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Comment by kevincox | Hacker News Reader

To go one "Why?" deeper.

The reason that our bodies do this, as opposed to making all muscles strong all the time, is to avoid wasting energy on muscles you aren't using. It is basically using what muscles were used recently as a heuristic for which muscles need to be strong to ensure survival.

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It would be nice, though, if our minds could control that directly, rather than going through exercise. Perhaps evolution is not there yet.

I happen to love the exercise so I’ll happily have it this way! Especially if (like me) you’ve crossed over the starting hurdle and you are building/maintaining real muscle - it’s awesome!

1 - Evolution is only increased genetic contribution to the next generation. Random mutations that help with that will become more common. It's not a magical process that makes us better.

2 - It turns out that your mind does control it directly. The greatest predictor of improved muscular strength is how strongly you can intentionally contract that muscle. Unfortunately, you learn to do that through exercise :|

I would say since the primary goal of genetic life is to survive and pass on genetic code. Muscles which clearly ended up working so hard that they were damaged need to be strengthen so next time such and such situation occurs they do not need to be stressed to such an extent. They are prepare for the eventual re-occurring of that task. Eventually you will lose muscle mass if you do not use/need it.

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