Just because your muscles hurt or swell after lifting weights doesn’t mean that’s what’s making them grow—you can still get stronger and bigger even if you don’t feel sore or inflamed.

After a tough workout, your body releases a chemical called IL-6, and people who gain more muscle tend to have more of it—but it’s probably just a side effect, not the reason your muscles grow.

In guys who are new to weightlifting, a spike in a certain body chemical (IL-6) right after a workout is linked to bigger muscles after 16 weeks of training—but that spike alone doesn’t fully explain why some guys get bigger than others, because other internal changes in the muscle also matter.

Just because your testosterone, growth hormone, and IGF-1 levels spike after a workout doesn't mean those spikes are what make your muscles grow.

If you're a young guy lifting weights more often each week, you'll likely get stronger faster—but that doesn't mean your muscles will get noticeably bigger.

Getting stronger from lifting weights doesn’t always mean your muscles are getting bigger—and vice versa. Strength and size don’t go hand in hand.