35
votes
How to build muscle strength without exercise?
Stop Making Excuses
"I have six [to] eight years of trial-and-error evidence to show that I am incapable of building strength to any measurable degree from any form of exercise."
Either ...
- 25.7k
25
votes
My pushups don't increase
Don't worry. The question is perfectly on-topic here.
When I read through your description of your process, I'm on the lookout for one single thing. And unless I'm missing it, I don't see it anywhere ...
Alec♦
- 17.3k
20
votes
Accepted
Why do so many professional strength athletes eat tomatoes?
The lycopene in tomato juice provides antioxidant protection during exercise, repairs damaged muscles, and also reduces risk of heart disease.
Tomato juice can be better than energy drinks at helping ...
- 3,032
16
votes
Accepted
How to overcome grip strength as sticking point for deadlifts?
There are several methods of increasing grip strength, and some of the principles that work the best you should already be familiar with due to the bodybuilding background.
First, let's look at what ...
- 45.6k
16
votes
Re: Touching your toes (not mentioned in 30)
Being able to touch the toes depends mainly on two things:
hamstring flexibility
body proportions (relative length of legs, torso, and arms)
It is not possible to change body proportions, so, to ...
- 1,959
16
votes
My pushups don't increase
I actually joined this community because I read your post. I won't say I am the know all guru on this, but from personal experience I will say it is normal to drop. Don't take this as the LAW, as ...
- 161
15
votes
Passive work out?
Your problem
A passive way of working out sounds like a paradox.
If you want to become stronger, you need to exert your muscles. And exertion of the muscles is an "activity", which is an antonym to "...
Alec♦
- 17.3k
15
votes
Do high reps build strength?
I think you've heard the right idea, but you're misinterpreting it.
Of course high reps builds some strength, but certainly not a whole lot. It's going to take a lot more effort (in terms of joules ...
Alec♦
- 17.3k
13
votes
Accepted
Powerlifting vs Strongman
The very quick answer is that Powerlifting is more about standing in one place and moving a heavy weight through a range of motion (be it deadlift, squat or bench press). There is a certain technique ...
- 4,554
12
votes
Accepted
Doing 110 pull ups in a row non stop
How does [someone] prepare to do 110 pull ups in a row
Start by recognizing this as an extreme goal. I bet the people achieving >75 pull-ups got there by doing gymnastics or bar calisthenics for ...
- 25.7k
11
votes
How much stronger can you get as you get fatter?
Don't Confuse Size with Genetics and Training
My former coach won the genetic lottery as someone who can just naturally get beastly strong. An example of that genetic pool, he took his mother to the ...
- 45.6k
10
votes
Accepted
Neural Adaptation Training vs. Hypertrophy Training?
Question 1: Does hypertrophy training assist for a greater eventual neural output?
Hypertrophy training probably does not help to increase neural drive. That is because of the anatomical properties ...
- 1,889
10
votes
Accepted
how to correct forward neck posture?
Forward head posture (called gravity induced kyphosis) is pretty common nowadays. The first thing you should do is begin stretching your neck with an exercise called neck retraction:
You'll be ...
- 4,494
10
votes
How much stronger can you get as you get fatter?
Stop Making Excuses
Don't tell me that fat doesn't make people stronger because it does.
Of course many fat people are strong. Of course people get stronger faster if they aren't trying to stay ...
- 25.7k
10
votes
Accepted
In between sets — what to do?
If you're goal is strength than in between sets you should rest. Catch your breath. Have some water. Nibble on some sort of calories. Load more weight on the bar. Then go again. Not sure why you're ...
- 448
10
votes
Accepted
Practical applications of the earthquake/bamboo bar
Wow, you're lucky! Kudos to your gym for acquiring one of these. I wish my gym had one too.
What is that?
It's commonly referred to as a "bamboo bar" because of its resemblence. It's actually ...
Alec♦
- 17.3k
10
votes
Accepted
Soy Protein and Protein Requirements
This is not really going to be a definitive answer, as you can find studies that support almost any position, so what I'm looking at for this is the trend of the studies that I've reviewed.
Overall, ...
- 22.6k
9
votes
I can't perform a single pull-up
Do slow negatives, start at the top and lower yourself slowly, this is the way most people get strong enough to do their first, clean pull/chin-ups. If you have a rubber band to attach to the bar, ...
- 2,725
9
votes
Neck problems, are massages the best answer?
I would recommend a balanced and proven strength training program. The typical office job tends to provide numerous posture issues and strains from being in awkward positions for hours at a time.
...
- 14.9k
9
votes
Is Rich Piana's strength achievable without anabolic steroids?
To get some idea as to the maximum you will be able to lift while being drug tested and maintaining 75kg we can look to the IPF (International Powerlifting Federation) records. They perform checks for ...
- 6,954
8
votes
How does support grip strength and crush grip strength differ so much?
For support grip and crush grip you use two different muscles (both are used, but in either movement, there is a different main muscle).
For the support grip, you flex the distant part of your ...
- 1,889
8
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to recruit all the motor units available?
This is sort of a complicated question from a physiological point of view.
Muscle is made of myocytes (muscle cells), which are made of a few things of interest in relation to your question.
Let'...
- 4,494
8
votes
Neck problems, are massages the best answer?
I cant diagnose you but a doctor might be able to identify if you have any of the following:
I think you may have Thoracic Kyphosis/Forward Head ("Computer Guy" Hunchback): Upper cross syndrome is ...
- 6,954
8
votes
Passive work out?
Assuming you have no physical limitations, your problem seems to be a lack of motivation. Rather than doing things you don’t like, you should find an activity that can keep your interest for a ...
- 6,641
7
votes
How to overcome grip strength as sticking point for deadlifts?
Lifting gloves get in the way and make your job harder. I recommend going without.
Chalk helps enormously to prevent sweat from making the bar hard to grip. Buy a block of rock climber's chalk for a ...
- 25.7k
7
votes
Does stretching muscles help build / tone them?
Strength training builds muscle. In other words, the forcible contraction of your muscles against resistance is what stimulates them to get stronger or more firm. While stretching has a role, it's ...
- 45.6k
7
votes
Accepted
How can the conventional deadlift be harder at the top than the bottom?
When I was coached for the deadlift, I was advised that the first inch is the most important, followed by the distance up to the knee line. Past that you're generally in the clear. That's anecdotal, ...
- 14.9k
7
votes
Accepted
what's the reality that keeps progressive strength training from being constant?
Nothing inherently wrong in the math, just in the model you are using. As it turns out, Greg Nuckols just published an article on Muscle Math, which sheds some light on why it is simply not feasible ...
- 45.6k
7
votes
Weird result of working biceps and triceps? strength depeleting?
I'd like to break down a few things first which I think might help to explain what I think is going on with your situation.
First off, great work on starting with chinups / pullups. They are a ...
- 14.9k
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