i agree we need more long term studies, and on natural trainers.
however the thinking that SAID means diminishing gains at a specific rep range has never made sense to me. ( although i have experienced the phenomenon)
for instance the human has always responded to any situation with 2 responses adapt or die, it is in our history.
when we lift a load say in the 6-8 rep range, yes after a while it becomes easier and gains stop. SAID at work, however an increase in weight applies a new demand, so gains should start again ( given proper nutrition), again its on our genes to adapt or die.
When we are babies and grow, where is SAID at work there? we eat more and more and keep growing. i realise this is a very simple way of looking at things, but the human body has proven time and again it adapts - calouses on the hands from constant lifting, thicker/courser facial hair from shaving, tanning from he sun, etc we always adapt. The responce to weight lifting should be no different.
Studies show the heavier the load the greater the MPS responce. However clearly 1 rep maxes are not producing ronnie coleman sized monsters so something is faulty in this model, unless the cns stimulation produced by 1 rep max is so great that calories expended to regenerate atp and refresh the cns effects protein synthesis rates/calories required to build muscle however this is a strech indeed.
Volume clearly play a large part. Studies show that muscle mass is also directly proportional to volume, with a threshold at somepoint that giving diminishing returns.
in my opinion there is a universal model for muscle or strength gain in all people - it is lifting a heavier weight regardless of muscle type in the individual - the 6-8 reps just seems to be a sweet spot, between cns/mps stimulation.To change to a lighter/higher rep range just to change things up, does not make sense - not if studies show it provides less results.
also muscle type can change to cope with demand - so even if someone had primarily type I fibres, lifting havy weight long enough does cause their body to change the fibre type.
that study i posted shows the low rep and mod reps were close for mps - but clearly strength gains will be higher in the lower reps, so it gets the edge in my opinion.
I have decided apon 6-8 however as i am aware that many people, including myself have experienced strength gains at 1-5 reps, but not a lot of mass. again perhaps this was stimulating maximum possible mps, but people were undereating, or perhaps it was simply under the volume threshold for maximum mps - either way the slightly higher reps reduces cns burnout, increases volume and the resulting hormone responce.
regardless, there is also a limit to the length of time mps lasts - studies show 48-72 hours. So optimal frequency per muscle group points at every 2nd-3rd day.
i am rambling slightly here, but i would welcome opinions on this. The more we talk the more we learn.
what is lauras work? i have not heard of this?
i am aware if 5x5, but i have not ever seen pictures of anyone make tremendous body transformation using it. strength gains certainly.
If you believe skip la cour, jeff willet, and jrod are natural, then 5x5 does work, as it is similar in rep/set recomendations as max-ot.
agains i welcome thoughts and opinions on this rambling post
