Building muscle without steroids can be extremely challenging.
The harsh truth is that most fitness models, bodybuilders, and movie stars supplement their training with drugs. And this makes it very easy for them to pack on mass.
You see, anabolic steroids manipulate your hormone levels and interact directly with your muscle cells to increase muscle protein synthesis – and this radically enhances your rates of muscle growth.
However, there are a lot of negative side effects to taking steroids, from short-term aggression and acne to long-term brain damage and crippled testosterone production.
The good news is that it’s still possible to build quality muscle as a natural lifter (see my transformation above). It just takes a slightly different approach (and slightly more patience).
Get ready, because you’re about to learn exactly how to rapidly pack on mass (without drugs).
Step #1: Get Lean BEFORE You Bulk Up
The first step is to cut down and get lean (before you gain weight and bulk up).
While steroids allow you to efficiently pack on mass and shred fat regardless of your body fat percentage, it’s a different story as a natural lifter.
Why? Getting Lean Naturally Boosts Testosterone
Studies show that higher levels of body fat are linked with lower levels of testosterone and decreased insulin sensitivity. They also confirm that it’s possible to increase your testosterone (and your insulin sensitivity) simply by lowering your body fat percentage.
This is significant because both of these things play a large role in the muscle building process.
You see, higher levels of testosterone (and increased insulin sensitivity) both lead to higher rates of muscle protein synthesis. And this means that you get to build more muscle.
Let me phrase this in a different way, in case that doesn’t make sense: When you get lean, your body becomes more efficient at building muscle. For every pound of bodyweight that you gain, more of it will be muscle and less of it will be fat (versus when you’re at a higher body fat percentage).
And That’s Not the Only Reason to Get Lean First…
We all want to look good naked. And the key to looking good naked is being lean.
Yes, you also want to have quality muscle mass. But if it’s covered by a thick layer of fat, you’re still going to look like shit. When you get lean, you essentially remove that layer of fat and expose your muscle definition. Even if you’re not quite as big as you want to be, you will still look good.
So by cutting down first, you get the gratification of looking good sooner, rather than delaying that gratification for months and months of bulking up and looking chubby.
Plus, building muscle takes longer than cutting fat. Our bodies are simply not naturally capable of packing on mass faster than half a pound per week (as best!). However, you can cut fat as quickly as one pound per week without losing muscle in the process.
So Exactly How Lean Should I Get?
So now you’re probably wondering: “Ok cool, but how lean do I need to get?”
Good question. There’s no perfect answer here, but I believe you should cut down to around 12-15% body fat (here’s what that looks like).
For most guys, this will allow you to optimize your hormone levels and look good naked, without starving yourself or risking developing an eating disorder.
You see, the leaner you get, the more you’ll have to restrict your calories in order to keep burning fat and losing weight. And once you approach about 10% body fat, this can become a painful process. In my opinion, there’s no reason to subject yourself to that pain unless you’re planning to become a fitness model or doing a bodybuilding competition.
Not to mention, extremely low body fat percentages can actually lead to negative side effects like compromised hormone levels and a hindered immune system. Our bodies simply require some level of body fat to function at an optimal level.
Read More: How to Lose Weight and Get Ripped (3 Simple Steps)
Step #2: Once Lean, Gain Weight SLOWLY
Once you’ve reached the aforementioned level of around 12-15% body fat, it’s time to build some muscle!
However, you must be careful here. Traditional bodybuilding-style bulking (where you aim to gain as much as 1-2 pounds per week) only works well for steroid users…
Why? Gaining Weight Too Fast Leads to Fat Gain
As I mentioned above, your body is only naturally capable of synthesizing about half a pound of muscle per week… and that’s only if you’re brand new to lifting! This means that any weight you gain beyond this point will be strictly fat.
Just like anything in life, there are diminishing marginal returns. The more training experience you have, and the more muscle you build, the harder it becomes to gain additional mass.
With steroids, this limit does not exist. You can stuff your face, gain 1-2 pounds per week, and almost all of it will be muscle. And this is why a lot of bodybuilding advice tells you to “eat big” and gain weight fast.
However, if you’re a natural lifter, gaining weight too fast will just make you fat!
So Exactly How Fast Should I Gain Weight?
In the video above, I break down the science behind how fast you can gain muscle.
Now, given your body’s natural limits, you should aim to gain half a pound per week (or 2 pounds per month) in order to optimize muscle growth. This ensures that your body has the extra energy it needs to synthesize new muscle tissue. It also ensures that you don’t go overboard and gain a bunch of fat.
When combined with a solid training routine (and a relatively low body fat), gaining about 2 pounds per month will allow you to efficiently pack on mass without gaining fat.
And, as a natural lifter, this is your best possible option. It allows you to gain size and get bigger while staying lean (and maintaining optimal hormone levels) all year round!
Also… Make Sure Your Training is Optimized for Bulking
If you gain weight, but your workout routine isn’t on point, you can still end up gaining fat.
The fact is that some training routines are simply better for building mass. In short, make sure your training routine follows these 3 key principles:
- Focused on compound movements (squats, deadlifts, presses, rows, pull-ups, etc)
Your routine should include more compound movements than isolation movements (curls, tricep extensions, abs, leg curls, etc). These movements allow you to move more weight, and this stimulates more muscle growth as a result.
- Built in progression that forces you to increase the weights
If you don’t give your body a reason to build more muscle, then it won’t. And the best way to give your body this reason is to use progressive overload and consistently, but slowly, increase the weights.
- Enough volume (and enough rest) for you
If you’re a new lifter, a simple 3-day per week full body routine is optimal. At this point, you don’t need much of a workload to grow, and 3 days per week is more than enough. If you’re more advanced, then consider a 4-day per week routine.
The Fastest Way to Build Muscle Naturally
Ok, let’s quickly review the best way to build muscle without steroids:
- Start by getting lean (12-15% body fat)
- This will increase your testosterone, and you’ll look better naked
- Next, start gaining weight (2 pounds per month is optimal)
- This will max out your natural muscle growth limits and minimize fat gain
- Make sure you follow a proper, progressive-overload based routine
This simple system will allow you to consistently get bigger and stronger. Plus, it will make sure you stay lean all year round in the process!
Nice great breakdown. This will definitely help in building some more mass. I was just wondering, the body fat and testosterone graph can’t be that linear right? Is there a moment were body fat is too low to keep up proper testosterone levels?
Hey Timom. No, the graph is just meant to show the general correlation. And yes, at super low body fat percentages, hormonal levels suffer.
EDIT: I updated the graph to clarify this.
I am 33 and nevet in my life did exercise. I have sunken eyes bony cheeks and look like a skeleton.
I want to get rid of sunken eyes… Can I?
Ya, I was thinking of Using steroids in order to build more muscle mass in bulking phase but, By reading your Good advice and Process of lean bulking without steroids changed my decision and aware me far from steroids…😉💪🤨😏
Excellent article, brother. Thank you. I’m putting it to use right now and am feeling great.
Thanks Willis – glad to hear it!
My body fat is already 12-15% but from few months i am not able to gain even half pound, I have tried everything from changing my training program to diet but nothing is working.
If you aren’t gaining weight, then you need to eat more calories. Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp0AqmG18AI
Thanks David. It’s tough to tell exactly what my body fat is, how do I know if I’m 12-15 percent?
If you can see most of your abs when you’re flexing, I think that is lean enough.
Gaining precisely 2 pounds per month seems difficult. Is is better to gain more or less?
Hey Jeff. It depends. If you want to max out all possible muscle gains (but risk slight fat gain) then go for 2-4. If you would rather be patient (and make sure you don’t gain any fat) then go for 0-2.
Hey David, do you no longer have Shredded Beast 2.0?
Yo Christian! It’s actually been replaced by my new program Beast Mode Bulking.
If you’re subscribed to the email list, I’ll be sending out an email when it goes live tomorrow.
What is the best way to go from 25 to 12-15% body fat.
Never mind, I see the link now. Thanks for the info. This is good stuff.
Glad you found it! Main thing is just to lift and restrict your calories.
This article is dumb. Don’t lose weight first and then start trying to gain muscle. What a ridiculous waste of time. You can lose weight while lifting and be way ahead of the game once you get lean.
What if i am the skinny-fat type?? should i bulk or cut first??
It’s arbitrary in this case. If you’re more “skinny” than fat, bulk first. If you’re more fat than skinny, cut first.
Really Nice Post!
Some very informative information which is often overlooked by the vast majority! In my opinion getting lean in the first place is up there with priority number one in my experience as a natural lifter. Therefore was good to see it prioritised well in this post!
Thanks Brad! Couldn’t agree more
I did a Google search for a safe way to gain muscle bulk without using illegal steroids or chemicals. This is the first thing that I seen. This sounds like exactly what I am looking for. Because when I was growing up in elementary school I was the kid who got bullied. You the milk thrown on them etc. I dropped out of school for a little bit and packed on some size and went back to school and I was bigger than the bullies. I never got picked on again. Over the years the weight became more and was causing health problems. So for the past 3years I have stuck to my diet and exercise and I’m almost at the weight that will make me feel comfortable. I’m cutting down on the body fat before I start getting into the lifting. My daily workout consists of me wearing a 50 to 60 pound pack and do a slow 2 to 3 mile hike 4 days a week. Just from doing that I am starting to see and feel a big difference. I will be looking at your videos and anything else that I can find online from you. The information that you are showing and sharing with people is great. Thank you also I would love to get on your newsletter list if you have one
Thanks man! just sign up here for my newsletter and free course — https://www.howtobeast.com/get-confident/
Great stuff bud
Thanks man
Set strength goals. Keep a food journal. Focus on compound exercises.
Exactly.
One question, David… If an older natural intermediate or advanced lifter can only gain up to 2 lbs of muscle per month, then isn’t the the whole protein overload of one gram per pound of bodyweight a waste of money? This issue is never discussed anywhere. Please, let’s get real about this.
I think that 0.8 g per pound is sufficient. This makes sure you build/maintain as efficiently as possible
Diet Tips for Weight Loss Make sure to have sufficient amount of water throughout the day. Ideally 8-10 glasses.Aim to achieve and then maintain your ideal body weight.Avoid oily, fried and spicy food.
I have abs but can’t seem to get my pecks bigger I have just recently joined a gym but also have a fast metabolism
great stuff. and I just loved the way you have written this article
this was very helpful to me . and about how did i choose your trainer , i I have followed the best program in the world that changed my life completely , this program here has helped me a lot . check it out if you like . https://ksisjsquqh.blogspot.com/2019/01/click-here-to-enter-site.html
Hey david..usually my fat percentage have always been low ,it didn’t exceed 16% ..my weight doesn’t go over 60 kg while i am about 172 cm high..I have been exercising in quarantine using water bottles and different types of push ups for about a month..i recognised major changes in my body..but i was wondering what i should do to become shredded as there is no dummbles or so to increase weight
Well, if you are skinny and want to get muscular or you are plump and want to get muscular, either which way, the following are the strategies that work and answers the question, how to build muscle at home without equipment. And yes! You do not have to take expensive supplements to build muscles. Just you and your body-weight will do just fine! If you are feeling confused don’t worry we will dish out just the tips that will help you get lean in a few months’ time!
https://www.livealittlelonger.com/exercise-to-build-muscle-at-home-without-equipment/
Hi I’m a 46 year old women I want to body building I way 145 lbs 5’2 how can I start?
These core exercises are all great I am sure they are ging to work in the deepest muscles and heps se the extra flab and also tighten and tone the areas My favurite is the bird dog pose It isn’t an easy workout to do by any standards but it is an excellent way to work on your deep core muscles.
i love your posts go on…
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Nice blog! supplement and proper exercise can work together to have a good body result. You can check it out https://teamflex.com.au/
The fastest way to build muscle without steroids is to get a job then use money to buy steroids because without steroids you cannot grow muscle to a significant extent.
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