[kalimus]

Originally Posted by tones2SS

I respectfully disagree on your opinion that BCAA's are not for building muscle. I don't need/want to gain extra weight, which is why I stay away from protein powders. I want to gain muscle, not weight. BCAA's help build and repair muscles. Muscles do get ripped to shreds to when you workout. When you rest, your muscles are being repaired. Hence, 3 BCAA's when I am done with my workout. That is why the BCAA's are in protein powders as well. You are correct, there are only 3 amino acids in BCAA's.

Protein powders don't make you blow up like a balloon. They are not necessarily mass gainers, which are protein powders loaded with carbs. I'm sorry, but staying away from whey because you "want to gain muscle and not weight" is an absurd statement. The only reason not to use whey is as a preference, and if you are getting enough protein in your whole meals. BCAA's are great, but whey has got all of that AND the additional aminos that BCAA's do not have.

Originally Posted by RBL

That is just simply not true man, protein contains calories like anything else. An excess of calories no matter where it comes from will lead to weight gain. I understand the simplistic chemistry of what you are saying but it just does not work that way when it comes to nutrition as a whole.

This statement isn't really accurate either. Your body will store excess carbs before it stores excess protein. Always. No exceptions. That's because it's easier for your body to store glycogen in fat, where broken down protein (aminos) aren't really "stored" while they are in the body (at least not in the same manner that glucose is). It's chemestry. You talk about nutrition as a whole, but are implying that a "calorie is a calorie", which is just not true. THAT is "simplistic". The body has a preference and a method to store. You can disagree, but then you have to explain why the same person can eat the same calories on a paleo diet vs a balanced diet, yet the low carb person will burn fat faster. The kind of calorie matters.

Originally Posted by WheelmanSS

I wouldn't really worry about that. Doing isolated lifts to target extremities like calves and forearms are essentially worthless and waste energy that is better spent else where. Those muscles get used for so many other functions.

I run, jump rope, and cycle a lot. My calves are shredded and I never do a damn thing for them specifically.

Same with my arms. I have pretty well toned biceps and triceps and I never do any isolation lifts for them.

Olympic lifts and interval body weight style exercises are key to getting tone and strong all over. You work more muscles as once, and see more results. Win-win.

I would agree with you on forearms. I'm a little hesitant to agree on calves. I don't disagree completely... but I don't really agree either. Unlike forearms, the calves are always under load throughout the day (walking, standing, etc). I'm sure you, just like everyone else knows how hard legs are to encourage growth because of that. Forearms get pleny of exercise as you grip weights and etc. I've never seen a body builder say "meh, you don't really need to work out your calves". Most commonly, I see them talk about the type of exercise, and how people do it wrong. Calves are compared to abs in the theory that they get a bigger benefit from full range of motion. I.E. abs do well from extension as well as contraction. Calves do well from the range of motion that goes from heel below the toe, to heel above the toe. I commonly see people only going flat foot to heel up, but never get the negative.

I mean for that matter, you could include abs into that mix, since they are used all day long, and support almost every exercise you do. Why do ab workouts?

I do agree with the benefit of olympic lifts. They are a lynchpin for a healthy and strong body. I also agree that the exercises you describe are great for getting a toned and lean body. However, the "shreded" look only has to do with lack of bodyfat, and nothing to do with muscle size. I hope nobody takes that to think that I'm saying bigger muscles don't make you look better. I'm just saying that "shreded" is low bodyfat. Even if you have small muscles everywhere, you can be "shreded". You'll just look.. well... silly

So I guess it really just depends on goals. Muscles get more massive, faster, under a load of some kind. Jumping rope... I would consider, is "under load". But after a certain physical size, they are going to need more load than what your bodyweight provides if you want them to be any bigger.



And that's the coolest part about this conversation. So many ways and thoughts on how to accomplish anything. With lifts, the only REAL "wrong way" to do it is by having crappy form and not challenging yourself.