The average hobbyist weightlifter expects to build tons of lean muscle mass in a very short period of time. I mean, the average weightlifter expects to be ripped apart in an instant. Getting a ripped physique fast is largely a myth. Realistically, you can’t build dozens of pounds of lean muscle mass really fast. The vast majority of my clients and men I meet at the gym simply have unrealistic expectations when it comes to building muscle.

It’s hard to really say how much muscle you can add to your body, but the average weightlifter seems to believe that you can add 25 pounds of muscle in 90 days. It’s remarkable how often I know someone who’s been hitting the gym for three or four months and is disappointed that they haven’t added twenty pounds or more of muscle. You can surely gain 20 pounds or more of body weight in just a few months, but there is a huge difference between body weight and muscle.

You can gain weight simply by eating a lot of carbohydrates, calories, and gaining weight and doing little aerobic exercise. But again, by following this type of diet plan, you will only add body mass, not lean muscle, and there is a huge difference between the two. Adding lean muscle mass means adding pure muscle tissue, not water weight or glycogen weight. And adding lean muscle mass requires the three Ps: persistence, perseverance, and patience.

Under ideal circumstances, the average man can add a maximum of 2 pounds of lean muscle mass in a single month. Remember this is in the best possible condition, you are most likely lucky if you can add half of this muscle mass each week. This can be daunting or annoying for some, but it’s important to be realistic in your goal, otherwise you could end up wasting time or worse, doing things that can actually be harmful.

Train hard, eat well, sleep well every night, and you will inevitably get the body of your dreams!