One point I want to make clear hear is that if you don’t seem to be able to gain muscle fast, you shouldn’t blamed it on poor genes or hereditary causes. Your true physical “potential” in terms of your ability to develop the strength, and muscle mass you desire, can only be judged in retrospect.

Regardless of individual genetics, the muscular potential of the  “average joe” is far beyond what most of us have been led to believe.  Almost anyone can transform themselves, literally.  The large majority are living well below their physical potential.  If they effectively applied just a few months of effective training, they would literally be transformed.

Strength and lean muscle mass have a very close relationship.  Focusing on increasing your strength, will intern produce increases in muscle mass.  This relationship is frequently ignored or misunderstood by most “skinny guys”. For some reason, many people are convinced that muscle mass does not relate directly to an individual’s actual level of strength.  Why?  I guess because some men, who appear to have small muscles, often possess the ability to lift heavier weights than their more muscular counterparts.

Also, the majority of Olympic weight lifters are less muscular than the current crop of professional bodybuilders.  While, in many regards the Olympic weight lifters are much stronger.  Likewise, some individuals with a high degree of muscle mass are not as strong as they look.

This apparent contradiction is the result of comparing the strength and size of one individual to the strength and size of another.  Structural advantages in terms of bone and muscle length vary amongst everyone.  These types of advantages can allow one individual to produce additional leverage and power.

Champion weight lifters actually use superior leverage, trained skills and lifting form, rather than muscular bulk.  Additional muscular mass may or may not contribute to their performance.  This depends on the unique attributes of the individual.

An individual, who appears more muscular than they are strong, can also be a result of leverage.  In this case, it is poor leverage.  For these individuals, a greater degree of muscle mass is required to lift an average amount of weight.  For this reason, comparisons between yourself and another individual will never provide you with useful information.  Strive to increase your own strength.  Doing so will increase your levels of muscle mass.

Overall bone structure and points of muscle attachment are determined by heredity factors.  These can not be changed.  The amount of weight able to be lifted by one individual can differ dramatically from that of another.  However, your ultimate goals remain the same.  Achieving increases in levels of strength.

Although you may never be able to alter your overall potential, it’s already much greater than you realize.  Regardless of age, nationality, sex, or political persuasion, almost anyone can build muscle fast.