Your muscles make more protein when you start lifting weights, but after a few weeks, that boost fades — even if you keep lifting harder — no matter if you use heavy or light weights.
Scientific Claim
Myofibrillar protein synthesis rates increase during resistance training but are attenuated after 10 weeks despite progressive overload, indicating a reduced anabolic response over time regardless of training load.
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).”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
probability
Can suggest probability/likelihood
Assessment Explanation
The repeated-measures design supports causal inference about temporal changes in MyoPS. 'Attenuated' is accurate, but 'suggests a reduced anabolic response' better reflects probabilistic language given sample size.
More Accurate Statement
“Myofibrillar protein synthesis rates increase during the early phase of resistance training but are likely attenuated after 10 weeks despite progressive overload, indicating a reduced anabolic response over time regardless of training load.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Resistance training load does not determine resistance training-induced hypertrophy across upper and lower limbs in healthy young males.
Even though people kept lifting heavier or doing more reps for 10 weeks, their muscles stopped building protein as fast after the first week — meaning the body gets used to the workout and responds less over time, no matter how hard you train.