It's so hard to gain weight and muscle

pmack11

Hello, I have pretty much been skinny all my life. Last year, I was at 118 lbs and currently at 133 lbs just by adding more calories and going to the gym. I'm so happy to see I am not the only one that struggles with this 🤪

pmack11

Oh and I'm 5'6

pmack11

Oh here I am...at around 133 lbs

sgt1372

Most people here have no problem gaining wt but gaining muscle is a different matter.

Sounds like you're doing the rt thing to gain weight. All you have to do is combine that w/a,lifting program to build strength and muscle.

For beginners, I recommend Matk Rippetoe's "Starting Strength" program, which I prefer to Stronglifts that many people here also like. I've done both and think that SS is better but check them out and decide for yourself.

Good luck!

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concordancia

MDC2957 wrote: »

I see all these commercials on TV for nutrisystem and Jenny Craig. I think it's way harder to gain weight than it is to lose. Harder to eat more calories than it is to eat less!

It is just hard to change habits, not matter where those habits have landed you.

psychod787

uhh well... since you are a beginner, almost any workout that increases volume will work. Check out body building.com the furious 5 is a quick beginning bulking workout. To quote a professional, "whatever phase, cutting, bulking, recomp, always train for hypertrophy." Now power lifting is not independent of muscle gain, but higher volume lifting SEEMS to be better for muscle gain. Best wishes! Actually posted a mid level beginner session I am doing now based on James Kriegers work.

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MikePTY

Mexicangreensalsa wrote: »

118 is perfectly healthy for your height. Most people want to lose from 133 to where you used to be! Do you think you look better in the middle of a healthy weight? What benefits do you have from being heavier?

"Perfectly healthy" is a big oversimplification. Yes, a BMI of 19.0 is within the "normal" weight range, but at the low end of it. Most people cannot successfully and healthily sustain at it. It requires a very low maintenance calorie intake, for one reason. Additionally, different people reach their ideal weight at different levels across the BMI scale, and for most that is not considered the very low end. Most ideal weight calculators put the ideal weight for her height at 129-135, which is right where she is. Looking at her picture I can see why she was happy putting on 15 pounds and I can imagine than at 15 pounds less than that, she would not have felt very muscular. If someone feels that their ideal weight is the low end of a normal BMI, and they are able to maintain it successfully and healthily, that is great. But I certainly can also understand why someone would want to gain weight, especially muscle from that level.

lkpducky

pmack11 wrote: »

Oh here I am...at around 133 lbs

You look great!!

sgt1372

Gaining wt is no problem 4me. Gaining muscle is another matter.