Skinny with unattractive stomach
Skinny with unattractive stomach
I am 24 yrs 6 feet 168 lbs 33 inch waist skinny arms skinny legs if I were to let myself go I would primarily gain weight in my mid section (common with the men in my family, all skinny with a belly).
I have been consistently working out for the past 3 months with the goal of gaining a little muscle mass, at least where the average man won't be able to wrap his fingers around my arm. I have been on a 3-4 day lifting cycle with low reps and heavy weights, doing compound exercises, taking appropriate breaks, and little to no cardio work. I keep track of everything I do and how many times I do it. Nutrition wise I have tried to increase my caloric intake in order to stimulate muscle growth, I averaged about 2500-2900 pretty much healthy calories a day. Also I drank a whey protein shake after every workout.
I started out 157 lbs 32 inch waist, now I am 168 33 inch waist. I would say that 11 pounds went all to my midsection. Now my stomach (which didn't look good in the first place, a small pooch) is now worse. People who haven't seen me in 3 months say I have gotten fatter and would never believe I have been working out the entire summer.
Big picture wise I understand I was going to gain weight while trying to bulk up a little, then ultimately go on a cutting phase and be where I want to be. However, there's no noticeable difference in the size of my arms, chest, or any of the parts you want to gain muscle in. I know 3 months isn't long to be working out, but I shouldn't look worse and have no noticeable muscle gains.
Is there anything I can do? Or am I stuck with this E.T. look forever? Please help.
Thanks
First off, welcome to the forums! The most obvious question I can think to ask is did you take tape measurements before and after you started your routine of the muscles you wanted to build?
Even if they really are the same as when you started, just remember that everyone develops muscles differently. For instance I lifted for several years and my arms never really looked very great but then I learned exactly what I needed to do to have great arms and I have more or less been able to achieve it in the past two months. I'd still like my biceps to be 2 inches bigger, but my triceps now have definition as well as my deltoids and both of these contribute to shaping a great looking arm. For one thing, the tricep is a larger muscle than the bicep and hence it has potential to rapidly increase the mass of the arm. Secondly, the deltoid, if worked well has the potential to give the appearance of natural pauldrons on the shoulders.
Now you said you're doing high weights low reps yeah? I would advice doing progressives instead. I've found they're far more effective. So rather than doing let's say 8 reps 3 times, you do your max reps to failure shooting for a weight that will allow you to get about 10-12 reps (though don't be a slave to the number) then when you've rested a minute or so, go again to failure. This should take you to 8-10 reps. Do this for four sets so your final set is only 4-6 reps. I can almost guarantee that this will help you put mass on your arms. Two months of that did more for me than four years of static sets.
Are you gaining strength?
I would cut the cals by a little and lift to gain strength.
I started off at 5'11" 172lbs with little muscle mass. I overate at first. You can make solid muscle gains with a few hundred cals over maintainence. Hell, when you first start you can make muscle gains pretty easily at or below maintainence.
This is the routine that I follow
Thanks
I am 24 yrs 6 feet 168 lbs 33 inch waist skinny arms skinny legs if I were to let myself go I would primarily gain weight in my mid section (common with the men in my family, all skinny with a belly).
I have been consistently working out for the past 3 months with the goal of gaining a little muscle mass, at least where the average man won't be able to wrap his fingers around my arm. I have been on a 3-4 day lifting cycle with low reps and heavy weights, doing compound exercises, taking appropriate breaks, and little to no cardio work. I keep track of everything I do and how many times I do it. Nutrition wise I have tried to increase my caloric intake in order to stimulate muscle growth, I averaged about 2500-2900 pretty much healthy calories a day. Also I drank a whey protein shake after every workout.
I started out 157 lbs 32 inch waist, now I am 168 33 inch waist. I would say that 11 pounds went all to my midsection. Now my stomach (which didn't look good in the first place, a small pooch) is now worse. People who haven't seen me in 3 months say I have gotten fatter and would never believe I have been working out the entire summer.
Big picture wise I understand I was going to gain weight while trying to bulk up a little, then ultimately go on a cutting phase and be where I want to be. However, there's no noticeable difference in the size of my arms, chest, or any of the parts you want to gain muscle in. I know 3 months isn't long to be working out, but I shouldn't look worse and have no noticeable muscle gains.
Is there anything I can do? Or am I stuck with this E.T. look forever? Please help.
Thanks calorie wise looks good assuming,, theyre clean calories? calorie wise your maintenance level is around 2850 calories. considering youre not obese you should keep the calories in that ballpark and add light cardio in between your lifting days. try 3 days a week,,,20-30 on a treadmill at low speed. this in conjunction with your lifting routine should help tighten you up. if your still not dropping any fat subtract 500 calories and go from there
I am 24 yrs 6 feet 168 lbs 33 inch waist skinny arms skinny legs if I were to let myself go I would primarily gain weight in my mid section (common with the men in my family, all skinny with a belly).
I have been consistently working out for the past 3 months with the goal of gaining a little muscle mass, at least where the average man won't be able to wrap his fingers around my arm. I have been on a 3-4 day lifting cycle with low reps and heavy weights, doing compound exercises, taking appropriate breaks, and little to no cardio work. I keep track of everything I do and how many times I do it. Nutrition wise I have tried to increase my caloric intake in order to stimulate muscle growth, I averaged about 2500-2900 pretty much healthy calories a day. Also I drank a whey protein shake after every workout.
I started out 157 lbs 32 inch waist, now I am 168 33 inch waist. I would say that 11 pounds went all to my midsection. Now my stomach (which didn't look good in the first place, a small pooch) is now worse. People who haven't seen me in 3 months say I have gotten fatter and would never believe I have been working out the entire summer.
Big picture wise I understand I was going to gain weight while trying to bulk up a little, then ultimately go on a cutting phase and be where I want to be. However, there's no noticeable difference in the size of my arms, chest, or any of the parts you want to gain muscle in. I know 3 months isn't long to be working out, but I shouldn't look worse and have no noticeable muscle gains.
Is there anything I can do? Or am I stuck with this E.T. look forever? Please help.
Thanks
Answer:
First off, welcome to the forums! The most obvious question I can think to ask is did you take tape measurements before and after you started your routine of the muscles you wanted to build?
Even if they really are the same as when you started, just remember that everyone develops muscles differently. For instance I lifted for several years and my arms never really looked very great but then I learned exactly what I needed to do to have great arms and I have more or less been able to achieve it in the past two months. I'd still like my biceps to be 2 inches bigger, but my triceps now have definition as well as my deltoids and both of these contribute to shaping a great looking arm. For one thing, the tricep is a larger muscle than the bicep and hence it has potential to rapidly increase the mass of the arm. Secondly, the deltoid, if worked well has the potential to give the appearance of natural pauldrons on the shoulders.
Now you said you're doing high weights low reps yeah? I would advice doing progressives instead. I've found they're far more effective. So rather than doing let's say 8 reps 3 times, you do your max reps to failure shooting for a weight that will allow you to get about 10-12 reps (though don't be a slave to the number) then when you've rested a minute or so, go again to failure. This should take you to 8-10 reps. Do this for four sets so your final set is only 4-6 reps. I can almost guarantee that this will help you put mass on your arms. Two months of that did more for me than four years of static sets.
Answer:
Are you gaining strength?
I would cut the cals by a little and lift to gain strength.
I started off at 5'11" 172lbs with little muscle mass. I overate at first. You can make solid muscle gains with a few hundred cals over maintainence. Hell, when you first start you can make muscle gains pretty easily at or below maintainence.
Answer:
This is the routine that I follow
Thanks
Answer:
I am 24 yrs 6 feet 168 lbs 33 inch waist skinny arms skinny legs if I were to let myself go I would primarily gain weight in my mid section (common with the men in my family, all skinny with a belly).
I have been consistently working out for the past 3 months with the goal of gaining a little muscle mass, at least where the average man won't be able to wrap his fingers around my arm. I have been on a 3-4 day lifting cycle with low reps and heavy weights, doing compound exercises, taking appropriate breaks, and little to no cardio work. I keep track of everything I do and how many times I do it. Nutrition wise I have tried to increase my caloric intake in order to stimulate muscle growth, I averaged about 2500-2900 pretty much healthy calories a day. Also I drank a whey protein shake after every workout.
I started out 157 lbs 32 inch waist, now I am 168 33 inch waist. I would say that 11 pounds went all to my midsection. Now my stomach (which didn't look good in the first place, a small pooch) is now worse. People who haven't seen me in 3 months say I have gotten fatter and would never believe I have been working out the entire summer.
Big picture wise I understand I was going to gain weight while trying to bulk up a little, then ultimately go on a cutting phase and be where I want to be. However, there's no noticeable difference in the size of my arms, chest, or any of the parts you want to gain muscle in. I know 3 months isn't long to be working out, but I shouldn't look worse and have no noticeable muscle gains.
Is there anything I can do? Or am I stuck with this E.T. look forever? Please help.
Thanks calorie wise looks good assuming,, theyre clean calories? calorie wise your maintenance level is around 2850 calories. considering youre not obese you should keep the calories in that ballpark and add light cardio in between your lifting days. try 3 days a week,,,20-30 on a treadmill at low speed. this in conjunction with your lifting routine should help tighten you up. if your still not dropping any fat subtract 500 calories and go from there