Hypertrophy is just a fancy term for building muscle—something that lifters, athletes, and fitness nerds love to talk about. But not all muscle growth is the same. There are actually two types of hypertrophy in the cell you should know about:
1️⃣ Sarcoplasmic Hypertrophy – This occurs when more fluid (mostly water, glycogen, and other nutrients) is stored within the muscle cell, making muscles appear fuller or more pumped.
2️⃣ Myofibrillar Hypertrophy – This is an increase in the actual muscle fibers’ size and density, leading to stronger and bigger muscles.
So why am I talking about this? Two reasons:
✅ Education – Understanding the science behind muscle growth helps you train smarter.
✅ Busting Myths – Many of my clients panic when they see the scale jump after increasing carbs or starting creatine. They assume they’ve gained fat overnight, but in reality, it’s just sarcoplasmic hypertrophy—water being drawn into the muscle. This can make muscles look fuller but it’s not the same as gaining fat.
It’s also important to differentiate between lean mass and muscle mass. Lean mass includes muscles, bone, organs, and water while muscle mass refers specifically to the actual muscle fibers. So if you see the scale go up after dietary changes, don’t stress—it’s often just your muscles holding more fluid, not unwanted fat.
Train hard, stay consistent, and trust the process.
#shorts
