If you train your legs hard, could they steal gains from your upper body? In today’s episode, we discuss a new study that put the idea of muscles competing for growth to the test by having one group train only their biceps and another train both their biceps and quads.
Did adding all that leg training leave fewer resources for the biceps to grow? We dig into the results, what they tell us about local versus whole-body factors in muscle growth, and revisit the old claim that training your legs first and then your arms will actually make your arms grow more.
Finally, we answer a question about how to approach leg training at 60, including exercise selection and building up your range of motion and training volume.
Timestamps:
- 00:00 – Opening banter
- 07:15 – Program of the week: Armageddon
- 12:00 – Main course: Do muscles compete for growth?
- 31:15 – Listener question: Any advice on leg training for a 60-year-old? I’m looking for both strength and muscle.
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This is episode 127 of the podcast. Check out the five previous episodes below:
- Episode 126: How Many Calories Does It Take to Build a Kilogram of Muscle?
- Episode 125: Should You Ditch Squats and Deadlifts after 50?
- Episode 124: The Muscle Growth Paradox
- Episode 123: 10 Gym Debates We Can’t Settle
- Episode 122: The Science of Injury Prevention
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