Fithealthyforlife Member

Yes, I do. I used to be really into this idea, too. But now I realize that the reason that some things happen isn't always a good reason. So I just stick to positive stuff when I say "everything happens for a reason".

Have you run into ill-informed healthcare professionals or nutritionists who have discouraged you from gaining weight with type I? Type II is in almost every family. I feel I can prevent it in myself by working out over a lifetime...but I still would like to know *how* people with type II who are underweight and want to…

Until yesterday I was set to active, plus eating back exercise calories, plus an additional 500-cal surplus each day, and it still hasn't been enough. After using this setting for months, I finally set a custom number yesterday. It's between the active and very active levels.

I've had a similar issue the past few weeks...in my case though, I'm constantly thinking about food and my next meal because it's been so hard to find the right intake to resume gaining again. And I think about all the things I need to do but haven't finished as well. I think it's just a phase that one has to pass through.…

I have the same situation with chest. In the past, that was the only area I'd ever make gains on, when I was eating a lot less. Doing stronglifts recently, it's been great though...you only bench once every 4 days at the most...and even then, it's not hypertrophy. So my pecs are flat now. Problem is, I'm having trouble…

How did I miss that part? You're so right though. OP probably needs more than she thinks.

I learned I'm not a good judge of how much I'm eating based on being hungry or full.

I firmly believe that when one is at an extreme (such as anorexic behavior or compulsive overeating) the mind tries to compensate every so often. It's hard to regulate a narrow caloric intake range...not just for people with eating disorders. For everyone. The reason is, we don't really know how much we're eating until we…

LOL. Here is Tate's serious advice for the average person though: http://www.t-nation.com/testosterone-magazine-641

Awesome! I prefer around the 60% range myself for hypertrophy. That said, I'm doing a strength program right now.

Yes. He's good. But not only that...he's very professional/polite. You can't say the same about some other people in the industry.

And one more thing... His primary goal needs to be to gain weight. Because he's so thin, that's the *only* way to build muscle. Every pound of muscle is going to be another pound added to the scale...no joke.

Btw, how'd you get 2050 for TDEE? Nevermind...I think I know...many online TDEE calculators seem to drastically underestimate caloric needs. I tried one once and got the same sort of result. There is honestly no way he could even maintain on 2050 a day unless he lays on a bed for hours. He surely eats quite a bit more than…

Speaking for calories... At 6'1 and 147, there is no way he's going to gain on 2700 calories. (It's doubtful.) Honestly, he should just focus on getting to 3000 calories over time...and use MFP to track it. He will probably need more like 3500 though. It can be hard to do this, especially if he's only eating, say 2500 a…

People always mention 80% of 1RM for hypertrophy. But that can take a lot out of ya...it's hard to keep progressive overload going like that. I say stick with strength or hypertrophy...or cycle between the two every few months. If you try to make a hypertrophy workout into a strength one or vice-versa you can do yourself…

Thanks. How far in advance do you do that?

I wasn't shouting. "hey" is like "hi". And I'm only on here so much right now b/c I can't work out today due to a tight shoulder so I'm using my time for fitness related stuff..helping other people and getting advice for myself.

For 5-7 lbs gain in 3.5 months, you had to be at least in a true 200 calorie surplus on average. Anyway, great job. How much bigger do you want to go? (A woman can never have too big/muscular a butt or thighs, imho).

We can definitely learn from each other. I was going too slow, you were going too fast...

Thanks. Well, considering when I started I was eating in the low 2000s (and losing LBM), my maintenance range is apparently wide. I may just bite the bullet and increase by a total of 200 more calories over the next week. I don't want to prolong this anymore. Proper meal spacing helps with getting it all in. Until…

Hey...she answered that right above your post!

That's the awesome thing about being female and small...you don't need many calories to bulk...and you don't even have to think about it in the beginning. Now as a guy, I've only gained about 8 lbs over the last few months...and have had to increase calories by 100 or so every couple of pounds. I have a thread further down…

That's really good progress for 3.5 months! (You were talking like you were someone stuck at the level of your first picture.) Great job! Did you intentionally bulk to achieve the muscle gain? I thought that other guy's request to see progress pics was going to scare you away...but no. You obviously know what you're doing…

Yeah, butt (no pun intended!) like anything else...the more you train that muscle, and if you eat extra calories and enough protein while doing so over months and years, you can increase the size of that particular muscle. It's not rocket science. That said, everyone has different proportions, and to get a big butt, some…

Another thing: It's all about progressive overload over time. The amount of weight that someone starts with may seem ridiculously light and easy to lift for 1000 reps (ok I'm exaggerating) for someone else. It's about increasing it over time...not how much you start out with in your first 6 months of working out.

Well, my goal is 0.5 to 0.8 lbs per week from this point forward and for the next few months. Still upping calories to find the optimal range. I'm pretty close now to the tipping point.

I read in studies that most of the change is due to LBM. I think very little is due to the fat itself compared to LBM. Most people lose substantial LBM when dieting...they simply don't lift weights.

And no one survives eating 20 lbs of raw vegetables a day either. I see some of my MFP friends who are vegan and happy...and I think to myself...I_ just_couldn't_ do_it! I'm actually eating mostly "clean" food at 3000-3500 calories right now. Not drinking any of my food either.

I get that. But it's not going to be a moving target *just* from eating more (assuming no gain for a week or two), right??? Sometimes it seems like that's how it's been. But I know what the real explanation for the slow gains is...thanks to you all.

Upped by 100 cal yesterday; weighed in the lowest I've been in the past 2 weeks this morning. A pound and a half less than yesterday. So...once I find the right calorie range to consistently gain 1/2 to 1 lb every week or so, I should just be able to eat that amount...and no longer have to increase by 100 calories every 3…