"The maximum pounds of muscle someone can put on in a month is between 5 to 10 pounds."

It is what we commonly read in magazines and see in bodybuilding magazine ads. Five to ten pounds a month is 60 to 120 pounds of muscle a year! Is there really such truth in that?

When a new lifter starts to train the additional 5 pounds he expects should come fast. He will probably gain more than that on his first month of training. This is especially true if his diet, training and sleep are perfectly planned and executed.

As the lifter feels encouraged by the quick gains he continues to train hard. In some cases he might train even harder than before. He will soon find out that the gains on his second month will be a bit less. If he does gain the same amount of muscle on the second month he would be be a genetic freak. The third month should provide even less gains to the newbie bodybuilder.

At around the end of the third month the now perplexed bodybuilder will become increasingly frustrated. He?ll be wondering where all gains he expected have gone. More often than not this frustration will put a dent on his dedication. Not long after, he will lose more pounds as he continues to lag on training.

This is a very common sight in gyms nationwide. Newbie lifters blasting through their workouts for the first three months then stop training altogether before reaching their sixth.

Bodybuilding magazines promise too much. Gains of 20 pounds just by taking the newest protein powder or nitro product are a common sight on ads on magazines and on the internet.

The real truth is that for an average trainee, 20 to 30 pounds of muscle can be built in a year. That is 12 full months. The first 10 pounds should come well within the first 16 weeks. It may even come within the first 8 weeks for genetically gifted and dedicated individual.

The most important thing to remember is that our muscles do not build themselves in a linear fashion. This week you might get quick 5-pound gains. On the opposite side of the spectrum you might not gain weight for several months. Those we are patient might see an explosion of muscle growth in the following weeks after.

For the really dedicated and genetically gifted natural bodybuilder, 40 pounds in their first year is possible. The best way to take a look at your progress is to have a small notebook you can track your weight on. You will notice that there will be months were you will quickly gain and other months that you will gain absolutely nothing.

Muscle building should be seen as a long term process and not a quick brief stint to be buff. Once you realize that it takes time, coupled with the tenets of bodybuilding: dedication, proper nutrition, and sufficient rest, Muscles Should Come Quick Enough.