The units of muscle in the body differ from fat cells in that they do not multiply, they simply grow bigger or smaller. There are two factors which dictate this – training and genes. Your genes decide the distribution of different types of muscle and how they are structured. You want to be training the type 2a muscles in order to train them to be more like type 2b muscles. This will help you to build a stronger defence against fatigue. Shorter and more intense workouts will help to achieve this.
By knowing the difference between the muscle types, you can also help you to fuel your body correctly. The small network of capillaries and reliance on your body’s glycogen store means that you need to fuel your body quickly after workouts, as well as before Aim to do this with whey to prevent the catabolism process in order to feed the body before exercise and during the short anabolic window after your workout. In addition, carbohydrates are also important to ensure you have enough energy to get you through the exercises.
During a workout, the muscle tears and then repair itself – this is known as microtrauma. Sleep and diet are important for building the muscle up and gaining muscle mass. Make sure that you are exercising efficiently, but also make time for recovery in order to see results.