When rats do regular strength training, their muscles show higher levels of certain proteins that help with insulin signaling. This might help their muscles build protein even when another important pathway isn't as active.

When trained guys drink a special ketone drink after a tough leg workout (and also eat protein and carbs), their muscles send stronger 'grow' signals than when they drink a fake version — even though their insulin levels are the same.

When you lift weights, your muscles turn on a specific molecular switch called mTORC1, which helps build more muscle protein. But just because this switch flips on right after a workout doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get bigger muscles over time—it doesn’t always line up.

When you lift weights, your muscles temporarily stop building protein, but right after you finish, they kick into high gear to repair and grow—this happens because key signaling molecules in your muscles get activated during recovery.

The protein signal that tells your muscles to grow (mTOR) turns on just as well with plain protein as it does with protein plus sugar or alanine.

When you lift weights or do resistance training, your muscles get bigger — and one big reason is that your body turns on a molecular switch (mTORC1) that tells your muscles to make more protein, though other things are also helping out.