In this discussion I talk about how our bodies adapt to muscular stimulation, which together with adequate quality nutrition and sleep, can develop an improved physical appearance, or aesthetics. The ideal training cycle for visible muscle mass and definition is commonly known as Hypertrophy (meaning the increase in muscle mass at a cellular and visible soft tissue level). This type of training is typically popular in age ranges from mid teens to late forties, as it requires both time spent in the gym and a moderate to high intake of macro nutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrate). High amounts of repetitions and sets are required in the weight room, sometimes as many as 6 sets of 25 reps on each major muscle group are implemented to push blood into the legs, back, chest and shoulders, using a volume method, taking hours of dedication, split into anywhere between 4 to 6 visits to the gym per week. Bodybuilders are generally associated with Hypertrophy training and to some people look pleasing and others not so pleasing. As a professional personal trainer, with a large number of clients aged 40 and over, it's rare to see a client male or female, literally pile on kilos of muscle mass, however he or she often increases strength with a regular resistance training program. Even when using a Hypertrophy training program for a client, it's still unlikely the client will grow large, defined muscle, as historically the client simply cannot sustain the amount of quality calories required to build the 'perfect physique'. Also, his or her sleep patterns simply don't allow for the anabolic regrowth, normally seen in younger people. With this reality in mind, it's advisable to aim for improved strength and posture, over aesthetics, in the first instance and if our body responds to such a degree we start to see visible muscle mass, then this would be a bonus, accounting for age related degeneration, sedentary professions and ill suited genetics. Please like, subscribe and share this podcast, to help it grow for future content. Thanks for listening