FAQ

[tried]

Hey all I have quite a few questions to ask but it seems a bit silly to start a new topic for each one an have only two or three replys so I thought I would start a FAQ topic.

My first question is what is the relation between muscle mass and strength. I hear people say they gained muscle mass but lost strength how does that work? Is it a density thing or what?

[Phedder]

Firstly, Great idea for a topic

Muscle size definitely plays a large role in strength, I think muscle can produce up to 30N of force per square cm. So size does relate directly to strength, but other factors like the fibre type and orientation play a large role also, however fibre type can only change by a minimal amount, and fibre distribution stays the same within each muscle, just different muscles have different distributions. The factors that could reduce strength even when the size of the muscle has increased would be the neural activation of the muscle, and the metabolic factors. The more motor units that you can activate during a contraction, and the more frequently you can fire them, the stronger the contraction will be. This usually increases with training, and is a significant reason why people just starting training can increase there strength so much without getting much bigger, they just get more efficient at recruiting and firing motor units. It's the quickest adaptation to resistance training. The concentration of metabolic substrates in the muscle can also change, usually an increase in enzymes which help in energy production occurs.

To the question of how can people gain muscle mass and lose strength, I'm not actually sure. Above is just what I know about muscles and strength. I'd suspect it'd have something to do with the Neural and metabolic factors. Perhaps the person has overworked these systems in gaining the muscle, and needs a rest to allow them to recover? But in most cases, an increase in muscle size should correlate to an increase in strength. Hopefully someone with a bit more knowledge on the mechanics and physiology of muscle can better answer the question.

[TonganTerror]

My first question is what is the relation between muscle mass and strength. I hear people say they gained muscle mass but lost strength how does that work? Is it a density thing or what?

I find it hard to believe people gain mass and lose strength unless say they were competition powerlifters changing to bodybuilding then yes by incorporating BB style training will cost them strength.......but for us average gym goers I would think the more mass I gain the stronger I would be and more weight I would push certainly is the case for me over the last few years/.

Interesting topic............

[Phedder]

That's actually a good point. A change in training style could mean a loss of strength, going from high weight low reps to lower weights higher reps changes the stimulus, changing the muscle adaptation more towards the endurance end of the resistance training spectrum from the strength end. Also could be due to a detraining effect, the person may take a month off from lifting heavy weights, be able to maintain the same muscle mass but they would lose some of the neural adaptation they gained from lifting heavy weights, and would come back to it weaker.

[train hard]

you can get stronger without gaining mass.

but you cant gain mass without getting stronger.

[ThePman]

That's actually a good point. A change in training style could mean a loss of strength, going from high weight low reps to lower weights higher reps changes the stimulus, changing the muscle adaptation more towards the endurance end of the resistance training spectrum from the strength end. Also could be due to a detraining effect, the person may take a month off from lifting heavy weights, be able to maintain the same muscle mass but they would lose some of the neural adaptation they gained from lifting heavy weights, and would come back to it weaker.

Strength is a skill like anything else. If you stop practicing it, you stop being as good at it.

That assumes 1RM is how you define strength.

In all reality nobody will genuinely add muscle and be weaker. What may change is the ability to express strength in specific ways.

Or this being the internet, they didn't get bigger at all but just decided they did.

[nate225]

Agree with PMan.

Over simplifying things and putting them in practical terms I believe you get stronger by three mechanisms (taken from a PLing perspective with 1RMs being the measure):

1) Getting bigger muscles (or filling them with fluid! :grin: ).

2) Becoming able to recruit more fibres (read neurologically more efficient)

3) Becoming more technically competent (read maximising leverages, shortening strokes etc)

So as PMan said its unlikely someone would get more muscle mass and get weaker.

Just my thoughts of the top of my head.....

[TonganTerror]

My first question is what is the relation between muscle mass and strength. I hear people say they gained muscle mass but lost strength how does that work? Is it a density thing or what?

I find it hard to believe people gain mass and lose strength unless say they were competition powerlifters changing to bodybuilding then yes by incorporating BB style training will cost them strength.......but for us average gym goers I would think the more mass I gain the stronger I would be and more weight I would push certainly is the case for me over the last few years/.

Interesting topic............

Im sure thats what I said too Pman lol!!!

[tried]

Next question is whats the difference between pulling a muscle as an injury an having micro tears after working out?

[ThePman]

Next question is whats the difference between pulling a muscle as an injury an having micro tears after working out?

One is an injury and the other is a really watered-down misunderstanding of what actually happens.

[TonganTerror]

Next question is whats the difference between pulling a muscle as an injury an having micro tears after working out?

One is an injury and the other is a really watered-down misunderstanding of what actually happens.

:pfft:

Better next question: Is it possible to put on solid mass and keep as lean as you start?Say 9%bf!!!!

I would say no you either need to sacrifice those abs in the pursuit of some mass or stay lean and not gain much mass(note I said not much mass Im sure you could gain some by staying lean but not much)

[Phedder]

It's definitely possibly to put on lean mass without gaining fat. As long as you keep your calorie surplus quite small, it'll be used to repair and grow the muscle, and not stored as fat. Also as you're gaining lean mass, your overall weight is increasing so if your fat mass didn't change your %bf would actually decrease. Although that is quite unlikely, it's possible. Granted it is a much slower method of gaining muscle, it's should still be possible.

[weener lad]

Definitely possible I have been doing a "Lean Gain" as it's often called for the last 18 months. Given I still fluctuated between about 8-11%bf never really lost the abs :pfft: . There are disadvantages to this method but at the end of the day you need to find what works best for your body. Mine has reacted very well to this method because I have constantly kept a close eye on my food intake, others may find this more of a pain and not worth doing there fore not getting the results.

The real results will be judged on the 25th Sept and wether it has been worth all the hassle.