Anybody trying to GAIN weight?

damonmath

I am planning a gradual gain after June. The plan is 250 calories over goal per day along with Heavy weights. This will add about 1.5 pounds per month of LEAN MASS... no grow and shrink, just a steady muscle gain... I'm not a fan of gain and lose, gain and lose... It's a rough way to eat. I like consistent and efficient.

I also must say that the foods I eat are also VERY lean as well. I don't just eat anything, it has to fit my plan.

cacrat

To the OP, I'm not sure what Damon is describing, but I'm guessing he's on a different kind of diet plan. But the basics of it are that you cannot eat an excess of calories and gain weight, without gaining fat. It would be amazing if our bodies worked that way, but unfortunately it doesn't. There are certain "tricks" to get your body to gain and lose at (relatively) the same time, but it takes a VERY controlled diet, usually a cyclical one.

JMuzzy

i wish! my husband is.... cmuzzy

good luck!

michelle4271

you can try COMPLETE MASS 600 its a weight gainer that we use for our son, each scoop is 200 cals (use 3 for the full 600 obviously) with the 3 scoops protein I believe is 50g

we get it at a nutritional store, "perfomance nutrition" but I know it can be found online, and I think the large jug is somewhere around $50 or so.

ganesha303

To the OP, I'm not sure what Damon is describing, but I'm guessing he's on a different kind of diet plan. But the basics of it are that you cannot eat an excess of calories and gain weight, without gaining fat. It would be amazing if our bodies worked that way, but unfortunately it doesn't. There are certain "tricks" to get your body to gain and lose at (relatively) the same time, but it takes a VERY controlled diet, usually a cyclical one.

Respectfully, I disagree with this. I know a lot of body builders approach their diet with "bulking" and "cutting" phases. But you do not have to do this. I have been on the Stronglifts strength training program (stronglifts.com) for several months combined with a high protein diet. I have added significant muscle mass and shed fat (from 23% to 16% BF). Forget the roller coaster dieting, get under a barbell and eat lots of protein.

BflSaberfan

My fiance is, he is eating about 3800 calories a day (6'4 185lbs) and he is VERY active, football, basketball and Insanity program now. It does get expensive but he is pretty much eating the calories I cut so for right now its been evening out.

bmontgomery87

Respectfully, I disagree with this. I know a lot of body builders approach their diet with "bulking" and "cutting" phases. But you do not have to do this. I have been on the Stronglifts strength training program (stronglifts.com) for several months combined with a high protein diet. I have added significant muscle mass and shed fat (from 23% to 16% BF). Forget the roller coaster dieting, get under a barbell and eat lots of protein.

This works in certain situations
High bodyfat percentages: It's easy to cut fat and add muscle when your bodyfat is that high
New to lifting: Your body is gonna build muscle for the first year or so, even if your diet isn't great, and even if you're losing fat
Steroids: Not gonna get into the science, you can look it up. (Don't know if discussion is allowed on these boards.)
Perfect Diet: I feel like you can continue to manipulate your body composition with a really good diet, but most people don't take the time to do this.


It's faster to just pack on the mass while bulking, and then cut it out later. Thats why pro bodybuilders go that route. It's the most efficient if you don't mind being a little chunky for part of the year.

End6ame

To the OP, I'm not sure what Damon is describing, but I'm guessing he's on a different kind of diet plan. But the basics of it are that you cannot eat an excess of calories and gain weight, without gaining fat. It would be amazing if our bodies worked that way, but unfortunately it doesn't. There are certain "tricks" to get your body to gain and lose at (relatively) the same time, but it takes a VERY controlled diet, usually a cyclical one.

Respectfully, I disagree with this. I know a lot of body builders approach their diet with "bulking" and "cutting" phases. But you do not have to do this. I have been on the Stronglifts strength training program (stronglifts.com) for several months combined with a high protein diet. I have added significant muscle mass and shed fat (from 23% to 16% BF). Forget the roller coaster dieting, get under a barbell and eat lots of protein.

Love it! I too and a StrongLifter

ganesha303

Respectfully, I disagree with this. I know a lot of body builders approach their diet with "bulking" and "cutting" phases. But you do not have to do this. I have been on the Stronglifts strength training program (stronglifts.com) for several months combined with a high protein diet. I have added significant muscle mass and shed fat (from 23% to 16% BF). Forget the roller coaster dieting, get under a barbell and eat lots of protein.

This works in certain situations
High bodyfat percentages: It's easy to cut fat and add muscle when your bodyfat is that high
New to lifting: Your body is gonna build muscle for the first year or so, even if your diet isn't great, and even if you're losing fat
Steroids: Not gonna get into the science, you can look it up. (Don't know if discussion is allowed on these boards.)
Perfect Diet: I feel like you can continue to manipulate your body composition with a really good diet, but most people don't take the time to do this.


It's faster to just pack on the mass while bulking, and then cut it out later. Thats why pro bodybuilders go that route. It's the most efficient if you don't mind being a little chunky for part of the year.

I agree with this if body building is your goal. And I would consider dietary roller coasters if I were not getting great results doing what I am doing, or wanted to get to 10%BF. I am content to get stronger and thinner at the moment.

cacrat

You don't have to agree with it, its simply a matter of time until your body will fight back against your diet. If you are on a static daily caloric diet, there is no way to gain muscle and lose fat simultaneously. As bmontgomery said, unless you have a high amount of body fat, are new to lifting (seems like both apply to you), or engage in a cyclical caloric diet, you won't gain muscle and lose fat at the same time. While I applaud your ability to do it now, and I hope you take full advantage of the opportunity. However, your body will reach a somewhat equilibrium point and will try to fight against your diet. People with average weight, and have lifted before, (this will be you eventually) have to go through bulking and cutting diets in order to gain muscle and lose fat. If you want the science behind it, either look it up, or PM me.

Regardless, keep up the hard work!

bmontgomery87

^^Great reply.

I enjoyed the benefits of gaining muscle while losing fat for a while. I dropped from 160ish to 145, but had put muscle on during that time. Now I'm leveling out. I feel like I'm still able to gain a small amount of muscle while cutting minimal fat at this point (almost a year into lifting). But its definately becoming harder to do so, even with decent nutrition.

Plus it goes so much faster if you just bulk and cut within reason. I'll look fine bulking to 170 this winter, might get a little soft, but by next summer I should hopefully be a lean 160 or so. If I just ate clean and kept lifting, I don't think I'd get over 155 by next year.

codymham

This is like having you guys think the whole process out for me. I think I'm going with the bulk/cut thing.

And steroids. Lots and lots of steroids. Specifically because I'm also trying to grow a nice set of b's. I might shoot for c's... more to grab that way.

The second part may or may not be a joke.