Arnold Schwarzenegger is revealing why some people build muscle instantly while others struggle despite identical gym routines. The bodybuilding icon says the secret lies within individual muscle cells and how they use ribosomes.

As highlighted by Doug Murray of Fitness Volt, Arnold Schwarzenegger challenged some of the most common assumptions about muscle growth.

“The biggest predictor of who builds muscle is not testosterone, sex, or genetics,” Schwarzenegger said.

"It appears to be what happens inside individual muscle cells in the earliest stages of training, and you have much more control over your muscle-building potential than you might believe,” he added.

Moreover, he explains how there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to changing this process.

A big reason why this may resonate with most gym-goers is that muscle growth often feels inconsistent. Two people following the same workout routine and strict diets may often see different results. This may often leave us wondering what we might be doing wrong.

What may help, however, is increasing your training stimulus. So, while some people may get gains within a few months, it may take slightly longer for others to achieve the same results.

Arnold Schwarzenegger on How “Slow-Responders” Can Build Muscle

Slow responders need not worry, the research doesn’t spell doomsday for you! While it may take slightly longer for you to pick up the pace to build muscle, here are some things you need to keep in mind.

“The primary driver of muscle growth is mechanical tension: the force your muscle generates working against a load, especially in a lengthened position. That tension is what signals ribosomes to get to work,” said Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger advises people to train “almost to failure.” This means pushing through those last few reps, even if it feels hard. It’s during this period that your muscles maximize hypertrophy.

Real muscle growth happens after you leave the gym, when the body repairs the torn muscles to make them bigger and stronger.

Moreover, he explains how results may differ between individuals. It is important never to compare yourself with someone else, as progress is variable during every stage.

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Rudra Dubey