Does anyone here use myfitnesspal for gaining muscle?

CyrusMachin

Hi everyone, my name is Dave. I was using another app called "lose it" until I ran across this one. I love everything about it. From the macronutrient breakdown to the scanning feature...everything about it is great.

In any event, here's my story...I started dieting in April of this year @ 215 lbs and managed to get down to 183 lbs. I was eating about 500 calories below my maintenance calories and exercising 5 days a week. After trying a little bit of everything (High Fat/Low Carb, Low Fat/High Carb, etc), what I found worked for me was carb cycling. There are many different ways to carb cycle but the way I did it was by eating low carb for 3 days followed by one day of high carbs. The high carb day was in no way a "cheat day". It was just a way to replenish my system with more energy for the upcoming days workouts. I mainly ate alot of breads and cereals because they're low in fat. Anyway, after doing this for a few days, let me tell you...the pounds just started melting off. Apparently, the body, if deprived of too few carbs and calories goes into a state of starvation which sends a signal to your body to hold on to any bodyfat because it thinks "we're in trouble, better hold on to what we got cause it may be a while before our next meal". The way to trick your body into releasing this bodyfat is to eat. Carbohydrates to be specific. This sends another signal to your body that it's not starving therfore it's OK to release fat for energy. And this is no secret. Bodybuilders have known about this for years. Which brings me to my next point...I've gained so much more knowledge from bodybuilders than from the so called "experts" who happen to be doctors.

In any event, here are some of my particulars. My bodyfat went from 25% to about 10%. I'm 39 years old and my bodyfat has never been this low. I should note that I was in the Marines for four years and have always been athletic. In fact, I boxed as an amatuer for about 10 years and I'm in better shape now than I was back then. It turns out that besides a few adjustments in my exercise routine, my workouts weren't that bad, which by the way, is often the case for most people. The one thing that I believe changed my physique entirely was my diet.

Now that I've reached my goal, my new goal is to slowly put on about 10 pounds of muscle while maintaining my current body fat. Yes...I realize that the majority of people using this app are trying to lose weight but the great thing about this app is that it's great for tracking calories and macronutrients whether you're goal is to lose or gain weight.

LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo

One of my current goal right now is to develop more muscles. I'm stucked in the BF% of 25 & I want to have it lowered to 21 which is the healthy range.

CyrusMachin

Awesome! Since muscle burns fat it only makes sense to add some muscle if you're trying to lose weight. I wish you luck.

snookumss

I don't personally think that myfitnesspal is the best app for gaining muscle in particular. It seems very close-minded towards the muscle/dieting aspect. I can't suggest an alternative however, and I've found myfitnesspal to be extremely informative and supportive to the generalization of weight-loss.

In my situation, I am a very muscular woman and I know that affects my calories burned that MFP says I am supposed to burn, however I don't even know which way. All I know, is through the support and motivational atmosphere provided through MFP along with the easy-to-use calorie counting aspect, I have lost 10lbs since finding the app and using the site.

I wish that there were a better strength exercise system in MFP. An easier to use tracking system, maybe even a way to enter the calories we feel were burned during our weight lifting sessions. For weight-loss purposes, MFP is great, strength and muscular fitness, I'm not so sure.

LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo

Awesome! Since muscle burns fat it only makes sense to add some muscle if you're trying to lose weight. I wish you luck.

Thanks Although I'm what studies consider a mesomorph because I'm medium framed, kinda athletic & has muscular legs and biceps & I gain muscle & lose weight more easily but I don't understand why I'm stucked in the 25% BF range whenever I checked the body fat calculator or analyzer but I can see my bones already peeking out more on my body & many times I feel my bones bump especially my hip bones and somewhere near the glutes whenever I do crunches.

sinlow1980

I just started using it a few days ago to gain, and really like it a lot, in just 3 days its already help me in the tracking of my nutrients, love it.

CyrusMachin

@ JMDOrtega - I wouldn't pay too much attention to what the so called experts say about what's considered a healthy body-fat level. I pay more attention to what I see in the mirror and how I feel. Keep doing what you're doing. You look great!

CyrusMachin

@ Sinlow - good to see someone else is using it to gain muscle. Let me know if I could be of any help. Maybe we could exchange some meal ideas.

tgh1914

Yeah, there are a lot of us here trying to gain. I've been on this site for almost 3 years now. We're still far outnumbered by those losing, but as people get more educated and realize it's not continuously about doing cardio & losing weight, and that you have to eventually lift weights & gain muscle to get that look you want, we're seeing more gainers.

Welcome!

chrisdavey

I'm trying to gain at the moment. I'm doing leangains style intermittent fasting 16hr fast and 8hr eating window. Minimum 1g/lb protein, .45g/lb fat and fill the rest with whatever. Aim for maintenance on off days (lower carbs and higher fat) and +500ish on training days (higher carb and lower fat).

After losing weight, then eating at what I thought was maintenance it was interesting to see how much extra I really need to eat to put on weight and at the moment it is a good slow bulk. (6lbs in 6-8 weeks)