View Full Version : "Harder" Muscles
I've been told that I look very good in the condition I am in now. The guy who told me this said that I had no fat etc etc. He told me not to put on too much more weight, but to just "get a little harder." What does he mean by this? Does he mean lose more fat or actually harden the muscles? I notice that when I'm not pumped up, my muscles are much less dense (obviously), but I do have to agree with what he is saying. I'm relatively young to the sport, and I'm thinking that maybe my muscle maturity is not yet at its full level so maybe this explains it? I feel lean, but not hard like steel. I have veins, but they go away if I'm idle for too long. Essentially, I look much harder than I am. Does this make sense? How can I get harder muscles? Heavier weight? Cutting more? Am I carrying too much water? I don't understand what he meant by that comment. Thanks guys
musclealchemist
11-01-07, 2:40 pm
I think what he meant was " get a little harder looking." To do this you have to lift hard and heavy. Arnold used to put a day aside in his routine to lift hard and heavy. It helped his muscles to look hard and thick. So go to the gym and lift till you can breath and walk anymore. Peace.
appearances help too....
shaving hair from your arms/legs helps get that harder look.
I think what he meant was " get a little harder looking." To do this you have to lift hard and heavy. Arnold used to put a day aside in his routine to lift hard and heavy. It helped his muscles to look hard and thick. So go to the gym and lift till you can breath and walk anymore. Peace.
i agree, lifting heavy weight just gives the muscles a little bit of a diffferent look, you ever seen an olympic weightlifter (mind you they have to be the thin ones) they have a very "hard" look to their muscles.
In this case, do olympic gymnists look soft?
OneInchWonder
11-01-07, 4:34 pm
Maybe he was talking about muscle density. I could be wrong but i think myofibral growth will give you that "hardened look" while Sarcoplasmic growth is for adding size or mass.
the-craig
11-01-07, 4:40 pm
branch warren looks very hard and dense and he says he 'powerbuilds' using basics and heavy goin down to 5 or 6 reps i think
branch warren looks very hard and dense and he says he 'powerbuilds' using basics and heavy goin down to 5 or 6 reps i think
Sounds about right.
Heavy is the only way to train, as long as form is spot on.
The major issue for me is...normally one would think lifting heavy, low rep on off season will make one grow.
Lifting a bit lighter, more concentration and what not during cutting would make sense to help "cut" the muscle up, rather than being just a big "hunk'a man".
Main thing here is that heavy works year-round.
Diet and cardio will be the deciding factors.
Diet and cardio will be the deciding factors.
Spot on.