Looking to gain muscle

[amj]

I'm skinny with a little muscle. I want bigger, solid muscle. I have been lifting weights for years but you wouldn't be able to tell if you saw me. They say eat a lot and lift weights. That worked but I gained a little gut along the way so I lost weight and the so-called muscle. Now I'm back at square one.

You know how some people have bodies where you can touch them and it feels likes solid muscle? That's what I want. I don't need to be huge; just a little more muscle is all I want for now. Any suggestions?

[SmellyOrc]

There's 5 threads on that on the first 2 pages in this section. Take your pic.

[Orecle]

Originally Posted by amj

I'm skinny with a little muscle. I want bigger, solid muscle. I have been lifting weights for years but you wouldn't be able to tell if you saw me. They say eat a lot and lift weights. That worked but I gained a little gut along the way so I lost weight and the so-called muscle. Now I'm back at square one.

You know how some people have bodies where you can touch them and it feels likes solid muscle? That's what I want. I don't need to be huge; just a little more muscle is all I want for now. Any suggestions?

for motivation and knowledge of what it takes read an article called cycle for pennies by doggcrapp (yes that is the correct name) and read just about any article written by him

look for an ebook by a guy named anthony ellis. read it digest it and do absolutely everything it says to the letter.

you can find both of these by googleing

[Coffeesmurf]

Try checking out Build Muscle & Lose Fat Through Strength Training | StrongLifts.com. I've designed my own strength training program using the principles there - had to adjust some of the exercises to suit my unique (read: injury prone) anatomy. It's simple, hard - and effective. The program is based on basic, full body exercises and there's a lot of info about diet as well.

[James81]

What kinds of stuff are you eating to try and gain muscle?

[Maximus]

Have you tried a creatine? I was told that it helps to gain muscles and it's totally sage in means of health.

[Brutha]

How often do you lift weights and how much?

You know how some people have bodies where you can touch them and it feels likes solid muscle?

That doesn't only depend on the amount of muscle that you have but also on your body tonus.

[amj]

I've tried all sorts of routines. I work out almost every day. Some days I'll stick to a specific routine and other times I'll stray away from it. I used to like to lift heavy because I would get a little stronger. My muscles grew but so did my stomach. Then I started eating less, lifted lighter and lost weight, strength and muscle. My goal to develop firm muscles all around especially on my triceps.

[amj]

Originally Posted by James81

What kinds of stuff are you eating to try and gain muscle?

I eat pretty healthy and I don't eat all that much. I usually eat something small for breakfast such as nuts or cereal. For lunch I might eat a bagel or something with bread, and for dinner I usually have a dish with chicken in it.

[James81]

Originally Posted by amj

I eat pretty healthy and I don't eat all that much. I usually eat something small for breakfast such as nuts or cereal. For lunch I might eat a bagel or something with bread, and for dinner I usually have a dish with chicken in it.

Well, that's probably your issue. I can't fault you for eating healthy, but in order to build muscle, you're going to have to give your body something to actually MAKE the muscle. Upping your protein intake is a good start.

[ginkgo]

Plant foods contain thousands of phytochemicals. They have identified over 900 of them. A phytochemical is a chemical in plants that create a certain effect on the body like lycopene in tomatoes or resveratrol in grapes.

Both of the above help to prevent cardiovascular problems and cancer. So if you have a problem with blood sugar, do not take the above. Take cinnamon. The MHCP in it works like insulin.

So just take the herbs or plant foods or botanicals or whatever you like to call them that help to build muscles like dong quai, suma, maca, muira puama, eleuthero (formerly Siberian ginseng) that is used by Russian athletes or Chinese yam.

If you are constipated, eat some prunes.

[Self Help Junkie]

Pushing ur muscles to limit + protein powder right after work-out should do the trick.

[Orecle]

Originally Posted by amj

My muscles grew but so did my stomach. Then I started eating less, lifted lighter and lost weight, strength and muscle.

Problem 1

Originally Posted by amj

I eat pretty healthy and I don't eat all that much. I usually eat something small for breakfast such as nuts or cereal. For lunch I might eat a bagel or something with bread, and for dinner I usually have a dish with chicken in it.

Problem 2

Originally Posted by James81

Well, that's probably your issue. I can't fault you for eating healthy, but in order to build muscle, you're going to have to give your body something to actually MAKE the muscle. Upping your protein intake is a good start.

Solution for both your problems


Amj

understand something before you lift a dumbell

Eatting is 75% of bodybuilding. i can put you on a program from the Lord himself, if you do not eat, you do not grow. Its like putting water in a porsche, or 95ron petrol in an aeroplane.

learn to eat for your goal. going on a proper bodybuilding diet is not going to kill your health. I have a feeling if you went on a proper bodybuilding diet for 6 mths your gains will astound you.

part 2. only the genetically gifted can put on muscle at the fastest rate and maintain a lean physique.

Want a one way ticket to gaining zero muscle?

chase the 2 rabbits of muscle gain and fat loss at the same time

fat loss is far easier and quicker than muscle gain.

to lose 20lbs of weight can take 2 - 3 mths with a disciplined diet and cardio.

putting on 20lbs of muscle takes years.

the solution is concentrate on putting on muscle, and keep the fat loss to a minimum by cutting carb consumption 5 hrs before bed and low intensity cardio ie fast walk, for 5 days a week. but eat like a mad man 5 - 6 times a day.

when people say they eat alot its very subjective.

I am bulking up and i easily as a minimum eat 5 times wat you eat daily. I dont think you understand just how much food is important for performance

study bodybuilding nutrition. this should take a couple hours. go to bodybuilding.com or tnation

and post your planned diet on the forum so others can critique

[amj]

I used to eat a lot and lift weights. It seemed that my muscles grew but I noticed my body fat increasing. I know some people who have much more muscle and low body fat. Ideally, that's what I would want. I want an athletic muscular body, but I don't want to be sluggish or slower.

I can't deny the importance of food but I think the routines are pretty important. Finding a routine that works has been the biggest challenge. I have tried all kinds of routines. I have lifted heavy, lifted light, took days off, took no days off, etc. I have done just about everything so I am confused as to what really works best.

[James81]

Originally Posted by amj

It seemed that my muscles grew but I noticed my body fat increasing.

This is a fairly common issue among weight lifters/bodybuilders.

The age old connundrum of how to build muscle without adding fat has plagued lifters forever.

The solution? Here are a couple:

1. Choose to remain how you are and just stay in great physical shape and continue to eat well and learn to accept your body for what it is.

NO? Ok, the other one...

2. Add the muscle. Lift the weights and increase your protein. If you notice body fat increasing, take note of it but don't let it stop you from putting on that muscle. Make sure you incorporate plenty of cardio into your routines (if you are lifting 2-3 days per week, you should be walking/jogging 2-3 days per week) to keep body fat at a minium. Once you reach your desired muscle mass, remove your focus from building muscle to maintaining it and center more into a cardio/fat-burning routine.

[liamona]

Originally Posted by Orecle

the solution is concentrate on putting on muscle, and keep the fat loss to a minimum by cutting carb consumption 5 hrs before bed and low intensity cardio ie fast walk, for 5 days a week. but eat like a mad man 5 - 6 times a day.

Would you recommend this for women too? I recently started using kettle bells. It seems like my low carb diet is inadequate for the amount of work it takes (I used to eat around 30~50 grams daily).

But when I eat more carbs, the same problem occurs (sweets cravings) that led me to LC dieting in the first place.