recodeexistance Member

I'm starting to hit that phase of questioning just how much fat I'm willing to put up with, but I know that if I start cutting now, I won't be as big as I planned to be. Unless I need to start thinking about this as incremental cycles. 🤔

I've been gaining weight and muscle since December. I have to go out at the end of the week to replace a fair few of my clothes to a bigger size, for the first time since my teens. My favourite outdoor cargo shorts are skin tight on my legs!

Good job dude. Keep at it.

Nice. Might have to invest in a pull up bar on payday. And yeah, I've found the same.. most of the work is done in the kitchen, and i've been dying to get to the gym. 26th April can't come fast enough.

Watching your post with interest, great work on the persistence; seems to be half the battle. Good question with the cardio stuff, been starting to consider that again too. Have you found implementing pull ups has helped you much so far? I follow the SL5X5 program, but trying to add a bit extra mass to the chest and…

Sounds it, but I'm one of those dudes with really thin wrists etc haha. I'll definitely keep that in mind with the +20% BF, I may switch to a cut soon to get rid of a few of the stomach pounds and then switch back to bulking. I agree with 20 weeks of an aggressive cut being kind of daunting haha. Next goal is 13st, and…

I agree, I'm not in a huge rush. Just at the point of wondering if my fat gains are kinda overtaking my muscle gains and whether to adjust for that. And totally right about the 30kg, I know I'm going to plateau on it soon. Just awaiting my gym reopening from lockdown. BMI - If i'm being honest, I'm not entirely sure where…

Hi guys. Would anyone recommend cardio as a definite for running a bulk? I'm one of these guys that can quite easily go out and run miles, but I've tried to avoid it so far xD

I'm 5'7 or so, and yeah, preferably muscle would be good, but I'm willing for a little of it to be fat if need be.

That did the trick, thanks again.

Thank you, I'll have a look at doing that now.

Little late to the party here, but I started at 10 stone 7 in December so just 1 stone ahead of ya, and am now pushing towards 12 stone. Currently at 9 stone 7 11 stone 7. (I'm a wee bit older than you at 33 now, but the principle will be the same:) I've been a small guy for most of my life. Always lean, but never very…

hmm, posted this earlier from my phone but not appeared. ah well. Got the result from physio this morning. No long term injury, i have seriously strained the muscles of my lower back, which is shooting round and affecting my rib cage. 4 to 6 weeks of light stretching and I should have recovered enough to be back in the gym…

I work 8 hour rotating shifts weekly, so i'm pretty much the same. However, i enjoy late night working out for the peace of the gym. But it means i have to accept there will be some fatigue from my job. The whole eating late thing, not sure if that's a myth, but it's never bothered me to eat a large meal after gym, no…

Something i find, people think i'm being high and mighty when i turn down an unhealthy option offered lol.

Pretend whatever language they're calling you in, is one that you don't speak? :)

Okay thank you for the advice. I haven't been working out very long (4 months or so?) and i don't want to lose the progress i've made. I have been in a decifit the last couple of days due to a combination of a drink binge with a friend, and also just the irritation/sadness at not being able to work out lol. But, i'ma whip…

My thoughts - I hate that although I'm loving gaining weight and making myself more confident in my appearance, that i have to spend 90% of my life in the kitchen cooking to do so lmao.

RE; symettric strength. Very interesting site. How accurate is it considered? For my lifts (mainly all compounds atm, I'm considered untrained in all except bent-over row ((pendlay row?)), which i'm novice in. So chances are I can still make a lot of progress with a beginner LP ?

Thanks for the replies Ali and Chieflrg. I've visited my doctor, as it's since progressed to include severe lower back pain (can barely reach down to pull a sock on level of pain lol). I'll be seeing a physio tomorrow. I'll post in here again as to what the issue is, it may help other people in a similair situation.

Wow this thread really blew up. Sorry for the delayed response folks, i've been away from home for a couple of days. There's a LOT of good and informative info here, and I want to do the time you've all taken justice, so i've just finished work (10.30pm uk here), and i'll write up some responses tomorrow :) On a related…

Thanks Jseams and MmaPags, i think you've both convinced me. I do think I'd still class myself as novice/beginner in my weights compared to my own bodyweight, but I'm going to make the switch to PHUL, but lower the weights a little (like that transition deload you mentioned, Pags). I have no shame with starting light and…

I have two further related questions guys :) 1) Newbie gains. It's safe to say i'm still in that phase, and i've found it described as being newbie gains 'until you're no longer making linear progress from workout to workout'. Does this mean that I'm better 'spending' these newbie gains (couldn't think of a better way to…

About Medhi being DYEL, definitely. And don't get me wrong, his programme has been a great re-introduction to iron. (I'm an ex soldier who spent a lot of time in the gym not really knowing what i was doing and taking the gains i could get from that.) But, the small guy isn't interested in "i bet you're really stronger than…

Hey jseams, thanks for taking the time for an indepth answer. I've had a look at the PHUL method you've been following, and it seems like it may be something that appeals to me. A combination of power/strength alongside actual hypertrophy training could be what i'm looking for (heck, is it just me or searching "beginner…

Hi, the links provided are great. Also , i eat over 3k calories each day. Feel free to browse my food diary for ideas. Good luck. (ignore todays entries, im havin' a few beers lol.)

Yeah, i'm looking to bulk. Main reason i'm asking, is that i'm worried how quickly i'm gaining weight. I've been eating a surplus (mainly clean foods, the occasional takeaway/soda type stuff limited), along with lifting heavy in the gym (stronglifts 5x5.), and i've gone from 9 stone 9lbs to last weigh was 10 stone 9lbs in…

"Where all the Texans at" .... in Texas? xD

honestly, as ridiculous as this is going to sound - i don't eat much veg. i tend to go more with the multivitamin route for my micros lol

I understand the apprehension Tavistock, but that isn't really the case here. She's asked me to research for her, as she suffers severe social anxiety and would find this process very uncomfortable and disheartening. As stated though, i can understand the concern, and it's appreciated.