Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below Tom Treutlein
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Which would you go for first?
Strength then Size/Size then Strength?
- Thread starter Tom Treutlein
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SlavikHavik
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Same time,Tom Treutlein said:
WSB
ghettostudmuffin
New member
Both. I use a mix of high set, low reps training for strength and power developement and some low set, high rep exercises for strictly muscle building and focus on pumping the muscle and making it burn. These are also strength developing too, but not in the way the high set, low rep training does it.
So both.
So both.
JohnRobHolmes
Well-known member
personally, i would say it depends on your goals. im (still) a skinny man. thus, going for size should be my first focus. however, my goal is strength and not size. so, i could care less about how big my muscles are because the size will come with strength anyway. if i do want size in the future, i can always use the strength to gain size. whatever floats your canoe
Tom Treutlein
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Or oscillates your fan...
psychedout
New member
Bump. I'm curious if one way is optimal to the other.
Tom Treutlein
New member
I hear strength leads to potential for size (greater weights allowing for greater hypertrophic gains), and I hear size leads to potential for strength (more muscle fibers [casual said something along those lines] to allow for greater output for strength).
I wanna know if one should take precendence over the other.
I wanna know if one should take precendence over the other.
psychedout
New member
Hahaha. This is getting way too confusing for me. I am just gonna shut the fuck up and lift and eat.
Tom Treutlein
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I wish I could let things be so simple. I always have to complicate them and then I quit 'cause I lose motivation.
I need to stop thinking. In all honesty, it's my greatest foe.
I need to stop thinking. In all honesty, it's my greatest foe.
psychedout
New member
Tom Treutlein said:
Often guilty of this too.
I can understand your desire to figure out the best way to train; I'm the same way. Just don't stall your training while you're figuring it out.Tom Treutlein said:
You can always adjust your training if you find a better way, but as long as you're training, your progress won't be moving backwards.
powerlord
New member
Your strength will bring you size right?And you have to lift heavy to gain strength which automatically brings you size.So if you get to your natural potential,and don't want to go for the gear,do you then lighten your weights and go more for control to chisel the size you've gained?And then sometimes add weight to keep the strength up,I know one thing I've learned here recently,if you lift heavy for too long for strength and size,it kinda feels like you start spinning your wheels.
ghettostudmuffin
New member
Powerlord, I understand what you're saying.
Your body will adapt to whatever you throw at it eventually. That's why switching exercises around and changing rep and set schemes helps prevent stagnation.
Another is not trying to lift more weight too quickly. Once I hit a few minor milestones in my training in the next few months I plan to cut down the amount of weight I add to the big 3 because your body can only adapt so fast. If you constantly push it to the max then you will stress it out. Also I will drop the weight increments to once every 2 weeks or so instead of every week plus cut the weight increases in half from 5 to 2.5lbs. Gotta let your body adapt. You can't rush it.
Ways of combating this is changing the exercises, set and rep schemes and a few others like not increasing the weight every time you get your required reps. I personally like to do a weight for 2 workouts in a row to make sure I own it before adding weight once I reach a certain weight on exercises(coming back from a layoff). Also cutting the weight increments down into smaller sizes helps too.
Some of these methods can give your body just enough rest and/or time to adapt to your training that it can make all the difference.
Your body will adapt to whatever you throw at it eventually. That's why switching exercises around and changing rep and set schemes helps prevent stagnation.
Another is not trying to lift more weight too quickly. Once I hit a few minor milestones in my training in the next few months I plan to cut down the amount of weight I add to the big 3 because your body can only adapt so fast. If you constantly push it to the max then you will stress it out. Also I will drop the weight increments to once every 2 weeks or so instead of every week plus cut the weight increases in half from 5 to 2.5lbs. Gotta let your body adapt. You can't rush it.
Ways of combating this is changing the exercises, set and rep schemes and a few others like not increasing the weight every time you get your required reps. I personally like to do a weight for 2 workouts in a row to make sure I own it before adding weight once I reach a certain weight on exercises(coming back from a layoff). Also cutting the weight increments down into smaller sizes helps too.
Some of these methods can give your body just enough rest and/or time to adapt to your training that it can make all the difference.
powerlord
New member
I hear ya GSM,I've been listening here and in the gym,these lifting vets already know this stuff ,that's why they have been lifting so long,hell I tried to lift as much as possible for as long as possible and look where it got me!Time to lift smart or we won't be lifting long.And you are right about wearing your body down,I haven't lifted for 3 weeks due to injury but I have noticed something wierd,it looks like I've gained size on my time off,I wasn't letting my body recuperate enough and was going catabolic.Diet was good,just not getting the recovery time.I've stuck too light cardio and lifting.Now I'm ready to go back I'm lowering the weight.
wnt2bBeast
New member
they are very closely correlated..cant get one without the otherTom Treutlein said:
Ive always trained for both. Constantly pushing my strength limits and looking to gain as much size as possible at the same time. I dont try to balance anything though, I just train the hardest I can. I do this through a full spectrum of rep ranges on all my movements. Also, I always strive for progression in size and strength. Every workout.
JohnnyCoho
New member
Hey there TT how goes it (been awhile)
Personally I rotate between the two. Just what works for me. (Just like I know HST doesnt work for all but for me its where I see my biggest gains, mass wise)
I lift pretty much all natural now and do hit plateaus in most of my compound lifts every 3-4 months and get very frustrated when stuck for a few weeks at one weight only gaining maybe a couple of pounds it.
Then I'll switch up to a Westside Program using bands and Chains for 8 to 20 weeks. Lifts go through the roof and I do get quite a bit of gains mass wise as well,..but other body parts seem to lag behind.
I like switching back and forth between the two, especially when plateauing in certain lifts. HST does certainly adds some balanced mass to my body and the Westside program adds a ton more strength. Love crushin' those PR's and watchin my strength go up!!
Like I said too,..just what works for me. I am lifting all natural now and am also 36 yrs old (dont have the test rage I had at yer age), takes a little more tweaking for me now in my routines.
Personally I rotate between the two. Just what works for me. (Just like I know HST doesnt work for all but for me its where I see my biggest gains, mass wise)
I lift pretty much all natural now and do hit plateaus in most of my compound lifts every 3-4 months and get very frustrated when stuck for a few weeks at one weight only gaining maybe a couple of pounds it.
Then I'll switch up to a Westside Program using bands and Chains for 8 to 20 weeks. Lifts go through the roof and I do get quite a bit of gains mass wise as well,..but other body parts seem to lag behind.
I like switching back and forth between the two, especially when plateauing in certain lifts. HST does certainly adds some balanced mass to my body and the Westside program adds a ton more strength. Love crushin' those PR's and watchin my strength go up!!
Like I said too,..just what works for me. I am lifting all natural now and am also 36 yrs old (dont have the test rage I had at yer age), takes a little more tweaking for me now in my routines.
