Take it easy on the forum newbie

[ReiverFootball]

Hi, I have recently been in a very long plateau in the weight room. My bench for example has maybe gone up 10 pounds in the past year. I have tried different training methods, different supplements, everything. Im a 21 year old college student looking for some friendly but yet honest advice. Right now Im eating around 3500 calories a day, sometimes more if I have time like on weekends. Im getting 100 grams of protein a day just from proteins shakes, not to mention all the milk/peanut butter/beef I shove down daily. I also take 8 grams of creatine a day. Im about 6'2 170 pounds naked in the morning.

My question here is, some training partners down the hall from me have recently been taking 17 phero and 5 deca zol from Complete Nutrition. Now now, calm yourselfs. I know these are usually frowned upon but Im not your usual clueless 15 year old. I have done LOTS of research before I even thought of making this post. Now, my friends have shown massive gains, not only in size but in strength as well. I've always been more protective of my body and have been holding back on purchasing such supplements, basically oral steroids correct? The idiots behind the counter say you need to be 18 to take these, but I've read online and everyone says 21. Here's where it gets tricky, I may be 21 years of age, but you could say I might LOOK a little younger than most of my friends. Its not like I look like a 14 year old, but I can barely grow any facial hair, things like that. Why do people who actually know what they are talking about say 21 before you take stuff like this? I dont want to worry about not being able to have kids, gyno, ED, stuff like that.

I need to find a way to gain weight and get out of this plateau. If these supplements would be of any danger to me, what does anyone suggest?

Thanks!
-Jake

 

[brandonp005]

6'2" 170 lbs and eating 3500 cals per day and sometimes more?????

Post your diet in detail bro. What you eat and time?
Post your training regimine in detail.

At your age, shit just doesn't seem right.

 

[azul]

Hi, I have recently been in a very long plateau in the weight room. My bench for example has maybe gone up 10 pounds in the past year. I have tried different training methods, different supplements, everything. Im a 21 year old college student looking for some friendly but yet honest advice. Right now Im eating around 3500 calories a day, sometimes more if I have time like on weekends. Im getting 100 grams of protein a day just from proteins shakes, not to mention all the milk/peanut butter/beef I shove down daily. I also take 8 grams of creatine a day. Im about 6'2 170 pounds naked in the morning.

My question here is, some training partners down the hall from me have recently been taking 17 phero and 5 deca zol from Complete Nutrition. Now now, calm yourselfs. I know these are usually frowned upon but Im not your usual clueless 15 year old. I have done LOTS of research before I even thought of making this post. Now, my friends have shown massive gains, not only in size but in strength as well. I've always been more protective of my body and have been holding back on purchasing such supplements, basically oral steroids correct? The idiots behind the counter say you need to be 18 to take these, but I've read online and everyone says 21. Here's where it gets tricky, I may be 21 years of age, but you could say I might LOOK a little younger than most of my friends. Its not like I look like a 14 year old, but I can barely grow any facial hair, things like that. Why do people who actually know what they are talking about say 21 before you take stuff like this? I dont want to worry about not being able to have kids, gyno, ED, stuff like that.

I need to find a way to gain weight and get out of this plateau. If these supplements would be of any danger to me, what does anyone suggest?

Thanks!
-Jake

Have you ever considered getting some serious blood tests done (with serious I mean having a needle drawing blood out of you for 2 minutes straight)? There's a lot of stuff to test for, and perhaps it could explain your lack of facial hair. How's your sex drive, muscle mass, body fat?

There's no rule about being 21... taking steroids at the age of 18 won't kill you... it's just not the greatest idea in 99% of all people.

Tell me this... how's your bodyfat? Are you lean? Healthy overall? You like to spank the monkey fairly often? Then you're most likely ok... some people just have more facial hair than others...

Basically, look at your diet this way... you think you're eating a lot, right? Well, you're full of shit. You can say you're eating a lot when you start getting fat. And when you work out hard and start getting fat and you're still not gaining any muscle, then you can come back and whine.

All you skinny people complaining about eating so much and never gaining any weight... until you go gain 10 lbs of fat (yes, fat), please don't complain. You're obviously not eating enough.

It takes some time to get used to eating more, but it's worth it. You're not a magician... your calories don't just disappear into thin air. Your body's using them. And if you're not gaining any weight at all, be it fat or muscle, you're obviously not eating enough.

Oh, and start using fitday or some program to keep track of exactly what you're eating. Most people who THINK they're getting a certain amount of calories are usually lying to themselves unless they're actually counting them.

 

[brandonp005]

FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal

 

[azul]

FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal

More useful than 10 grams of straight T.

 

[SouthernLord]

Welocme to EF.

You do not need drugs. Period. Supplements will not help you either. You need to eat more food. Try 4000 calories a day. Don't guess either. Spend a few weeks writing down everything you put into your mouth and total up the macronutrients and total calories. You might just surprise your self by how mush you "thought" you were eating.

BTW......If you look young and can barely grow facial hair at 21 then you are STILL DEVELOPING!!! Following your frat brothers footsteps by taking oral steriods would be stupid imo. This is not a put down. Just think this over for a minute. Steroids + a still developing body = disaster. The research proves this. This is not "bro knowledge".


Please stick around and learn something. We have quite a few knowledgeable people that love to help out. Check out our weight training and diet forums. maybe post up your current training and cardio routine and your diet for a critique.

What ever you choose to do good luck.

 

[ReiverFootball]

Have you ever considered getting some serious blood tests done (with serious I mean having a needle drawing blood out of you for 2 minutes straight)? There's a lot of stuff to test for, and perhaps it could explain your lack of facial hair. How's your sex drive, muscle mass, body fat?

There's no rule about being 21... taking steroids at the age of 18 won't kill you... it's just not the greatest idea in 99% of all people.

Tell me this... how's your bodyfat? Are you lean? Healthy overall? You like to spank the monkey fairly often? Then you're most likely ok... some people just have more facial hair than others...

Basically, look at your diet this way... you think you're eating a lot, right? Well, you're full of shit. You can say you're eating a lot when you start getting fat. And when you work out hard and start getting fat and you're still not gaining any muscle, then you can come back and whine.

All you skinny people complaining about eating so much and never gaining any weight... until you go gain 10 lbs of fat (yes, fat), please don't complain. You're obviously not eating enough.

It takes some time to get used to eating more, but it's worth it. You're not a magician... your calories don't just disappear into thin air. Your body's using them. And if you're not gaining any weight at all, be it fat or muscle, you're obviously not eating enough.

Oh, and start using fitday or some program to keep track of exactly what you're eating. Most people who THINK they're getting a certain amount of calories are usually lying to themselves unless they're actually counting them.

Great post. To answer some questions...

I have a great sex drive, I have a girlfriend of 6 years ( hopefully popping the question soon ) and she definately doesnt mind sex at least once daily. My body fat is very low and I'm very healthy and active. Dont drink pop, rarely drink alcohol, no candy, no stupid foods like that.

Good point about skinny people complaining about gaining weight, but here's the thing. I eat so much, Im almost to the point where I'm getting the skinny mans belly. Its like it doesn't go to the rest of my body. My frame is pretty small, I have that little indent in my chest, and my shoulders are very wide so my shoulder blades stick out too.

I eat until I am almost sick at each and every meal. Morning - protein shake, pple, oatmeal, couple eggs. Lunch - Couple chicken breasts, milk, salad, turkey sandwich . Dinner - Spaghetti, protein shake, milk, PB&J, banana.

Thats somewhat of a normal day for me. I didnt take the time to put EXACTLY what I eat and sidedishes, but those are the main things. Plus, in between meals I always sneak a can a tuna or PB sandwich, and of course before I go to bed.

 

[sweed]

Omega Project.
I was consuming about 25-2600 cals a day and I was gaining lbm, and loosing fat.
I went from 248- 227 in a few months. But got injured and had to stop. This was only using minimal supps since my income sucked!
I highly recommend it. Oh ya I was not using AS or any similar form to AS. So you can do it naturally!

 

[ReiverFootball]

Welocme to EF.

You do not need drugs. Period. Supplements will not help you either. You need to eat more food. Try 4000 calories a day. Don't guess either. Spend a few weeks writing down everything you put into your mouth and total up the macronutrients and total calories. You might just surprise your self by how mush you "thought" you were eating.

BTW......If you look young and can barely grow facial hair at 21 then you are STILL DEVELOPING!!! Following your frat brothers footsteps by taking oral steriods would be stupid imo. This is not a put down. Just think this over for a minute. Steroids + a still developing body = disaster. The research proves this. This is not "bro knowledge".


Please stick around and learn something. We have quite a few knowledgeable people that love to help out. Check out our weight training and diet forums. maybe post up your current training and cardio routine and your diet for a critique.

What ever you choose to do good luck.

Another great post!! This is what I've been looking for, honest and stern advice.

 

[SouthernLord]

Great post. To answer some questions...

I have a great sex drive, I have a girlfriend of 6 years ( hopefully popping the question soon ) and she definately doesnt mind sex at least once daily. My body fat is very low and I'm very healthy and active. Dont drink pop, rarely drink alcohol, no candy, no stupid foods like that.

Good point about skinny people complaining about gaining weight, but here's the thing. I eat so much, Im almost to the point where I'm getting the skinny mans belly. Its like it doesn't go to the rest of my body. My frame is pretty small, I have that little indent in my chest, and my shoulders are very wide so my shoulder blades stick out too.

I eat until I am almost sick at each and every meal. Morning - protein shake, pple, oatmeal, couple eggs. Lunch - Couple chicken breasts, milk, salad, turkey sandwich . Dinner - Spaghetti, protein shake, milk, PB&J, banana.


Thats somewhat of a normal day for me. I didnt take the time to put EXACTLY what I eat and sidedishes, but those are the main things. Plus, in between meals I always sneak a can a tuna or PB sandwich, and of course before I go to bed.

This does not look very good, and I doubt it adds up to 3500 kcal. You are getting a gut because of poor dietary habits and more than likely poor training habits. Again, I am not trying to rip on you. I am just being straight up. You need diet help not drugs.

What is your current training and cardio routine like?

 

[deepveinthromb]

at your age it would be more benificial to do a full body workout twice a week to failure or isolate bodyparts 3 days a week where your only training each bodypart 1 time per week.
mon. chest, delts, tri
wed. legs
fri. back, biceps

rest and recovery at your age is where youll get the most benefits. but train hard.

 

[azul]

Great post. To answer some questions...

I have a great sex drive, I have a girlfriend of 6 years ( hopefully popping the question soon ) and she definately doesnt mind sex at least once daily. My body fat is very low and I'm very healthy and active. Dont drink pop, rarely drink alcohol, no candy, no stupid foods like that.

Good point about skinny people complaining about gaining weight, but here's the thing. I eat so much, Im almost to the point where I'm getting the skinny mans belly. Its like it doesn't go to the rest of my body. My frame is pretty small, I have that little indent in my chest, and my shoulders are very wide so my shoulder blades stick out too.

I eat until I am almost sick at each and every meal. Morning - protein shake, pple, oatmeal, couple eggs. Lunch - Couple chicken breasts, milk, salad, turkey sandwich . Dinner - Spaghetti, protein shake, milk, PB&J, banana.

Thats somewhat of a normal day for me. I didnt take the time to put EXACTLY what I eat and sidedishes, but those are the main things. Plus, in between meals I always sneak a can a tuna or PB sandwich, and of course before I go to bed.

You need to start eating at least 6 meals a day. And you need to learn about proper pre and post-workout nutrition (maltodextrin+dextrose+hydrolized protein).

You gotta train yourself to eat a lot. It's not that hard. Trust me, it's much harder to train yourself to eat less.

And when you say a skinny man's belly, do you mean fat or bloat? Cause if it's fat, then you're just not working out out hard enough. If you weighed 210 lbs and couldn't gain any more LBM, I'd understand your dilemma. But at your weight, I don't think steroids/pro-hormones are the answer.

You need to tell us far more about your training and diet.

 

[10001110101]

yeah i mean 3500 cals at 6'2 with a superfast metabolism isn't going to pack on the mass.

but it SHOULD be adding muscle.

your strength should go up steady, but it's a very slow process doing it naturally with your metabolism. it's a struggle that mesomorphs don't quite understand. and the belly has probably more to do with just the volume of food you're eating, i recommend getting some metamucil and some activia they will help reduce that bloating in your stomach.

but yeah try to get to 4000 cals, and honestly i doubt you eat 3500 cals every day, if i'm right you can probably go for 2-3 days without eating more than 1500, then suddenly you pig out for a few days, then you can go for a while without eating.

i'm the same way.

i actually went on cycle and was disappointed with results the first few weeks (i was like why isn't this shit working?) then i added 1000cals/day to my diet and high protein.

what do you know i gained 10 in the two weeks following and i suddenly felt the juice working.

then i realized that my diet might have been to blame all along.

then i went through PCT and it was hell.

then i realized i should have figured out diet and training the first go round then looked to anabolics.



but you're your own man you can do whatever the hell you want, i'm just saying it can be helpful to figure out how your body works naturally first.

 

[2evil]

Like the others have said - post up your diet and routine. No steroids will help your diet. And don't forget - your training and diet have a dramatic impact on your metabolism AND your hormone profile. People forget this.

You've got to concentrate on your large compound lifts to add any real mass. Squat, deadlift, bench and overhead presses. Stick around. You'll learn a lot from this site. It's a great knowledge base .

 

[ReiverFootball]

The belly is definately not fat. I have defined abs.

Monday - BB bench, Incline bench, Hang cleans, Incline DB flys, tricep extensions, curls

Wednesday - Deadlift, BB row, Front squat, lat pull downs, one armed rows, BB military

Friday - Squat, BB bench, Leg press, calve raises.

 

[Varga]

I got one thing to say....you know you eat enough when you put on a bit of fat...if you keep geting leaner then you not eating enough. The gym split is fine and as long as you don't over train, it doesn;t really matter the lifting part...I think it;s the food since your sex drive is good and I doubt you over train at all.
Food and sleep that;s what you may want to look into

 

[willyb021]

people say 21 because its said that you are still developing and growing naturally. as for the facial hair thing. im 23 and can barely grow facial hair. its basically my heritage . my dad barely grows facial hair. as for ur height weight & calorie intake thats really surprising you havent been putting on weight

 

[ceo]

First, 3500 calories is about half the amount you should be eating. But, since you sound like you don't really keep track of what you eat and don't really want to...instead of trying to count all your calories and all macros, just focus on consuming 2 to 3 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight each day.

Right now you should be taking in at least 340 grams of protein a day. 60 grams of protein 6 times a day = 360 grams. That should be a minimum. If you can't manage to shove enough food down your throat, drink a shake (up to half of the daily amount if you have to). At every meal, eat carbs (pastas, breads, rice, etc.) as filler after you eat your protein first. Make sure you get in some veggies with each meal too, to keep things moving through your GI tract (poopin). Also, make sure you are getting enough good fats (fish, flax, olive oils). Adding a couple tablespoons EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) to a protein shake is an easy way to get more fats in.

Also, go over to the training forum and read the training vault sticky and read everything you can in the links to the "madcow 5x5" program. That routine sets you up on a path to constantly progress in weights you are lifting.

You learn how to eat and train, and barring any significant medical issues, you should be able to steadily gain at least 50 lbs over the next couple years without steroids.