Getting bigger

[JohnMont]

This may sound wierd; but ; as something to compement the sly look, I'd really like to put on about 50 pounds !  I'm currently 5-11 and 200 pounds.  I have a 'gut' but want to work that down somewhat; but also put a little padding around my face and neck.  In addition; I'd like to beef up the shoulders, back, arms; chest.  A more muscular, but 'padded' look is what i'm after.  So, I figure; working out in the gym, some cardio and ab work for the gut; but increading the amounts of protein and complext carbs.   Any other suggestions or comments?

John

[SlickEric]

At your height, even 200 lbs. seems "over weight". Rather than adding more pounds you need to work out and transfer your "fat weight " into "muscle weight".
I think any trainer will tell you that 185-190 would be a healthier weight for you. As for your face and neck, probably after all your training the weight will redistribute and give that area the fullness you're looking for.

Good luck. I hope you succeed in achieving your goal.

Eric

[Tyler]

Hey John, I would recommend talking to your doctor about your ideal weight.  I'm also 5'11" and I'm at 225.  I just had an appointment with the doctor and I need to get down to 185.  Not immediately, but sooner than later.  My brother is 6'2" and has very good bulk and hardly any fat.  He weighs 200.

[Bald_freak]

I used to go to the gym 4x a week. Light cardio and heavy wieght training. I've always been scrawny. It took 2 years just to add 5 pounds. I have triple my strength, but I have accept the fact that I wont get any bigger than what I am now. Best of luck to you on achieving your goals John. Maybe this tip might help you: You should be consuming 80% of your body weight in grams of protien every day to build and maintain your lean muscle. so for you 160 grams through out the day. Easiest way to do that is a protien shake after you work out and betwwen meals.

[Marz]

The best place to start is with a simple diet exercise plan you can stick to.

Lower your calorie intake to less than your body burns in a day.

Lay off the starches and high carb foods

Dont eat late at night

workout at least 3x a week.

The best way to build up the areas of your body to "balance out" your appearance is to go see a personal trainer and talk to them about your goals. A good trainer should be able to give you a detailed plan on how to achieve your goals.

[BALDANDRE]

Well, this is a tricky one....

When I had a trainer ( for about 4 years) they would always say you have to gain about 10 pounds for every extra inch you want around your biceps, chest, ect......

but with that said, if you pack on the "clean pounds through clean eating calories" you HAVE to work out religiously and very hard to make those extra pounds turn into muscle and not fat...

so if you do go that route....set up a cot at the gym...you're gonna be there a lot!

[Marz]

Exactly what Andre said, thats why loosing weight first will change your perception of how much "bulk" you will need.

a trim midsection will automatically make your arms and shoulders look bigger.

Instead of looking like a barrel with two ropes attached, you will look like broom with two ropes attached.

Then start sculpting the areas you want to improve with bulk.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Having been a gym addict for many years, I'd add that you also have to consider what your genetic "body type" is, some of us are lean runners bodies, some football defensive linemen, some the swimmer body, etc.  You can only get what the genes give you unless you indulge in chemistry.  But all body types, can generally lose some fat, even the skinny guys.  Diet & sweat work well together, but it is a joint effort, and to lose a gut is a 6 month, not a 6 week process--both diet (and that's the tough part in my book, but I live in New Orleans where we live to eat) and exercise which can be addictive if done right.  If you have the genes you'll also get big considering the exercises you do.  Also remember muscle weighs a lot more than fat, so you'll lose size in inches around the gut but stay the same or even gain a little weight.  That's what my years in the gym have taught me.

[JohnMont]

Exactly what Andre said, thats why loosing weight first will change your perception of how much "bulk" you will need.

a trim midsection will automatically make your arms and shoulders look bigger.

Instead of looking like a barrel with two ropes attached, you will look like broom with two ropes attached.

Then start sculpting the areas you want to improve with bulk.

Cool analogies, man.    ( or are they similies? metaphors ?  ) 

[JohnMont]

Having been a gym addict for many years, I'd add that you also have to consider what your genetic "body type" is, some of us are lean runners bodies, some football defensive linemen, some the swimmer body, etc.  You can only get what the genes give you unless you indulge in chemistry.  But all body types, can generally lose some fat, even the skinny guys.  Diet & sweat work well together, but it is a joint effort, and to lose a gut is a 6 month, not a 6 week process--both diet (and that's the tough part in my book, but I live in New Orleans where we live to eat) and exercise which can be addictive if done right.  If you have the genes you'll also get big considering the exercises you do.  Also remember muscle weighs a lot more than fat, so you'll lose size in inches around the gut but stay the same or even gain a little weight.  That's what my years in the gym have taught me.

Thanks; this helps a lot.  What you say about working out being adictive; i have to get there.  I've never gotten to the point where going to the gym was anything more than a chore.  Any tips on making it more "adictive" ? 

[ugabulldog]

saintc put it well, I also encourage you to go to bodybuilding/exercie forums where you can get tons of info for free instead of paying a trainer. Those forums are to weightlifting/exercise what slybaldguys is to head shaving.

[JohnMont]

Thanks, Uga.   do you have any specific ones in mind? 

a bodybuilding parallel to SBG would be AWESOME !

[ugabulldog]

There are many to choose from. Google bodybuilding forums and see which one looks good. Alot of sites are geared towards chemical enhancment  but there is still great info for those not going that route as well. Some of those guys on there know more about the workings of the human body than doctors.

[JohnMont]

There are many to choose from. Google bodybuilding forums and see which one looks good. Alot of sites are geared towards chemical enhancment  but there is still great info for those not going that route as well. Some of those guys on there know more about the workings of the human body than doctors.

thanks for the help, Uga.  I've found a couple of sites that look really promising.  A great alternative to a personal trainer (which I am way too cheap to pay for anyway! )

[Iceman]

Although controversial, i do believe there is a lot of truth in genetics (somatotypes), being a large factor in weight gain process.  I had a really difficult time starting to gain weight in the beginning, but this was because i did not eat enough to repair the muscle.  I would recommend alot of eggs fish (tuna for budget) and oatmeal (slow cooked).  I eat starting at 7:30am and eat again every three hours up until 10pm.  Two full glasses of whole milk to supplement each meal as well.  Protein drinks are good right before bedtime especially if your a night gym rat.  Whey protein is good for a quick post workout regeneration, however i would also recommend sustained release proteins.  (This of course is if you don't mind some supplements.)  I'd make sure to do some cardio daily, but not much.  Whether or not if this routine is doctor recommeneded, i am not sure.  However, my cholesterol has gone down alot and blood pressure and pulse have improved greatly.  They say for moderate weight gain, you should have around a 1:1 ratio for grams of protein per body weight pound.  I've bumped mine up 2:1 but have to drink twice as much water.  Breaking your diet up into small meals are good for this considering your body can only process 35-50g of protein per meal.  The rest gets wasted.  I'm no expert or trainer, but I have become fanatical about building mass, and i can vouch to say it definetly works.  But that is only 50% of the equation.  The rest relies on how dedicated you are in the gym.  You basically gotta become a machine!