Fast Muscle Mass Building Part 3

Article and video by Wiggy.

Myofibra-what?

I've gotten a number of responses to my last article asking what the hell is "myofibrillar hypertrophy"?

Well, let me take a second and break it down for you...see, there are two basic types of hypertrophy (muscle growth) - myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic.

Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy is when the fluid in muscle cells (called sarcoplasm) increases in volume. This increases the size of your muscle, but can't contract, so it doesn't increase the density.

Or in other words, it's that soft-looking kind of muscle that you see on many bodybuilders and is a result of high-rep, "pumping" type workouts. And since it can't contract, even though your muscle might get bigger, you literally don't get any stronger.

Myofibrillar hypertrophy, on the other hand, is what you get with the muscle fiber itself gains myofibrils. Myofibrils can contract, so when you gain more, not only does the muscle itself get bigger (due to bigger and more dense muscle fibers), but it gets stronger as well.

This is what happens when you lift heavy weights, and why heavy lifting is so vitally important when trying to get big.

Think of it like this - you could take a balloon, and fill it up with water. The balloon might be bigger, but it's soft, mushy, and kind of delicate.

Or you could fill the balloon up with cement, and once it hardens, it's tough, rock hard, and damn near indestructible.

Which kind of muscle do you want to build?

Yeah, I'd choose myofribillar hypertrophy, too.