Social Leper said:
How else would you explain the build and fitness of boxers, American footballers and rugby players?
At the non-genetic-freak level?
Dedication, nutrition, years in the gym ... and dianabol.
I have been down the strength training + lots of cardio road. I got stronger, fitter, faster ... but not bigger. To get bigger I had to taper back the cardio.
If you're training to get big pretty muscles at a reasonable bodyfat, then a mix of strength training/volume training/low intensity cardio seems to work best for MOST people ...
If you're training for a particular sport, then your physique may suffer because of your requirement for anaerobics/aerobics.
Most top athletes in any particular sport do not have the best physiques, and remember, they are in the top 5 percentile as far as genetics go, and in the top 1 percentile for dedication.
Also, most top athletes in sports where muscle mass is important are on a range of pharmaceuticals.
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A happy 'sweet spot' seems to be maintaining about 12% bodyfat while increasing muscle mass, performing about 3-6 hours of low intensity cardio (brisk walk = 65% max HR) per week. Training program varies every 6 weeks from strength training to volume training, with a 1 week deload in between. That is for physique, not competitive sports.