[b said:
Quote[/b] (rcl-isr @ June 24 2005,4:53)]I just can't find comments from bryan's or one of the veterans here about SD in regarding to whether there're real advantges in SDing for 9 (or 14) days in order to 'take down' any defences muscle cells might have against further hypertrophy.
Lyle is talking about something that lengths from 4 weeks to 6 months when you try to achieve noticeable deconditioning, and while it isn't very appeling to the average bodybuilder because it'll bring too much of a muscle loss, it's questioning the necessity and value of SD as it's beeing utilized in HST.
What are your thoughts about it? if may, I'd like to see studies about SD in regard to what I've written.
Thanks in advance.
Hi rcl-isr,
Lyle is right that in order to see gross changes in the tissue it requires more than 2 weeks of unloading.
SD is not complete detraining. It was never meant to be. It is used to move things in a desired direction, but I have never claimed that it had the same effect as what you see in hindlimb suspension research that involves weeks or even months of unloading. But there is research showing the principle behind SD to be true. Meaning, adaptation occurs with loading the reduces the anabolic potential of each subsequent workout. Likewise, adaptation also occurs with unloading that increases the anabolic potential of loading. This simple principle is what SD is based on. Nothing magic, nothing unique to HST training, its just how the physiology works.
With SD, we want to try to increase the sensitivity of the tissue by removing the loading stimulus, while at the same time, keeping the deconditioning period short enough not to lose too much muscle. How long a person wants to SD is up to them. The smaller they are (training age) the less they need SD, and vice versa.
So, if after using 5RM weights for several weeks a person can SD for two weeks (or however long they choose) and end up sore after lifting weights in the 15-20RM range, we have achieved something beneficial to natural lifters. We've made weights that were previously unable to elicit a traumatic response (i.e. anabolic) potent again.
And I need to add something before closing. Anytime you hear something about HST that doesn't sound rational, it probably isn't true. HST is based on sound physiological principles. The methods that one chooses to make those principles work for them is up to them. The better they understand these principles the better decisions they will make about the methods they choose.
Now, anytime someone (not you rcl-isr, I'm just making an example) claims that SD will
completely "take down any defenses muscle cells might have against further hypertrophy" you will know right away that they do not fully grasp the underlying principles. The language is just too extreme and they are likely just looking for an argument.
In physiology things don't go from black to white in one step (think analog), they pass through a myriad of grays before things get white. Likewise, the things we do in the gym (and out of it) don't produce instant noticeable changes. It’s a slow process that begins immediately, but takes time to discern.
