The TFP Health Club

Ugh... Story of my life. Can't break 147lbs, and I'm like 145 right now. That is so frustrating after nearly a decade of working out and single-handedly bumping BodyBuilding.com's stock up by a few thousand dollars over that time. At least I'll never get fat, I guess.

 

Welp... Now I'm about to. Here's hoping. Thanks!

 

How much do you eat a day calorie wise? BB.com best feature is the forums, (except for misc), and you will gain more there than any sup you can buy. If you post there and post your diet they will tell you, you are not eating enough, which I would tell you as well. They have very good plans laid out there (that don't require extra cash).

That being said I'm almost out of whey protein, but I only use it for cutting, for weight gain eat real glorious food. In my dreams I would have been underweight when I started this rather than over. You know whats more fun than working out seriously for the first time in decades? Doing so while not eating much.

 

Hmm... It's such a double-edged sword any way you look at it. Be a mesomorph and you can grow to enormous proportions and build muscle to no end - but if you don't work out, you'll get soft and chunky. Be an ectomorph, and always be cut and never really have to worry about being fat, but bulking is slow and difficult and if you stop for just a week or two, BAM - you're right back to your original weight and square one. I don't know which one I'd rather be, honestly. I should get on the BB forums more I guess.

 

Speaking as a mesomorph, you are pretty well correct about it easily turning to flab. Also most women prefer thin, athletic dudes, so don't worry so much about bulking, unless you really want to be a bodybuilder. Those dudes spend way to much time thinking about diet, looking cut, and gym time. I have no idea how they have a life outside of the gym.

 

I'm guessing you are not tracking your calories so yea you need to do that, I personally feel I'm a ectomorph who likes to eat too much Once I got down in weight I realized I was a skinny guy under a lot of fat, which is why I started to work out. One of my brothers is just the opposite and has to force himself to eat to gain, much like you seem to be.

This I agree with, and being overly muscled impresses men far more than most women (some like it,but some like fat guys etc). There are limits though. Without knowing othersyde's height I can't be sure, but for me, at 185 at about 5'11.5" I look almost too thin in clothes. Naked I look good, and I'd like to lose another 5 or so. I've been actually yelled at by women I know who knew me before I lost weight that I'm "too skinny". Funny how thats ok but no one says you are too fat I always ask them when they do to guess my weight, they usually say 160ish, and when I tell them 185-190 depending on when this happens, they are usually kinda shocked and the last one said "oh, you must be all muscle then". Felt good

Diet isn't that hard to think about though, its actually very easy once you get it going. I've gotten good enough over the last few years that I can do a good job of "eye balling" calories. You don't NEED to eat chicken and rice with broccoli for the rest of your life, and you most certainly don't need to eat it at specific times. Diet is grossly over complicated by some lifters, and really doesn't matter at that level unless you are going on stage as a BBer.

 

I've seen the vids of bodybuilder's diets and lifestyles ( the pros, not the usual gym rats ) and it's tiring just watching them cook and pack their daily rations. It's far and above just counting calories, which I half-ass with the help of myfitnesspal.

Dudes do tend to watch me more in the gym. If only the ladies liked beef as much... Oh well, it's how I was born, for the most part.

 

I'm a IIFYM kinda guy myself. As long as I'm getting enough protein and enough fats, I don't care where it comes from. When I'm REALLY trying to cut though, and want the fastest progress I will make all my own food. You kinda have to as you can't trust packaging which can be up to 20% wrong legally (and is often worse, not well regulated), and you can't trust restaurants which are basically on the honor system to be accurate in their calorie counts. Being I learned how to cook pretty well its not hard for me to make good food thats simple to make without taking too long.

 

Can't argue with that. I know I lose more weight when I cook at home, even when my portions are kinda big.

 

In the Day to Day thread, I advocate weighing yourself every day.

Here's how it has worked for me. The red line is the 7-day average.

Full disclosure: I am 6 feet 3 inches tall.

 

I'm 5'7" and about 145lbs. I have defined musculature without clothing, but once I put clothes on, I look scrawny too. -_-

For a year or so (about 2 years ago) I didn't work out at all and ate terribly, and gradually came to weigh in at about 148-149lbs, with crawny arms and a little bit of a belly pudge. It took an entire year of incredibly unhealthy lifestyle to gain those 3 or 4 pounds, and when I decided to reverse it I just bought a few 4-packs of Lean Shakes from GNC which served as breakfast alongside a bottle of Propel water each morning, I switched to egg whites and low-fat everything (mayonaise, butter, coffee creamer, Splenda instead of sugar, turkey bacon, etc.) ate lighter meals, and a few other things. And in literally a week and a half (including four sessions of running some cardio on the treadmill for 10 minutes or so) I had completely reverted back to 144lbs with no body fat to speak of. All it took was a week and a half. About 10-11 days. I've been working out steadily and taking supplements ever since, and I've put on a little bit of... I don't want to say size because I'm really not any bigger and still only weigh 145lbs or so, but my bodily proportioning and composition have changed a bit - meaning I actually have something that could be referred to as "pecs" and "triceps." Still no real bulk though. It's also true that the only time I ever counted calories was when I was trying to lose the belly weight though, so I guess I should try and use it for the exact opposite purpose. Top sirloin steak is great for putting on some weight right?

 

*scrawny. scrawny arms, not crawny arms. Is English your first language, Merlini..?

Is anyone else completely dumbfounded by my post? Is it actually just jibberish or something..?

 

It was a bit run-on but I think I got it.

Basically to gain weight you just need to up ( cleanly ) the calories. Fat is not taboo ( in food ), so don't think you have to have your food low-fat. It should be balanced.

Having said that, remind me of how you work out.

For funnies sake, Stuart McRobert is not universally lauded by the muscle set: 10 Reasons Stuart McRobert Can Go Fuck Himself | Muscle and Brawn

 

That article was amusing, but I have to disagree with a lot of it. The protein levels for example has been scientifically proven, its not just some guys opinion.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pe_qX_500vk/TvKJgaBPK2I/AAAAAAAACMc/cQFXC1oa8xs/s1600/jamie+b%2526w.jpg

Thats apparently the authors picture, and I'd bet a lot of money hes on gear (roids).

 

I know what gear is, heh. ( I did say for funnies sake ) The point is that the guy isn't respected, at least universally. He's got a lot of fan-boys. Anyway, I've read many and many a guys opinion on protein levels needed, but very little actual scientific study about what athletes need, especially strength athletes. Most of the guys talking lower levels are the skinny, hard gainers somehow... The same guys who always tend to guess bigger people are on gear. ( sometimes they are right )

Now you've made a blank assertion that it's proven, about protein levels he ascribes, any links to said proof? Proof that athletes only need said amount, not general population...

 

link

Note this doesn't apply if you are on anabolics of course, such as the author of that bro-rant. The BB.com recommendations from users NOT the site itself are as follows...

Its a bigger issue while cutting since your body may need to break muscle down for basic function. You have less to worry about while bulking.

 

Nice article, being that there is only the chance of dehydration and having to drink more water from a higher protein diet, I don't see the need to tell people who want more, to eat less. Even if it doesn't help in muscle building, it doesn't hurt. McRoberts kinda goes the other way on that. [Edit: having looked at some folks critiques of McRobert's suggestion of 0.8 gm per pound of bodyweight, saying it's not enough. They are usually comparing his 0.8 to the 1.5+ but the 1.5+ is for kg of bodyweight, so it seems to even out to that. ]

Assuming someone is on gear because they look a certain way is disingenuous at best. Most competitive lifters are on, and are pretty honest about it (my guess is all, but I don't know for sure). Most bodybuilders also fit that profile. Even 'natural' bodybuilders ( not all ) will cycle in and out a few times, and quit just in time for testing... Surf the boards a while and you will see who is and isn't really a natural. Testing clean is a whole big dollar industry of it's own. Wanna sell some clean pee?? yeck, no wonder I don't compete

Having said that, I know plenty of big, strong guys who lift near elite who have never been on gear. They don't compete because without the gear they can't match the lifts and recovery of gear-heads, even in the tested federations (ironic?). That's competitive sports for ya.
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I'm not a fan of crossfit, but: 25 Pictures Of Fit And Hot CrossFit Women | Muscle and Brawn

 

I want to have beer with you!