Anyone else here trying to put on weight?

Far from wanting to join the extending list - but - Hovi5's advice is soundish.

The thing that is bugging me about this is that if you are feeling bloated and not actually wanting to consume this much then it's often a signal from your body that you don't actually need that much.

Don't consume to train, train to raise your consumption - to a degree.

I would advise you cut your current intake by about 30%, but seriously look to your training regime. You will probably feel better (bloated gut wise) and therefore train better.
The human body is not used to excess - you need to make it demand more fuel rather than overload it and hope it will use it all.

It may seem to feel like you are remaining static for a while - but soon enough your body will start to demand more intake without bloating out. It's at this point that you raise both - intake and exercise.
Just always keep the training one step beyond the food until you reach you goal.

As fr your training regime - if you are looking at bulk then you need to concentrate on anaerobic rather than aerobic.
So light and gentle warm up and cool down with a heavy training session in the middle.
Don't be afraid to take all evening in one session with plenty of rest periods between sets - don't cool down, but really give yourself the chance to 'return to peak' as much as possible between each set. Then really push each one for a maximum result.

Look to increase weight rather than reps or sets.

Oh yeah - if you want to know where the experience of a skinny wretch like me comes from - I'm dredging it up from when I was 18, and at 7st 10lb could benchpress over twice my own bodyweight (220lbs) for most of the evening without any trouble.
Bit of a freak, I had the strength but little evidence of actual bulk - perfect for powerlifting which is scored on a lifted weight/body weight ratio.

Then I bust my leg and the serious training took too much of a hit to recover from. I can still bench more than my housemate though - much to his embarassement as he kinda trains and I haven't bothered for years.

As a former weight training coach and fitness instructor and married to a rather well qualified lady of the same but infinitely more successful background, I have to say that I think you are going about it all the wrong way. Forget all this about calories that will come automatically just make sure your not hungry!! Dump all these notions about additives, if you can't achieve by good training and balanced diet from everyday food - don't do it unless you want to die young. (Yes Arnie did take steroids and has suffered)

Unless you abuse your body (and suffer as a result) or take steroids (or any drug supplement - in which case you would be stupid) and risk losing your bits then you can only physically build a limited amount of muscle in any given time period.

Load bearing exercise e.g. weight training will build muscle of course but be sure you do your cardio exercise too to keep your heart up to speed. As long as you eat the RIGHT stuff worry no more as believe me you will eat enough.

Piling on excess protein and calories will only make you fat and poo (your body can only build so much at a time and any excess protein either settles as love handles or disappears down the loo) unless you can match the training to suit. can you train for 3 or 4 hours a day, twice a day?

Sorry to be blunt but I have seen some scary stuff based on these theories of eating millions of eggs and steak for breakfast etc.

If you want let me know exactly what training facilities you have such as equipment, weight limits etc and what, if any, instruction you have had with free weights (these can be lethal) and machines etc. Be honest about what you wish to achieve and I'll get the missus to do you a program. You must be realistic about what you want to get and in what time frame.

if you train properly you won't damage anything. Excess training is dangerous of course - never train hungry, always drink water (room temp best) stop if you feel light headed etc etc. And you must have rest days.

I know body builders of the old school that swear by protein powders and so on (I think its rubbish - its up to you - just be careful bud - really

I used to be half the size of many in my (ex gym) but could still out do most of em and I only ate normally.

Well that should stir a few feathers

Try to eat alot more before you go to bed because one protein drink won't see you though till morning. Low reps and heavy weight is the way to increase muscle strength and size. If you can perform more than 8 reps then it's time to add on more weight. Doing more than 8 reps is increasing muscle endurance, not size. Also you should change your training regime every four to six weeks to stop your muscles from getting into a routine. Drink lots of water and never allow yourself to get hungry. Best of luck to you. I used to lift but recently I stopped altogther and have practically wasted away. Starting again was supposed to be my new year's resolution, but so far no good

Originally Posted by Triumphumphumph

As a former weight training coach and fitness instructor and married to a rather well qualified lady of the same but infinitely more successful background

Sorry to be blunt but I have seen some scary stuff based on these theories of eating millions of eggs and steak for breakfast etc. scary stuff ???



I know body builders of the old school that swear by protein powders and so on (I think its rubbish - its up to you - just be careful bud - really i think some people think that protein powder is some sort of "magic potion" but is a good souce of protien
.

Well that should stir a few feathers

Originally Posted by hovi5

Mind you, you can do little better than ensuring you have a few slices of Hovis in yer diet!

Originally Posted by Triumphumphumph

Mind you, you can do little better than ensuring you have a few slices of Hovis in yer diet!

WHOLEMEAL IS BEST

Originally Posted by hovi5

WHOLEMEAL IS BEST

Is that because its nutty?

Originally Posted by rubberduckofdeath

Cheers guys, this is good stuff - anyone else want to add anything?

Yeah! Get off your skinny little **** and do some exercise and stop sitting at your PC writing about it!

Seriously though don't forget Body Types which is very often overlooked which still plays an important part. Ie: Endomorphic, Ectomorphic and Mesomorphic.

Originally Posted by DanDare

Endomorphic, Ectomorphic and Mesomorphic.

The only Morph I know:

Many moons ago when i was playing rugby and training 4/5 times a week i wanted to put weight on, within 4 months i'd went from 14stone to 17 stone with, no steroids, no fancy additives, no muscle gain,weight gain bollox.
I found the more you train the more hungry you get, yeah i ate some of the hi protien foods but not allday every day.#
One thing i did have every morning was:

Half pint of milk, 3 scoops of porridge oats, 2 bananas, 2eggs all liquidised....too make it taste better i used to put in half a pack of angel delight ( butterscotch )
That in its self is a meal.

Don't go down the chemical route, only leads to trouble
Avoid creatine due to the water consumption your supposed to take with it, it can knacker your kidneys.

And last but not least when you get to your desired weight keep up the traing or you'll turn into a cat funt like me