Muscle building per workout

This is probably a stupid question. But do you get 'gains' (visible or otherwise) per-workout? I read that your muscles start to deteriorate after 2-4 weeks of inactivity and I was wondering if working out once per-week would illicit gains, hypertrophic or strength-wise, or if that would only be good for maintenance.

If I worked out once a week for 2 years, ate slightly higher than my calorie maintenance dose, and got my macros, how much better shape would I be in when that two years was up. Would I have gained much muscle, more strength, or... ?

I don't plan on doing this lmao, I've been a 3 day / week guy for about half a year now and before that I was a 5-6 day a week kinda guy but mostly did cardio. I'm just curious.

I notice strength gains every week but physical gains not so much takes more time to notice

Interesting. Thanks for the answer :)

I don't think you will gain as much by doing a workout once a week (at least to my knowledge). In order to gain mass, you need to critically hit the targeted muscle group at least 2-3 times a week so you can keep strengthening it because it only takes like 24-48 hours for your muscles to fully recover before you can start tearing the micro-fibres to make them grow once again but doing something is better then doing nothing at all so it's all to you bud.

Those who claim success training once a week do so at VERY high intensities, they've already built a foundation after years of more traditional training, they're at an advanced level, and all too often they're using chemicals I would not recommend.

For us mere mortals to do it, it probably wouldn't work so well.

And yes, if you are a beginner you can achieve gains with each workout. That's the basic theory behind most novice programs. Once you reach a certain level, those gains will slow significantly.

So, get 'em while they're hot!

I've made gains working out once a week. I used to only work out three days a week and everyone under the sun would be like, "You're doing what? OMG LOOK AT WHAT THIS FOOL IS DOING! HE ONLY WORK OUT 3 DAYS a week". Then two weeks later they lose 5 lbs of muscle after ending some cycle and become a high pitched angry person again. Consistency is key. I continue to get stronger for up to two months after stopping lifting weights. Everyone is different though.

I've made gains working out once a week. I used to only work out three days a week and everyone under the sun would be like, "You're doing what? OMG LOOK AT WHAT THIS FOOL IS DOING! HE ONLY WORK OUT 3 DAYS a week". Then two weeks later they lose 5 lbs of muscle after ending some cycle and become a high pitched angry person again. Consistency is key. I continue to get stronger for up to two months after stopping lifting weights. Everyone is different though.

I'm not sure about per workout, but since I have been doing a beginner full body compound movement dominated program, with small increases in weight if I make the target reps, I am noticing small changes. My body just somehow feels different. I have just found my weight has increased about 7 lbs this year so far, and none of it has gone on my waist, so I would like to believe that at least some of that weight gain is muscle.