I *almost* gave up

__freckles__

I've been having some internal turmoil going on in my head. A couple of weeks ago I wanted to give up the whole bulking, counting calories and even lifting because I wasn't seeing the progress in my lifts that others on this website seem to have attained. I was feeling pretty low. I know - PATIENCE and also DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS! But I finally decided that I wasn't pushing myself hard enough and decided to increase the weight I was lifting from week to week in order to stimulate more muscle growth. I also increased my calories a few weeks ago and have finally started seeing the weight go up on the scale as well as in my lifts. So I got over that hurdle.

Now I'm freaking out because I've had to go up to a larger size in pants. I know - ACCEPT THE FAT GAIN! I am trying to overlook the bloat and accept the fact that in order to build muscle I have to accept that I will also gain fat.

Anyways, I've read other posts like this so I'm sorry if I sound redundant. Mad props to all you ladies. This bulking thing is not as easy as it looks.

sarahstrezo

No…it's definitely not easy. And it's a constant mind game you play with yourself. For me…I just committed to the time frame I set out and knew I'd be disappointed in myself if I quit early.
I mean…..what's the worst thing that happens, you put on a little bit of fat with some new muscle??? big deal…extra fat is not the end of the world and can always be cut off later.

JoRocka

it's hard. trust. it's harder than you think. I have a healthy relationship with food- and I'm all about ze gainz- but first it was nothing nothing nothing (remember this isn't a linear process) then it was BOOM- flabby tabby me.

le sigh.

it's not easy. if it was- we would all magically bulk by picking up 5 lb weights.

Remember the program is changable- no workout/diet police- but I would stick with it for at least a few more weeks- I found upping food and playing a little faster and looser with food gave me better results with lifting- which has encouraged me- I found it hard to get fat and squishy and not see gains- so I just pushed harder with the food.

Invest in stretchy pants.

Seriously.

And T shirt type dresses (hard this time of year) but anything with some give and drape- will go along way to making you feel better.

I can't wear ANY of my pants- I feel miserable in all of them- but stretchy pants- are winning. seriously. Go to wal-mart (if it isn't agains you ethically) and buy their 10 $ legging jean things. come in lots of colors- look great with drapey sweaters and stuff.

Will make a huge difference. I promise- nothing is worse than trying to squeeze into clothes that don't fit- it's just going to depress you. and make it worse. Go for the stretchy things

pandorakick

I second the stretchy pants vote!

SilentDrapeRunners

I'm having the same problem. It's definitely a mental hurdle. Since I first increased my calories significantly a couple months ago, I have definitely gotten more squishy/bloated. I've also become more ravenous and lethargic. So I'm really not a fan of the whole bulking/increased caloric intake thing (except for the fact I get to eat more treats And actually this week I've noticed weight LOSS (AND it's my week off from lifting- I take a week off every 8 wks). So I just upped my calories again today. Next week I'm really looking forward to hitting the weights hard, and I'm going to increase the intensity of my program.

So my thoughts are to just stick with it and see what happens. Luckily I've been working a lot the past couple months and thus I've been wearing scrubs & workout clothes pretty much exclusively. So I haven't had to face the jeans battle Oh, but actually I remember a nightmare I had last night- I couldn't fit into my jeans...it was horrible. But I'm sticking with it. How long are you going to bulk for? I'm thinking I'm going to bulk through the month of march and then do a short cut in April (maybe 3 or 4 weeks?) But I really haven't decided anything definitely yet...just seeing how it goes and see what other people think.

__freckles__

I'm having the same problem. It's definitely a mental hurdle. Since I first increased my calories significantly a couple months ago, I have definitely gotten more squishy/bloated. I've also become more ravenous and lethargic. So I'm really not a fan of the whole bulking/increased caloric intake thing (except for the fact I get to eat more treats And actually this week I've noticed weight LOSS (AND it's my week off from lifting- I take a week off every 8 wks). So I just upped my calories again today. Next week I'm really looking forward to hitting the weights hard, and I'm going to increase the intensity of my program.

So my thoughts are to just stick with it and see what happens. Luckily I've been working a lot the past couple months and thus I've been wearing scrubs & workout clothes pretty much exclusively. So I haven't had to face the jeans battle Oh, but actually I remember a nightmare I had last night- I couldn't fit into my jeans...it was horrible. But I'm sticking with it. How long are you going to bulk for? I'm thinking I'm going to bulk through the month of march and then do a short cut in April (maybe 3 or 4 weeks?) But I really haven't decided anything definitely yet...just seeing how it goes and see what other people think.

Thanks everyone. Fortunately I've kept all my old clothes so that's not a problem. It's just psychologically going back up a size that was hard to deal with. I also like the stretchy pants idea. I'm already wearing my workout clothes at home all the time and if I could wear them to work I would.

As far as how long I'm going to bulk? I think I'll bulk as long as I can stand it. I don't have a set timeline. I'm going to try for at least 12 weeks minimum and if I can go longer then I will.

jdaley90

Bulking is definitely hard, much harder than I thought it would be. I put my weight on REALLY quickly at the start and it seriously freaked me out. The first few weeks were definitely the hardest. It's really a mental game. It did seem to get easier though, I got used to being a sausage. I bulked for about 5 months and starting cutting on New Year Day. I couldn't handle it anymore. None of my pants fit! I have always been a dress nice kind of person, even at home! Now I'm a yoga pants and stretchy leggings/jeggings fiend. I actually don't log calories for most of my bulk. In hindsight I wish I had so I knew exactly how much I'd been eating however I also don't want to know how much I was eating lol.

Just remember that you can do this! Patience is key. Push yourself at the gym and the gainz will come. I personally let a computer draw up my routines for me and I think it helps because it pushes the weights up for me.

lilawolf

Yes, ignore other people's numbers. If I looked at them, I think I'd quit myself. In 2 weeks, I'll have been doing StrongLifts for 1 year, and my numbers are sad. Below are my working weights (meaning that I can't do the full 5x5). I lost a lot of progress with my rotator cuff flair up and subsequent 2 months off of lifting.

Body Weight: 140.4
Current bench press (5x5): 95 (high of 100)
Current squat (5x5): 110 (high of 120)
Current deadlift (1x5): 155 (high of 165)
Current OHP (5x5): 60 (high of 70)
Current barbell row (5x5): 80 (high of 90)

After a whole year. To be fair to myself though, I haven't successfully bulked during this time. When I did try, I gained a couple pounds right at the beginning. A lot of this, and you may be experiencing this as well was uncomfortably bloat type weight. Some of it was water retention and some of it was my digestive system not keeping up. That weight all went away after 5 weeks or so and I discovered that I had actually LOST weight. 2300 NET cals (27-2800 total cals per day). And NO that was not easy to eat that much. It was a bit of a let down to realize that it still wasn't enough.

I would focus on measurements, especially those around your thighs/hips rather than just your waist where that bloat may show up the most. Anyway, trust the process, push hard at those weights, and eat all the foods! Good luck!

HMVOL7409

Bulking is such a psychotic mind game. One day you are completely miserable, the next strong as hell and estatic and finally you'll have day you feel small, flat and upset the scale fluctuated downward. Keep pushing, focus on you and your goals and lean on others for support. That's what we are all here for!