Thread: Genetic limitations on muscle?

Personally, I believe we have a set limit. No data to support my thought but my opinion.

If there is a limitation and you have reached it, are you wasting your time busting your ass in the gym? I mean, couldn't you just work-out in a "muscle maintenance" mode?

Originally posted by Prince
If there is a limitation and you have reached it, are you wasting your time busting your ass in the gym? I mean, couldn't you just work-out in a "muscle maintenance" mode?

I do reckon there's a limitation, yes. Whether you'll meet it within your time lifting is debatable.

You can still make gains i reckon, but they'd be really slowed after a certain point. And that would be pyschologically deminishing. I'd feel awful knowing that - depending on the size i was by then of course.

You won't be wasting your time as such, for maintaining what you have, providing you're still shifting the same weight (or the body has no need for it and will eventually break it down), but if you've got it in your head to add 1lb a week then yes, you are wasting your time.

Still worth training to keep what you have though. But if you wanna keep growing with the same rate, then drugs are the only way.

I believe its tied to that persons natural hormone etc production, but I do not believe many if any people ever reach thier limitations, especially since to some degree it may be that to have a low bodyfat % you may be giving up some of that muscle, to avoid being a sumo contendor.

I too believe that there must be some sort of limit on how much each of us can gain naturally, but it is a really depressing thought!! I like TCD's response saying that it is debatable if we will ever reach that point in our lifting lives.

Originally posted by Vale Tudo
I like TCD's response saying that it is debatable if we will ever reach that point in our lifting lives.

Well yeah, think about it. If there is a 'line' where you just don't grow anymore, do you really think you're gonna achieve it within the 30-40 years you may spend lifting.

I say 30-40 years cause of the following:

say you beging lifting at 15.

Your life expectancy is 70.

Chances are you won't be lifting the weights for the latter 10-20.

That leaves about 30 or so years of good lifting (watch out LAM, you'll be in the old fogies home soon ).

Mudge also touched upon a valid point. The amount of hormones in the body. They're sky high when you're younger and going through puberty (don't worry Prince, you'll get there eventually) and so you grow like a boil on DP's ass in season. Of course, as you get older the hormone production decreases, coupled with more advanced lifting (ie you already have a good amount of muscle) and the cut off point will most likely be when your natural hormone production is enough to merely maintain the muscle you have. Eventually i suspec you will regress and lose muscle when hormone levels fall even further.

Basically, this is all that steroids are. Keeping you in puberty whenever you cycle. Well, steroids like hGH and insulin are a different kettle of fish, but i'm refering to testosterone esters here.

So what am i saying?

Chances are you'll never hit your genetic limit within your lifting time.

Originally posted by The_Chicken_Daddy
The amount of hormones in the body. They're sky high when you're younger and going through puberty (don't worry Prince, you'll get there eventually).

ha ha

I will take it as a compliment that you think I am young!

Not really.

Just that you live with your mam and have no hairs on your balls.

And you wet the bed.

My wife likes my bald balls.................

...and so do paedophiles.

Quit following me prince............

He just wants to get you drunk.