When I started out I wasn't on any aas (of course) and weighed 140 something lbs at 6'2" and was 22 years old. Obviously I had a high metabolism (young, male, tall, skinny) and found out quick that I had to eat a lot to gain anything. My normal daily intake was probably around 2200 calories per day. I bumped that up to 3500 calories. And, it was hard to do. As a skinny guy I just didn't crave tons of food- let alone half-way clean food. So, I was taking in an aprox. extra 1300 calories per day. Guess what? I didn't gain anything. I bumped it up to 3800 calories for 2 weeks, still nothing. Finally I forced myself to eat exactly 4000 calories per day (it was about all I could do to do that! so believe me I was counting down the cals every day). Within a week I was up several lbs! A week later I was up a few more lbs. Then, I had to bump it up again slightly. My point to this rambling is that it was that last little 200 calories that tipped me over the metabolic edge. I know it doesn't make logical sense. But, it stuck with me.
Any time I feel I'm just not growing well I only have to look at my diet. Generally (being lazy) I get plenty of rest, and as I love to train hard (big ego) that's in check. All that's left is food, for me anyhow. And, it's funny, I can stall out and quit gaining on a gram of test, gh and slin if I'm not eating properly. Up the calories sufficiently and, boom, there's the gains!