Muscle Hypertrophy

Muscle Hypertrophy, you have heard the word tossed around before, but what is it?  Muscle Hypertrophy is described as “the increase in size of muscle cells.”

Here is a scientific approach to Muscular Hypertrophy.

First off, there are also two different types of muscular hypertrophy, sacroplasmic and myofibrillar.  Now, during sacroplasmic hypertrophy, the volume of sacroplasmic fluid in the muscle cell increases with zero accompanying increase in muscular strength.  During myofibrillar hypertrophy, actin and myosin contractile proteins increase in number and add to muscular strength as well as a small increase in the size of the muscle.

Sacroplasmic hypertrophy is characteristic of the muscles of certain bodybuilders while myofibrillar hypertrophy is characteristic of Olympic weightlifters.

Now, the best way to obtain these two types of muscular hypertrophy is resistance training.  The first measurable effect is an increase in the neural drive stimulating muscle contraction.  Within only a few days, beginning individuals can achieve measurable strength gains resulting from repetitive use of the muscle.  Now, as the muscle continues to receive increased demands, the synthetic machinery is up-regulated.

There are some factors that affect hypertrophy.  Several biological factors such as age and nutrition can effect this.  Hypertrophy occurs at in increased rate during puberty in males.  Natural hypertrophy normally stops at full growth in the late teens.  Muscular hypertrophy can be increased through strength training and other short duration, high intensity interval training, although those kind of exercises have little effect strengthening the muscles involved in respiration. Lower intensity, longer duration of anaerobic exercise generally does not result in very effective tissue hypertrophy; instead, endurance athletes enhance storage of fats and carbohydrates within the muscles.  An adequate supply of amino acids are essential to produce muscle hypertrophy.

Sources:
Wikipedia
T-Nation.com
Livestrong.com

Spot Reduction Myth

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Probably the biggest misconception about exercise is the notion of being able to spot reduce fat. A lot of the credit to why some believe that spot reduction is possible is based upon those infomericals you hear on television about the so-called new revolutionary device that will give you 6 pack abs.

While the equipment may strengthen your abdominal muscles, the fat that surrounds your abs is not 'owned; by those particular muscles. Simply based upon that general anatomy fact spot reduction of fat is by no means possible. Fat is lost in the body mainly dependent on their genetic makeup. When an individual exercises and begins to burn fat it turns into free fatty acids, FFA; which is then sent into and through the bloodstream to the working muscles. Because the fat is not 'owned' by a particular muscle group that is being used the body burns fat from throughout the whole body.

 So if you are wanting have your 6 pack abs show through don't just rely on doing 1000's of crunches but in turn focus on doing full body work and cardio exercises to burn fat.