It seems that everyone has a different opinion about what constitutes the ideal amount of exercise volume that would promote maximal gains in muscular size and strength. Bodybuilding is notorious for the "more is better" philosophy,which means that the more you do, the greater … [Read more...]
Fast or Slow Repetitions: Which is best for gaining muscular size and strength? by Jerry Brainum
Why is it that some people appear to make rapid gains in muscular size and strength when they lift weights, while others seem to make no gains at all? A lot of variables enter into an equation that seeks to answer this question. One example is the natural level of … [Read more...]
A few more studies from a different science conference by Jerry Brainum
Last month in Applied Metabolics, several studies presented at a recent science conference were featured, in this case the annual conference of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, that focused on various aspects of nutrition and exercise. As I pointed … [Read more...]
Can exercise make you fatter? by Jerry Brainum
The notion that exercise helps you lose body fat is controversial. No one argues whether exercise burns or oxidizes calories, instead the controversy is how exercise may affect other factors associated with fat loss, such as appetite. One author, Gary Taubes, has written … [Read more...]
The 3/7 system: A better way to train? by Jerry Brainum
Those who are cynical often say that when it comes to nutrition and exercise, there is nothing new and exciting. Such people clearly don't view the ongoing research on these topics, since in fact the amount of new information about exercise and nutrition is extensive … [Read more...]
Building more muscle: What really works by Jerry Brainum
When I first began training the sources of information about how to organize a workout, what were the best exercises to build muscle mass, and how to eat to promote added muscle mass and strength were minimal. The Internet wasn't even a concept back then, so there … [Read more...]
Tendon Injuries: Can nutrition help prevent and heal them? by Jerry Brainum
Tendon injuries are the bane of anyone who regularly participates in exercise or sports. They seem to last forever, or are chronic, and the current therapies to treat them don't seem too effective. While muscle injuries are more common than tendon injuries, minor muscle … [Read more...]
Exercise gone bad by Jerry Brainum
If you read the latest news about health and disease, you will invariably always find mention of inflammation as being a cornerstone of most chronic diseases. Indeed, out of control inflammation is now known to play a major role in diseases ranging from … [Read more...]
Intensity or volume: Which is best for muscle growth and strength gains? by Jerry Brainum
For purposes of increasing muscular size and strength, what is the best way to train for the majority of people? I say "majority" since the truth is, there is no ideal way to train for everyone, no "one size fits all" type of training pattern. As such, … [Read more...]
Only the dose determines the poison (hormesis and muscle growth) by Jerry Brainum
Recently, I watched a few videos on YouTube related to nutrition and bodybuilding. In one video, the self-appointed "expert" suggested that the key to obtaining massive muscular arms involved doing 3 sets of 100 repetitions of lying triceps extensions, using 15-pound … [Read more...]