pumpthatiron

My friend is 5'9.5, 125 pounds and he looks pretty skinny. He just started working out and wants to get big. He says that he eats anything he sees but still doesn't gain weight. Any suggestions?

PreMier

Tell him to count his calories. I bet he doesnt eat as much as he thinks. He can use www.fitday.com to track them. He needs to eat more...

P-side Inc.

"the post-workout high is more profound than any drug-induced rush imaginable." -Dante B.

LAM

he needs to learn how to eat healthy like an athlete. I have litteraly seen hundreds of people over the years who think they are eating well and taking in enough calories for growth. until they start couting calories and eating the right kinds of foods gains are slow at best...

eating anything does not get you big especially if the diet is high in empty calories...

Dumbest statement made in the Anabolic Zone for Nov

TBD

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What you talking about Willis ?

Duncans Donuts

What exactly is an empty calorie?

I'm curious because Sergio Olivia's post workout was 32 ounces of pepsi and a large pepperoni pizza. Juiced or not, that's not a really healthy meal.

"in the howling bleeding nights, the dogs plunge into the Volga and swim desperately to gain the other bank. The nights of Stalingrad are a terror for them. Animals flee this hell; the hardest stones cannot bear it for long; only men endure."

KarlW

years ago I thought the same thing.

Then I learnt that if you lift like a BB and eat like a BB and rest like a BB there's no avoiding it, your'e going to get BIGGER.

Education is the key, hence the question !!!!

The previous posts are all good advice.

Lifting: Check through other posts and routines around the site. He needs to do the exercises that count towards growth.....you know.....squats, deads, bench, rows etc etc. When the back, thighs, and chest get bigger then he'll start looking bigger.
Diet: As LAM says: It's not just about eating calories but the right kinds of calories. I found that when your'e eating enough to grow it's actually a bit of hard work.

cheers
Karl

KarlW

"I'm curious because Sergio Olivia's post workout was 32 ounces of pepsi and a large pepperoni pizza. Juiced or not, that's not a really healthy meal."

Is that Pepsi for the sugar rush and pepperoni for the protein?....mmmm......

LAM

I would define empty calories as those coming from food items that lack amino acids, fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. so basically foods high in simple sugars...

Dumbest statement made in the Anabolic Zone for Nov

TBD

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What you talking about Willis ?

Mudge

Counting calories is the only way, see-food diets dont work for but a few people and can be very unhealthy in a multitude of ways (starting with my blood pressure and cholesterol).

Kinesiology Vote @ Top 25 Deads Comp Bench
Motivation Bench form MaxCalc Charles Poliquin
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. Lao-Tzu
I don't know any sources so don't ask - thanks

Mudge

Pepperoni is loaded with fat, and unless it was a pound of it... it was only to keep on weight with calories, not a lot of high quality protein there BV wise nor much to speak of regardless.

But, Arnold would do beer and chicken, and/or throw some pot in there too. When you are heavy though you can soak up the use of a lot more calories without looking disgusting, plus these are not pre-contest diets at all.

Kinesiology Vote @ Top 25 Deads Comp Bench
Motivation Bench form MaxCalc Charles Poliquin
When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. Lao-Tzu
I don't know any sources so don't ask - thanks

KarlW

I don't like the idea of getting and staying big without regard to overall health.

Now, a calorie is a calorie. Whichever way you get them they will add to your body mass. However, cals ingested from healthy foods high in protein will contribute much better toward muscle repair and therefore growth, not to mention vitamins and minerals etc etc. Cals ingested from unhealthly foods consisting largely of simple sugars and high fats will tend to be stored as fat.

Pumpthatiron, your friend must see the diet as complementing what he does in the gym. It's the combination of the 2 that gives growth.

LAM

not quite...a diet high in emtpy calories and saturated fats is a great way to decrease insulin sensivity which means more fat storage and less gains in LBM...

Dumbest statement made in the Anabolic Zone for Nov

TBD

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What you talking about Willis ?

KarlW

Interesting, not to mention "how" (not what) you eat. ie smaller portions at more regular intervals.

pumpthatiron

what kinds of food should i tell him to eat?

Vieope

FURtherness

WATTS

well ive been bulking and went from 200 pounds to 220 in 2 months, ive found that meats are a great start, tell him to start counting his calories and have him bump his caloric intake up to between 2800-3000 calories a day, that sould be plenty for his weight, as a rule of thumb multiply your bodyweight by 20 and that is around the calories you should eat in one day, i usually go a little over, but have him try to eat 2 peanut/Jelly sandwiches for one meal a day with milk, that will also help with the calories for sure...other food would be potatoes, milk, meat, whole wheat bread, eggs, etc, that should be a good start

WATTS

o ya, almost forgot have him eat a little bit smaller meals every 2-3 hours

gopro

Tell your friend that when I started I was 5'11" and 125 lbs and eventually hit 270 +. Plenty of hope for him!

Monthly columnist for Muscular Development and Ironman magazines.

GOLIATH LABS Sponsored Athlete/Board Rep

www.prrstraining.com Time to GROW Without Plateau!

Personal Training
Gopro is available for online personal training, dietary guidance, and contest prep coaching.
Send me a PM or e-mail if interested. Thank you.

BulkMeUp

Now wtf is a negative calorie?

BulkMeUp

How long did serious bulking take you to get upto 270, gopro?

DimebagDarrell

youre going to need more than 2800 cals a day. i have to take about 4300 cals a day to gain weight. course, i also weigh 195 lbs and have traditionally been an ectomorph.

cutting sucks.

gopro

I reached about 200 after 3 years of training...about 230 after 6 years...and by 10 years had bulked to 273. I then dieted down and slowly rebuilt to a better quality 268. Now I never go over 245 b/c I like to keep my bodyfat down all year.

Monthly columnist for Muscular Development and Ironman magazines.

GOLIATH LABS Sponsored Athlete/Board Rep

www.prrstraining.com Time to GROW Without Plateau!

Personal Training
Gopro is available for online personal training, dietary guidance, and contest prep coaching.
Send me a PM or e-mail if interested. Thank you.

pumpthatiron

ok, gopro, i went from weighing 200 pounds 5'9 to weighing 185. when i was weighing 200 pounds, i was benching 95 pounds. now i can bench about 185 pounds. But i really want to get cut because i'm still fat. Should i keep my training same like heavy and low reps and just worry about diet and cardio? btw, that's quite incredible what u did.. mad props

LAM

some vegetables like celery are considered negative calorie foods. it takes the body more energy to digest them then the food actually provides...

Dumbest statement made in the Anabolic Zone for Nov

TBD

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What you talking about Willis ?

pumpthatiron

any advice for me, for 2 posts above?