When you first do an exercise, you'll get stronger rapidly. Just so you know: this is not because your muscle got a lot bigger. But, rather, because of your brain's improved ability to activate that muscle during the exercise. This is what we call neurological adaptations, which lasts about 8-12 weeks.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Yes, it is possible to be strong—and to get stronger—without having enormous muscles. But it's likely impossible to be huge and weak because big muscles will always have a lot of strength potential.
It's possible to gain muscle and reduce body fat without actually seeing a change in your weight. This happens when you lose body fat while gaining muscle. Your weight may stay the same, even as you lose inches, a sign that you're moving in the right direction.
Part of the reason for skinny, but strong is the number of reps. Too many—12 or more, improves endurance, not bulk. Too few, three reps or fewer, gives you power and strength but not muscle growth. Not working to metabolic fatigue will keep you strong but skinny, too.
A loaded barbell isn't the only path to building muscle. According to a new study published in the Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, you don't have to lift super heavy in order to boost strength and gain muscle. As long as you go to failure, it doesn't matter how much weight you lift.
Calves. Calf muscles are also considered as one of the most difficult to grow in the gym, to the point where many people give up trying.
Not Enough Rest
Muscle doesn't grow during exercise, but breaks down instead. Muscle repairs and grows in size during rest. Hence, overtraining without enough rest can be a big reason why your arms aren't growing bigger and stronger.
You're not eating enough – one of the main causes of not being able to build muscle is not eating enough and more importantly, not eating enough of the right food. Everyone bangs on about the importance of protein, but carbs and fats are just as important when it comes to growing muscle.
Your body needs protein to build and repair tissues, so if you aren't eating enough, your muscles won't have the material they need to grow. You could feel “punch drunk” after working out, your arms and other muscles might ache more than usual, and your body may even feel generally weaker.
No Direct Arm Work
Doing pull-ups, rows, bench presses or dips will only get you so far. And if you want your arms to look bigger, you need to have exercises that focus solely on your arms. Either add an arm day to your workout routine or separate your biceps and your triceps and put them into your training week.
Take care of your body: If you aren't sleeping enough, not giving yourself the proper nutrition, or damaging your body with alcohol and stress, there's no chance of growing those impressive bicep muscles. Lifting weights alone is not enough; a better overall health level will always lead to improved gains.
Late teens and early twenties are the perfect age to start bodybuilding. Puberty and bodybuilding are closely related because this is the fastest time for muscle growth. Between, 17-25, you will experience testosterone driven growth burst in your muscles.
In older people's muscles, by comparison, the signal telling muscles to grow is much weaker for a given amount of exercise. These changes begin to occur when a person reaches around 50 years old and become more pronounced as time goes on.
Most beginners will see noticeable muscle growth within eight weeks, while more experienced lifters will see changes in three to four weeks. Most individuals gain one to two pounds of lean muscle per month with the right strength training and nutrition plan.
"Muscle soreness occurs because muscle and the connective tissue around it get damaged during exercise," explains Dr. Hedt. "This is completely normal and nothing to worry about, though. In fact, it's needed for muscle growth, since muscle is built back stronger during this repair process."
According to the above-mentioned Japanese study, noticeable gains in muscle mass are seen in about three months of consistent strength training. Some research subjects gained noticeable muscle mass in less than three months, while for other participants, it took a little longer. Three months was the average.
For Bicep Growth or Size. For bicep size, It's not about how many days you train your biceps per week, it's about how much volume (too much, too little, just right) you train them over time. According to a study published in a male physique, training your biceps even once a week can lead to muscle growth.
So, in general, low reps with heavy weight tends to increase muscle mass, while high reps with light weight increases muscle endurance. This doesn't mean that you have to rely on one method exclusively. Alternating between the two may be the best approach for long-term success.
Current research indicates that three primary mechanisms are involved in exercise-related muscle growth: muscle tension, muscle damage, and metabolic stress (Schoenfeld 2010). Muscle tension. Tension exerted on muscles during resistance exercise is generally considered the most important factor in muscle development.
To Grow Muscle, Eat More Protein
Strength training breaks down your muscles, and protein builds them back up. The more difficult your lifting workouts are, the more important muscle-building foods become when weighing protein intake to solidify recovery, Fitzgerald explains.