Thread: Help, can't make gains!

Hi, I am new to this excellent forum and would really appreciate some advice.

I am a 35 year old male that works out pretty regularly. I weigh roughly 160 pounds. My arms have quite good definition, my chest I find very difficult to increase in size and keep looking good, although I look fitter than most people my age.

My problem is two fold. First I have developed a small belly, too much sweet tooth snacking has caught up with me i'm afraid, it never used to show. Whilst it's hardly even visible in a t-shirt, I would like to get rid of it. The advice I was given was to run, two or three times a week.

The problem I am finding is that I now play 5-A side football once a week for 50 minutes and have tried jogging once a week too, to burn off the fat. However, I seem to get the impression that the stomach is staying the same but I am burning off muscle instead of fat, especially from my chest, which is the last thing I want to do.

All my weight lifting gains seem to be going down the drain and I have the feeling that whilst the football and jogging might eventually rid me of my belly, I am also losing muscle size in the process.

How can I get rid of my belly and gain muscle at the same time? I heard that crunches were pointless as the belly will disguise the abs anyway. I was wondering whether the use of Creatine Serum before playing football would help prevent muscle loss.

For the record, I am on a high protein diet, so I am not eating any junk that would normally make me put on weight. An average day would consist of the following:

Breakfast:
1 bowl of wholegrain cereal
1 Kiwi Fruit
1 Handful of Almonds

Lunch:
I can of Tuna with Wholemeal Bread
1 Carrot
1 Apple

Dinner:
Two chicken breasts, or lean mince meat
Rice or Pasta
1 portion of Mushrooms
1 portion of Broccoli
1 Orange

Snack:
Wholemeal bread with peanut butter

I try to drink 2 litres of water a day, although sometimes I only manage 1 litre

Is my diet the reason why I am not making gains? Could jogging/soccer be responsible for burning off more muscle than fat? Or am I simply not working out hard enough to increase muscle?

Sorry if it's too much information, but it seems to be tied in together. Your advices would be very much appreciated
Danny

Hey Danny, just to comment on the protein shake part. You say they are expensive and taste like shit, well that may have been years ago but today there are plenty that taste great and are very cost effective. I use Champion's pure whey protein stack(Chocolate) It tastes very good. For 5lbs I pay 25.89 at DPSNUTRITION.NET. you defeinately need to eat more protein.Optimum is another good brand. These are very cheap (money wise, not quality) products.

You also said you were on a high protein diet, I don't see it. Usually a high protein diet to lose fat means cutting down on the carbs. I look at it and see just a regular diet. It looks healthy but it's not High protein/low carb by any means. Try fixing your diet a bit and give it a few weeks. Good luck