Group: Beginners to Exercise

Created: 2012/01/01, Members: 969, Messages: 18927

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effect of mass on strength

hamadryad
hamadryad
Posts: 31
Joined: 2001/12/27
Canada
2002/02/19, 10:25 PM
How much of a bearing does muscle mass have on strength?
rpacheco
rpacheco
Posts: 3,770
Joined: 2001/12/13
United States
2002/02/20, 10:23 AM
Plenty! Strength comes from the accumulation and thickness of the muscle fibers you have built up through weight training. Think of a strip of paper towel. You can probably pull it apart fairly easily because there's only one strip. Now, add 4 more strips and try pulling it apart!

Hope this answers your question.

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**_Robert_**
hamadryad
hamadryad
Posts: 31
Joined: 2001/12/27
Canada
2002/02/20, 05:26 PM
yep, it does, just one more question

how about volume? my brother can put on 10-15lbs by working out, but he doesn't look any different and keeps all the same clothes - in that situation is he still putting on mass or how does it work? I don't have it quite as extreme as he does but I don't have an easy time putting on mass, I guess I'm in the 'Very-hardgainer' categegory.
rpacheco
rpacheco
Posts: 3,770
Joined: 2001/12/13
United States
2002/02/20, 05:36 PM
Well, you can count me in that hardgainer category. For us, it's more difficult to judge whether or not we have actually gained muscle or just weight. What I do is measure certain body parts (biceps, chest, waist, thighs, calves and forearms) every 2 weeks or so. This way, I'm actually able to judge whether I'm adding volume or not. Does this answer your question?

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**_Robert_**
hamadryad
hamadryad
Posts: 31
Joined: 2001/12/27
Canada
2002/02/21, 12:25 AM
no, not exactly, since I don't have to worry about fat (I have next to none), the only weight gain I would get would be from muscles, so I'm wondering if the volume doesn't increase if one is still getting stronger
Philia2
Philia2
Posts: 4,078
Joined: 2001/10/19
France
2002/02/22, 02:38 AM
Oh yes of course you'll get leaner (loose fat) when you put on muscles if you don't eat more calories.
Muscles need lots of energy and if you want to continue to grow muscles (and not fat) you just have to increase your daily calorie intake.

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- Nina :o)