Not sure where to ask this (Strength vs Bulk)

[LittleBitch]

I was wondering, what is the difference between a BIG muscle and a STRONG muscle?

I understand that Size of muscles are roughly proportional to Strength of muscles, but I also know that some big guys can be weaker than smaller guys.

I was wondering what the difference is, in terms of muscle structure (size/quantity of fibres, etc) between a strong muscle and a big muscle?

[InsaneInTheMembrane]

From what I have seen the difference is genetics... I've seen wiry guys who can outbench muscle monsters...i think it has to do with the overall fast-twitch/slow-twitch composition of the muscle... fast twitch just grows bigger faster.

Another mechanism is a person's endocrionological makeup....a person with higher natural test level and lower systemic aromitization will grow muscle faster and and keep em better...

stength loosely correlates to muscle mass but such correlations are individual (I.E. you can compare only with your past data but nobody elses)...

I think it's the way you choose to train your muscles that determine whether they're bigger, stronger or both...however, it's mutually inclusive for the most part, I've never seen a strong muscle that was too small or a big muscle that was too weak

cheers

[LittleBitch]

Ah, so it's to do with the number of fast twitch vs the number of slow twitch?

[IronReload04]

I understand your concern and confusion........Honestly bro, stop overthinking this shit.....It isnt rocket science

in whatever reprange you want, anyone, 6-12, whatever, it all works

-6 months from now, you want to be handling heavier weight in your favorite rep range.....3 months from now, you want to be handling heavier weight in your favorite rep range........1 month from now, you want to be handling heavier weight in your favorite rep range........2 weeks from now, you want to be handling heavier weight in your favorite rep range........The 2.5 pound plates, or getting more reps than you did last time is the goal you want....It dont matter what rep range it is....


Find the rep range that you progress the best at as far as adding weight or reps, could be 6, could be 12, could be mixxed up, and ride the shit out of it. 6 months from now, if their is 20 extra pounds on the bar, you are going to be ****ing huger.....1 year from now when their is 50 more pounds on the bar, you are going to be a **** of alot thicker....stop over thinking this shit like its rocket science...


if you want to be huge, these should be your goals

incline bench press- 405 for reps

squats- 500 for 20 reps, or 400 whatever, 600 for 6-10 reps

deads 600 for 10 reps



ya see where im getting at here? handling heavier weight over time is a fail proof way to build muscle.........put 50 pounds on the bar, and when you can, your chest will be 2 inches thicker, its really that goddamn simple.



Figure out the fastest way to make strength progress in these rep ranges, adn this is how to make those size gains


trust me, handling heavier weight, over time, leaves the body no choice but to get larger....


The faster the strength gains, the faster the size gains....that simple


To be the biggest bodybuilder you can possibly be, you must become the strongest bodybuilder you can possibly be.....


your goal should be strength gains in your favorite rep range......size gains follow strength gains.......size gains could be a direct result, or an indirect result, they dont always happen simultaniously, but, eventually, they will equal out.



hope this helps, stop overthinking this like its rocket science, it aint....






part 2 should be nutrition

[IronReload04]

i copy and pasted this from another thread......This was the answer I gave to that question......this will probably help answer your questrion

[IronReload04]

I was wondering, what is the difference between a BIG muscle and a STRONG muscle?

I understand that Size of muscles are roughly proportional to Strength of muscles, but I also know that some big guys can be weaker than smaller guys.

I was wondering what the difference is, in terms of muscle structure (size/quantity of fibres, etc) between a strong muscle and a big muscle?

Here is some info

Force=(mass)(acceleration)

their is 2 ways to get stronger
1. increase mass..(muscle or water)
2. increase neuroaffectiveness (better acceleration)

a larger muscle is a stronger muscle....YOu can be big, but you are going to be strong....You could not be big, but still be strong, if you got the acceleration part down pat ( usually these guys are powerlifters, if your reps are high enough as well as food, you wont run into this problem)



muscle attachments have alot to do with things as well as limb length and joint/bone structure



muscle make up is another issue, some people are born with more fast twitch msucles, others more slow twitch.....fast twitch is what lifts heavy ass weight.



to sum it up.....a big muscle is a strong muscle, not weak......if a guy has great neurological effectiveness, he can have smaller muscles but still be really strong.....their is not such thing as a big weak muscle...

[MuscleScience]

fast twitch vs slow twitch ratio has a definate effect. The one you can control the most is motor unit utilization. Which basically means how many muscle fibers you are recruiting for a given exercise. If you can recruit 90 to 95 % of your muscle fiber types then you can produce a lot of force some people cant recruit all there muscle fibers at once which can to an extent be improved with proper training. You will use both fiber types when you perform and exercise its really a matter of endurance for the fiber types.

[unclemoney]

fast twitch vs slow twitch ratio has a definate effect. The one you can control the most is motor unit utilization. Which basically means how many muscle fibers you are recruiting for a given exercise. If you can recruit 90 to 95 % of your muscle fiber types then you can produce a lot of force some people cant recruit all there muscle fibers at once which can to an extent be improved with proper training. You will use both fiber types when you perform and exercise its really a matter of endurance for the fiber types.

From what I recall from ironman's HIT routine up in the sticky... there's 2 types of fibers (slow//fast twitch) I just devised up a workout and started it this past week and so far I love it. According to him you can hit the 3 different fiber types with the different rep ranges (1-5 reps) (6-10 reps) (11-15 reps) and following his guidelines you hit all 3 types. I'm keeping a log so I can't wait to see where I'm at 6 weeks from now... Then I'll take a week off and hit it back again and again...

[MuscleScience]

From what I recall from ironman's HIT routine up in the sticky... there's 2 types of fibers (slow//fast twitch) I just devised up a workout and started it this past week and so far I love it. According to him you can hit the 3 different fiber types with the different rep ranges (1-5 reps) (6-10 reps) (11-15 reps) and following his guidelines you hit all 3 types. I'm keeping a log so I can't wait to see where I'm at 6 weeks from now... Then I'll take a week off and hit it back again and again...

Well it doenst really work the way Ironmans hit routine says it does. When you exercise no matter the muscle group each muscle has its own makeup of fiber types. Now what differs is that each muscle has a specific action or job its suppose to perform. For example if you look at the soleus muscle of the lower leg. Its evolutionary funtion was and is to assist in walking over long distances. Were as the gastronemious is designed for short burst of power like in sprinting or jumping. Now if you workout these two muscles here is what is happening.

The basic idea to increase muscle strenght and size you have to recruit as many muscle fibers as you can. The soleus is composed of mainly slow twitch fibers. To get the most fiber activation, slow twitch, fast twitch (type IIA an IIB) you have to exercise the muscle to a point were every fiber is contracting. To achieve this in the soleus you have to do higher rep range than you do if you were doing the gastronemious. Again you use every fiber type when you perform an exercise its just a matter of how many and when a particular fiber starts to fatigue.

The Hit routine is basically correct in its design but some of the exact factual reasons are not.

[LittleBitch]

i copy and pasted this from another thread......This was the answer I gave to that question......this will probably help answer your questrion

Thanks, but that's a negative. My question was what is the difference between a strong muscle structure and a big muscle structure, not how to get big vs how to get strong :P