Weight Gaining Men

An open discussion for the trials and tribulations for our struggle to gain weight.

I am 22 years old, 5'10" and 172 lbs. I want to get to about 190 lbs.

I'm wondering if anyone has heard of muscle memory? Where if you were a certain size, you can get back to it easier if you've dropped weight.

 

Supplements? What do you think? What have you tried?

I thought muscle memory had more to do with a repetitive action... eg. playing piano chords or changing gear in a car?   I think your body can get to a 'natural' weight, however.  I remember hitting the weight I am now about 20 years ago.  I've lost weight and gained weight since but always seem to end  up at the same level.

I'm not a fan of supplements for weight-gain as I think you get better nourishment from real food.   And if you retrain your eating habits at the same time you'd be less likely to slip back where you were. 

I am 29 y.o. male and gaining weight has been the hardest thing I've ever done. I don't know about muscle memory but I can definetly talk about supplements. I've tried almost everything and the only thing I've found useful is whey protein and that is if you use it properly as a supplement. That is, you use it along with eating properly to help boost your overall protein intake. If you go shopping in a supplement store, STAY AWAY from weight gainers, ignore any crap the sales person tells you, they are terrible and don't work. The key component of gaining weight is nutrition. You have to change your diet and eat your calories, but in a healthy manner. Another secret ingredient is strength training. If you're gaining weight, might as well gain muscle right? lol.. here's a link to a fantastic workout that was written for us skinny guys, http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/vinced3.htm And that's another huge mistake I've made, I used to use workouts that were written by hulking bodybuilders... anyways. Oh another supplement I just got is GreensPlus because I have a hard time getting in my veggies :)

I understand what you mean about your natural weight, mine used to be 160, but through months of training and getting as high as 190, i settle out at 173 or so. Do you think since i was at 190 before, i'll get to it faster this time?

 

The problem with just using nutrition, is in order for me to have enough calories from whole foods, i would need to carry around a backpack full of food all day. I take weight gainers and they help out alot. I like them better than whey because they are full of calories so right after a workout i can fill my protein window and makeup more calories. I realize whole foods are much better, but making 5-6 meals a day that add up to 2800 or so calories is hard.

I can understand that but you know, I'm on 6 meals and 3034 cals per day with whole foods and some whey protein so it's definetly possible. Alot of people here are even higher without any whey to help. It's just picking the right calorie dense foods for each meal. So if you ever reconsider about whole foods, just know its possible and not too hard

ak604,

What is a normal nutritional day for you? And how much is your food bill?

on a non-workout day, my recent meals been going generally something like this..

1)breakfast total cals: 610cals

1 serving oatmeal - 120cals

1 small banana - 90cals

12 almonds - 80cals

2 tsp olive oil - 80

2 servings of my whey protein - 240 cals (48grams of protein)

2)Lunch (tuna sandwich) total cals: 605cals

1 can tuna drained - 191cals

3 slices Safeway whole wheat bread - 210 cals

1.5 tbs Kraft real mayo - 139cals

1/2 cup ocean spray cranberry juice - 65cal

3)Dinner (chicken with pasta) total cals: 554cals

aprox.4 oz chicken breast - 140cals

1 serving pasta - 320cals

corn on the cob, no butter - 44cals

1/2 tbsp peanut butter - 50cals

4)Snack total cals: 320cals

2 servings of whey protein - 240cals

2 tsp olive oil - 80cals

5)Evening (pasta) meal total cals: 558cals

1 serving pasta - 320cals

3oz ground beef - 158cals

1 serving Ragu sauce - 80cals

6)Snack total cals: 410

2 servings whey protein - 240 cals

2 tsp olive oil - 80 cals

1 small banana - 90cals

TOTAL FOR THE DAY: 3057cals

It's not always like this, sometimes I slack and go a little under. I usually try to make up any cals with peanut butter, and I'll eat out sometimes. Fruits and veggies vary depending on season, and what I like to eat. I'm also lactose intolerant so I don't eat any diary products. As you may tell, I LOVE pasta :) I also "load up" during the times when I feel most hungry, which happens to be the first and second meal of the day, which helps makes the other meals a little easier to take.

My monthly total food costs (which include supplements), I've been having a hard time trying to estimate but I think it's in the $300-$400 range give or take depending on what I have left over from previous month. I buy during Safeways "Customer appreication day" each month which gives me 10% off. And I buy those bulk packs which I freeze. I try my best to buy my foods when they have sales. My whey protein costs $100 per month, my Greensplus veggie supplement costs $30 per month., these two supplement prices are always constantly like that per month. I've been slacking on my veggies hence the need for Greensplus, but I've found that Safeway has terrible prices on those. I usually goto a smaller fruits and veggie store kinda nearby and I buy veggies that are in season because those are usually cheaper

 

That's a great diet plan, thanks!

I am a hardgainer as many of you have detailed through these postings.  We are pre-disposed to be our sleek sizes.  If we ever did want to gain weight, often times it does take a little bit more than our well rounded friends.  It's tough, but with a little extra discipline and knowledge, one can gain weight without extreme measures.  I have a blog that talks about this very topic, if you ever free to take a look.  I highly suggest it.

http://hardgainers-review.blogspot.com/

I do understand why society has focused on the epidemic of obesity, since many people do suffer iller fates as a result of being overweight.  But still, It would be nice for some of us hardgainers to get some attention on the national scope like we are in this gathering of minds.  There just isn't enough information or knowledge out there to guide us through our lifestyle.

Original Post by vksmooth:

That's a great diet plan, thanks!

I am a hardgainer as many of you have detailed through these postings.  We are pre-disposed to be our sleek sizes.  If we ever did want to gain weight, often times it does take a little bit more than our well rounded friends.  It's tough, but with a little extra discipline and knowledge, one can gain weight without extreme measures.  I have a blog that talks about this very topic, if you ever free to take a look.  I highly suggest it.

http://hardgainers-review.blogspot.com/

I do understand why society has focused on the epidemic of obesity, since many people do suffer iller fates as a result of being overweight.  But still, It would be nice for some of us hardgainers to get some attention on the national scope like we are in this gathering of minds.  There just isn't enough information or knowledge out there to guide us through our lifestyle.

Stop desperately advertising your blog, it's getting bloody irritating opening threads thinking that there are new replies when it's just your farcicial copy and paste over and over again.