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This can't be right...

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This can't be right... - 10/29/2005 4:28:27 AM

Westgrove

Posts: 102
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Uppsala, Sweden
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I was checking out boxing weight classes the other day, just to get some sort of classification for my own weight and how I stand in relation to other people heavier or leaner; and concluded I'm Welterweight, and that I'll have to gain 7lbs to reach a new weight class. So I thought to myself, I wonder how long this could take. Now, I gain about 1-2lbs a week in combined fat and muscle, about 50/50 (because the fat/muscle ratio on my body doesn't increase). So it would take maximum 7 weeks, which is before the end of the year. Ok, cool, I thought to myself. Mhm, so next I thought well with 1lbs increase a week, how long before I can reach heavyweight (200lbs). I'm 140lbs now, so it'd take 60 weeks with 1lbs increase a week. Consequently, I should reach heavyweight by early 2007. That doesn't make sense though, since there are fanatics who work years to reach 200lbs, that eat a ton of food for breakfast and eat all kinds of supplements and still don't reach the fine 200 in many years. Or is it really as easy as my calculations make it seem; "gain a pound a week and you're heavyweight in 1 year!" ???

I suppose not... which leads me to ask this: When the growth you saw in the beginning starts to hamper, no matter how much you eat or workout, how little do you gain every week, or even year? And also, why isn't it just so easy as to increase caloric intake another notch and the weight scale should re-commence it journey to the stars?

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RE: This can't be right... - 10/29/2005 10:09:02 AM

Marc David

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Joined: 4/6/2003
From: Bay Area -CA
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Because your body adapts.

Let's say you increase your calories. In theory, you'd still be working out but eating more; thus, creating more muscle. But in reality, it's just not true. If you step up the eating, you need to challenge your body enough so that it requires the extra calories in order to grow. Or you'll just end up putting on fat.

Stepping up the calories is necessary when bulking. But in order to make the most use of that, you need to step up the training as well so that your body isn't just consuming more calories.

Anything not used in excess can and probably will be stored as fat.

When I bulk, I workout even harder. I get hungrier and I work out harder again.

If I'm not that hungry, then I'm not working out enough where my body needs more and I'd sort of be on a cut.

Now as far as your question, I've personally gone from 155 lbs to 199 lbs in 5 months. Smile

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RE: This can't be right... - 10/29/2005 12:52:20 PM

Vario

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Joined: 5/11/2005
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The first few months you will gain weight constantly as your body adapts to strenous lifting. Then it disapears. For me, I gained about 20 pounds steady in about 6 months, but now I have had to work hard for my last 5 pounds.

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RE: This can't be right... - 10/29/2005 1:44:26 PM

Westgrove

Posts: 102
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Uppsala, Sweden
Status: offline

quote:

If you step up the eating, you need to challenge your body enough so that it requires the extra calories in order to grow. Or you'll just end up putting on fat.

Right. So let's say when I reach a plateau I'm doing my max on all exercises, how can I challenge my body further? Would switching to a routine that increases strength (1-5 rep routines) for some weeks and then return to my normal routine, stronger than before, do the trick?

Sounds tough Vario. I've increased from 121lbs @ 7-8% BF to 140lbs @ 10% BF in two months, and I'm going for another 7 this year.

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RE: This can't be right... - 10/29/2005 4:36:22 PM

Marc David

Posts: 9184
Joined: 4/6/2003
From: Bay Area -CA
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quote:

Right. So let's say when I reach a plateau I'm doing my max on all exercises, how can I challenge my body further?

Up your training. Not talking putting more pounds on but training harder, faster... high volumes in less time.

Curious. Are you at all familar with a site called BodybuildingSecrets.com by Tom Venuto?

I ask because I've tried many programs during my 16 years. And the last 100 days have shown me path I never knew possible. Talk about thinking I was training hard....

Anyway, it's harder to put on muscle the more advanced you become. 5-15 lbs a year is GREAT.

I was able to do 11 lbs in 18 weeks via the Optimum Anabolics program. Which was a new level personally.

My point is...

If you feel you are not making progress, there's no such thing as I've tried it all, my max and I'm stuck. You just haven't tried what you don't know exists.

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