Are you a hard gainer, please read!

1567911

Replies

  • Iain__Fraser
    Iain__Fraser Posts: 26 Member
    Good thread this. Lots of ectomorphs out there like me then...
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    Good thread this. Lots of ectomorphs out there like me then...

    As an FYI, somatotypes are not really a thing.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    jofjltncb6 wrote: »
    GregStone2 wrote: »
    GregStone2 wrote: »
    hI gain healthy weight you should eat whole sinle ingredient foods that have alot of calories rer each serving and 3 meals per day and lift heavy weights 2-4 days per week

    Not If sugar is on the ingredients list or or some type of sugar like cane sugar or frutose which is all added sugar' swill cause fat gain which cause all sorts of health problems and wont cause fat loss while trying to gain or maintain weightIm at a healthy weight 124 pounds and almost at my goal weight 127 or 128 and I'm want to quit the foods with the added sugars and just eat fruit and vegetables hard to over eat frutose just eating fruit and or vegetables and whole single ingredient foods animal and plant foods

    What?

    I ate added sugars while on this cut. (Although admittedly not as many of them in the last couple months only because I didn't have the caloric capacity to eat them and still hit my protein minimums and reasonably timed meals for my workouts.) My "go to" MRP had plenty of added sugars

    3vuorwx9ctam.jpeg

    TL;DR - added sugars don't make you fat. Too many calories do. (But there's some evidence that they may make someone AW on MFP. :wink: )

    Awwww....look at the giant pic of tinyJof.

    Isn't he cute...makes you want to pinch his widdle cheeks.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    jamezbond wrote: »
    Totally don’t agree with the ‘hard gainers are a myth ‘ statement. When I was in my 20s and pretty thin, the big guys of the gym is to say add some weight to the bar and you’ll grow. By the time I had a 500 pound deadlift, 450 squat and 300 bench, I had added weight to the bar. However, my weight was 165.

    Read the latest studies on exercise non-responders and excess cortisol production. We’re starting to see why some people don’t exhibit a typical hypertrophy response to the same program that another individual would.

    Link to the evidence? I can tell you that the people who struggle to put on size and/or weight all don't adequately control calories and/or follow a horribly designed lifting program. Once those parts of the equation are addressed, it's a non issue.

    Now, if you were like me when I was in my 20s, I was extremely active, which means for me to put on size, I would have needed 4 to 5k calories.
  • jseams1234
    jseams1234 Posts: 1,219 Member
    jamezbond wrote: »
    Totally don’t agree with the ‘hard gainers are a myth ‘ statement. When I was in my 20s and pretty thin, the big guys of the gym is to say add some weight to the bar and you’ll grow. By the time I had a 500 pound deadlift, 450 squat and 300 bench, I had added weight to the bar. However, my weight was 165.

    Read the latest studies on exercise non-responders and excess cortisol production. We’re starting to see why some people don’t exhibit a typical hypertrophy response to the same program that another individual would.

    If you train primarily for strength and don't feed growth with a good hypertrophy program and calories/nutrition you won't get huge. However, strength can be quite extreme even for a man who "only" weighs 165 pounds.

    Current records for lifts (raw) for the 165 pound weight class in Powerlifting:

    712# Squat
    529# Bench
    760# Deadlift

    Btw: those number you quote as your personal best put you in the "elite" category of lifters for that body weight when it comes to strength standards. It should have taken you a number of years to achieve those lifts, especially if you where "pretty thin" to start with and even if you are an outlier when it comes to CNS adaptation and strength gains.

  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    jamezbond wrote: »
    Totally don’t agree with the ‘hard gainers are a myth ‘ statement. When I was in my 20s and pretty thin, the big guys of the gym is to say add some weight to the bar and you’ll grow. By the time I had a 500 pound deadlift, 450 squat and 300 bench, I had added weight to the bar. However, my weight was 165.

    Read the latest studies on exercise non-responders and excess cortisol production. We’re starting to see why some people don’t exhibit a typical hypertrophy response to the same program that another individual would.

    What happened when you consistently ate at a reasonable caloric surplus over a sufficient period of time?
  • dmulkey68
    dmulkey68 Posts: 12 Member
    Hello everyone! I am looking to gain weight I would prefer it be more muscle, but I’ll take anything right now. I started using Apetamin on Sunday and have seen my appetite spark and I’ve increased my calorie intake significantly. Can anyone please give me a “beginners” weight lifting routine that I can ease into. I don’t want to add definition to my arms or back, I just want to bulk up my lower body, preferably legs and glutes(still want to look feminine). I just started exercising(abs and glutes) as well to counter-act the fat that comes with taking Apetamin. If anyone could help I would appreciate it!
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    dmulkey68 wrote: »
    Hello everyone! I am looking to gain weight I would prefer it be more muscle, but I’ll take anything right now. I started using Apetamin on Sunday and have seen my appetite spark and I’ve increased my calorie intake significantly. Can anyone please give me a “beginners” weight lifting routine that I can ease into. I don’t want to add definition to my arms or back, I just want to bulk up my lower body, preferably legs and glutes(still want to look feminine). I just started exercising(abs and glutes) as well to counter-act the fat that comes with taking Apetamin. If anyone could help I would appreciate it!

    I would just like to say, first off, that there is no way you will stop looking feminine on a good weight training program, that's a huge myth that we work hard to dispel. If you see a woman who "looks masculine" she is trying to look like that and has worked hard for years to get there and possibly is using drugs as well. Look around at the lifting women here and you will see they look amazing and absolutely feminine.

    Some of the beginner programs for women that seem popular right now are Strong Curves and anything by Bret Contreras, aka the Glute Guy, his web site is here https://bretcontreras.com/ I'm sure there will be others along shortly that can give you some more advice.

    Good luck to you.
  • GymTennis
    GymTennis Posts: 133 Member
    A small caloric surplus and lifting some weights will do.
  • dmulkey68
    dmulkey68 Posts: 12 Member
    Thanks @wheelhouse15 I will definitely check out that site!!
  • dmulkey68
    dmulkey68 Posts: 12 Member

    GymTennis wrote: »
    A small caloric surplus and lifting some weights will do.

    Thanks, I’m sure I can find a weight lifting regimen that fits me!

  • fatcity66
    fatcity66 Posts: 1,544 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    jamezbond wrote: »
    Totally don’t agree with the ‘hard gainers are a myth ‘ statement. When I was in my 20s and pretty thin, the big guys of the gym is to say add some weight to the bar and you’ll grow. By the time I had a 500 pound deadlift, 450 squat and 300 bench, I had added weight to the bar. However, my weight was 165.

    Read the latest studies on exercise non-responders and excess cortisol production. We’re starting to see why some people don’t exhibit a typical hypertrophy response to the same program that another individual would.

    Link to the evidence? I can tell you that the people who struggle to put on size and/or weight all don't adequately control calories and/or follow a horribly designed lifting program. Once those parts of the equation are addressed, it's a non issue.

    Now, if you were like me when I was in my 20s, I was extremely active, which means for me to put on size, I would have needed 4 to 5k calories.

    My guy has gastroparesis. He's definitely an exception to the rule, but I would call him a hard gainer...he's 5'8" and fluctuates between 111-125 lbs. I know this is an old thread...just saying.
  • andreascjonsson
    andreascjonsson Posts: 433 Member
    edited February 2018
    How often would you say its okay to eat "unhealthy" foods like pizza? Im a very small eater and only gained alot of weight becouse i was sitting down all day every day and pretty much lived on pizza,hamburgers and soucy pasta dishes . Now when i have started eating mostly rice,beans,eggs and some smaller amounts of meat i have a hard time even hitting my cutting goal and im currently sitting at too much of a deficit most days. So im kinda anxious becouse im almost at my bodyfat goal and when i hit it im gonna start bulking and i have no idea how i will hit my calorie goals.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    edited February 2018
    How often would you say its okay to eat "unhealthy" foods like pizza? Im a very small eater and only gained alot of weight becouse i was sitting down all day every day and pretty much lived on pizza,hamburgers and soucy pasta dishes . Now when i have started eating mostly rice,beans,eggs and some smaller amounts of meat i have a hard time even hitting my cutting goal and im currently sitting at too much of a deficit most days. So im kinda anxious becouse im almost at my bodyfat goal and when i hit it im gonna start bulking and i have no idea how i will hit my calorie goals.

    I eat "unhealthy" foods pretty much daily. Today I had a burrito, Sunday I had pizza and a sundae, Saturday I had chips and salsa, a margarita, and a chimichanga. End of the day, it's all about CICO.

    ETA I eat more than my fair share of "healthy" food too, including lots of whole foods like veggies, grass fed meats, nuts, fruits, etc. Just saying it all fits.
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    fatcity66 wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    jamezbond wrote: »
    Totally don’t agree with the ‘hard gainers are a myth ‘ statement. When I was in my 20s and pretty thin, the big guys of the gym is to say add some weight to the bar and you’ll grow. By the time I had a 500 pound deadlift, 450 squat and 300 bench, I had added weight to the bar. However, my weight was 165.

    Read the latest studies on exercise non-responders and excess cortisol production. We’re starting to see why some people don’t exhibit a typical hypertrophy response to the same program that another individual would.

    Link to the evidence? I can tell you that the people who struggle to put on size and/or weight all don't adequately control calories and/or follow a horribly designed lifting program. Once those parts of the equation are addressed, it's a non issue.

    Now, if you were like me when I was in my 20s, I was extremely active, which means for me to put on size, I would have needed 4 to 5k calories.

    My guy has gastroparesis. He's definitely an exception to the rule, but I would call him a hard gainer...he's 5'8" and fluctuates between 111-125 lbs. I know this is an old thread...just saying.

    We aren't talking about medical issues here. Anyone with medical issues needs to speak with a doctor and RD as well as any other appropriate practitioners. Just because people here often recommend PB for weight gain doesn't mean we think people with allergies should do that.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    fatcity66 wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    jamezbond wrote: »
    Totally don’t agree with the ‘hard gainers are a myth ‘ statement. When I was in my 20s and pretty thin, the big guys of the gym is to say add some weight to the bar and you’ll grow. By the time I had a 500 pound deadlift, 450 squat and 300 bench, I had added weight to the bar. However, my weight was 165.

    Read the latest studies on exercise non-responders and excess cortisol production. We’re starting to see why some people don’t exhibit a typical hypertrophy response to the same program that another individual would.

    Link to the evidence? I can tell you that the people who struggle to put on size and/or weight all don't adequately control calories and/or follow a horribly designed lifting program. Once those parts of the equation are addressed, it's a non issue.

    Now, if you were like me when I was in my 20s, I was extremely active, which means for me to put on size, I would have needed 4 to 5k calories.

    My guy has gastroparesis. He's definitely an exception to the rule, but I would call him a hard gainer...he's 5'8" and fluctuates between 111-125 lbs. I know this is an old thread...just saying.

    Gastroparesis increases your CO ( you vomit a lot) and decreases your CI (who can eat a lot when nauseated and in pain all the time). Not many people with gastroparesis eat a lot. @fatcity66 what's his secret that he can eat 4000-5000 calories a day without vomiting and being in extreme pain?
  • jenniferallen8513
    jenniferallen8513 Posts: 6 Member
    Thank you so much I can barley gain weight but it seem like I can loose weight so easy
  • Silkysausage
    Silkysausage Posts: 502 Member
    edited March 2018
    I find it really hard to eat sometimes. I have digestive issues that cause me to but nauseated 80% of the time but doctors dont know why. I also cant eat certain foods (fatty, fried, spicy, nuts, seeds, greasy and sometimes just random foods). Im lactose intolerant but I have medication for that. The only formal diagnosis i have is GERD (acid reflex). Ive been having trouble gaining weight because i cant get enough calories. Any advice?

    Slippery Elm to coat the digestive tract and for spasms, high count pre/probiotics, psyllium husk if constipated, digestive enzymes. Gallbladder scan for stones.
  • se015
    se015 Posts: 583 Member
    Ice cream shakes?
  • pbryd
    pbryd Posts: 364 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    jamezbond wrote: »
    Totally don’t agree with the ‘hard gainers are a myth ‘ statement. When I was in my 20s and pretty thin, the big guys of the gym is to say add some weight to the bar and you’ll grow. By the time I had a 500 pound deadlift, 450 squat and 300 bench, I had added weight to the bar. However, my weight was 165.

    Read the latest studies on exercise non-responders and excess cortisol production. We’re starting to see why some people don’t exhibit a typical hypertrophy response to the same program that another individual would.

    Link to the evidence? I can tell you that the people who struggle to put on size and/or weight all don't adequately control calories and/or follow a horribly designed lifting program. Once those parts of the equation are addressed, it's a non issue.

    Now, if you were like me when I was in my 20s, I was extremely active, which means for me to put on size, I would have needed 4 to 5k calories.

    https://www.strongerbyscience.com/non-responders/
    At the end of the day, it’s crystal clear that some people simply respond way better to training than others. It’s also clear that damn near everyone gets stronger when they start training. However, muscle growth is a bit trickier, and almost every study (especially large studies) has some non-responders.
  • jseams1234
    jseams1234 Posts: 1,219 Member
    pbryd wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    jamezbond wrote: »
    Totally don’t agree with the ‘hard gainers are a myth ‘ statement. When I was in my 20s and pretty thin, the big guys of the gym is to say add some weight to the bar and you’ll grow. By the time I had a 500 pound deadlift, 450 squat and 300 bench, I had added weight to the bar. However, my weight was 165.

    Read the latest studies on exercise non-responders and excess cortisol production. We’re starting to see why some people don’t exhibit a typical hypertrophy response to the same program that another individual would.

    Link to the evidence? I can tell you that the people who struggle to put on size and/or weight all don't adequately control calories and/or follow a horribly designed lifting program. Once those parts of the equation are addressed, it's a non issue.

    Now, if you were like me when I was in my 20s, I was extremely active, which means for me to put on size, I would have needed 4 to 5k calories.

    https://www.strongerbyscience.com/non-responders/
    At the end of the day, it’s crystal clear that some people simply respond way better to training than others. It’s also clear that damn near everyone gets stronger when they start training. However, muscle growth is a bit trickier, and almost every study (especially large studies) has some non-responders.

    Also from the very same link and study:

    Addendum, June 2017:

    A new study showed that there were way fewer nonresponders when people were put on personalized training programs instead of one-size-fits-all standardized programs. This study was primarily looking at aerobic fitness, but it also examined strength measures (bench press and leg press 5RM). It found that all the subjects on personalized programs got stronger, while only 64.3% of the subjects on standardized programs got stronger. This gives us more evidence that “nonresponders” in scientific studies aren’t necessarily “true” nonresponders.
  • pbryd
    pbryd Posts: 364 Member
    jseams1234 wrote: »
    Also from the very same link and study:

    Addendum, June 2017:

    A new study showed that there were way fewer nonresponders when people were put on personalized training programs instead of one-size-fits-all standardized programs. This study was primarily looking at aerobic fitness, but it also examined strength measures (bench press and leg press 5RM). It found that all the subjects on personalized programs got stronger, while only 64.3% of the subjects on standardized programs got stronger. This gives us more evidence that “nonresponders” in scientific studies aren’t necessarily “true” nonresponders.

    My bad, I missed that bit.

  • jods2014
    jods2014 Posts: 10 Member
    Please tell me how to minimize fat gain
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    jods2014 wrote: »
    Please tell me how to minimize fat gain

    Moderate surplus (10-15% above maintenance), a good lifting, and adequate protein.
  • mejleon
    mejleon Posts: 2 Member
    Now I'm not saying I'm a hard gainer but the way my body burns fat because of my body temp is true. Without a diet or working out, most of my life I've bee. Under 10% bf. Now I went from 135lbs to 185 now at a 13% bf with a high calory intake and absolutely no cardio. I'm going for the 200lbs and I'll see what my bf % will be. Let's get it.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    edited July 2018
    mejleon wrote: »
    Now I'm not saying I'm a hard gainer but the way my body burns fat because of my body temp is true. Without a diet or working out, most of my life I've bee. Under 10% bf. Now I went from 135lbs to 185 now at a 13% bf with a high calory intake and absolutely no cardio. I'm going for the 200lbs and I'll see what my bf % will be. Let's get it.

    What do you consider high intake? And what are your workouts like?
  • Blue0137
    Blue0137 Posts: 1 Member
    So am it hard for me gain weight any idea how gain I weight like 143 need to be 160
  • paola11013
    paola11013 Posts: 1 Member
    So for bulking, we have to eat like *kitten*? I want to gain weight but I dont want to kill myself in the process. Many of the things you listed, well I kind of feel like I might as well tattoo diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases on my forehead. I'm honestly confused