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2007/07/06, 12:28 PM
Hello everyone I am new to this site. A little background information: I am a 20 year old male, entering my junior year of college. I guess I am what one would call a "hard gainer"... 5'11" 135 pounds.
My goal is to have a career in law enforcement and my current frame just doesn't cut it in this field. My goal is to put on weight through muscle mass.
I played varsity baseball for 4 years in high school... this consisted of lifting weights 3-4 days a week. There wasn't a specific program... mainly just get in the gym and lift. I didn't gain any noticeable weight or muscle during this 4 year span.
As I mentioned, I am also a college student. I went through the whole freshman year phase - lots of beer and burgers... didn't gain a pound while all my friends put on 10-20 pounds of fat.
I've lifted, I've ran, I've ate good, I've loaded on calories and nothing works.. I even took a 1,000 calorie drink and had a 3,000 calorie diet for over a month and I didn't gain a pound.
I've tried creatine.. I'll put on up to 7 pounds but it's all water weight and it goes away right after I stop taking the pills.
What I'm looking for is a workout program, specifically an at-home program, that will take me from weak and skinny to ripped.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, guys. Thanks a lot.
-Travis
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2007/07/06, 10:38 PM
Travis, a good workout is important, but diet is everything. The bottom line is you have to have more calories in than calories out and in your case, because of your very fast metabolism, you have to eat massive quantities of quality food. When I was your age my trainer advised me to eat everything in site, including foods high in fat because I was 6'5" at 185 lbs. with 5% body fat and couldn't gain a pound. As you age, for me in my late 20's you will find that your metabolism will slow down and you will gain muscle more easily. The problem then becomes changing your eating habits because you will also gain lots of fat on high calorie diets. At this point in time I'm 34 still 6'5" and weigh 285 lbs. and can put muscle on relatively easy compared to when I was 20 (and I'm a hell of a lot stronger) Yes, I have a little more fat around the middle than I would like, but I am not fat. I just need to pick up the cardio a little and watch my diet closer.
The bottom line is that you will struggle with weight gain until you are older, but if you stick with a good lifting program and eat right you will make progress in time. Get a partner if you don't have one (so you can push harder with a spotter) and take a weight gainer specific to mass building.
Oh, and squats. You got to do squats. They are great for mass building.
One more thing, my brother has been a cop for 14 years, including SWAT, and he would tell you that although strength is important, its his black belt that has saved his life more than once.
Take it easy.
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2007/09/03, 02:50 AM
I am on a SWAT team and a cop as well and your physique doesn't always dictate how good you will do your job. I understand that you want to get bigger and I have struggled with having the body to match my SWAT title. But it all comes down to physical endurance. A fellow SWAT member once told me, "Do you want to talk about it or be about it." I also look at it as do I want to look the part or be the part. Looking like a million bucks feels good but being in great shape and being able to perform feels even better. Good luck on your goals and never give up if you want it that bad.
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