SIZE AND STRENGTH MADE EASY
In my store in Nashua, NH I get people every day asking how to build size and strength. Teenagers to, lets say, “pre-seniors” are somewhat baffled at how some people can just add globs of muscle with relative ease. First let me just say that these so called easy gainers are working their butts off to gain every ounce of muscle they get. Second these easy gainers are utilizing age old training techniques that have recently fallen out off the mainstream. Do these guys know something you don’t? Are these guys using some super secret supplement that allow them to adorn that Herculean physique? The answer is no. Every bodybuilding magazine and weightlifting publication agree; the key to gaining dense slabs of muscle is old school powerlifting and olympic lifting. These multi-joint exercises increase overall hormone output (testosterone and growth hormone) and increase androgen receptor sensitivity (gives testosterone a place to go and do its job). The best piece of lifting advice i’ve ever got when i was first starting out was this: “If you want to make your arms grow, squat, and if you want a stronger bench press, power clean.” This type of lifting will increase overall size and strength. Its amazing how many guys come into my store and are frustrated that they are not making any size or strength gains. When I ask them what they are doing for their work outs I get the same answer; “I mainly concentrate on benches and curls.” Although these are good exercises, they will not give you the hormone output of other powerlifting and olympic lifting type movements. These movements include but are not limited to squats, deadlifts, rack pulls, power cleans, hanging cleans, clean and jerk, bench presses, and standing presses. I recommend for all lifters looking to gain size and strength to read more about the subject. There is a ton of literature out there and in the words of G.I. Joe, knowing is half the battle.
Currently I am preparing for a strongman competition and am using these particular training techniques. My weight class is 200lb-231lb. Natrually I weigh about 220lbs at about 9 or 10% bodyfat. I decided it would be in my best interest to gain weight and come in right at the top of the weight class where I would be at my strongest. Some guys in this weight class are about 245lbs and are cutting down to get under 230lbs. This made me decide to get as heavy as possible before the contest and then cut back down to 231lbs. Power and olympic lifting has primed my body for the weight and strength gain. Now its all about getting the right amount of calories and using the right supplements for growth and recovery. For the first time in my life I am using a weight gainer, Optimum Health’s Mass 600 chocolate. This stuff is providing me with the extra calories for growth and intense training sessions, not to mention its tastey as hell. I also add extra fiber in the form of Now Foods Brand Psyllium Husk to each mass shake just to prevent getting bound up. I’m also using BioRhythm’s O2 Positive for a pre-workout powder. This stuff gives me incredible strength and endurance gains. It is caffiene-free which is perfect for me seeing that I want to save my adrenal sensitivity for the day of the contest (load up on the stimulants then). I always follow up my workout with BioRhythm’s AfterGlow. This recovery drink is the best on the market bar-none. It allows me to fully recover in time for my next intense training session. Lastly I am using MSI’s Test Revolution. This is a potent natural testosterone booster and I think we all know what testosterone does for strength and size. I started this size and strength gain routine about 3 weeks ago at 220lbs. I have gained about 8lbs and am three weeks out from the compitition. Using the same training and supplementation techniques I have outlined here you too can gain the size and strength of Hercules himself.
