In this article, I want to present to you an idea so out-of the box that it will make you question everything you have read about the best way to gain muscle mass.
Generally, when someone wants to gain muscle mass they start out thinking that they will need to lift the heaviest amount of weight that they possibly can for as many reps as they can right?
Well in some cases, it is true that lifting that way will lead to gaining muscle, but its also true that if you always train that way that you can quickly lead your body into overtraining which will be counter-productive to your goal and therefore is not the best way to gain muscle mass.
Continually lifting heavy like I mentioned above should be used but only for a particular phase that might only last 4-6 weeks depending on your level you are starting at.
The key to the best way to gain muscle mass is to vary your training phases so that you work different conditioning responses in your body.
It’s not just about stressing your muscles but instead it has a lot to do with using training protocols that will trigger your hormone levels to spur new growth and release more testosterone.
Here are some of the key principles you need to know before you can start gaining muscle.
Strategic Program Variation:
Besides lifting heavy weights, your body can also produce hormones responsible for muscle building by training using different training protocols such as using lighter weights, medium weights or using explosive movements or slower controlled movements.
The key is to keep the body guessing so to speak but at the same time allow your body sufficient time on the actual program to make progress on before switching things up.
The Three Primary Energy Production Systems:
Your muscles can call upon energy production from your body using three different primary energy producing systems.
The energy production system chosen is based on the training you perform.
Here are the three key energy systems:
The 5 week cycle plan includes 3 speficic mini phases of training that each trigger a different metabolic demand and result in new muscle growth.
The three phases involve training that will tap into the Oxidative, Glycolytic and Phosphagen systems to produce the energy output required in your workouts.
The Oxidative System: this Energy System is the primary when you workout with lighter weights.
The Glycolytic System: Used primarily when the body is lifting moderate weights for a shorter period of time (1-2 minute sets).
The Phosphagen System: Used primarily for heavier lifting sessions when sets are lasting from 1 to 30 seconds
By training using all three energy producing systems, you have 3x more growth potential.
Program Choices:
The best way to gain muscle mass is to choose a workout program that exposes you to those three types of training phases to utilize all the energy systems so that your body never adapts fully and has to constantly grown new muscle in order to keep up with the demand.