfect form Mechanical tension and growth is all about stimulus Bad form takes the load off the target muscle and muscle fibers leading to a decreased mechanical tension and training stimulus Leave your ego at the door and make sure the mechanics are the same every rep
4. Control the eccentric phase: The eccentric phase of an exercise, when you're lowering the weight, can generate more tension than the concentric phase. So, focus on controlling the weight during this phase to maximize tension. Aim for 2-3 second eccentrics for the gains
5. Slow down your reps: Slowing down your reps can increase the time under tension, leading to greater mechanical tension and muscle growth Slow and controlled reps Keep those target fibers under load through the desired range of motion Suddenly your progress will boom
6. Maximize the range of motion: A greater range of motion creates a greater stretch on the target muscle fibers This increases both the active and passive tension on the muscle fibers Increased tension is our goal so make sure to maximize range of motion (ROM) in the gym
7. Progressive Overload Often thought of as the key driver for hypertrophy (wrong dude its definitely mechanical tension), however, overload is imperative as it allows for an INCREASE in mechanical tension over time Please make sure to track your workouts A pen and paper works
This is key to gradually increase the reps and then the weight for each exercise you perform * But the double-edged sword is ensure your form does not suffer to get that 'extra rep' Quality > Quantity always If you can increase mechanical tension over time you will grow
And there you have it - some simple ways to maximize mechanical tension and muscle growth 1. High Intensity 2. Use machine-based compound exercises 3. Form 4. Control the eccentric phase 5. Slow down your reps 6. Maximize range of motion 7. Progressive Overload If you get
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@hannahapexfit Great thread. Wondering about use of machines, though. I get that you can target the muscle you're building better, but don't you lose functional strength? e.g., if i'm training for a sport, I want those stabilizer muscles. Perhaps a mix of both.
@hannahapexfit This is gold. Most people focus on volume, sweat, and soreness… But never learn how to create real tension, master form, and track progress. Building muscle is a skill, not just a workout. Threads like this are how you level up.
@hannahapexfit That is beautiful
@hannahapexfit This is great but diet is way more important.
@hannahapexfit But… Most significant muscular growth… is determined by genetics, hormones, & PED’s. Growth… is difficult. Strength… is easier. Strength saves you. Not growth. Growth is 1° aesthetics.
@hannahapexfit She is right! Protein is key! Protein keeps us satiated. This keeps us from overeating. When we overeat, our pancreas over-produces insulin. High levels of insulin (insulin resistance ) is the leading driver of chronic illness. Not only does protein build and repair our muscles,
@hannahapexfit @KarlApexFit Really interesting
@hannahapexfit Physical and mental health
@hannahapexfit Using machines as a beginner is probably the worst way to go. Learn compund movements with fred weight to work stabilizer muscles also.
@hannahapexfit Can she build hips
@hannahapexfit @hannahapexfit, great insights on the importance of muscle building for longevity and health!
@hannahapexfit Huge ROI