4 Quick Ways to Trigger New Muscle Growth

Subject:
IRON MAN E-Zine: Issue #680:
4 Quick Ways to Trigger New Muscle Growth

==========================================
TRY THIS AT YOUR NEXT WORKOUT
==========================================

4 Quick Ways to Trigger New Muscle Growth

Q: Your change-to-gain philosophy has served me well. I have most of your e-books and look over them often to remind myself of methods I can put in my workout for new growth (Double-X Overload is one of my favorites). I’ve gained almost 15 pounds in the past nine months, most recently using Pre-Ex 3X. I know you’re now using that method almost exclusively. Are you doing anything special to change it up?

A: For those unfamiliar, Pre-Ex 3X merges pre-exhaustion, supersetting an isolation exercise with a compound move to solve the weak-link problem, with the 4X mass method–moderate-weight, short-rest growth-threshold training.

For example, pick weights for cable crossovers and bench presses that will allow you about 15 reps on each. Now do 10 reps on crossovers, then immediately move to bench presses and do 10. Easy. Now rest for 40 seconds, then do it again. Not so easy–pump and burn igniting. Repeat one last time for a total of 3 rounds, and go to failure on both exercises. Killer burn, pump and fiber activation…

You can do that for every bodypart. It’s one of the best density-for-immensity tactics, giving the target muscle more work in less time. In the above Pre-Ex 3X sequence for chest, you get six sets done it about six minutes. End with a 4X sequence on a stretch position move, like flat-bench flyes, to complete the Positions-of-Flexion full-range chain. Result: Your lower-middle chest will be completely trashed and primed to GROW.

Pre-ex works so well because it eliminates the weak-link muscle. For instance, when you do bench presses first, as most trainees do, your smaller triceps crap out way before your chest. But if you do crossovers right before chest, you prefatigue your pecs. Now when you go to bench presses, your tri’s and chest are closer to equal strength, and your tri’s can push your pecs further into the growth zone. (You’ll feel it, believe us.)

Pre-ex is amazingly effective and has been used by many top-level bodybuilders for exceptional size gains in both the myofibrils and sarcoplasm of the key growth fibers. Mike Mentzer is probably the most well known pre-ex advocate. He was using it for every bodypart when this pic was taken–his Mr. Universe win with a perfect score…

There are a number of ways to switch up pre-ex supersets. Here are a few excellent choices…

1) Modified Pre-Ex. For this tactic you simply get rid of the supersets; however, doing the isolation exercise first still gives you good pre-fatigue effects. For example, do a 3X sequence on lateral raises for delts, 35 seconds between sets. Then do a 4X sequence on overhead presses. It’s a completely different feel than supersets–plus, you can use a bit more weight on the second big exercise. (Current pro Evan Centopani used this method to bring up his lagging chest.)

2) Postactivation supersets. Here you superset but you reverse the order–do the compound exercise, then immediately move to the isolation exercise; now rest for 40 seconds, then do it again. For example, squats to leg extensions. The 40 seconds of rest after the leg extensions allow enough recovery for your squats to be more manageable and scientists suggest you get a different fiber recruitment pattern–and perhaps more deep growth fibers involved.

3) Straight Positions of Flexion. For this you go back to the standard POF exercise order: midrange (big compound), stretch and contracted. You simply do a 3X or 4X sequence for each. For triceps that would be close-grip bench presses (midrange), overhead extensions (stretch) and pushdowns (contracted). POF produces mass stimulation on multiple levels, including muscle synergy, stretch overload, occlusion, peak contraction and anabolic receptor proliferation.

Add the Pre-Ex 3X superset method to those, and you have 4 great ways to trigger a new size phase. Change to gain.

Till next time, train hard–and smart–for BIG results.

Note: For a complete pre-ex superset workouts as well as a modified pre-ex program, see the Pre-Ex 3X e-book. For more on the Positions-of-Flexion mass-building method see the 3D Muscle Building, e-book. For a unique look at postactivation, see the High-Definition workout in the X-treme Lean e-book.

–Steve Holman and Jonathan Lawson

www.X-Rep.com

LIMITED-TIME $19.99 BEST-SELLERS: We’re offering each of these at their lowest price ever to get you big and ripped by spring. Click on the title you’re interested in for more info…

1) The 4X Mass Workout–fast, simplified supersaturation training for X-treme size

2) The X-traordinary X-Rep Workout–the latest update to our original X e-book

3) The X-centric Mass Workout–the negative-accentuated training manual

4) The Ultimate Fat-to-Muscle Workout–total body transformation training

5) X-traordinary Muscle-Building Workouts–10 complete mass programs

6) X-traordinary Arms–includes the 3D HIT workout system with big-arms routines

7) 3D Muscle Building–the original Positions-of-Flexion mass-training manual

8) X-treme Lean—Fat-Burning and Nutrition Guide (with training too)

9) The Ultimate Power-Density Mass Workout

10) The X-traordinary Size Surge Workout

11) The Ultimate 10×10 Mass Workout

12) Eric Broser’s FD/FS Mass-Shock Workout

Latest release: The Pre-Ex 3X Mass Workout—Plus Drop-Set 4X, Rest/Pause 4X and the Perfect Mass-Building Split. Merges the pre-exhaustion muscle-size method with 4X style mass training. 3 complete programs, including modified Pre-Ex 3X, no supersets required. Also, how Mike Mentzer used pre-ex and how you can alter it to get massive gains without anabolic steroids or overtraining–just BIG gaining.

NEW: The X-traordinary SIZE SURGE Workout, Jonathan Lawson’s legendary two-phase mass program that packed 20 pounds of muscle on his frame in only 10 weeks. See all the changes he made to the original workouts, transcribed from his training journal. In printable templates so you can duplicate his incredible gains. You also get his eat-to-grow diet and streamlined no-frills supplement schedule, anabolic acceleration methods and loads of tips and tricks. Plus, an interview with a top-level bodybuilder who trains Size Surge style for incredible growth.

Newbies: If you’re a beginning bodybuilder, coming back from a layoff or a trainer who trains beginners, our new e-book, Quick-Start Muscle-Building Guide, is for you.

To follow the ITRC training program in “Train, Eat, Grow,” get a copy of the latest issue of IRON MAN.

——————————————————————–
This Special Report was submitted by Jonathan Lawson and Steve Holman.
The IRON MAN Training & Research Team
www.ironmanmagazine.com

The ITRC Training Newsletter is not intended as training advice for everyone. You must consult your physician before beginning any diet or training program. You may forward this email to as many friends as you want, but do not photocopy or reprint this report in any format without the written permission of the copyright holder.

——————————————————————–
Help us build the IRON MAN Research Team — Tell a friend! If you know someone who would benefit from Supplement Updates, Diet Tips and Freebies, forward them this e-zine or tell them to visit us at

http://www.ironmanmagazine.com and click on FREE Training Newsletter.

*We DO NOT sell any subscriber e-mail addresses.

——————————————————————–
All Content (c) Copyright 2012 IRON MAN Magazine
All Rights Reserved