By definition, an ectomorph is someone who’s considered lean, lanky, tall, and has difficulty putting on muscle mass due to the rapid metabolism that’s constantly burning those calories.
And if you’re an ectomorph that just started training or you’ve training for a while but you still haven’t seen any results, you probably ask yourself this question: How much time does it take for an Ectomorph to build muscle?
It highly depends on the genetics of each person, but it usually takes about 6 months to 1 year for an Ectomorph to start seeing some good results. But with a good workout routine, the right diet, and reduced cardio, Ectomorphs can speed up this process significantly.
Why Do Ectomorphs Find it Difficult To Build Muscle?
Besides being an Ectomorph, and as I mentioned earlier, it all depends on your genetics. So regardless of any body type, you can still put on significant muscle mass, and fairly quickly if you know what you’re doing.
Yes, it’s harder for Ectomorphs to do it mainly because of their fast metabolism that’s constantly burning those calories that you worked so hard for.
So your basic daily activities that don’t usually require much energy, would consume much more calories than the average person. And thus, not leaving any for the more important task of hitting the gym and seeing those gains.
Another factor of why it’s difficult to put on muscle mass if you’re an Ectomorph is the thin bones that characterize this body type. So even if you do build some muscles, it won’t really show that much. Yes, you’ll look shredded because of your low body fat but you’ll still look small. And this will require you to build more muscle mass than the average person in order to get to their same level of physique. Seeing results is hard as an Ectomorph, but it’s definitely not impossible.
How Can You Speed Up The Process Of Building Muscles If You’re An Ectomorph?
To answer this question, it all comes down to adapting your workout and nutrition plan according to your body type in order to maximize the potential of your growth and finally sculpt the body you’ve always wanted.
When it comes to training, one important thing you should consider is to keep cardio to a minimum, and by that, I mean 1 to 2 times per month. That’s because one of the most obvious goals of doing cardio is to cut body fat which is pretty much useless for the Ectomorph body type since it’s naturally cut for you.
And as an Ectomorph, you do cardio mainly because of its other benefits like lowering blood pressure, getting your blood pumping, improving sleep, and regulating blood sugar. And doing it 1 to 2 times per month is more than enough to achieve these factors.
Another thing you should focus on is doing compound movements (that hit different muscles at the same time) like squats and deadlifts that maximize growth hormone release.
And last but not least, the most important factor to consider is to amplify your nutrition plan by basically consuming more calories (proteins, complex carbs, and healthy fats). One great way to do this is to use protein shakes, during or after your workouts.
More on this subject in my Ectomorph Weight Gain Guide
How Much Time Does It take For An Ectomorph to Build Muscles?
This can be different from one person to another, but for Ectomorphs, it usually takes about 6 months to one year to start seeing decent results, especially if you’re a beginner. While it may appear like a long time, you usually won’t feel it and will be constantly motivated by the tiny results you’re gonna start seeing each month.
One of the best feelings ever as an upcoming bodybuilder is to check yourself out in the mirror after a long month of pure hard work and actually see those abs starting to show, or those arms starting to get big, or those veins starting to pop.
While it may appear impossible at first, I promise you if you follow the guidelines mentioned in this article or on this website in general, you’ll significantly speed up the process of seeing those first gains.
One last thing I’d like to say, don’t chain yourself to time at first.” How much time does it take for an ectomorph to build muscles?“, “When will this happen”, “When will I start seeing results”, “At what age do I start building muscles”. As a beginner and as an Ectomorph, train just because you want to, do it just because it’s fun, consider it as a way to get healthier, and more fit. If you do so, the results will start coming naturally, and much faster too.