about how much?

Iv been doing weight training (trying to build as much muscle as possible)

Im 5'6" male and 19yrs old

I go to the gym 6 or 7 days a week

My question is about how many calories should i be taking in,  I dont count but i do check what i eat so i have a general idea

   Thank tou

Since you're still technically a "teen", use this site to figure out what you need to eat just to maintain your weight: http://www.kidsnutrition.org/bodycomp/bmiz2.h tml

To gain a pound of muscle  each week, eat 500 calories over your "maintenance" allotment and make sure you lift some heavy weights. :] But remember, rest days are important.

well hun you need to eat a good amount. The good thing is you have chosen to start at just the right time! You're young enough to where you are still growing... men grow for quite some time, so please whatever you do DO NOT MESS UP! lol. By this I mean try to cut out caffiene, alochol, smoking, make sure to take good multi-vitamins, drink milk (1 or 2% because you are still young, and also bc you want to gain weight), get adequate rest, and don't do steroids.

This will get you on the right path, keep in mind most body builders started around your age and didn't really reach their "permormance" levels until their late 20's, so keep that in mind when you get frustrated and want to give up; or heaven forbid go to roids. Trust, while it works, it will lead to some seriously crazy problems.

Some things I used to cook for my bf when he was your age trying to bulk were: Egg white omelettes w/ steak, chicken, or salmon (at least one at night, but usually in the morning he would have 6 egg whites hard boiled, and 1 whole egg hard boiled) and along with oatmeal every morning. Granted he was 6ft 1 so he needed more food. Another thing: INVEST in a crock pot!! Those are a great way to cook healthy, clean foods that are great to pack on healthy pounds. I love to make Jambalaya, Corn Beef & Cabbage, and Creamy Chicken, and Swiss Steak. Check out some of my recipes. lotsa stuff labled "Eric's jambalaya" or eric's whatever... it's all natural ingredients and it's easy to make (throw stuff in a pot and leave it sit for 10+ hours)

Protein shakes are a must as well.

G'luck to ya!

Malyanda, your bf is a lucky guy to have someone cook for him like that, so i guess im on the right track with food, i just have to pick up some protien stuff then,  and no roids for me, im all natural and dont like "cheating"   plus i like my "parts" the way they are  and have heard that roids makes "parts" shrink  =]

if you are weight training more than 4 days a week you're never gonna build up that muscle because its never getting the opportunity to repair

when a muscle repairs after lifting it gets bigger. so rest if vital in a weight training program. 7 days is not necessary at all. three days a week is ideal, or even 4 days a week with 2 days of lower body and 2 days of upper body.

this forum is terrible to ask fitness questions on because the majority of the ppl on YCC are incredibly dense when it comes to lifting. you'll get some far more helpful responses on the fitness forum, as well as more ppl who tell you that you work out too much. lol.

System,

The shrinking part really isn't that true, but there are like 200+ kindsa steriod like or based drugs out there so I am sure some of them do that.

For your protein, try to make sure to get around 2g per lb of lean body mass. I take in about 140g per day (about 1.5g per lb of lean body mass). How I manage it is unreal. lol. Anyhow, if you want some good shake ideas check around online or check my recipes... there's a "weight gainer" shake that'll fill you up and is rediculously yummified! (Chocolate whey powder,  cooked oatmeal, banana, and little bitta walnuts.) wow, it's amazing, high in cals, high in protein, and good MUFA's (which help you actually digest and utilize your protein).

Mercy is right, recovery is key to building muscle (so says the idiot like me who lifts 3 days a week, and has 3 days of cardio a week and never sleeps). You need lotsa sleep. I take naps whenever I can (or whenever I can get out of the kitchen/off the computer).

And yes, you should pick yourself up a girlfriend! lol! Preferably an Italian, Greek, or Latin woman... they love to cook . Eat, Sleep, and make sure to take in adequate supplements. Check out a million an one websites too... Mercy is right about that also, this isn't the best website for lifters.

Maybe ask Melkor too... he's the lifting guru around here

well i know this isnt the greatest site for weight lifting but i didnt like the "weight lifting" sites, filled with to many junkies and what not, as for the rest thing i should have been alittle more descriptive, what i actually do is 7 days of works outs ( different groups each day) then 3 days rest then another 7 days, rinse repeat, iv also found that for me this schedule works well for me, i see plenty of gain for me, i average 3lbs a week ( weights after the 3 days of recovery) of weight gain which in my eyes id plenty for me so im not gonna fix whats not broken =]   Ill def have to check out your  recipes, =] actually im rather happy, i just got a gf today but shes french and i have no idea about her cooking so =]