For most young people (that’s anyone still in their thirties or younger) one of the most important questions seems to be, “How long does it take to build muscle?” There will be several elements that figure into the answer to this question. Here, we’ll examine some methods for gaining lean muscle mass, and what this specifically entails for different people.
To answer “How long does it take to build muscle,” first let’s look at 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. I would say the earliest you can expect to begin adding muscle will be around the age of 16. 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. Also, Taylor Lautner added quite a bit of size before “New Moon”.
The Amount of Muscle You Have Built Previously is a Factor
We all have a predetermined weight that we can reach. Some folks muscle mass is just naturally higher than others. As you reach this genetic limit, building additional muscle will become more challenging and take longer. The “plateau,” in this case, may be difficult for some to overcome, especially if continuing the same exercise program (even if it has been effective until now). So if you have already added 15 pounds of muscle to your body, don’t expect to add the next 15 pounds rapidly. Obviously if you use steroids then the standard rules don’t apply. Then again, if you are using steroids no need to read about building muscle.
What Type of Effort and Time Commitment Will You Make to Building More Muscle?
Your own PERSONAL answer to “How long does it take to build muscle” is largely dependent on the time you spend each week on building muscle. We’ve all witnessed our favorite Hollywood celebrities get totally “buff” for a particular film project. The reality of it is, they have spent the MAJORITY of their WHOLE WEEK doing some INTENSE workouts! It isn’t uncommon for actors to train two times per day 7 days a week before the filming of a movie. I wouldn’t suggest this for most people because this interferes too much with day-to-day life. Building muscle is a decent goal, but it isn’t so important that it needs to take over your life.
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. providing, of course, that you are seventeen years old or more. Subsequently, 2-3 pounds of muscle growth each year is typical, for the next several years. These numbers are general guidelines, and your genetics will play a role in your specific 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!

