Gaining weight
Discussion
Hi, I'm a 20 year old male, weighing about 57kg and I'm 5ft10 (ish)
I desperately need to gain weight, but nothing I try seems to be working. I consider myself to eat a lot, but absolutely detest any greens so thats unfortunately not an option. I'm quite active, working in a job which requires a lot of walking. I have a gym membership but I'm not sure that weights etc is the right way to go about it? I've got protein shake (proform) and I'm trying to drink at least one a day with whole milk but I find it fills me up a fair bit.
I need to gain weight due to a recruit assessment day coming up for the prison service, obviously my BMI is low which is a problem.
Any tips to help me bulk up? Ideally need to put on at least a couple of KG fairly quickly.
Cheers, Clarkey
I desperately need to gain weight, but nothing I try seems to be working. I consider myself to eat a lot, but absolutely detest any greens so thats unfortunately not an option. I'm quite active, working in a job which requires a lot of walking. I have a gym membership but I'm not sure that weights etc is the right way to go about it? I've got protein shake (proform) and I'm trying to drink at least one a day with whole milk but I find it fills me up a fair bit.
I need to gain weight due to a recruit assessment day coming up for the prison service, obviously my BMI is low which is a problem.
Any tips to help me bulk up? Ideally need to put on at least a couple of KG fairly quickly.
Cheers, Clarkey
If you are genetically predesposed to being skinny it's actually very difficult to put on weight.
I'm 6' 3" and weight 12.5 stone. I got up to 13.5 stone but I had to do a s
tload of weight training to do it - and frankly after a year of it I couldn't be arsed with in any more and 6 months later back to 12.5 stone.
In an experiment, whilst not training, I spent two months drinking my own special weight gain shake which was:
Half a tub of Ben & Jerrys
A Pint of full cream milk
A bag of malteesers.
I drunk this every night before bed in addition to my normal diet. Net result - no weight gain at all.
I've never understood that - but accept that my metabolism makes it very difficult for me to gain weight.
I'm 6' 3" and weight 12.5 stone. I got up to 13.5 stone but I had to do a s
tload of weight training to do it - and frankly after a year of it I couldn't be arsed with in any more and 6 months later back to 12.5 stone.In an experiment, whilst not training, I spent two months drinking my own special weight gain shake which was:
Half a tub of Ben & Jerrys
A Pint of full cream milk
A bag of malteesers.
I drunk this every night before bed in addition to my normal diet. Net result - no weight gain at all.
I've never understood that - but accept that my metabolism makes it very difficult for me to gain weight.
I read years ago about a method for getting yourself to 'like' food. The article suggested that whatever it is you dislike, if you make yourself eat it around 10 times you will learn to like it.
Sounds like crap but it is how I got myself to eat veg again after going off it in my early teens, that and a vegetarian girlfriend (at the time) for encouragement. These days I will eat practically anything. Give it a go, it can't hurt (and you don't have to be the one that turns down his greens anymore
)
Sounds like crap but it is how I got myself to eat veg again after going off it in my early teens, that and a vegetarian girlfriend (at the time) for encouragement. These days I will eat practically anything. Give it a go, it can't hurt (and you don't have to be the one that turns down his greens anymore
)Mr Gearchange said:
In an experiment, whilst not training, I spent two months drinking my own special weight gain shake which was:
Half a tub of Ben & Jerrys
A Pint of full cream milk
A bag of malteesers.
I drunk this every night before bed in addition to my normal diet. Net result - no weight gain at all.
I've never understood that - but accept that my metabolism makes it very difficult for me to gain weight.
I envy you.Half a tub of Ben & Jerrys
A Pint of full cream milk
A bag of malteesers.
I drunk this every night before bed in addition to my normal diet. Net result - no weight gain at all.
I've never understood that - but accept that my metabolism makes it very difficult for me to gain weight.
Cheers for the replies, I think I would be the same with regards to the home made shake, not much would happen at all. Will try do the gym every other day, and then my protein shakes each day. Hopefully will be able to put on a bit, then will have to look at getting into veggies 
What should I be aiming to do at the gym? It's well equipped, have been mainly focusing on arms and chest when I've been going previously, 5 sets of 10 pulldowns, 5 sets of 10 Tripcep press, 2 sets of 10 chest press, obviously looking to increase weight over time, is this the best way to do it or should I be looking for lower reps with more weight?
Alex
What should I be aiming to do at the gym? It's well equipped, have been mainly focusing on arms and chest when I've been going previously, 5 sets of 10 pulldowns, 5 sets of 10 Tripcep press, 2 sets of 10 chest press, obviously looking to increase weight over time, is this the best way to do it or should I be looking for lower reps with more weight?
Alex
I'm the same with greens, hate them with a passion but I'm trying for the sake of my health.
I find spinach quite inoffensive as it doesn't have a very strong taste, the same with cabbage. Broccoli I can only eat the heads at the minute. All of this is only in a mouth full with something else either - chicken, steak or fish.
I've only done it this week but have had greens 3 times this week which is 3 times more than the last 5-10 years
Go slow but basically just tell yourself you can and you will. Tell yourself you can't and you won't.
I find spinach quite inoffensive as it doesn't have a very strong taste, the same with cabbage. Broccoli I can only eat the heads at the minute. All of this is only in a mouth full with something else either - chicken, steak or fish.
I've only done it this week but have had greens 3 times this week which is 3 times more than the last 5-10 years
Go slow but basically just tell yourself you can and you will. Tell yourself you can't and you won't.
I'm 29 and 6ft 4, throughout teens and 20's hovered around 12-13st, was a serious ectomorph with high metabolism. Recently made some changes and starting to put on weight, over last 6 months added 1.5st, now at 14.5st, target is 15st.
Diet in my lifestyle:
- Now have a cereal breakfast each morning
- Lunches still chips, sandwiches or leftovers etc
- Now when I get home from work have 4 pieces of toast
- Now have a home cooked meal for dinner (rather than frozen microwave meal)
- Now in late evening have a yogurt, large chocolate bar and packet of biscuits
Training in my lifestyle:
- Gone from doing nothing to spending 20 minutes each evening in my home gym (bench, freeweights and training bands) doing basic exercises like bench press, bent over row, shoulder press, bicep curls, skull crushers, situps etc mixing high weight and low reps or low weight and high reps depending on how I feel.
After training I take:
Amino, creatine caps, zinc, l-lysine and multi vitamin pills.
So eating a lot more than I used to, gained a lot of weight (some is around belly but focusing on bulking) and training - combined this has resulted in pretty good gains. As mentioned above, positive attitude and motivation are important, I realised I was under eating and heading towards 30 so wanted to change lifestyle, also expanded my food pallet with fruit + veg for snacking.
Diet in my lifestyle:
- Now have a cereal breakfast each morning
- Lunches still chips, sandwiches or leftovers etc
- Now when I get home from work have 4 pieces of toast
- Now have a home cooked meal for dinner (rather than frozen microwave meal)
- Now in late evening have a yogurt, large chocolate bar and packet of biscuits
Training in my lifestyle:
- Gone from doing nothing to spending 20 minutes each evening in my home gym (bench, freeweights and training bands) doing basic exercises like bench press, bent over row, shoulder press, bicep curls, skull crushers, situps etc mixing high weight and low reps or low weight and high reps depending on how I feel.
After training I take:
Amino, creatine caps, zinc, l-lysine and multi vitamin pills.
So eating a lot more than I used to, gained a lot of weight (some is around belly but focusing on bulking) and training - combined this has resulted in pretty good gains. As mentioned above, positive attitude and motivation are important, I realised I was under eating and heading towards 30 so wanted to change lifestyle, also expanded my food pallet with fruit + veg for snacking.
Edited by StevoCally on Saturday 18th January 16:34
I have had this all my life, hovered around 11 stone, astoundingly I found a hangover, and subsequent day of not eating, could easily see my weight drop by half a stone. (a lot of water i'd think) nevertheless, a couple of years ago I decided to do something a bit more drastic to stop being on the borderline of skinny.
big bowl of porridge and protein shake in the morning,
banana and crisps during the morning, usually a couple of bags of mini chedders..
2 rounds of lunchtime sandwiches
crisps in the afternoon
super noodles and protein shake when I get in about 6pm
gym / bodyweight exercises
meat and veg dinner - sometimes fish and salad
1 more protein shake before bed.
kept it up sort of religiously and I now weigh in at 12 st 4-5lbs, although very few people believe me as I am naturally a lean person.
it's more annoying than people would think in some ways, as I sometimes have to physically force myself to eat, a couple of days off can easily see me lose several pounds
if all you want to do is put weight on, go for something like a meatfeast pizza every day for a few weeks, you'll be carrying it round your middle but that's easier to solve long term.
big bowl of porridge and protein shake in the morning,
banana and crisps during the morning, usually a couple of bags of mini chedders..
2 rounds of lunchtime sandwiches
crisps in the afternoon
super noodles and protein shake when I get in about 6pm
gym / bodyweight exercises
meat and veg dinner - sometimes fish and salad
1 more protein shake before bed.
kept it up sort of religiously and I now weigh in at 12 st 4-5lbs, although very few people believe me as I am naturally a lean person.
it's more annoying than people would think in some ways, as I sometimes have to physically force myself to eat, a couple of days off can easily see me lose several pounds
if all you want to do is put weight on, go for something like a meatfeast pizza every day for a few weeks, you'll be carrying it round your middle but that's easier to solve long term.
StevoCally said:
Diet in my lifestyle:
- Now have a cereal breakfast each morning
- Lunches still chips, sandwiches or leftovers etc
- Now when I get home from work have 4 pieces of toast
- Now have a home cooked meal for dinner (rather than frozen microwave meal)
- Now in late evening have a yogurt, large chocolate bar and packet of biscuits
After training I take:
Amino, creatine caps, zinc, l-lysine and multi vitamin pills.
I am certainly nowhere near an expert, but if you are serious enough about your training to take creatine etc, then it seems that your diet is far too low in protein.- Now have a cereal breakfast each morning
- Lunches still chips, sandwiches or leftovers etc
- Now when I get home from work have 4 pieces of toast
- Now have a home cooked meal for dinner (rather than frozen microwave meal)
- Now in late evening have a yogurt, large chocolate bar and packet of biscuits
After training I take:
Amino, creatine caps, zinc, l-lysine and multi vitamin pills.
evenflow said:
StevoCally said:
Diet in my lifestyle:
- Now have a cereal breakfast each morning
- Lunches still chips, sandwiches or leftovers etc
- Now when I get home from work have 4 pieces of toast
- Now have a home cooked meal for dinner (rather than frozen microwave meal)
- Now in late evening have a yogurt, large chocolate bar and packet of biscuits
After training I take:
Amino, creatine caps, zinc, l-lysine and multi vitamin pills.
I am certainly nowhere near an expert, but if you are serious enough about your training to take creatine etc, then it seems that your diet is far too low in protein.- Now have a cereal breakfast each morning
- Lunches still chips, sandwiches or leftovers etc
- Now when I get home from work have 4 pieces of toast
- Now have a home cooked meal for dinner (rather than frozen microwave meal)
- Now in late evening have a yogurt, large chocolate bar and packet of biscuits
After training I take:
Amino, creatine caps, zinc, l-lysine and multi vitamin pills.
I hit the gym aged 31, up until that point I was 12st max at 6' skinny as a rake never cared about strength or fitness, the diet below is what I started using to get weight on to which my max weight to date has been 15st 6lb body fax max of 17%
Breakfast - oats with full fat milk, natural peanut butter on whole meal toast or bagel
Mid morning - handful of almonds, banana and protein shake made with full fat milk
Dinner - pasta salad, olive oil, chicken / meat / fish
45 mins pre work out 1 scoop whey protein 2 scoops ground (powdered) oats with water
Immediate post workout 2 scoops whey + dextrose / waxy maize with full fat milk
Tea - meat / chicken / fish with green veg, olive oil and wholemeal rice / pasta
Supper - omelette made with 6 whites 1 yolk add some cheese and ham if you're hungry.
Breakfast - oats with full fat milk, natural peanut butter on whole meal toast or bagel
Mid morning - handful of almonds, banana and protein shake made with full fat milk
Dinner - pasta salad, olive oil, chicken / meat / fish
45 mins pre work out 1 scoop whey protein 2 scoops ground (powdered) oats with water
Immediate post workout 2 scoops whey + dextrose / waxy maize with full fat milk
Tea - meat / chicken / fish with green veg, olive oil and wholemeal rice / pasta
Supper - omelette made with 6 whites 1 yolk add some cheese and ham if you're hungry.
lewisf182 said:
Mr Gearchange said:
In an experiment, whilst not training, I spent two months drinking my own special weight gain shake which was:
Half a tub of Ben & Jerrys
A Pint of full cream milk
A bag of malteesers.
I drunk this every night before bed in addition to my normal diet. Net result - no weight gain at all.
I've never understood that - but accept that my metabolism makes it very difficult for me to gain weight.
I envy you.Half a tub of Ben & Jerrys
A Pint of full cream milk
A bag of malteesers.
I drunk this every night before bed in addition to my normal diet. Net result - no weight gain at all.
I've never understood that - but accept that my metabolism makes it very difficult for me to gain weight.
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