How Fast Should You Gain Muscle Mass When Working Out?

You cannot put on more than a few pounds of muscle per month.

About 1.5 to 5 lbs. Per Month

If you perform the same exercise routine as a body builder, you can expect to gain about 1.5 to 5 lbs. of muscle per month because of limits of the human body, according to BuildMuscle.com. How much you actually get depends on your genes and age.

Depends on Your Body

No hard and fast rule exists on how much muscle you should gain when working out. How fast you should start gaining muscle depends on your body type and genetic factors, according to SG Fitness. People with an endomorphic body, with a wider and more muscular frame, can gain muscle the fastest, while those with an ectomorphic body, skinny and little muscle mass, take the longest to build muscle.

Bottom Line

You cannot reasonably expect to gain more than 5 lbs. of muscle per month, according to BuildMuscle.com. Even if you do add muscle, body fat could hide your new muscle growth, especially if you have an endomorphic body. Eating right and getting enough protein, as well sticking to a regimen, gives you best the results.

References

• BuildMuscle.com: How Long Does It Take To Build Muscle?
• SG Fitness: How Long to Build Muscles

Resources

• University of New Mexico: How Do Muscles Grow?