How To Build Your Muscle
Last year, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Heart Association updated their recommendations for physical activity. In addition to regular cardio workouts, Americans are now being encouraged to perform resistance training at least twice a week, working every major muscle group. Spero Karas, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedics in the division of sports medicine at Emory University , says that testosterone, the male hormone responsible for muscle growth, maxes out between the ages of 16 and 18. It reaches a plateau during the 20s and then begins to decline. As a result, muscle building after the adolescent years can be challenging, he says. Fortunately, a little strength training goes a long way particularly in the early days. “When someone starts a fitness program, especially after not doing anything for awhile, the initial strength gains tend to be dramatic and quick,” Karas says. “In the first 12 weeks, it’s not uncommon for a guy to see a 10, ...