How Much Muscle Can You Build With & Without Steroids?

Jeff Nippard2 minutes read

Natural bodybuilders can gain 20-40 pounds of muscle for men and 12-24 pounds for women through consistent hard training, proper technique, and a diet with enough calories and protein. Steroids can significantly enhance muscle growth, but come with potential side effects, highlighting the importance of prioritizing natural potential before considering enhancements.

Insights

  • Natural bodybuilders can gain 20-40 pounds of muscle mass for men and 12-24 pounds for women, with growth slowing as they near genetic potential; key factors include consistent training, proper technique, volume, exercise variety, and progressive overload.
  • Steroids can significantly boost muscle growth, with higher doses leading to more gains; however, they come with risks like heart issues, high blood pressure, and visual side effects, emphasizing the importance of informed choices and maximizing natural potential before considering enhancement.

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Recent questions

  • How much muscle can natural bodybuilders gain?

    20-40 pounds for men, 12-24 pounds for women.

  • Who are examples of natural bodybuilders close to peak development?

    Alex Leonidas and Jeffrey Verity Scofield.

  • How do steroids impact muscle growth?

    Significantly enhance growth, higher doses yield more gains.

  • What are potential side effects of using steroids?

    Heart issues, high blood pressure, visual side effects.

  • How long should natural bodybuilders train before considering steroids?

    Minimum of 10 years for maximum health benefits.

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Summary

00:00

Maximizing Natural Muscle Growth: Training and Nutrition

  • Natural bodybuilders can typically gain 20-40 pounds of muscle mass for men and 12-24 pounds for women, with faster growth initially and slower growth as they approach their genetic potential.
  • To maximize natural muscle growth, consistent hard training, proper technique, sufficient volume (5-15 sets per muscle per week), variety in exercises, and progressive overload are essential.
  • A diet with enough calories, ideally in a moderate surplus for half the time, and sufficient protein intake (0.7g per pound of body weight) is crucial for natural muscle growth.
  • Examples of natural bodybuilders who have reached or are close to their peak natural development include Alex Leonidas and Jeffrey Verity Scofield, showcasing gains of around 40-43 pounds of muscle over 10-13 years.
  • Pre-steroid era bodybuilders from the 1920s and earlier displayed impressive natural physiques, but advancements in training and nutrition have likely improved natural bodybuilding potential.
  • Steroids can significantly enhance muscle growth, with studies showing that individuals who took steroids without training gained more muscle than those who trained naturally.
  • Dosing of steroids matters, with higher doses leading to more significant muscle gains, as seen in a study where subjects gained up to 20 pounds of muscle in 20 weeks with a 600mg weekly dose of testosterone.
  • Steroids can potentially double or triple muscle gains, depending on genetics and dosage, with some individuals gaining up to 40 pounds or more with enhanced training.
  • Steroids come with potential side effects, including heart issues, high blood pressure, blood clots, and visual side effects like gyno and balding, emphasizing the importance of informed decision-making.
  • Prioritizing natural potential before considering enhancement can empower individuals to understand their bodies, optimize training and nutrition, and make informed choices about steroid use.

12:29

"10 Years Training Before Steroids for Health"

  • Natty maxing typically requires a minimum of 10 years of dedicated training before considering steroid use for maximum health benefits; judging training advice based on the size of enhanced bodybuilders is misleading as their size may be influenced by steroids and genetics, not necessarily superior training methods.
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