MUSCLE MATURITY: Do bodybuilders really get better with age?

[MoonWalker0]

hi all, so i've heard this a few times and was just wondering if there's any truth to it? ronnie has said you get better in bodybuilding as time goes on. i know arnold said in his book you need around 10 years of training to compete as a pro. it doesn't take 10 years to gain the necessary 40lbs of muscle to compete, i mean a pro could gain that kind of mass in 18 months... so what does it mean? how do the muscles look better as times passes?

what is this 'muscle maturity'?

thanks

[tryin2gethuge10]

A pro can gain 40lbs of LBM in 18 months, interesting...

[BigDaddyCoolPR]

If a pro can gain 40 lbs of LBM in 18 months, then Evan Centopani, Dennis Wolf and every other pro that needs more mass, they're all doing something wrong.

[DPNZ]

Haha. 40lbs in 18 months.

How is the OP 31 years old and believes in that?

[MoonWalker0]

ok well it doesn't take 10 years to gain 40lbs of muscle....

[DPNZ]

ok well it doesn't take 10 years to gain 40lbs of muscle....

So you just pulled some random timeframe out regardless of whether it was based on anything or not?

What a stupid thread.

[tryin2gethuge10]

So you just pulled some random timeframe out regardless of whether it was based on anything or not?

What a stupid thread.

Agreed

[MoonWalker0]

So you just pulled some random timeframe out regardless of whether it was based on anything or not?

What a stupid thread.

i just meant it doesn't take 10 years to reach one's potential in muscle mass on a person's frame so how does a physique improve once as much muscle mass has been gained? other than leaness.. does a muscle become denser over time? how does a muscle's look get better over time with training?

thanks

[DPNZ]

For a natural lifter, 40lbs in even 10 years is not common.

On drugs? Who knows.

[MoonWalker0]

For a natural lifter, 40lbs in even 10 years is not common.

On drugs? Who knows.

but does muscle density improve over time? what improves over time other than muscle size and leanness?

[sexnews]

To answer your question about whether they get better, with some pros the answer is NO.

Branch Warren
Wolf
etc.

[IvanMndz]

i just meant it doesn't take 10 years to reach one's potential in muscle mass on a person's frame so how does a physique improve once as much muscle mass has been gained? other than leaness.. does a muscle become denser over time? how does a muscle's look get better over time with training?

thanks

I would actually think 10 years is not enough time to fully fill out your frame. I have been training for 3-4 years and I am not even close to being "halfway there". But I see what your point. Some bodybuilders do seem to get more "dense" as time goes by. I have heard that your skin gets thinner as you age...that may play a role?

[TTimmerman]

i've kinda seen enough of your stupidity OP, either that or you're a troll; not sure yet

[Rambo26]

I think they just look different, better or worse depending on the person

[wessmen]

but does muscle density improve over time? what improves over time other than muscle size and leanness?

Muscle density, does this even exist?

I mean, how should you be able to grow new fibers, inside your muscle..?
Hyperplasia should cause a bigger muscle.

[Spartacus81]

Took me 8 years to gain 40 lbs. Still bulk and cant gain 1 lb in last 4 years but my muscle looks better and more defined even at same bf%. I need pro supps to get bigger but my muscle still looks better each year. You might want to get a little more informed before starting threads. Phil Heath came in at 198. Look how long it took him to get to 240 plus.

[DavisForman]

i just meant it doesn't take 10 years to reach one's potential in muscle mass on a person's frame so how does a physique improve once as much muscle mass has been gained? other than leaness.. does a muscle become denser over time? how does a muscle's look get better over time with training?

thanks

You're right... it typically takes WAY f*cking longer.

It's generally considered that Ronnie Coleman, ie. biggest genetic freak ever, maxed out in 03. He may have had better showings, but he never brought that amount of muscle before or after. He was 39 years old at that show. I'm not sure exactly when he first started to take bodybuilding seriously, but he was already a pro in 1993, which means not even the greatest bodybuilder of all time was able to max out in ten years.

[Groggery]

Muscle density is also genetic. Don't think powerlifters got that look by just upping their bench and squat, they were born with it. It simply became more apparent the more muscle they put on.

[Brofessional]

40lbs of dry muscle tissue in 10 years is an absolute s hit load.

[Deano87]

Wish this was a serious thread. Curious to know the answer.
The term muscle maturity gets thrown around too loosely.

[mikieson]

the guy was just throwing some numbers out there to try and get an answer to his question. some people take things so wrong on forums..

[patbanya]

This explanation sounds plausible to me, and it's the best definition I've seen lately.

I certainly don't define it like the article did. How water under the skin is relevant to muscle maturity is beyond me.

I'm not sure what the broscience arguments are, but my idea of muscle maturity is how concentrated the muscle gets over time while marbleized fat becomes less and less. Over time the marbleized fat between muscle fibers becomes less and less like in beef, this makes for a denser muscle. Years and years of lifting and burning fat can help achieve that.

That isn't broscience but as I said.. I'm not sure what other people are saying.

[schabowy90]

Just look at branch warren

[SLiX]

Most pros are maxxed out, hence why the find it hard to add muscle

But saying you can't add 40 lbs of muscle with sea bass in a short time period (you in denial)

[MoonWalker0]

Took me 8 years to gain 40 lbs. Still bulk and cant gain 1 lb in last 4 years but my muscle looks better and more defined even at same bf%. I need pro supps to get bigger but my muscle still looks better each year. You might want to get a little more informed before starting threads. Phil Heath came in at 198. Look how long it took him to get to 240 plus.

yah this is interesting. so the muscle does look better over time even if you aren't gaining more weight?

[MoonWalker0]

the guy was just throwing some numbers out there to try and get an answer to his question. some people take things so wrong on forums..

this.... thanks bro for understanding!

[Pump Freak 86]

Perhaps the repetitive stress of training has aesthetic effects beyond maintenance/growth? It's not the muscle just sits there the while time.

[MoonWalker0]

Just look at branch warren

why does everynoe keep bringing up branch? can someone show me a comparison of pics?

[CokeAndRoidz]

Haha. 40lbs in 18 months.

How is the OP 31 years old and believes in that?

I think he means someone with the potential to be a pro, not someone who already is. Look around in amateurs, plenty of guys only been bodybuolding 2 years and already competing in nationals etc. if you tech hard and have correct guidance from the beginning its not hard at all

as for muscle maturity yes I believe it. My weight hasnt changed much in over a year but I definitely look twice as good as I did a year ago. as you get stronger you get denser etc

[Spartacus81]

Most pros are maxxed out, hence why the find it hard to add muscle

But saying you can't add 40 lbs of muscle with sea bass in a short time period (you in denial)

40 lbs lean muscle, no. Muscle, fat and water retention yes. I know a guy who used. he gained fat and water mostly. bragged about huge weight gains on Seabass as you call it. Then I took his bf% and he gained ten lbs of muscle and 27 lbs of fat and water. He was in denial. I was 214 last year bulking. I know it was fat and water. People kept saying I was huge. I told them I was lucky if I gained 2 lbs. I am at my genetic limit. But I still look harder every year. My avis old. Thats Bulking at 207 not flexed, not pumped, just woke up. Ill find some pics of me now 189 and 3 years ago 189 and post. I look 10 lbs heavier and I am not.