The desperate plight of a hard gaining ectomorph

[NeuroRN]

You want to know why you’re not seeing the results- this is why, Your diet.

You say your genetics suck? Cool. Then figure out how to maximize them.

And that’s with considering I tried harder to eat better today as I knew I would be logging it here plus I didn’t work so that makes it easier to eat.

Don’t say you’re doing everything right, and your genetics just won’t let you add mass when that’s your trying harder to eat better.

Your gear didn’t give you what you wanted because you didn’t give your body what it needed.

If you want to make the changes, eat the extra meals. I ate 4500-5000 calories a day for almost two years to put on the mass I have. Was it hard? Yes. Was it miserable? Sometimes.

We’re not the exact same, we won’t look the same doing and eating the same things. That’s life. You have the genetics you have, learn to maximize them, and stopping giving them so much credit when you clearly are not doing everything.

I’m not trying to be a dick. But this whole thread is you saying nothing works, and everyone is better, and this was waste, and other people do less and get better, and you’ve tried everything. Now you know what you need to do. There’s plenty of apps and macro trackers out there to aid your pursuit. Go get after it.

 

[SidTheSlothh]

I could have been eating more protein and calories for sure, I just don’t see how it’s possible that for being in the gym as long as I have despite not a flawless diet still yielded minimal gains. And while the diet was not the best, I know for a fact I’m eating more protein than many of the dudes I personally know that pack on mass without eating like it’s a full time job lol. Dudes from basic training and shit, many of them skinnier than I was, eating on fumes and no way breaking 70g protein building muscle doing calisthenics. It’s whatever, if I gotta do all that extra work to get somewhere it is what it is. Guess off to the store tomorrow to buy bags of chicken lol. Don’t worry about sounding like a dick shit I do all the time, I can take the criticism.

I don’t think though that I need to try and hit 4000 calories. I put on fat with a lot less which means I was in a caloric surplus. Protein count most likely wasn’t as high as It could have been, but still training hard and eating in a surplus I did expect to gain some mass.

If I eliminated the pancakes on the above log, added more eggs in the morning, threw protein in the milk each time I drank milk, and added in another serving or two of chicken I think that should be good.

 

[PNWmuscle]

Diet is everything. I think it’s the most glossed over part of this. ALL of your progress is diet dependent. Training and gear are a tiny part of the equation. It doesn’t take much training, doesn’t take much (if any at all) gear, but diet will always be the main factor in your progress

 

[Dmomuchole]

Did you get a testosterone blood test done I’m wondering if your body is converting the excess testosterone to estrogen, I think your body is responding differently then most because we all respond differently. I’m curious now. @SidTheSlothh

 

[SidTheSlothh]

Only testosterone test I did was right at the beginning of the cycle where it had me at 1600

 

[SidTheSlothh]

I glossed over it because of everyone else I saw around me making gains with little effort. Way worse diets than mine, some not even scraping 2k calories and triple digits of protein and making gains. I thought my diet was good cause I was breaking the 2k plane with ease and hitting over triple digits in protein, more than what they were, and still not progressing while they did. If they can gain with garbage diets, than I should gain with a semi decent one. But apparently my body is going to require a damn good diet for progress. That’s another reason why I looked at my sleep and put the blame on my four hours of sleep a night as that is what I saw where I was different compared to everyone else.

 

[PNWmuscle]

Yeah people are different. But looks like you’re getting things figured out man

 

[Dmomuchole]

Given you unique situation I would test everything possible to see what’s really going on.

 

[Poppy]

Looks like you got some solid guidance from the big boys.

Please quit comparing yourself to others. You’ve heard it from the other guys here…EVERYONE is different. You have to figure out your sweet spot for gains and maintenance. That includes training and diet. There are several free apps that will track your diet down to the macros…with name brand search functions to get a pretty accurate daily count.

Put in the HARD work at the weight stack and count everything you put in your cake hole.

 

[SidTheSlothh]

I’ll download one. I do need to stop comparing myself to others it does nothing but annoy me and makes me feel like since everyone else is slumping on their diets that I can too and it won’t hurt.

Got rid of the sandwich in the morning to eliminate some bread since I pack bread for lunch. Replaced it with adding 2 more eggs and a protein shake. That shake is about 750 calories and 33g protein alone.

Having to stuff this shit down as I’m not really hungry at 5 in the morning but know I will be once I get to work.

This is what I packed for lunch.

That’s about 60g protein and roughly 900 calories. I eat at it throughout my shift and not just all in one sitting. Isn’t there a certain amount of protein your body can absorb in one sitting making eating anything in excess a waste? Or will it be stored away and used by the body throughout the day? Cause so far I am loading my meals with more calories and protein but not adding in meals throughout the day. Trying to see which approach I should take or do both for that matter.

I’m also feeling better now than what I did on cycle. I’m not getting the excessive burn and tearing feeling in the muscles while in the gym and I have been able to finish all workouts with intensity throughout. Not feeling lethargic anymore and have gotten a few boners recently so It appears as if it is working pretty well.

 

[Poppy]

Does that powder say 253 g carbs per serving?

 

[SidTheSlothh]

It sure does for two scoops, I use 1. I bought it for calorie assistance since it’s painful for me to consume the calories I need without using junk food. Was supposed to be only used on bulk on cycle, but I spent 60 bucks on it so feel I need to run through it lol. Since it does have a lot of carbs i’m thinking I will cut beans later and have meat with veggies only after work.

 

[Dmomuchole]

56 Servings Chocolate Peanut Butter
Serving Size: 1 Scoop (36 g)
Servings Per Container:56
Amount Per Serving % Daily Value
Calories 110
Calories From Fat 0
Total Fat 0 g 0%†
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 4 g 1%†
Sugars 0 g ‡
Protein 23 g 46%†
Sodium 340 mg 14%
Potassium 90 mg 3%
† Percent Daily Values are based on 2,000 calorie diet.
‡ Daily Value not established.
Ingredients:
CARNIVOR BPI [Hydrolyzed Beef Protein Isolate, Creatine Monohydrate, Anabolic Nitrogen Retention Technology™ Intermediates: GKG (Glutamine-Alpha-Ketoglutarate), OKG (Ornithine-Alpha-Ketoglutarate), AKG (alpha-ketoglutaric acid), KIC (Alpha-Ketoisocaproate), BCAAs (L-Leucine, L-Valine, L-Isoleucine)], Maltodextrin, Cocoa, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Peanut Flour, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan, Salt, Silica, Acesulfame Potassium, and Sucralose.
Contains peanuts.

 

[Poppy]

Please don’t confuse “calories” as a generic term. There is a difference between fat, carb and protein calories and how your body utilizes them and when you should ingest them. You’re probably in a caloric surplus (carbs and fat)all the time and not working as hard in the gym as you should for the calorie count. Try dialing down your carbs and fat all together and pulse them around your training. See what works best for YOU. Maybe think about putting that powder and that snack bar on a shelf for a while. Eat whole foods and Supplement protein with a low/zero carb powder.

 

[Dmomuchole]

I used to use that stuff your using but I switched to carnivore. It’s protein from hydrolyzed beef.

 

[Poppy]

@Dmomuchole posted while i was typing. That would be what I would suggest. @SidTheSlothh these dudes know what they’re talking about. I’ve learned a lot here.

 

[Dmomuchole]

Poppy’s right sometimes we just got to get back to the basics.

 

[SidTheSlothh]

Alright, I can cut the powder and the bar. Which means I will have to make up that protein with a powder like the one dmom suggested and increase servings on the meat.

 

[Poppy]

Yes meat, chicken beef pork turkey venison eggs tuna shrimp etc

 

[Poppy]

That powder @Dmomuchole posted has protein in it without all the other stuff you don’t need. Carbs can come from oats rice etc. easy to measure and count.