cant gain weight

[stinger70]

gained 6lb to 141lb without any problem. Absolutley cannot get any heavier than that. Have been hitting the gym 4 times a week, lifting heavy and working hard, can see some increase in muscle definition but no gains. Diet is easily 3000 calories per day, for the past 2 weeks been in a hotel and this is what ive eaten:

breakfast:

2 x sausages
2 x hash brown
2 x eggs
1 fried bread
baked beans
yogurt

lunch:

pasta snack (550 cals)
nuts and raisins
chocolate bar
banana

dinner:

soup, couple of bread rolls
4 x chicken breasts
big serving of pasta with cheese etc
carrots
mash potato

usually desert, often a double serving of fudge cake with cream.


It just isnt adding an ounce of weight. Going to get some protein powder and try adding another 500 cals by using that. Dont hold out much hope. frustrated

 

[scurvyfreedman]

How old are you?

 

[stinger70]

23

 

[Rugger]

Keeping adding calories until you see gain. Pretty easy.

 

[Lagrangian]

Increase calories and see what happens... it's not like you're in a huge rush to gain as much weight as humanly possible. Just adjust and experiment, somewhere along the line it's pretty much guaranteed you'll find an amount of cals that'll get you the gains you want.

Also, are you doing heavy compounds?

 

[stinger70]

not sure what heavy compounds are. Im working on upper body as thats where gains are most important. Lifting as heavy as i can for 5 sets of 5 on different machines, plus doing bodyweight exercises like dips and free weights for chest etc. Im really feeling the burn afterwards and it feels great i just cant understand why im not building at all. Ive reached the limit of what i can eat, will have to be liquid foods to get any higher calories.

 

[NorCal]

3000 Cal is not that much. If nothing else mix up some shakes. Or eat an extra rib eye everyday and drink **** load of milk and hard boil a few eggs.

Keep adding Cal and you WILL gain weight.

 

[Pilot]

Add a pizza and a gallon a milk on top of whatever you eat daily.

 

[Rugger]

Originally Posted by stinger70

not sure what heavy compounds are. Im working on upper body as thats where gains are most important. Lifting as heavy as i can for 5 sets of 5 on different machines, plus doing bodyweight exercises like dips and free weights for chest etc. Im really feeling the burn afterwards and it feels great i just cant understand why im not building at all. Ive reached the limit of what i can eat, will have to be liquid foods to get any higher calories.

That's assbackwards in more than 1 way. I wouldn't do more than 3 sets for two exercises on 1 major muscle group a day(chest, back, legs, shoulders). Anything more is OVERKILL and it's no wonder you aren't gaining weight.

Also, the best way to gain muscle THROUGHOUT the body is by working out your lower body. Doing squats and deadlift has been scientifically proven to raise testosterone more than any other exercise, by far.

 

[Lagrangian]

Originally Posted by stinger70

not sure what heavy compounds are.

Squat, deads, bench, press. If you're trying to gain, these are your best friends - **** machines and the like (if you're not injured).

 

[Jekyll]

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=126457

 

[asdf]

Originally Posted by stinger70

gained 6lb to 141lb without any problem. Absolutley cannot get any heavier than that.

1) Buy Starting Strength or Wendler's 5-3-1
2) Read choice above
3) Do program
4) Do not customize program
5) Keep doing program
6) Eat a ****-ton
7) Do not ask questions
8) Continue doing program
9) Buy size 17.5 shirts
10) .....
11) Profit

 

[stinger70]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=126457

ehh, basically doing everything in that thread except for reading the book. Eating plenty more than the calculations on their tell me i should. I've researched this well and been committed but just havent seen any improvement. Before i started on this diet i was lucky to eat 2000 calories most days as i just didnt bother to eat during the day. Adding 1000+ has GOT to make a difference

 

[asdf]

^If you are using machines and not using compound movements, you are not at all doing what is in that thread.

 

[virus646]

Stop arguing and just follow asdf's advice and what most people have already said. There's nothing much more to say really.