Quote (Balla @ Mon, Jul 20 2009, 07:18pm)
does a pump mean better gains?
ok we're going to discuss this here and now and bury it.
several things happen during the pump.
1. more blood flow, more nutrients hit the muscles, the muscles expand.
2. After expansion, the pump will remain as long as you are providing it - this means when u stop working out, the pump will gradually go away
3. next, after the pump have develops, nutrient and glycogen stores are depleted quickly. This initiates muscle catabolism (BAD BAD BAD)
4. If you do not get immediate fast acting protein after the gym time is over, you will actually LOSE muscle rather than gain it.
5. Even after taking protein after a workout, without the sugar spike for insulin, the muscles do not receive enough protein quickly enough to make a solid difference (this means take 20-40g simple sugar after a workout, grape juice + creatine is my choice)
6. In addition, during the pump, muscle starts breaking down rather quickly (unless you are working out for less than 45 minutes) - to thwart this, you need to be taking 2-4g BCAA every 45 mins before/during/after working out to minimize or even prevent catabolism and atrophe.
7. Right after a workout in addition to the protein and bcaa's - add 5g glutamine to your fast facting protein shake for further prevention of muscle atrophe.
So 7_deadly_sins is right in the sense that the pump can hinder your gains....but only if you do not PROPERLY supplement (which most people don't)
follow my above guide to prevent this.
Enjoy.