Your muscles make more protein at first when you start lifting weights, but after a few weeks, that boost fades—even if you keep lifting harder.

Scientific Claim

Myofibrillar protein synthesis rates increase during resistance training but decline from week 1 to week 10, regardless of training load, indicating an adaptive blunting of the muscle-building signal over time.

Original Statement

“Rates of MyoPS in weeks 1 and 10 of training were increased relative to rest (Week 1: Δ0.27 ± 0.11, P < 0.0001; Week 10: Δ0.10 ± 0.14%/d, P = 0.009); however, MyoPS was attenuated in week 10 versus week 1 (Δ0.16 ± 0.18%/d, P < 0.001).”

From study:Resistance training load does not determine resistance training-induced hypertrophy across upper and lower limbs in healthy young males.

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The claim is based on direct measurements with statistical significance and does not overstate causality. The decline is clearly reported with effect sizes and p-values.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Resistance training load does not determine resistance training-induced hypertrophy across upper and lower limbs in healthy young males.

Randomized Controlled Trial

Human

2025 Dec 31

Even though people lifted different weights, their muscles stopped building as fast after 10 weeks compared to the first week — showing the body gets used to training and slows down muscle growth over time.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Resistance training load does not determine resistance training-induced hypertrophy across upper and lower limbs in healthy young males.

Score: 46

DOI: 10.1113/JP289684

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