Beast’s Q&A Corner #1
Originally Posted by pu12en12g
Question #1:
From the photos I've seen, it appears that your lats
are absolutely insane. How much of this do you think
is genetics and do you have any lat-related tricks /
tips for the natural bodybuilder ?
Question #2:
What is the most powerful compound you've ever taken
that gave you the fastest gains ?
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A#1
The key to building lats is ACTUALLY PULLING WITH YOUR LATS. Excerpt
for my upcoming mini e-book:
"Pull-ups (not chin-ups) are a great exercise for developing the lats,
specifically back “width”. As you execute each rep, you should focus on pulling
your body up by using your lats NOT by using your arms. Often times people
will swing their body and use momentum to complete their pull-ups, which requires
heavy recruitment of the biceps and decreases the recruitment of the lats.
The goal is to keep the tension on your lats.
One way to limit bicep involvement is to think of your hands as
hooks. You are not pulling from your hands, but rather from your
lats. Think of the tension from the weight starting deep in your
lats and moving “up” the lats to where they insert into the humerus
(bone of the upper arm) as you pull yourself up. As you pull your
body up, your elbows should come to your sides and you should contract
the muscles of the back, squeezing them together."
The same methodology should be used for all back exercises. My lats
began growing at an accelerated rate once I began using lifting
straps. Lifting straps increase the tension placed on your lats
by acting as hooks (as I mentioned above) allowing you to pull more
with your lats and less with you biceps. Remember, even though your
elbows are flexing during back exercises (which ould target the
biceps) it is your lats that are working.
A#2
Hmm, that is a hard one. I actually made my best gains when I was
taking EAA pre-workout, BCAA+Glutamine during my workout, and Whey+BCAA
or EAA post workout. That mix was ALWAYS consistent when I was making
good gains. I've been using BCAA for about the past 3-4 years and
don't want to train without them. I think taking EAA pre-workout
also made a difference, which I will start doing again as soon as
Marc sends me some Primal EAA 
Xtend + Substance—PURPLE DRANK
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steinman
Q: IMO your calves have always been one of your most
impressive bodyparts. Any trick to this in terms of training
or has it always pretty much been simply:
1.) Train calves 2.) Eat 3.) Train calves next week
with more weight then last time?
Thanks Beast.
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A: I have a few tips and tricks
Calves Training Tips
• Decrease the weight you use and focus on a full stretch and contraction
during EVERY rep
• Do not bounce the weight. Instead pause for 2-3 seconds at the
bottom of the movement before beginning the concentric phase of
the lift.
• Perform for a VARIETY of rep ranges as the calves are composed
of both fast-twitch (primarily found in the gastrocnemius) and slow-twitch
(primarily found in the soleus) muscle fibers
• Try performing slow eccentrics
• Try performing your calf raises without shoes on (A popular method
used by Arnold)
Q: Originally Posted
by zeeeeeee
What is your take on rep speed? Should we count time under
tension?
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A: I personally don't pay attention to rep speed
or TUT. I simply perform every rep in a controlled fashion. Changing
your rep range will change the TUT without you have to count TUT.
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