I don't know how I found this article but I thought it was interesting. I have no idea who the guy is but I tend to agree with his assestment in The PLATEAU part of the article. Also I found what he said about training when muscles are sore is true for me. Example of that for me is doing tree work on Saturdays. Since I don't do it during the week I get sore. So most of the time I like to train lower body on Sunday because it takes the soreness away. Anyhow, here's the article. What's Your opinion and thoughts?
https://staff.washington.edu/griffin/muscle_growth.txt
Bob I agree, Isometrics ( exercisers & exercises) and VRT/DVR build a strong body. That is why Boxers used this method in the 1950s/60s. Steroids and bulk verses being fit like a boxer and healthy is a wise choice.
Mike,
I believe that after 65-70 years old self-resistance-based exercises and co-contraction workouts like VRT and DVR are a wise choice to keep muscles and strength without injuries and heart failure. We should not to be super as younger guys, we should be good.
When I was younger used the Southern Italian/Sicilian workout that the Grandpas/Great Uncles passed to us in the 1950s; pushups, situps, leg lifts plus some warm up calisthenics; sort of a short Atlas Course; I did not read the Atlas Course until long after. Bought great weight set around 1961/62 but soon returned to using an Isometric Exerciser and or Muscle Tension with movement (VRT). I still maintain muscle.
I'm older and workouts make me able to enjoy life. I stopped using weigths long ago, weight lifting exercises work for me either using an isometric exerciser or using tensed muscle in motion/VRT. Internal resistance works!
I believe that I am also at the plateau that is related to aged sarcopenia. I feel that workout with heavy weights is practically useless to gain muscles in my case; however, can seriously hurt me. Therefore, I want to keep what I have as long as possible. Co-contraction exercises work for me like light weight lifting with multiple sets and reps, and I am happy to see positive results.
Bob I'm at a point were my size will never change and I'm below 50. I'm just going to do what the end of the Plateau part of the article says. I'm going to work on my weak points and conditioning via aerobic. My shoulders are something I'm starting to concentrate more on. Arms are also a weak point for me but I realize they will not grow without putting on weight which I'm not willing to do. I'll just work them hard sometimes so to not overtrain.
Agree. All size addition after the plateau is fat, especially after 50 . Although I have now ~17" biceps/triceps, I am sure that at least 10% of this size is fat.
From my experience and what I've heard from others is they don't gain more size. This is no matter what they do. They only way to do it naturaly is adding fat. I always look somewhat similar. My diet hardly changes but some training styles just help me look more defined.
The plateau is a big problem for naturals. To overcome it, people use different types of cycling in training. I think that I have never reached my real plateau because my bodybuilding was not a first deal in my free style wrestling training.
I believe in the muscle memory and rebuilt my muscles several times after two sport injuries and my last surgery in 2007. But I could not reach my best physique, which I have had in my 20s. I could explain it by age reasons.
What are your thoughts on The Plateau part? My belief is without adding fat you build most of your muscle in the first few years of training. That's without taking enhancements. Now you can stop training for awhile and lose the muscle you gained. Then later on workout and gain it back because of muscle memory.
The author has given good recommendations for younger people. Age factor also limits muscle gain if we do not use drugs.
Great article, training for fitness and health like this Forum's users is so differnt then training for size and huge muscles!