So - when i was younger, i used to train regularly, 3-4x a week, changing exercises regularly - too often probably - and i got muscular, but lean… This is partly to do with programming, experience, metabolism and diet. But… Bear with me on this one.
Now, I have good calves. But they tire very easily. They are not particularly a high achieving pair, they tire up hills, and fatigue easily in the gym. 6 sets is tons and i usually do 2-4 sets max once a week with another set thrown in a couple days later.
I have always had good calves, and they thrive on 1x a week training and really thrive on 2+ times a week training. If i do them more than twice then i could use one set per session and they would progress.
I had good calves by 15.
People who have poor calves tend to be better at not getting doms, better at recovering that area. But not as good at building muscle.
Maybe this is because mscle is actually bad… if a body can get away with not building it, it certainly will. If the calf for example is really efficient at exercise and doesnt get overloaded by fuck all… thus no doms, then why would it grow? To use more calories for no reason? Fuck no!
I am in decent shape now. Above average at least, with plenty to go. But like in the fashion i began this post, while i was always a muscular lad i was very lean: a true Ecto/Meso-Morph… lucky in a way, not so much in others…
As i got older my recovery began to drop. For example i never ever could get an ache in my biceps when i was around 18. I would do 9 sets regularly and nothing - plus they were shite too one of the worst bodyparts i owned.
Later, as i got to about 24 they began to ache. All i needed suddenly was 6 sets and they would ache for a day or two after… AND THEY GREWW!!
Now a lot had changed in those 6 years obviously, i have had a natural progression of any young trainee - but it seems to me that that was growth brought on by a direct drop in recovery/performance ability - thus, a sudden and intense overload. As per the Gasroc-condition.
Now steroids increase rcovery in more way than one, and this fact one may argue, does lead to a little extra growth. Ahem.
But what about reduced performance, coupled with an unchanged intensity level, leading to sudden overload? That has GOT to induce a growth response.
I mean i suspect strongly that as i got older and more “crap” at being alive, my body became more muscular. (Among all the variables that we know and love, food, training progressions, steroids, lifestyle etc… etc.)
i am not saying go out and drink yourselves stupid until you have no recuperative abilities - as this clearly will not work.
But do you think that over time, as our bodies do become less recuperative (as we know) slightly, little by little and progessively and in those specific ways, (not in the way of drugs or alcohol abuse would affect recuperation) it actually leads to better growth as we continue to increase the loads/workload but our bodies become less efficient at handling it - thus better growth.
I think that it is PART of it. i do think there is something there, maybe small but something.
JJ