I have a question for all the natural bodybuilders with 5+ years solid training...

[danteller123]

You always hear people talk about natural bodybuilders reaching a "genetic limit"; i.e. a point at which their body's natural hormone levels cannot build or maintain any more muscle mass. So for the average 6'0" guy that's probably going to be around 180 lbs at 5-6% body fat.

But does this mean that you literally *cannot* build any more muscle regardless of what you do? Or that the gains are just significantly slower?

For those of you who have been training seriously (and naturally) for more than 5 years, how much can you expect to gain every off-season in terms of muscle? Is 2-3 lbs considered a successful off-season?

Thanks.

[alex070707]

For a natural with more then 5 years of solid experience a 2lb gain of keepable MUSCLE is on the edge of impossible. You should be happy if you gain 1lb of keepable muscle! It's not that you can't gain ANY muscle at all, the problem is that it's so slow at this point and the muscle:fat ratio you gain is so bad that having a full blown bulk is usually pointless, you gain poverty muscle, lots of fat and lose the muscle the moment you get back to a lower bf. This also depends on age (hormone levels) though. I would recommend anybody bellow 25 to stay natural even if they have lifted for 10 years. If you want to keep progressing at a normal pace past 30 and have solid experience just get on celltech, no way around that.

[fltallpaul]

The rate of return slows the longer you train that is true. I have found that even adding a lb of muscle has a significant change in appearance though since you are building on top of a much different base than you were when you started. As an example I probably put on say 15lbs of muscle the first few years I began resistance training. My appearance changed a bit but not as much as it changes when I add even a lb of muscle now. 20 years of steady lifting and I still am able to get stronger and add size, it's just not as quick and requires more training volume and more calories. That's why the best bodybuilders are older, it's a game of time and consistency.

If the fact the progress slows over time prevents you from undertaking a long career in the gym, consider the alternative. Time is going to pass regardless, why not look awesome when you are 50!