How do muscles get stronger without getting “bigger”?

Question

I can squat 10 more pounds than I could 6 weeks ago, but my body weight hasn’t changed. In the same vein, I’ve seen skinny dudes rip 300 pounds off the floor.

In: 58

Answer 1

Adaptations in your central nervous system can play a role, especially in novice lifters. As you begin lifting weights you increase connections within your nervous system. Strength training can cause adaptive changes to your CNS which allow you to better activate muscles and better coordinate all the necessary muscles needed for the task. Basically your body says “hmm, I have done this a few times now and when I use muscle fibers from A,B,C it goes a lot better.”