# How can I get buff in three months? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2004, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-buff-in-three-months/246875 "2004-05-24T21:48:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-buff-in-three-months/246875/21 "2004-05-26T16:54:06Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > After about an hour of lifting, testosterone levels start to drop, and cortisol levels start to rise. That’s a bad scene for wanting to get leaner, so that much weight training is right out. > > Doing that much aerobic exercise is possible if you build up to it, but if you’re already heavy, it can be really bad for your knees. > > Me, I only train about 4 hours a week, and I make great progress, both as far as fat loss and strength levels. Who needs to train 3-4 hours a day? How long have you been working out? It’s fairly common that when you’re starting out you make faster progress than when you’ve been doing it for a while. Most people then plateau somewhat, and after that it’s harder to make additional gains. But I agree with you on the length of workouts. I think the returns diminish beyond a point; spending 2 hours at the gym isn’t twice as good as spending one hour. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-buff-in-three-months/246875/22 "2004-05-26T16:57:39Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > How long have you been working out? It’s fairly common that when you’re starting out you make faster progress than when you’ve been doing it for a while. Most people then plateau somewhat, and after that it’s harder to make additional gains. About 2.5 years. These aren’t newbie gains. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-get-buff-in-three-months/246875.md?page=1)