Podcasts Health Muscle for Life with Mike Matthews How Important Is Getting a Pump for Building Muscle?

How Important Is Getting a Pump for Building Muscle?

Published: May 6, 2020, 7 a.m.

If you\u2019ve read anything about bodybuilding, you\u2019ve probably heard about something called \u201cthe pump.\u201d

In a nutshell, this refers to the temporary increase in muscle size that occurs when you lift weights.

Bodybuilders have been strangely obsessed with this phenomenon since people started lifting weights, and according to many, it\u2019s the cheat code for unlocking rapid muscle growth.

George Butler and Charles Gaines, authors of Pumping Iron: The Art and Sport of Bodybuilding, claimed getting a muscle pump, \u201cfeels like one of those fast-frame films of flowers blooming or seeds ripening; the muscles seem actually to go from pod to blossom in seconds under the skin.\u201d

This explanation reveals one of the main reasons weightlifters like getting a pump: it\u2019s a visible sign your efforts in the gym are paying off. Your muscles are getting bigger before your eyes!

This preoccupation with the pump hasn\u2019t waned, either.

You\u2019ll still find articles touting the benefits of \u201cchasing the pump\u201d\u2014bodybuilder lingo for doing lots of reps with short rest periods until your muscles are swollen and sore.

Others counter that chasing the pump is a fool\u2019s errand. Temporary muscle swelling has nothing to do with muscle growth, and your time is better spent getting as strong as possible, they say.

So, who\u2019s right?

In this podcast, you\u2019re going to learn what the pump is, what causes it, why people think it\u2019s important, why it isn\u2019t essential for muscle growth, and why it\u2019s still worth doing some \u201cpump\u201d training in your workouts to get the best results.

Let\u2019s get started!

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6:20 - What is the pump?

8:23 - What is pump training and is it good for building muscle and strength?

17:31 - How can I program pump training?

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Mentioned on The Show:
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