Hardgainer thinking of joining the darkside...

[Tripod]

I'm a newb who is finally giving steriods a serious look. I am 6' and 180#s. My limbs have always seemed thin in proportion to the rest of my body, and I have never been able to put on any muscle mass. I have spent the last year hitting the gym 4-5 times a week. I have gone through 3 different work out and nutrition regimens with the goal of putting on some muscle, to no avail . I am not looking for a huge body, maybe just an additional 10 to 15 pounds of lean mass. My questions are:

1. Have any of you been hardgainers, and what type of results have you seen?

2. Is is possible to cycle only once or twice and then keep a portion of your gains indefinitley without further cycles?

Thanks in advance.

[pigmeat]

what is your diet look like. That is 90% of the game!

[YellowJacket]

Originally posted by pigmeat
what is your diet look like. That is 90% of the game!

Agree 100%. You've been training for a whole year, wow. Whats your diet, sleep and training look like? Ever used PH's? Or 1-test?

[PinCushion]

Originally posted by pigmeat
what is your diet look like. That is 90% of the game!

Very true. What IS your diet like? How many cals/day? How much protein? Have you tried any supplements? Please answer these questions so we can further help you out.

Also, welcome to the board!

[x|Fluid|x]

Re: Hardgainer thinking of joining the darkside...

Originally posted by Tripod

1. Have any of you been hardgainers, and what type of results have you seen?

2. Is is possible to cycle only once or twice and then keep a portion of your gains indefinitley without further cycles?

1) I'm a hard gainer. I'm 5'11", Ive gone from 120lbs to 195lbs @ 8% bf

2) Yes its possible. It's highly unlikely that you will want to stop after you do your first cycle :p

[Tripod]

For the past year it has been high on the protein side. About 150 to 200 g per day. Around last September I started adding in more carbs (low glycemic). I am currently at about 2500 cal/day with it divided up about 30% p, 30% f, and 40% c. Most of the carbs are in the morning and at lunch. The protein and fat is spread evenly throughout the day and about 3 hour intervals.

[x|Fluid|x]

you need to consume at least 3500 calories. I would aim for 4000 if I were you.

[pigmeat]

3000 is nowhere near enough for your goals.For hard gainer you need 4000-5000 calories a day.Try to eat every 2-3 hours or at least 6 meals a day.
Get your diet up to par, and research the juice in the meantime. You will be amazed how much you can grow upping your calories and getting them at the right time.

[YellowJacket]

At 180, you're going to need a bit more than 2500 calories to grow, my grandma eats 2500 calories a day

[x|Fluid|x]

how much does your grandma squat?

[Tripod]

I have been using Creatine since Sept. I have tried a few PH (ando/Nor, etc.) but I did not see any results. I think I was not taking them in high enough doses and/or stacking properly. However, when I look at the cost of a decent beginer PH cycle (~$200) and then compare it to a beginner Deca cycle (~$350), the cost to "guaranteed" gain ratio is definitely on the side of steriods. I guess I have just gotten tired of all the effort for so little gain and of spending money on supplements that may or may not work. :2gunsfiri

[Tripod]

Thanks for all the quick responses!! Damn, you guys are fast!

As far as the higher caloric intake, I have experimented with it, but everytime I do, I instantly start packing on the blubber around my waist without anything in my arms, chest, etc. It then takes a few weeks of extra cardio to work it back off, all the while my lifting numbers start sliding back!?!?

Is the extra fat something I might have to live with for a while in hopes that the muscle will grow as well? Can the fat be worked off later without affecting the muscle gains?

[dejansen]

You can buy two 40 day cycles of a good ph combo for about $75. You might try that first while boosting your calories. If you gain fat quickly, you might try bumping the calories up to 3000/week. If you maintain your weight at 2500/week, this should lead to about a pound a week and if you're training well (not overtraining either), it should be lean.

[prolangtum]

There is no such thing as a "hardgainer" There are undereaters, overtrainers, undertrainers, overpartiers, heavy drinkers, under sleepers. Basically its excuse maker, not hardgainer. Eat, lift, sleep.

[x|Fluid|x]

Originally posted by prolangtum
There is no such thing as a "hardgainer" There are undereaters, overtrainers, undertrainers, overpartiers, heavy drinkers, under sleepers. Basically its excuse maker, not hardgainer. Eat, lift, sleep.

I disagree. You obviously arent a hard gainer. Not everyones body is the same. You can take two different people, same height, same weight, same training regime, same diet - I gaurentee you they wont grow the same.