Do I have a genetic advantage or is it something else?

[jerkorperk]

I have been working out and strength training for just 3 weeks.

I look a lot different already. And my arms are noticeably muscular after this time

I have always been naturally muscular, to some degree. I use to dance and have a lot of leg muscle/find leg exercises easy

But I've never really worked my arms at all. And after 3 weeks, I can see a difference. And so can someone I know who noticed and told me so (they aren't a compliment giver!)

Am I genetically predisposed to easily gaining muscle? I remembering watching a programme many years ago about a male swimmer who seemed to be genetically gifted because of body type and ability to recover muscle much faster

This is not a brag post. I am just a hit surprised at how fast the changes have come on.

I ideally don't want to look too bulky but seem to lift weights and develop muscle overnight. It isn't something I'm particularly fond of as it doesn't look 'feminine'

My son is 7 and shredded. Odd phrase to use but he has a lot of muscle and is in perfect shape with a lot more visible strength than most children

I think some people build muscle easier than others, look at some tennis players vs others.. I did lots of dancing too and some of my friends had very developed calf and thigh muscles. I don’t really build much muscle.

Probably your body type, there's lots of different schools and names, ectomorph, mesomorph and endomorph are the in vogue definitions. I'm a combo, mesomorph on my upper body and I build muscle quickly from the hips up.

Yes this. I saw a video explaining the different body types once and it was fascinating.

Possibly your body type but I also remember reading / hearing something like "after three sessions you will notice a difference/ after ten sessions people you know will see a difference"

@TinkerTiger the definitions were developed to assign similarities between build and personality, don't know much more than that but would assume it's long debunked it's called somatotyping. The body type definitions are still useful for fitness and nutrition.

most people can't see their muscle tone because they have too much body fat sitting on top of it, if you've got low body fat to start with you'll notice the difference quicker.

My friend is like this. She only has to start working out moderately and she looks ripped! I remember her being embarrassed about her muscly biceps but I was jealous!

I think genetics definitely
My uncle was a famous heavyweight boxer
My grandad a wrestler
My cousin a swimmer

My mum, wailing about me, "why is she so tall and broad?!"

Dad "seriously?!"

I'm just built like the male side of the family only with boobs

Also diet - do you eat a lot of protein?

Genetics for sure. I'm the opposite to you - always quite slim (my mother is the same) and really have to try hard to add visible muscle. My strength/fitness will increase, but limited visible difference to my puny muscles 😂

I gained muscle, tone and definition very easily until the menopause. It was great. I have PCOS. Not saying you have it, OP - as others have said, you might just have muscular genes! Although my T levels and, more importantly, difference between E and T were nowhere near a male profile, my consultant told me the effects can be quite noticeable by comparison with an average woman.

I'm like you OP currently not as I need to get back to training and loose about 8kg but within a week or two I can see defined muscles and I did have to ease up on shoulder work as I did get overly large traps.

Not sure about you but I also weigh much more than I look, and have since a baby.

My DS is the same, your go to lift him up as a toddler and he'd weigh a ton and is ripped, with little training.

Yep, @tartancladpjs, at some points I had a massive BMI while being very slim & toned. (Now I just have a middling BMI and look like a sack of lard. Them's the breaks 😏)

Yeah, there's a lot to this

I have naturally great swimmer's shoulders... Even though I'm a bloody awful swimmer

I think people underestimate the power of body type with regards to exercise

Yes this is me too, I also trained in dance for many years. I wonder if it’s a combo of body type and muscle memory type scenario?
If I work out I become very muscular, and like another poster I’m careful on shoulder and back stuff because I develop a big weightlifter look in that area. I’m weirdly strong without the gym and I’m also dead heavy for my size. I can’t relate to things online where it always says it takes women ages to build muscle.

You likely have higher testosterone levels.

When I was a child, I noticed the difference in body-types and muscle definition between the children who were fast runners and swimmers and those who weren't. Children who were naturally good at sport were built different.

I am not a natural sports-person, and therefore have none of the lovely physical attributes that go with it. I do have a big, muscly behind (glad it is now more in fashion) but even after years of running, cycling and swimming, my overall visible muscle definition remains unimpressive. You have to feel my muscles to "see" them.

My siblings, cousins and aunts are built the same way. Interestingly, as soon as any of them gives up regular exercise, they very quickly become overweight.

I have very toned/muscular arms.
I am tall and lean and a runner.
It's surely my genetics but I also do a lot of sport.
I'm 53 and just reached menopause.

The manly hormone?

Yep. Snap. My BMI has always been over. But I am just muscle (no visible fat, just bulky and toned). My body fat percentage is low

I think I definitely have more of a man's shoulders! And strong legs. But thankfully an hour glass so don't look too butch... but it's very easy for me to slip into looking like I lift heavy weights and it's not a look I'm after

Btw having a higher level than normal
testosterone level is more likely than not a good thing. Your testosterone levels will decline when you hit peri-meno / meno. If you have high / optimal levels to begin with then chance are you won’t feel the difficult side-effects some women do.

All the above are right (past muscle returning, genetics). If you're feeling more toned probably you are also carrying yourself differently, maybe wearing different outfits, which may be part of the effect.

Same here. Except I've always been overweight, not massively but definitely and always, despite having a good diet and being quite active from childhood.

I would make a great Olympic weight lifter / shot putter / javelin thrower (preens 😁). You know the type, strong and fat!

I'm also heavier than I look. DC and DN are the same (but luckily not overweight).

I do have massively strong and big legs - which I really don't mind now in my 50s but was a bit self conscious of when young. I don't think I look masculine, just strong.

Yep. We all have it. Just some have higher levels than others, and often have larger frames or build muscle easily as a result. I’m the opposite end of the scale. I’m slight and wiry, and it’s annoying because I lift a lot and am strong, just have stringy muscles to show for it.

This is me age 12, next to 4 other girls in the same year