Tweetyes, it is definitely real. there is science behind it. it is def easier to get back to where you were than to get to where youve never been. seems the longer youve been working out, the quicker it comes back after a layoff...I have had real experience with this and there is no doubt about it in my mind....lets say someone trains for 5 years to get 20 inch arms..then they take 2 months off and their arms shrink to 17. They will prob be back to 20" in a month or so of hard training.