Are Your Muscles Trembling?

Hi,

Have your muscles ever been so tired that they actually shake or tremble?  If so you have hit the first stage of the growing zone. 

The growing zone isn't just about muscle size.  It is more about muscle strength. 

Although you will find that growth does come with strength.  It just usually lags behind a few weeks or months. 

And there are many more variables to consider when talking about muscle size.  Things such as number of fibers, types of fiber, musculo-skeletal leverage factors, diet and recovery ability all affect muscle size. 

So with that out of the way, let's get back to muscle trembling and your workout. 

Most people at the gym never get to the trembling stage.  If you are doing legs, then it should be very hard for you to even walk.  If you are going down stairs, then you should be hanging on to the railing. 

If you do reach this stage, most people will now stop.  And then they will miss a great opportunity for growing. 

Here is what you can do to shock your muscles.  Once you reach this stage, rest for 10 seconds.  Then, with the same weight, do one more rep.  Rest another 10 seconds.  Do one more rep. 

Rest 5 seconds and pick up a weight that is 50% of what you were using before.  Do as many reps as you can until you can't budge the weight anymore. 

Then collapse. 

Here is an alternate method in case you are not able to use the same amount of weight for the first rep.  Reduce the poundage by 20% and do as many reps as you can.  Immediately reduce the weight another 20% and again do as many reps as you can. 

Then collapse. 

Don't worry about the exact percentages.  Just try to keep as good a form as you can when you are doing the reps.  It is real easy to exaggerate body english to get the rep, but that can do more harm and really hurt you.

So if you can't get a full rep, then just do a half rep or even a quarter rep. 

Try this at your next workout and let me know how you feel the next day.  Which reminds me, don't do this at every workout.  You will overwork yourself and actually reduce your gains and recovery. 

Thanks,

Mike Val