If you train for strength, you will build muscle. If you train solely for the specific goal of building muscle, you lose sight of the purpose of weight training. You can train specifically for strength using a powerlifting routine/approach. You can train with the primary goal of building muscle with bodybuilding split routines. But strength is overall the foundation of fitness and performance.
Running, lifting weights, football, soccer, water polo, golf, and whatever sport or athletic endeavor you could think of are all predicated on a basic strength foundation. Strength is manifested in different qualities and modalities. The strength qualities include aerobic strength, anaerobic strength, strength endurance, absolute/limit strength, explosive strength, speed strength, and starting strength. You can't attain one of the qualities that come about as a result of strength without attaining strength foundation in the first place. The rule applies to bodybuilding and building muscle.
The majority of gym goers train only the "beach" muscles, the chest, biceps, and abs while neglecting the back and legs which makes up over 75% of the body's musculature. These gym rats do dozens of high rep sets for the pump for hours on end. A month later, you see them using the same weight doing the same exercises over and over again. In fact, they'll be using the same weight on the bar a year later. And then you take a look at their physiques.
No improvements. No muscle mass gains. They still weigh a mighty buck sixty.
The fault was that they trained for the mirror. They failed to see the big picture of athletics: you need to get stronger to build muscle. Think about this relationship between strength and muscle. It's intuitive and common sense. Would you be able to squat 400 lbs with only 19" thighs? barbell curl 150 lbs with 10" arms? or deadlift 600 lbs with 8" forearms?
If you're really that strong to begin with, you must have a good base of musculature packed onto your frame. I know you've never seen a guy weighing 130 lbs squatting 500 lbs or benching 400 lbs. It's physically impossible.
Muscle mass accompanies strength increases because the body constantly adapts to overcome and handle the force/stimulus. It adapts by building and expanding its existing muscle fibers. Does it make sense that the body will respond with muscle growth if you're still using the same weight? No, the body has no reason to.
If you're benching 200 lbs today and still benching 200 lbs a year, 2 years, 3 years later, you haven't improved or gotten stronger one bit. The body has no reason to adapt. The load is the same. The stimulus is unchanged so the body stays static.
Look at rock climbers with their popeye forearms and wide backs, sprinters with tree trunk thighs, olympic weight lifters with striated biceps, and shot putters with boulder shoulders. These athletes train with a strength based emphasis with their programs.
Train for strength and performance. Lift heavy weights. Eat a lot of food and grow. Muscle and strength gains go hand in hand together.
Train Hard. Train Safely. Train Smart.
If you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to leave a comment below or email me at ZQH245@gmail.com or ZQH250@gmail.com
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