Mass Gain...What am I doing wrong?

[txk88]

OK I need to know what I am doing wrong. Problem is simple, I am gaining strength but not mass. Let me start off by providing the "stats" I know everyone will inquire about. First off, (even though I am an Engineer by trade) I am a certified PT, also I am a CNS (certified nutritional specialist) so obviously I understand how to count macros and am pretty sure I know how to train. I am 73 inches tall, 219 pounds, 182 lbs LBM (17% bf), I am 26 years old and have been lifting for 9 years. I reached a plateau and decided it was time to take a leap of curiosity with AAS. Currently on my fourth cycle. My first cycle was Test E at 500 mg a week for 12 Weeks, standard pct...clomid, Nova etc, second cycle was Test Cyp @ 600 mg per week and DECA @ 450 mg per week for 14 weeks, standard pct, third cycle was Sust @ 750 per week and EQ at 600 mg per week for 16 weeks and weeks 2-8 dbol @ 50 mg per day, standard pct, I am currently on a cycle of Test P 100mg EOD, Cyp @ 800 mg per week , EQ at 700 mg per week and anavar weeks 3-9 at 50mg ED, front loaded with test p weeks 1-4.

Since I first started my fat free mass has increased by 31 pounds. My body fat fluctuates depending on diet but stays between 14-18%. I have went up significantly in resistance on all training and continue to do so each week. Am up from 225 on bench to 325 and so on.. you get the point.


My problem is my measurements are not changing by much at all. Before I ever stared my first cycle my biceps measured 16.5 inches, they are now 16 7/8. My chest started at 45 its now 46.5. I had expected more.....As I said I am well aware of exercise technique.... hypertrophy... failure...fatigue...etc. Just curious to know if anyone has ever experienced this and how to over come it. Thanks.

 

[Mr. Chicago]

There are just some things drugs and training cannot overcome, blame it on your genetics bro that's all I can say. Obviously you know how to train and eat, that's really all I can come up with.

 

[bonacris]

What's your diet like?

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[buddhabuilder]

Details of your diet, including exact times and menu.

 

[zazen5]

Welcome to human physiology 101. Why does the body have any motivation to add mass if it can be strong at same bodyweight? The reality is it takes years of training to get real gains. Concentrate on protecting your joints and body so you will have decades to gain. Think of lifting as a prolonged chess match requiring concentration and patience. Enjoy the lifts and the training rather than focusing on outcomes.

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[ALIN]

Most reasons people dont make the gains they want is DIET.
Whats the breakdown of your diet? Calories? Protein? Carbs? Fats?

 

[broscience]

Its def diet and lack of sleep

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[Silv]

Are you telling me your running 1150mg of test a week? With 700eq with anavar? Your gear is bunk or your not satin enough. Besides that it's too much test pick prop or cyp. If prop keep same dosage and add npp or if you go cyp grab deca. That will slam on mass. Either way you should be gaining. On just 50mg of dbol I can put on 20+lbs in 4 weeks.

 

[txk88]

OK guys. You want my diet, here it is. Based on my height and weight, and level of activity my maintenance calories come in at 3218. I currently consume 3750 calories per day. Being summer just around the corner I have changed my diet slightly from the 40/40/20 to a 55/30/15, however I normally stick to 40/40/20.

450-500 g protein per day.
175-225 g carbs per day.

6 am - 9 egg whites, 3 whole omega 3 eggs, ezekiel cereal

9 am - protein shake, peanut butter, 1 cup almonds

Noon- 12 oz venison steak, 1 cup brown rice, 1 cup broccoli

3 pm- protein shake, Ezekiel bread and turkey sandwich

6 pm- 12 oz chicken breast, sweet potato, skim milk

9 pm- casein protein, yogurt, banana.... then off to bed.

BTW- I did not inquire about my current drug cycle, the drugs are irrelevant to the question I asked, but if you must know, aas are pharma grade. Thanks.

 

[buddhabuilder]

Cut out one protein shake and add 3 meals, you will gain.

 

[bonacris]

OK guys. You want my diet, here it is. Based on my height and weight, and level of activity my maintenance calories come in at 3218. I currently consume 3750 calories per day. Being summer just around the corner I have changed my diet slightly from the 40/40/20 to a 55/30/15, however I normally stick to 40/40/20.

450-500 g protein per day.
175-225 g carbs per day.

6 am - 9 egg whites, 3 whole omega 3 eggs, ezekiel cereal

9 am - protein shake, peanut butter, 1 cup almonds

Noon- 12 oz venison steak, 1 cup brown rice, 1 cup broccoli

3 pm- protein shake, Ezekiel bread and turkey sandwich

6 pm- 12 oz chicken breast, sweet potato, skim milk

9 pm- casein protein, yogurt, banana.... then off to bed.

BTW- I did not inquire about my current drug cycle, the drugs are irrelevant to the question I asked, but if you must know, aas are pharma grade. Thanks.

Your 9 AM, 3 PM and 9 PM meals are not really meals.. they are shakes and a sandwich.

I see no oats or beef or fish in this diet at all.. These are essentials, in my book, for growth. I definitely think your diet is the reason your not putting on mass


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[txk88]

OK. I guess we are getting specific. That was just am example of what I consumed yesterday. The 3 pm shake was post work out. I obviously do no eat same thing every day. Beef oats and fish are irrelevant as long as macros are on point. As for today, it is an off day so I will only consume a casein shake before bed. I had whole grain oatmeal at 7. @ 9 I had Tilapia, I have a 18 oz lean sirlion for my 6 pm meal. ETC. The point is I consume 500+ calories above maintenance level, 2 grams protein per body weight and 1-1.4 grams carbs per body weight. Its cut and dry let's not over complicate it.

 

[bonacris]

You don't need 500 grams of protein either. For a guy your size you should be consuming more carbs..

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[MaxxReps]

If you are actually eating over 500 cals / day maintenance and not gaining weight then I'd suspect your maintenance calculation is off.

Number of meals doesn't really matter. Shakes/whole food doesn't really matter that much either, although I would not want whey to make up a large part of my protein intake. I'd agree with bonacris that you maybe should trade some of your protein for carbs.

Also, as you probably know now, gear is not magic. It won't make up for genetics. My chest is very slow to respond but it is responding - but is taking months.

 

[txk88]

I am starting to lean more towards genetics myself. I get blood work every month. Its always spot on, my health is my number one concern. I had a fellow CNS do a study on me and over a 3 day period, I average 3200 calories a day roughly. That's with training, etc. I will bump my intake by 300 and see what happens. For what its worth thanks for the advice. I have a close relationship with my doctor (he is family), if I cannot overcome this obstacle soon I will venture out to other solutions.

 

[hesnobradpitt]

I'm thinking pasta and meatballs for am meal not shake and add a big scoop of full fat ice-cream to shakes all shakes even casein or cottage cheese with almonds before bed , I like cottage and beef jerky myself when you bulk bulk don't try to lean bulk eat !

 

[Mr. Chicago]

^^^ I feel the same way, you want to put on mass but here you are counting all these calories and eating regimented strict meals and only consuming a couple hundred cals over what you use. Don't be afraid to eat bro, even though summer is around the corner you still have time to cut down, or even for next year don't be afraid to eat some "cheat" foods as others call it, I just call them lunch and dinner haha.