no matter how much i workout im still not huge

[Marty Champions]

excessive alcohol consumption can raise hdl levels to astronomical levels wich can be good, there is a term for it look up excessive hdl cholesterol or something like that, some with certain genetics can get away with excessive amount of alcohol as long as they are consuming apple cider vineager for there liver. If i drink alot i start breaking out so it doesnt work for me

[caseyviator]

i say perfect your tan,  get really tight gym clothes, a nice tight belt,  gloves that look cool, i form fitting tank top, oh yea  sunglases  extra cool and you will be fine.

[suckmymuscle]

bros ive been going to battle with the iron for many years now, but my weight and strength leveled off after about 2 years . i was actually stronger at 20-21 than i am now .i feel like its become a futile struggle for me at this point i dont get any bigger. im tired of seeing dudes work out for 6 months and surpass me in muscles. and i dont know where to find any steroids damn it all to hell!!!

  There could be various reasons for why you aren't gaining. It could be that you are not working hard enough on your main sets to stimulate growth; it could be that you have not fine-tuned the volume and are training too much too often to make the gains, it could be a combination of both and it could be that you are going catabolic by going for more than 4 hours without eating. You can get away with not going catabolic for as long as eight hours but only if your previous meal was loaded with calories. A typical bodybuilding meal will only allow you to not go catabolic for 4 hours or so.

  My personal guess is that everything is wrong with your program...you are not really pushing your sets at least to failure, you are doing too many sissy sets which eats away at your muscle tissue and you are like most people in that you simply don't have the patience to cook and eat 7 meals a day, every day, day after day. I have good news for you: if you don't mind putting on fat, you can pack on the muscle by eating only three meals a day as long as they are loaded with calories. The more calories each of your meals contains, the longer you can go without eating and not go catabolic. The problem is that too many calories consumed at once results in fat deposition. If you don't mind gaining 20 lbs of mass with 20 lbs of fat, it shouldn't matter.

  My suggestion: instead of doing 3-5 sissy sets per exercise, where you stop three reps short of failure, do a single set per exercise, but really push it. Take it to failure and then have a spotter help you do forced reps and then only negatives. Work your ass off. Focus on the big compound exercises and nothing more.  You don't need more than 5 or six big exercises to pack muscle on your frame, and unless you plan on competing in a bodybuilding show, you shouldn't care about refinement but only packing on muscle and if you don't use PEDs, recuperating from more than 6 exercises is almost impossible. Add an extra day of rest between workouts. If you still aren't gaining, then add another one.

  Stop eating so much protein. Eating too much protein is the worst thing that you can do to pack on muscle. Protein has a negative net caloric value, meaning that your body takes more calories to process and metabolize the byproducts of protein than there are calories in protein, so if you eat lots of protein you end up eating less calories than necessary to maintain your weight and you actually lose muscle instead of gaining it. Too much protein also decreases your plasma testosterone levels a lot. Eat seven meals a day with plenty of carbohydrates. Don't eat your meats boiled, but fry them using extra virgin olive oil to add calories to your diet. If you follow my advice correctly you should pack on 20-40 lbs of lean muscle within 1 to 2 years.

SUCKMYMUSCLE

[JP_RC]

bros ive been going to battle with the iron for many years now, but my weight and strength leveled off after about 2 years . i was actually stronger at 20-21 than i am now .i feel like its become a futile struggle for me at this point i dont get any bigger. im tired of seeing dudes work out for 6 months and surpass me in muscles. and i dont know where to find any steroids damn it all to hell!!!

Aren't you the guy that posted "working out is easy" in another thread?

Well, time to step it up in the gym.

[Tito24]

like attracts like, cause is equal to effect.

[Mr Nobody]

Genetics....

 Same with me. I went balls out with diet and training with 100% dedication for about 3 years and at a certain point I just peaked.

 But now my metabolism is slowing down and i'm putting on more mass.

 For a natural lifter. All you can really do is push yourself to your genetic limits and then maintain it.

 If you want more. Do some steroids. If you're in the USA it should be no problem at all hooking up some gear.

X2 especially if you are a ectomorph meaning a small bone structure and slim with a high metabolism. These types need to workout less often and heavy as possible most ectomorph's recovery from workouts are slower too. So you do what you can with genetics you cant change those and maximize what you can do with proper exercise and diet.

Drugs can only take you so far genetics is prime factor if not why doesnt everyone look like Jay Cutler there are many people probably taking the same drugs he does and working maybe even harder.

[YngiweRhoads]

Genetics play a huge factor in determining the amount of muscle you can put on naturally, assuming you workout/diet/rest appropriately.

My first training partner, with whom I trained with for 3 years, did an identical workout to myself yet didn't make anywhere near the same strength or muscle gains as I did. In fact, he barely looked like he worked out at all.

[Mr Nobody]

Genetics play a huge factor in determining the amount of muscle you can put on naturally, assuming you workout/diet/rest appropriately.

My first training partner, with whom I trained with for 3 years, did an identical workout to myself yet didn't make anywhere near the same strength or muscle gains as I did. In fact, he barely looked like he worked out at all.

Prime example of genetic disposition.

[BIG ACH]

Not saying you do this... but many people over complicate shit way too much, just go in there lift heavy and hard, EAT enough good shit and repeat!!!

Be VERY consistent and regardless of genetics you are bound to grow some!

[JP_RC]

Not saying you do this... but many people over complicate shit way too much, just go in there lift heavy and hard, EAT enough good shit and repeat!!!

Be VERY consistent and regardless of genetics you are bound to grow some!

QFT

[BIG ACH]

QFT

You QFT 

[Lundgren]

Prime example of genetic disposition.

Genetics is highly overrated. My brother is fuck tons stronger than me. he`s 3 inch shorter so he has about the same build. However all his joint are super well formed, he has a natural strenght that I dream of having.
My point is, I`m alot bigger in size, but because he got a better form he`s much stronger. Just random shit, creates the end result. Bone struture is partly genetic but it also has to do with your diet during those crucial times during your growth as a kid.

My brother is four years older than me. My folks cooked for him, grandma cooked for me. Far different diet.

[YngiweRhoads]

Genetics is highly overrated. My brother is fuck tons stronger than me. he`s 3 inch shorter so he has about the same build. However all his joint are super well formed, he has a natural strenght that I dream of having.
My point is, I`m alot bigger in size, but because he got a better form he`s much stronger. Just random shit, creates the end result. Bone struture is partly genetic but it also has to do with your diet during those crucial times during your growth as a kid.

My brother is four years older than me. My folks cooked for him, grandma cooked for me. Far different diet.

Yep. Nutrition in the developmental stages of humans can effect height, nutrient absorption, bmi, propensity to gain/retain muscle in later life etc.

[Tapeworm]

Lookin' good's good enough.

[Tito24]

before you know it you are not happy with your gym archievements anymore because u dont look like a pro bodybuilder.

[Lundgren]

Yep. Nutrition in the developmental stages of humans can effect height, nutrient absorption, bmi, propensity to gain/retain muscle in later life etc.

So basically everything

[MCWAY]

X2 especially if you are a ectomorph meaning a small bone structure and slim with a high metabolism. These types need to workout less often and heavy as possible most ectomorph's recovery from workouts are slower too. So you do what you can with genetics you cant change those and maximize what you can do with proper exercise and diet.

Drugs can only take you so far genetics is prime factor if not why doesnt everyone look like Jay Cutler there are many people probably taking the same drugs he does and working maybe even harder.

If you're an ectomorph, especiallly a young one (early-to-mid-20s), the key is DIET. Specificially, high-calories and high-protein (1 to 1.5 grams per lb of bodyweight).

That means six meals per day. To keep it simple, go three solid and three liquid ones. And the liquid ones should be a WEIGHT GAINER (i.e. RealMass, N-Large, IsoMass Xtreme Gainer, or Mass-Tech).

One between breakfast and lunch, one between lunch and dinner, and one post-workout.

When I dig it up, I can show an example of what I did in college back in the mid-90s.

[Mr Nobody]

If you're an ectomorph, especiallly a young one (early-to-mid-20s), the key is DIET. Specificially, high-calories and high-protein (1 to 1.5 grams per lb of bodyweight).

That means six meals per day. To keep it simple, go three solid and three liquid ones. And the liquid ones should be a WEIGHT GAINER (i.e. RealMass, N-Large, IsoMass Xtreme Gainer, or Mass-Tech).

One between breakfast and lunch, one between lunch and dinner, and one post-workout.

When I dig it up, I can show an example of what I did in college back in the mid-90s.

Agreed. Heavy short workouts on the basics squats, deads, bench, rows, curls etc. It has never changed.

[MCWAY]

Agreed. Heavy short workouts on the basics squats, deads, bench, rows, curls etc. It has never changed.

Here's the post from a few years ago:

You're most welcome. As for your scenario, I've been there and done that. I'll elaborate on what I did a decade ago to get me over 200 lbs. I was in college at the time, and my goal was to break what I deemed to be the mystical 200-lb. barrier. I weighed 189 lbs at the start of the spring semester. Gleaning the info from MuscleMag International, I found that I still was an ectomorph. I read the articles about guys like David Hughes and Mike Francois, who started off modestly sized, only to swell up, courtesy of high-calorie diets and intense training. Since the food quality on campus varied and I needed consistency, I started buying whole eggs, powdered milk, and ground beef, storing the meat and eggs in my roommate's mini-fridge (which almost always froze my eggs).


My meal schedule went something like this:

#1 - Breakfast

#2 - Mega Mass 2000

#3 - Lunch

#4 - Mega Mass 2000

#5 - Dinner

#6 - Mega Mass 2000 (post-workout)


A serving of Mega Mass 2000 for me was 10 oz. of the weight gain powder in water, which yielded 1100 calories (210 g carbs, 55 g protein, 3 grams fat). During the winter months, when it was too cold to get up early for a sub-standard breakfast at the cafeteria, I consumed what I called "Poor Man's MET-Rx", based on an old-school recipe from the Iron Guru, Vince Gironda. This was a shake, consisting of 6 eggs, 2 cups of milk (I initally started with half-n-half, as Gironda suggested but found tha powdered milk was more economical), and one scoop of milk-and-egg protein powder (the Challenge brand that GNC used to sell at "Buy one, get one 50% off" prices).

I bought a food scale to measure my beef, making sure I got a half-pound of cooked hamburger. Those little scales usually come with a booklet that gives the nutritional breakdown of various foods. I used it initially, when I ate in the cafeteria. But, as school got more intense, I got lazy and decided to eat/drink the same foods every day, knowing what their caloric and protein contents were. Quantity-wise, I peaked at 6500 calories, half of which came from the 3 Mega Mass shakes. As I got busier/lazier, I'd say about two-thirds of my calories I drank from Mega Mass and "Poor Man's MET-Rx". Those 5 drinks gave me 300 to 320 grams of protein, depending on the size of eggs used for the blender brew.

The gym where I trained was about a 45-minute bus ride from campus. By the time I got back, I was hungry, even after consuming a Mega Mass shake. That's when I'd consume a half-pound of cooked beef, which I bought fresh from the store and cooked in my roommate's microwave. That started me along my way. In fact, although my goal was to hit 200 lbs. by semester's end, I found that I reached that goal about 6-7 weeks ahead of schedule. So, I decided to see how much more size I could obtain. I ended up at 210 lbs. before summer vacation. That's 21 POUNDS, nearly TWICE as much as I'd hope to gain. Needless to say, I was a happy, bigger, and stronger camper.


Be forewarned. This was NOT easy. There were days where I felt I was going to explode, yet I still had a couple thousand calores left to eat/drink. The strangest part of all was that no matter how bloated I felt going to bed, by the time I woke up, my stomach was RAVENOUS, growling as if I hadn't eaten in days. That woke me up before my alarm clock did. But, it was all worth it, having far exceeded my goals and getting some complements to boot.

Try doing that with six meals: Three solid, three liquid. If that doesn't help, add a fourth shake (this is where RTDs, especially marked down ones from GNC can come in handy). If you can't get those, then go old-school and guzzle a couple of cans of evaporated milk, each of which has 25 grams of protein and 300 to 500 calories, depending on the fat content.

Above all, be consistent. Keep at it with your training and continue to eat/drink the nutrients, until that scale moves, you're piling more plates on the bar, and you're outgrowing your wardrobe.

Since Mega Mass 2000 is pretty much gone (at least in the United States), I'd recommend replacing it with N-Large² (which I eventually did, anyway), RealMass, IsoMass Xtreme Gainer, or Mass-Tech.

[Lundgren]

If you're an ectomorph, especiallly a young one (early-to-mid-20s), the key is DIET. Specificially, high-calories and high-protein (1 to 1.5 grams per lb of bodyweight).

Meh this ectomorph stuff is the kinda shit I question. I mean obviously there are people who get loads of muscle due to genetics. But alot of so called ectomorphs are just people, that look good at high bf`s, nothing to do with actual muscle mass, Just look at people like adonis being call endo`s when he`s fucking huge bulked up.

Anyone young, that can eats can get somewhat thick IMHO.

[Overload]

Chances are if you aren't big after 10 years of consistant training, you probably will never be big.

Genetics are a bitch and there is no diet or training program out there that can change that.

[MCWAY]

Meh this ectomorph stuff is the kinda shit I question. I mean obviously there are people who get loads of muscle due to genetics. But alot of so called ectomorphs are just people, that look good at high bf`s, nothing to do with actual muscle mass, Just look at people like adonis being call endo`s when he`s fucking huge bulked up.

Anyone young, that can eats can get somewhat thick IMHO.

Ectomorphs tend to be small-boned and fairly thin guys. But, there's no getting around it; if you want size, you must JACK UP your calories: either eat more, drink more, or (in all likelihood) BOTH!!

That's what it took to get me over 200 lbs back then; Basically, it was food, weight gainer, and protein powder.

If you need SIZE, concentrate on size. The problem for too many people is they think that every ounce of weight they gain should be pure muscle. That ain't happening, EVEN IF YOU DO TAKE ANABOLICS. I'd say, if you put 30 lbs in a year and 60% of that is lean mass, you're in pretty good shape.

Chances are if you aren't big after 10 years of consistant training, you probably will never be big.

Genetics are a bitch and there is no diet or training program out there that can change that.

But, until you give it the old college try, you'll never know. I'm sure there are plenty of bodybuilders who compete today, who didn't think they had the genetics. They just trained hard and smart and started packing away them groceries. And, eventually, the size came.
Problem is, we don't know if his training (and ESPECIALLY his DIET) have been consistent.

[BIG ACH]

If you're an ectomorph, especiallly a young one (early-to-mid-20s), the key is DIET. Specificially, high-calories and high-protein (1 to 1.5 grams per lb of bodyweight).

That means six meals per day. To keep it simple, go three solid and three liquid ones. And the liquid ones should be a WEIGHT GAINER (i.e. RealMass, N-Large, IsoMass Xtreme Gainer, or Mass-Tech).

One between breakfast and lunch, one between lunch and dinner, and one post-workout.

When I dig it up, I can show an example of what I did in college back in the mid-90s.

Good post!!! 

[MuscleMcMannus]

If you're an ectomorph, especiallly a young one (early-to-mid-20s), the key is DIET. Specificially, high-calories and high-protein (1 to 1.5 grams per lb of bodyweight).

That means six meals per day. To keep it simple, go three solid and three liquid ones. And the liquid ones should be a WEIGHT GAINER (i.e. RealMass, N-Large, IsoMass Xtreme Gainer, or Mass-Tech).

One between breakfast and lunch, one between lunch and dinner, and one post-workout.

When I dig it up, I can show an example of what I did in college back in the mid-90s.

Bullshit and it sounds like you're not an ectomorph yourself.  Because that is the fastest way to getting fucking fat not muscular.  I'm 6'5 and I started out at 155lbs.  10 years later I was 250 at my biggest and most ripped.  50 of that 100lbs I gained was due to abbreviated training.  It didn't matter what I ate if I overtrained I wouldn't grow.  I had to cut down my training to 2 workouts every 8-10 days.  And I still had to eat around 5k cals a day.  But those weight gainers are shit and they will lead to an ectomoprh getting fat.  The best thing an ecto can do is focuse on high fat high protein and moderate to low carbs.  Once an ecto becomes a fat burning machine watch out they have some of the baddest physiques in the gym.

[JOHN MATRIX]

ha this thread was not entirely serious but thanks for the replies. yeah it all comes down to genetics. ive tried every style of lifting as well as various diets, with various results. i know you can't realistically be 'huge' without juicing and i basically just lift now to stay fit and cause im addicted to it. i dont worry about it anymore and just eat what i want when im hungry