The Muscle Couple is beaming and incredibly proud of Anhski!

She was just featured in an article on My Best Health Portal, one of the largest Health and Fitness Websites in the world .

Check her out!

Fit Moms: A Healthy New Trend

We hope you have a wonderful late Summer Sunday!

MIHWCS

The Muscle Couple has now done three weeks of HIT Training provided to us by  Markus Reinhardt.

OMFGx1000!

High Intensity Training (HIT) is the hardest, intense, and focused type of training we’ve ever done!   And so far, the MOST PRODUCTIVE!!!

An entire session lasts no longer than 30 minutes!! (And that’s with TMC training together)

The feeling you have over your physical being is just incredible.  It’s as if all the blood in your body is flowing into the targeted muscles you’ve just trained.  The feeling lasts for hours afterward.  In fact, our BMR is so jacked up, you feel energy for hours after the session ends.  We recommend you don’t train in this style after 8PM if you want to sleep at night!

When you train in HIT fashion, every single rep of every set must count.  You must be able to focus on each repetition utilizing proper form and cadence.  The mental fatigue produced in concentrating so intently is something you have to get used to.

TMC is now learning through first hand application the HOLY GRAIL to PHYSIQUE ALTERATION is PROPERLY CONTRACTING MUSCLE FIBERS.  Your body must become neurally efficient at squeezing the target muscle for 2 seconds(enervating every cross sectional fiber)consistently rep after rep to build skeletal muscle.  If you can learn to do this on every set and every rep, you won’t believe how fast your appearance will change.

If you’re an advanced trainee, you probably think you understand this already.  Think again.  It’s not easy.  Things get in the way.  Using too much weight, improper cadence and tempo when performing reps, or just a momentary loss of focus and before you know it, you’re flying through the set not even close to contracting the fibers as intended.

As we will repeatedly say, training in HIT fashion requires enormous self discipline, focus and neural coordination.  None of it is learned until  you train this way for a while.  We’ve only been training in HIT fashion for 3 weeks now and we still learn something new on every set.  Often times the slightest distraction can cause a loss of focus and before you know it, you’re not training in the fashion necessary to make HIT work.  It’s why having a Master Teacher to offer assistance is a must.

We’re trying to capture all the finer nuances and subtleties offered by our HIT Master Trainer- Markus Reinhardt.  Markus was personally trained by Mike Mentzer himself.  Mentzer was known as one of the original voices of HIT training and wrote the seminal book HEAVY DUTY.  At the time it was written, its theories were in direct opposition to most established weight training principles and lore.

Mentzer was a prolific independent thinker and we recommend reading his book or any of his many writings on training and life.  (We will have much more on this widely debated and discussed topic of “multiple set vs single set training” in future blogs)  Suffice it to say, we think there is a lot of dis-information and confusion over true HIT training and how it compares to multi set training.

We need to emphasize what kind of incredible resource Markus is regarding his training knowledge and intellect.  He has been practicing HIT for over 12 years and he is a master at not only teaching the principles but also demonstrating them. Markus is a stickler for getting the most of out every rep.  He will gently assist and spot to make sure you learn to contract your muscle fibers to positive failure.

Again, even advanced trainees can sometimes struggle with learning how to do this on every set.  His skills and advice are just invaluable.  (Much more on Markus soon as he is coming out of retirement at 40 to defend his Muscle Mania Title from years ago-TMC is also entering this same competition(our very first one)

In TMC’s humble opinion, you have to train with Markus for a week to realize the effort and skill necessary to train in HIT Fashion.  Markus showing  you is much better than him telling you on the phone or by email.  And much of it, no matter how advanced your training capacity, is something you have to see and hear to actually learn and apply.

Markus is truly an amazing trainer.  WE RECOMMEND HIM TO ALL OUR READERS.

He is available for Online Consultations and one on one sessions in Los Angeles or Las Vegas.

There are other HIT Master Practitioners around the world we’ll be identifying and referring to in future blogs.

<TMC Side Note> Jay attempted to perform HIT when he was 24 years old after reading Mentzer’s book.  He always believed the science behind the methodology, as it stood out from “accepted dogma”.   He didn’t have the benefit of a JEDI HIT Master to teach or demonstrate how to do it at the same time period. Eventually he just gave up believing only “Genetically Gifted Bodybuilders” would ever attain success utilizing the principles espoused.  He is very thankful(even though 15 years later) to have figured out he was DEAD WRONG!

<TMC NOTE>We have been editing a bunch of videos of our HIT Training and will post them in a series on the site emphasizing everything regarding the science of HIT:

• the HIT Master Practioners
• the Best Websites
• the Forums
• the Objectors
• Single Set vs Multi Set Debates

Our goal is to give HIT Training it’s proper due.  And we believe we will.

We are also firmly convinced anyone can use this style of training to attain their physique goals.  And in all honesty, who wouldn’t want to have an awesome physique in only 90 minutes of training a week?

HIT Training is perfect for busy professionals, and other people whose time is incredibly valuable.  For folks who train in a home gym, this program can also be adapted to conform to your equipment.

The Muscle Couple needs to set the record straight regarding HIT Training:

If you can learn to make each and every set count.  If you can perform the exercises in controlled fashion, putting all your focus and energies into every second of every rep(no matter how much your body is telling your mind to quit)with a goal of  increasing your reps or weight from week to week(training session to training session), the gains you will realize will shock you.  SHOCK YOU!

We are both blown away with what is happening to our bodies.   As many of the readers of this blog understand, we don’t make statements like that very often.  But don’t take our word for it.  Just check us out our pics as we progress week to week.  We’re in contest preparation now and we both believe we’re going to take our physiques to a whole new level by contest time in early November. (More on that soon)

There is no doubt, LESS IS MORE when it comes to HIT Training.

<TMC HIT NOTE>We don’t want any of our readers to think this type of program is too hard. Not even close.  We’re also not using “too much weight” or “loading our spine” in potentially harmful ways.  Our training is challenging but definitely fun.  We look forward to every session.   In reality, we’re reducing workout session time by HALF.  Sure we’re increasing the intensity, but isn’t TIME really what matters to most of us?  It definitely means a lot to us with the Muscle B’s. (Alexandra and Gabriella)

Less time in the gym gives you more time in your personal life to spend with family, friends or surfing the world wide web.  And at the end of the day, the results you will achieve training in this fashion, will not be rivaled.  That’s our opinion, but we’re confident anybody who ever gives this type of training 3 months of effort,(also utilizing the tutelage of an HIT Master Trainer) will wholeheartedly agree.

To give you an idea of the intensity of our efforts, we’ve inserted some photos(some are video stills) from all 4 days of the training from the first couple of weeks.  Take a look at our faces and you should be able to grasp how incredibly intense our sessions are. (This will also be detailed in fully edited video soon,  so WE CAN SHOW WHAT HIT TRAINING IS ALL ABOUT!)

TMC’s HIT WORKOUT

Day 1 Tuesday:

Chest

• Nautilus Chest Press warm up and then 1 Set (4′ Eccentrics)till Failure and then 3 Negative 10 Sec Holds(You must learn to maximally contract chest fibers as you finish the concentric portion of the movement-Once you can fully “fire” or enervate your deep wall chest muscles, your chest musculature will CHANGE-Male or Female)
• Nautilus Chest Fly Machine-No Warmup 1 Set 1 Full Rep and Quarter Rep to failure
• Hammer Incline Press with 10′ Concentric and 10′ Eccentric

Triceps

• Dip Machine-1 Warmup Set + 1 Set til Failure with 3 10 Negative 10 Second Holds
• Cable Pushdown-1 Warmup Set + 1 Set + Quarter Rep til Failure

Abdominals

• Nautilus Crunch Machine 1 Warmup Set + 1 Set and Quarter Rep till Failure, then 5 second rest and continue with normal reps until failure again
• Reverse Ab Thrusts til Failure super setted with Ab Crunches (Holding plate behind head)

<TMC NOTES> Every workout Markus will change certain parameters.  Sometimes we’ll superset to pre-exhaust the chest fibers. ie Do the fly Machine til positive failure and then immediately into one of the chestp resses.  Markus is a big believer in focusing on the down(eccentric)as he says this is where the “growth zone” occurs.  He will vary the eccentric from anywhere from 10-60 seconds!  Until you perform 60 second Negative Holds in successive fashion, you haven’t trained as hard as you thought you could. 

Abdominal training with Markus completely dispels all rumors about anything you’ve ever thought you knew or understood about training abs.  If you can do 10+ “Contracting Your Rectus for 2 Seconds” ab crunches on the Nautilus Crunch Machine with 200 pounds or more, you’re abdominal wall is thick, etched and hard.

Day 2 Wednesday:

Back

• Bent Over Barbell Rows or Hammer Rows- 1 set of 6-12 reps to failure plus static hold to failure on the last rep.
• Nautilus Pullover Machine or Dumbbell Pullover on decline bench- 1 set of 6-12 to positive failure followed by a 1 set of Reverse Grip Pulldowns at 6-8 reps to failure (important here is to do them in superset fashion with less then 5-8 second rest if possible!)
• Negative Chin Ups-1 Set til Positive Failure utilizing body weight and then 2-4 Negative 10 Second Hold Chins(videotape will prove how amazing this exercise is for your entire upper back and core-This is amazingly hard but productive)
• Lower Back Hyper Extensions- 1 set of 8-15 reps to positive failure-utilizing resistance of up to a 25 pound plate behind the head (this exercise is a little too delicate in order to perform negatives or static failure due to potential lower back injury risk.)

<TMC NOTES>We are growing to love training back in HIT Fashion.  Wow!  This workout will change anybody’s back musculature quickly.  You can’t imagine how crazy 10′ Negative Chin’s are after your back has already been blasted from 3 previous HIT sets.

Day 4 Friday

Delts

• Side raise machine or dumbbell laterals seated (Markus prefers machine) – 1 set to failure, 6-12 reps..make sure to hold the static at 2 seconds each and lower slow of course – reach positive and static failure then ..
• Superset with Shoulder press machine…6-8 reps to positive failure plus a slow 10 second negative!
• Upright Rows with Rope-1 Set Til Positive Failure focusing on the 4′ eccentric and 2′ positive.  Smooth and controlled contracting the rhomboids at the peak.
• Rear lateral raise machine or dumbbell rear laterals….8-12 reps to positive and static failure.
• Add Shrug Machine if Traps need improvement (same reps and tempo as Upright Rows with Rope)

Biceps

• Straight Bar Curls or Hammer Machine Curls 6-12 reps to positive failure plus static failure.
• Reverse Grip Bar Curls to failure using a cheat/preacher bar (6-12 reps) If you’re not getting stronger each workout, drop it. You might already over train your arms because they are used on all exercises.  Over training with regards to biceps is very common.

<TMC NOTES>This is our favorite HIT workout due to the amazing upper torso pump in every region of the shoulder capsule.  If you asked 95% of trainees if they believed a shoulder workout with only 3 sets in it could CHANGE THEIR SHOULDER LINE APPEARANCE COMPLETELY, they’d answer emphatically, “NO”!  We challenge anybody who reads this blog to come train Delts with us to find out.

Day 5 Saturday

Quads and Hamstrings

• Leg Extensions (8-15 Reps) supersetted with Leg Press (6-8) reps to failure.
• Squat Machine or Hack Squat Machine 8-15 reps to failure.
• Leg Curls seated or laying 8-12 reps to failure with static failure. (60 Second Static Holds on Leg Curls are “Interesting”)

Calves

• Seated raises 8-15 reps to failure and static failure plus some partial reps till your calfs basically fall off…lol…supersetted with…
• 1 set of standing calf raises 12-20 reps to failure..also add static failure set to the end.

<TMC NOTES>This workout is amazingly intense but productive.  Your quads and Hams are pumped for two days afterward.  The first couple of leg training sessions give you DOMs (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) for a couple of days afterward until your body gets used to them.(GET STRONGER as FIBERS GET THICKER).  Training legs intensely is a prerequisite for HIT Training.  You can always customize your approach  based on your own unique wants and needs.

Example: If you don’t want your legs to explode out of your pants requiring you to buy expensive new work clothes<GRIN> you will back down the amount of weight you lift or potentially do a heavy leg workout every 3rd workout.  Markus understands the importance of adaptation to training around your lifestyle and unique situation.(As will any competent HIT Trainer)

We hope this post will serve as a modern day guide in understanding how to practice HIT Training.  Hopefully dispelling some of the rumor and innuendo when it comes to training in real HIT style.

We believe all folks regarding of training level or condition can train in HIT Fashion.

We will be writing often over the remaining portion of this year and going forward about how it’s changing our physiques and lives.  Videos are also coming soon along with a resource post pointing everybody to the main sites to read and learn more about HIT Training.

We encourage all of you to give it a try or to reach out to us with questions regarding anything related to HIT Training.

Check back every week to watch our bodies undergo an HIT TRANSFORMATION. 

As always, thanks for reading and viewing our blog!

MIHWCS

The Muscle Couple is truly lucky to reside in a city that has the greatest pool parties in the World.

Between Wet Republic at MGM Grand and The Beach Club at Encore, we don’t have to go far to have an amazing time each and every Sunday.

Both places are incredible venues staffed by wonderful people.

We won’t mention any names, but thanks to everybody for their regular “hookups” on letting TMC in without hassle.   We love you all!

Why waste time with additional words?  We’ll let the beautiful people in the pictures do the talking.

Enjoy:

We’ll be dropping some HIT Training Science shortly.

You will enjoy the videos.  We’re “fairly” confident.

MIHWCS

TMC has had a very busy weekend.

We’re in the process of editing our HIT Videos shot in the last week and will also be detailing the workout in vivid detail.

For now, here’s a few photos from our recent training(some with Markus) and some from Encore Beach Club last Sunday. 

Check out the first NFL Pre-Season game Sunday night when TMC’s Cincinnati Bengals take on the Dallas Cowboys.

A real reason to watch the BOOB TUBE!

We wish everybody a SUPERB SUMMER WEEKEND!

MIHWCS

The Female half of TMC recently had some professional photos taken.

We really wanted to document for posterity’s sake Anh’s “Metamorphosis” in under 7 months from a pregnant “Momski”.

Words won’t really do it justice.  But we hope the pictures do.

Enjoy your HOT-SUN FILLED Weekends!

MIHWCS

The Male half of The Muscle Couple has to brag on this glorious 4th of July Sunday!

Anh Campbell, beautiful wife and wonderful mother of Alexandra and Gabriella aka (The Muscle B’s)has come along way in 6.5 months.

Check her out!

_ONE DAY BEFORE GABRIELLA DECEMBER 15TH, 2009

_6.5 MONTHS AFTER JULY 4TH 2010

The reason we’re glorifying  it?

Because any “Mom, Wife or Grandma” can do it too!

To all the Pregnant Moms out there!  Ask us how to get back in shape!

We are available to help in your quest to get into the best physical condition of your life.  And yes, you can do this after having your baby!

You can do it!  Trust us.

If you’re motivated to “change the way you look”, contact us and we’ll begin your transformation the same day!

Happy 4th of July TMC Fans!

MIHWCS

TMC has been getting requests from a few folks about Anh’s performance in the Spy on Vegas Top 100 Hottest Ladies of Las Vegas contest last Friday.

To be brutally honest, she was completely robbed from finishing in the Top 10 Finalists.

This is based on her entire package relative to the competition.  We’re not going to complain (that was Friday night…;)and just move forward.  But we’d be remiss if we didn’t post some pictures of Anh’s condition from the contest.

Daddy is very proud of Mommy.  If the judges knew she had a baby 5.5 months before, we think they’d probably have thought differently.

The Photogs sure thought Anh was one of the best contestants, because they took a lot of photos her.  

Here are some of the best:

Congrats Momski!

MIHWCS

]]> http://www.themusclecouple.com/2010/06/15/the-hottest-100-ladies-of-vegas-contest-pictures-of-anh/feed/ 2 http://www.themusclecouple.com/2010/06/09/tribute-to-the-muscle-bs/ http://www.themusclecouple.com/2010/06/09/tribute-to-the-muscle-bs/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 06:05:16 +0000 Jay Campbell http://www.themusclecouple.com/?p=4125

TMC has been actively engaged in a great many things recently.

Our site is truly about to move to “THE NEXT LEVEL” and we’re very excited for what’s next.

Kind of lost in the shuffle are our beautiful daughters Alexandra and Gabriella! (AKA “THE MUSCLE B’s“)

Alex is now 2.5 and just started Pre-school this week.  Her behavior has been excellent and we’re very proud of her.  Gabriella is the happiest baby each of us has ever seen. When you look at her all she does is laugh, coo and smile.  She even belly laughs at times.  For a 5 month old, it’s pretty awesome.

Anh snapped these photos of both of them on Sunday and we thought we’d share them here!

We are blessed to have such beautiful and healthy babies.  Now somebody needs to help us with our new clothing line:

“Muscle B Fitness Wear”.

Calling all Designers, hit us up! 

MIHWCS

The Muscle Couple has a new workout.

We’ve been in the lab for the last 2.5 months getting advice and intel from Marcus Reinhardt. He is a former Pro Bodybuilder and now renown personal trainer in Las Vegas.  More on him soon.

Marcus is incredibly well versed on the science and practical application of Rest Pause Training.  He has helped us tremendously in our crafting of this program.  We believe what we’ve come up with is our Best Training Program yet relative to the speed in which you can achieve noticeable results.

This program isn’t for beginners.

It’s an advanced workout for people looking to dramatically improve muscle tone/size and density.

It’s also not for the faint of heart or poorly conditioned.  Your endurance capacity should be stout to even consider this program.

You must put intense focus on each and every rep to truly get the most out of this type of training.

There are a lot of unique and subtle tweaks which play an intricate role in getting maximum results.  We will detail them as we reveal all 4 Days of the Workout over the next 7 days!

We’ll also shoot some videos of the Rest Pause sets(placing them in the Video section) to demonstrate the type of intensity necessary to make this program fire on all cylinders.

The Grimace and the Sweat Should Tell You Everything You Need to Know!

Day 1:   Chest, Triceps, Lower Rectus

Chest

• Flat Bench DB Presses- 1 Warm Up Set at 50% of Max for 10-15 Reps.  1 Rest Pause Set with 75% of your Maximum for 8 Reps, 10 Deep Breaths, 4-6 Reps(with spotters assistance if necessary), 15 Deep Breaths, Finish with as many reps as possible until Full Muscular Failure

• Incline Machine (Any that will allow for a Shoulder Width Grip instead of your normal wide grip) Same as previous

• High Pulley Lower Pec Cable Flyes (Instead of Doing Them As you Normally Do, Bring the Cables Downward in a Wide Arc so that your fists almost touch at the end of the rep)This places incredible tension over the entire range of the Pec Muscles.  Same Rep scheme as the other 2

Triceps

• Cable Pushdowns-1 Warm Up Set for 10-15 Reps. 1 Rest Pause Set with 70% of Maximum for 10-15 Reps, 10 Deep Breaths, 7-9 Reps, 15 deep breaths and finish with as many reps as possible until Full Muscular Failure

• Rope Tricep Extensions-Locking Out at the Top with a Twist-Same as previous

Lower Rectus

• Hanging Leg Knee Ups-1 Warm Up Set for 15-20 Reps.  Same on the Rest Pause but add reps where possible.

Things You Must Do to Optimize this Program:

***You have to know what 75% and 70% of your Maximum is for every given exercise

***You must be able to focus and give everything you’ve got each and every set/rep.  Incredible focus and intensity must occur the entire 45-60 minutes of your session.

***You must take the 3rd Wave of your Rest Pause set to complete Muscular Failure.  This means you absolutely positively can’t lift one more rep.  Even with a spotter.

***After the 3rd wave of your Rest Pause set, you should feel as if the target muscle is on fire.  You may actually quake/burn a bit upon cessation.

***You have to use machines or exercises that you can manipulate the resistance easily.  Most barbell and plate loaded exercises are out due to your inability to maximally contract the target muscle without massive indirect/ancillary muscle involvement. (More on that later)

Please ask questions about any of this on the Blog.  Day 2, Day 4 and Day 5 will be coming soon.

Good Luck!

MIHWCS

TMC has one more day to get some photos in.

Today at Wet Republic is DeadMau and we should get some incredible pics.

Here are the best from Sunday!

Enjoy:

MIHWCS