Am I destined to be average

[eric22]

OK I posted pictures before but know I have before and after. Gained 10lbs in 6 months doing mostly low volume power workouts with some higher rep work for curls, calves, etc.

BEFORE 4 photos

http://s209.photobucket.com/albums/bb1/topgun32/?action=view&current=VernonsMuscles009.jpg


AFTER 4 photos

http://eshare.hpphoto.com/FilmStrip...cb-25dd-4216-827b-0be6a5d8eb55&SKU=HP&Index=0


1. Lighting, angles all were different but do I look like I gained any muscle in the after?

2. I am thinking about stopping all direct chest, it just grows so easy and nothing else is coming along for the ride . thoughts?

3. Should I keep bulking, I just feel like I look better lean even if it means I will always be thin?

Diet is 3600 calories a day, all clean except for maybe 2 meals a week. 375 grams of protein, good fat and rice, fruit, oates most of the carbs.

Any comments welcome except get a tan, that I know


Thanks

 

[beerdrinker]

describe "low volume power workouts".

 

[xblitz44x]

I definitely notice a difference in overall thickness; especially your back and delts. Your traps could use some work aside from the assumed deadlifting.

I wouldn't ditch every exercise that recruits your chest. Instead, if you're doing a standard bench press, maybe try the close grip. Or concentrate more on dips this time around. You can drop any chest fluff crap if you want (flyes, crossovers, etc). Focusing on the push press your next go-around might be a nice idea too.

Whether you should keep bulking or not is up to you. It depends on your goals. If you like the track you're on, and enjoy the strength gains then switch some exercises and keep pressing on. If you feel like you're gaining a little too much fat then cut back the calories just 500 per day for a few weeks and see if you're keeping the weight off enough for your liking.

 

[eric22]

3 days a week So Legs/back/Bis would get worked twice in one week and once the next. Vice Versa for Chest/Shoulders/Tris

Next week Legs/back workout twice, chest/shoulder once

Working with a power lifter who changes my workout every 5 weeks or so but an example would be the following:


Squats 3x3
Leg Press 2x8
Cable Pull Thrus 3x8
Pull ups or Pull downs 5x5
Cable Rows 2x8
Curls 2x10
Abs 2x8


DB Incline Press 3x5
DB Shoulder Press 2x8
Lat Raises 3x8
Skull crushes 2x10

Dead Lifts 5x5
Hammer Rows 4x6
Curls 2x8
Leg Press 2x10 or 1x20
Abs 2x8

describe "low volume power workouts".

 

[fortunatesun]

1. 10 lbs in 6 months is good
   
2. 6 months is a drop in the bucket. It takes years of steady work before you start filling out
   
3. You'll only be average if that's what you tell yourself. Bring a positive attitude with you. Tell yourself you're the all natural Brad Pitt every time you walk into the gym

 

[ZGzaZ]

1. 10 lbs in 6 months is good
   
2. 6 months is a drop in the bucket. It takes years of steady work before you start filling out
   
3. You'll only be average if that's what you tell yourself. Bring a positive attitude with you. Tell yourself you're the all natural Brad Pitt every time you walk into the gym

SUPER

But all in all, good advice.

 

[fortunatesun]

SUPER

But all in all, good advice.

yep, I'm a super guy, but there's no need to hate on Brad Pitt just because you also had to juice for your role in your last film.

 

[skullcrushin22]

I would up my calories to 4500-5000. Throw some milk and meat in there I dont see how you wouldnt be able to gain.

 

[eric22]

True
But I know I can gain Weight, I just have trouble making more of it muscle than fat. I went slow because of that issue but when I look at the pictures I see the fat, I see very little muscle. I have been stuck at 185lbs for 3 weeks because I am afraid to add any more calories. This is the first week I bumped it up by adding some more carbs on meals after my workout.

I would up my calories to 4500-5000. Throw some milk and meat in there I dont see how you wouldnt be able to gain.

 

[ErikZ]

Eric,
To me you seem way above average and yes, you do look thicker after.

Don't be afraid to up those calories, you can always loose the weight at a later stage.

But be positive man... you are above average, tell yourself that... You can even say you are the best!

 

[eric22]

Thanks I appreciate that.

I am going to up the calories and make a run at it, I just wish I saw more gains like some of the other folks I see on this site. Makes me start to second guess if what I am doing is right.

Eric,
To me you seem way above average and yes, you do look thicker after.

Don't be afraid to up those calories, you can always loose the weight at a later stage.

But be positive man... you are above average, tell yourself that... You can even say you are the best!

 

[Kabeetz]

You don't need to up the calories from 3,600 probably.

You just need to give it TIME. EAT. LIFT. SLEEP. REPEAT. EAT. LIFT. SLEEP. REPEAT.

If you are getting stronger, you will get bigger. If you are lifting the same weights week after week..there is your red flag. You're not going to build huge muscles on average weights.... so keep moving the weight, keep growing as a lifter, and the growth of the body will come provided there is a caloric surplus. Fuck the mirror. If you are lifting more today than you were a week ago, a month ago, that is all you need to worry about.

Do you look bigger? Not tremendously, no. Do you look different? YES. So clearly your body is changing. Don't panic man. Let it evolve. EAT. LIFT. SLEEP. REPEAT. EAT. LIFT. SLEEP. REPEAT.

 

[skullcrushin22]

Mirrors can be your enemy. Gaining strength and size is a test of patience and it also teaches you too have greater patience. It is hard to know that it may take a year to reach your goals but that just makes it even better when you reach them.

 

[perp69]

Personally, the guy that is setting up your lifts probably knows his shit but maybe he is at a different point in his lifting career than you are. For simplicity I would not keep changing your workouts. Reason is it makes it harder to gauge whether you are progressing. Progression is what will make you bigger and stronger. You need to know that you are increasing weight week after week, which you can't really do if your workout is different every few weeks. You would fair well with something like the 5x5.

As far as cals go maybe try increasing them some. Unfortunately you will gain some fat and muscle also when you do. In the short term that is just a fact of life unless you are genetic freak. It is easier to burn the fat off later plus the extra muscle gained will help burn more fat too.

Perp

 

[AEKDB]

Personally, the guy that is setting up your lifts probably knows his shit but maybe he is at a different point in his lifting career than you are. For simplicity I would not keep changing your workouts. Reason is it makes it harder to gauge whether you are progressing. Progression is what will make you bigger and stronger. You need to know that you are increasing weight week after week, which you can't really do if your workout is different every few weeks. You would fair well with something like the 5x5.Perp

Agree.

You should consider replacing the 3x3 squat and leg presses with 20 rep ATF squats and replacing the 5x5 deadlift with the Coan/Phillipi deadlift routine. These will help you build some of the base strength your friend probably takes for granted. Also, I do not know what ad work you are doing but I would recomend heavy 50lb+ weighted situps or abwheel with weight vest. Hey, if your going to lift, go heavy, even for abs!

 

[poysyn]

If you are gaining fat more rapidly than muscle you could even try cutting down on the cals a little bit until the weight gain is at a more ideal muscle:fat ratio..

focus on bench, squat, rows, deadlifts + eat + sleep = grow

 

[eric22]

I dont mind the time just want to make sure I am making progress and not just going to yo yo and be back where I started. I have been working out a good amount of time but stayed at the same calories for fear of not being lean since it took me awhile to get leaner.

Then I thought I could recomp at that weight but got a little better but not much more. I had more size in college but BF was much higher. Cant seem to put everything together. Easy to get lean, easy to gain pounds not easy at all to be lean with some good muscle to show.

Mirrors can be your enemy. Gaining strength and size is a test of patience and it also teaches you too have greater patience. It is hard to know that it may take a year to reach your goals but that just makes it even better when you reach them.

 

[al420]

yep, I'm a super guy, but there's no need to hate on Brad Pitt just because you also had to juice for your role in your last film.

Can we referrence gay porn on this site?

 

[fortunatesun]

Can we referrence gay porn on this site?

Sure thing. Go to the Steroids and Reports section where you'll find Anthony Roberts' new e-book "How to Train Like A Fat Powerlifter".