If you are a younger man who is just starting to train, one of the main questions that you are likely to ask is, “how long does it take to build muscle?”. There will be several elements that figure into the answer to this question. This article will tackle a few of the more important variables regarding building muscle and how long it takes.
How Long it Takes to Build Muscle will be Influenced by Age
Some teens really want to jump right into a “bodybuilding” routine. This is NOT recommended, since in early adolescences the human body is simply NOT fully developed enough to handle the intense physical demand that weightlifting puts on it. You will need to be about 16 years old in order to begin gaining muscle. The REAL gains, however, don’t even begin, for a young man, until he reaches ages eighteen to twenty-one. That being said, I do remember a guy in my high school who had an extremely impressive physique at the age of 17. One such youth who is rather “buff” is Taylor Lautner (Twilight: New Moon).
The Amount of Muscle You Have Built Previously is a Factor
Each individual has an “upper limit” of muscle that they are able to attain, without the assistance of drugs, and this limit is determined by a genetic predisposition. The closer you are to your genetic potential, the slower you will be able to add new muscle. This is one reason that a workout that worked well when you first began training may not prove effective at a later point. Therefore, you should understand that gaining 15 pounds of additional muscle, when you have already increased your body’s muscle by 15 pounds, will be a slower process. Obviously if you use steroids then the standard rules don’t apply. Learning how to build muscle will not be an issue if steroids are being used.
How Much Time and Energy Are You Willing to Devote to Adding Muscle?
If you are willing to spend a substantial amount of time and energy each week on gaining muscle, then “how long does it take to build muscle”, will be a process that takes much less time. We’ve all witnessed our favorite Hollywood celebrities get totally “buff” for a particular film project. These types of dramatic results will only be possible when training is a very big part of your weekly routine. The actors that we mentioned commonly train 7 days per week, twice each day, when getting ready for a film. This is fine if you’re an actor, but if you lead a normal life, this type of regimen isn’t very practical. Please keep in mind that, although gaining some lean muscle mass is a VERY NICE objective to have, let’s not get obsessive!
Here Are Some Realistic Time Frames When It Comes to Building Muscle
In the first 2 years that a novice is training, 15-20 pounds is a reasonable goal for muscle gain. This standard applies to individuals 17 years of age and older. Subsequently, 2-3 pounds of muscle growth each year is typical, for the next several years. These are, of course, estimations for the “general public.” Keep in mind that other variables, like genetics, can alter your results. how long does it take to build muscle? As you can see, it’s not the same for everybody. But by understanding these factors, you are MUCH BETTER PREPARED to gain some solid muscle!