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How To Get Bigger Muscles?

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Posted on Mon, 7 Sep 2015
Question: what would prevent muscle tone? it seems no matter how much I work out my muscles don't get bigger and I can't ever seem to get a four pack or six pack. is there something that prevents that?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (55 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
there are some reasons

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

getting bigger muscles requires hormones, food and exercise. Since you're female, the male hormones are low and can't contribute to it (and you wouldn't want them to contribute!). Adequate caloric and protein intake is required.

Regarding exercise: the type of exercises that increase the muscle diameter are the more intense ones. Execises that require more than 80-85% of your maximal strength may cause muscle hypertrophy. You should be able to complete 5-8 repetitions each time.

Intensity around 50% is good for the muscle tone. Less than that is considered aerobic exercise that may tone your muscles but won't make them bigger.

Also please check your body fat. Too much fat may alter your image. Aerobic exercise is good for reducing your fat. High intensity exercises are good for muscle hypertrophy.

I hope you find my comments helpful!
You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information.

Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (3 hours later)
I was more curious as to why I couldn't seem to tone. I tend to have low body fat. usually in the males usual range of body fat.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
muscle tone requires hypertrophy

Detailed Answer:
What you call "tone" requires your muscles to enlarge, that is to achieve some degree of hypertrophy. Hypertrophy requires high intensity exercises as I've described in my previous answer. Have you done that? This intensity won't allow you to do more than 5-8 repetitions each time. Your muscles should be unable to repeat the exercise when you finish each set of repetitions.

If you had and you eat enough protein and you can cope with this intensity then perhaps it's your genes. There is no other explanation.

Kind Regards!
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3817 Questions

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How To Get Bigger Muscles?

Brief Answer: there are some reasons Detailed Answer: Hello, getting bigger muscles requires hormones, food and exercise. Since you're female, the male hormones are low and can't contribute to it (and you wouldn't want them to contribute!). Adequate caloric and protein intake is required. Regarding exercise: the type of exercises that increase the muscle diameter are the more intense ones. Execises that require more than 80-85% of your maximal strength may cause muscle hypertrophy. You should be able to complete 5-8 repetitions each time. Intensity around 50% is good for the muscle tone. Less than that is considered aerobic exercise that may tone your muscles but won't make them bigger. Also please check your body fat. Too much fat may alter your image. Aerobic exercise is good for reducing your fat. High intensity exercises are good for muscle hypertrophy. I hope you find my comments helpful! You can contact me again, if you'd like any clarification or further information. Kind Regards!