WHEN YOU SEE CHAINS HANGING FROM A BARBELL, it's safe to assume there's a powerlifter lurking nearby with visions of strength and explosiveness dancing in his head. Yet chains aren't solely the province of the powerlifting set. Used correctly, they're a simple and effective tool for stimulating muscle growth. If you've ever been jealous
of the guys you've seen lugging buckets of chains into the gym, wishing you could get in on their "hardcore" motif, this workout offers you a whole new way to reap the myriad benefits of lifting with chains without having
to shave your head and grow some neck rolls. Chains add a unique drag to the barbell known as linear variable resistance. Picture a set of chains attached to either end of a bar. At the bottom of a squat, the chains are piled on the floor. As you stand up, they lift off the floor link by link, forcing you to move an increasing amount of weight. This makes you recruit more fast-twitch muscle fibres — the ones that contract the fastest and strongest, and grow the biggest...
For the full story see this month's issue
TAPPING THE SOURCE
While most guys don't like to admit that vanity is a major force behind their daily excursions to the weights room, what you see in the mirror is usually a good indication whether your efforts in the gym are having some measurable effect. But when it comes to making gains, the adage "knowledge is power" carries a lot of weight. Going beyond skin-deep in your understanding of how muscles develop can be the key to making them bigger and stronger, especially when you consider your body's three main energy systems...
If you're dragging on a regular basis, you might want to check your diet. Some foods – hello, Mr. Croissant? – can leave you feeling more inflated than energised, while others make you feel like you're Michael Phelps swimming in a pool of Red Bull. To prevent an energy crisis, try these naturally invigorating foods that can also turbo charge your health...
A TRAINING SESSION WITH ‘DOOM'
– GLADIATOR WAYNE GORDON!
Sports nutritional supplements supplier USN, in conjunction with Muscle & Fitness magazine, is offering readers the chance to have a training session with Wayne at his workout centre in London. The winner will also receive a stack of USN products as used by Wayne who is an ambassador for USN.
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