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From: jak@mtgzz.UUCP (j.a.kushner)
Newsgroups: net.bio,net.med
Subject: Re: Questions about human muscles...long, sorry :-)
Message-ID: <1415@mtgzz.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 15-Nov-85 09:27:02 EST
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Posted: Fri Nov 15 09:27:02 1985
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Not to be picky, for this is a nice explanation, but some comments follow:

 >	Michael Thompson writes:
>> I have started weight lifting and have some questions about human muscles.
>> 
>> Why do muscles get sore?  Is it an injury?  Like a bruising?  Why does
>> it take several hours to a day before they feel sore?  Should I force
>> myself to lift weights if my muscles are sore or can I injure myself that
>> way?  If my muscles don't get sore, does that mean I am not making 
>> progress?
>
>Yes and no :-).  Your muscles get sore because of the build up of the products
>of anaerobic respiration (mainly lactic and pyruvic acid).  Your muscles have

Pyruvate is not really the culprit.  There is an equilibrium between the two
which is pushed toward more lactate during anaerobic glycolysis, and this acid
does 'burn'.

>Muscle cells also store large quantities of glycogen (that is, "fat")

Glycogen happens to be a complex carbohydrate; essentally a tree-like structure
made up of many glucose molecules.  In non-aerobically 'fit' individuals,
carbohydrates provide the majority of fuel for metabolizing tissue (exercising
muscles anaerobically).  This is contrast to aerobically trained individuals
who will utilize a lot of fatty acid for metabolism when exercising (running,
swimming).  Not exclusively, though, for as a biochem teacher once said, 
"Fats burn in the fire of carbohydrates"  (Can't burn the fats without the
carbohydrate intermediates in the various metabolic pathways (i.e. Krebs cycle).

>> What kind of foods/diet promotes muscle growth?  Should I eat lots of
>> protien? Carbohydrates?  How important is diet for muscle growth?  Should I
>> concentrate more on lifting weights than on following a particular 
>> diet, or should my efforts in these areas be equally distributed?

>> Is there anything else I can do to get maximum muscle growth in minimum
>> time with a minimum amount of pain?

Of course there are steroids!  The androgens help to create a difference in
muscle mass between males and females.  (I would not recommend this, though.
Altering the normal production levels of endogenous hormones could lead to
serious consequences)

Jeff