Thread: A lot of people like to play the isolation game...

I would almost rather not do any isolation exercises but I must....

the only iso moves I like are for the triceps... bicep curls are miserable.

Originally Posted by cshea2

the only iso moves I like are for the triceps... bicep curls are miserable.

No iso for the calves?

eh, I can take them or leave them. I've never seen a donkey calf raise machine. That would be cool...

I will say this: for the advanced bodybuilder who has already built a great base of strength and size, isolating bodyparts is probably essential. It can also help advanced strength athletes (powerlifters, weightlifters, strongmen, etc.) correct strength imbalances.

But how many are actually advanced? IMO the entire idea of stressing compound exercises is to get the novice/intermediate lifter to build that base of strength and size.

Originally Posted by cshea2

eh, I can take them or leave them. I've never seen a donkey calf raise machine. That would be cool...

yeah we actually got every single diff calf raise machine at my gym
donkjey calf raise is legit and great for single leg raises

Originally Posted by gtbmed

I will say this: for the advanced bodybuilder who has already built a great base of strength and size, isolating bodyparts is probably essential. It can also help advanced strength athletes (powerlifters, weightlifters, strongmen, etc.) correct strength imbalances.

But how many are actually advanced? IMO the entire idea of stressing compound exercises is to get the novice/intermediate lifter to build that base of strength and size.

exactly and the article was probably out to help noobies who like to do exactly what ronnie coleman is doing

Originally Posted by gtbmed

IMO the entire idea of stressing compound exercises is to get the novice/intermediate lifter to build that base of strength and size.

Yes but to caveat this, it is known that compound exercises increase the pituitary's production of IGF-1 and eventually gH, because multiple muscle groups are being stimulated. The larger the muscles the more gH. This is why the Squat and deadlift are the king of lifts. So if you can stimulate the pituitary, then take advantage of the extra IGF in your body by supplementing the core lifts with isolation, then theoretically you improve your gains and recovery time without taking a single supplement.

This is how I understood it after reading Rippetoe's Staring Strength and the WBC book of methods many years ago. There was also a link to a study that I saved, that supported the theory that the buildup of lactic acid in larger muscle groups such as the quads increased gH output as well, but I can't seem to find it.

The barbell is the weapon of choice.

Originally Posted by moarwhey123

yeah we actually got every single diff calf raise machine at my gym
donkjey calf raise is legit and great for single leg raises



exactly and the article was probably out to help noobies who like to do exactly what ronnie coleman is doing

That's true beginners or even people who are not on some serious gear can't train the way ronnie did. And, no doubt there are plenty of bodybuilders who are insanely strong that lift heavy all the time. But, theres a number of bodybuilders like Cutler who never seem to go below 8 reps.

The article says theres a common misconception that bodybuilders aren't strong and don't go very heavy. Which obviously is true because ronnie could squat and pull 800+ pounds among others.

It's interesting how bodybuilders can train in completely different ways and still be highly successful.

Originally Posted by 11B

This is how I understood it after reading Rippetoe's Staring Strength and the WBC book of methods many years ago. There was also a link to a study that I saved, that supported the theory that the buildup of lactic acid in larger muscle groups such as the quads increased gH output as well, but I can't seem to find it.

the presence of high levels of lactic acid in skeletal muscle as the result of exercise and the related stressors would stimulate GH secretion. My question is since the majority of GH is released at night during the end of the 1st sleep cycle I wonder if exercise induced GH secretion would cause less GH to be released at night?

Originally Posted by LAM

the presence of high levels of lactic acid in skeletal muscle as the result of exercise and the related stressors would stimulate GH secretion. My question is since the majority of GH is released at night during the end of the 1st sleep cycle I wonder if exercise induced GH secretion would cause less GH to be released at night?

That is an interesting inquiry. With GH levels being so hard to monitor conventionally in a "short" period of time, I can imagine that this may be hard to test/experiment.

My guess would be NO, IF (big IF) like synthetic HGH, it had a half-life of 3 hours give or take. Now if there were increased levels at the time of natural production (during sleep) I could see how the body might slow or hinder natty production as like a homeostatic reaction. Then again, I am just shooting in the dark until I read more.

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