Muscle Gaining

[- Human]

I'm interested in gaining some muscle... as I'm in university, I have free access to all the training facilities I want. I'm going to be doing length swimming a lot, as well as some kung fu every day (i'm far away from my school.... so i'm training alone, stretching, etc.)

But I want to maximize my muscle gain. I don't want to be huge but i want bigger arms and a 6-pack. Can anyone give me some advice as to how best gain muscle without getting too fat/big?

My most important question is how long should i work my arms/abs for, and how often? i read that 5-7 days is neccesary for the muscles to heal and grow, but a lot of people say every other day is fine. Can anyone clean this up for me?

Any tips on getting a 6-pack also useful. ;) Im almost there, i think i just need to lose some fat (2-5 lbs) and gain a bit more muscle.:cool:

Lastly, i'm taking some protein supplements... When should I be drinking these whey shakes? Before/during/after?

[KaiKhoon]

Workout till muscle failure (can no longer move your lift in a positive motion) and then rest until you feel 100% this could be from 48 hours to more than a week, everyone is different, and there should be no set time to wait.

6-pack, lose fat. It has very little to do with muscle mass. It has to do with how much fat you have smoothing your tone. Remember if you want one kind of 6 pack you can't have the other,

[IronFist]

Is your user name like the Metallica song?

[- Human]

as a matter of fact, it is!

Another question on losing fat:

I heard that lots more fat is burned before breakfast. Howeveer, a personal trainer i know said it's good to eat a tiny bit of something before you do the pre-breakfast work out, like an apple or something like that.

What's better, going empty or going wit ha little bit of fruit in me?

[fa_jing]

according to something I just read, if you work out on an empty stomach, it's good if you're very overweight, but not good if you are in good shape because your body will consume muscle before fat in this situation.

[Hau Tien]

Over the last 8 months or so I've gone from 246lbs and 30+% bodyfat to 176lbs and 12% bodyfat. I can guarantee that the "6 pack" is a result of fat loss, as I'm just now getting one. I figure I'll be able to see it very well at 10% body fat (my goal for now), as at 12% it is already visible.

I lost this fat by simply eating less (and better food) and doing more. I worked out in the morning as well. Before I work out I generally have a glass of homemade lemonade made with a low calorie sweetener (I use Splenda) and lemon juice/water. The morning is the best time to lose fat, as you've got very little (or nothing) in your stomach.

As for muscle gain, your workout should consist of high weight/low repetitions to "failure", as described above. In addition to this, your diet is also important. Do some google searches for "body builder diets" or something similar. You'll definitely need a decent protein supplement, though, as you'll want about a gram of protein per pound of bodyweight a day in your diet. You have to eat a lot of calories to put on muscle mass.

Anyway... wish I had time to give more details... maybe someone else here can offer more advice.

Cheers and good luck!

[IronFist]

^ Good progress.

[IronMonkey]

Im curious, the reps til failure, do you just do one big set til you cant, cause usually people do a few sets of an exercise.

[FngSaiYuk]

Originally posted by IronMonkey
Im curious, the reps til failure, do you just do one big set til you cant, cause usually people do a few sets of an exercise.

Depends on you goal, for strength, go with 3-5 sets of decreasing reps (say first set at 10-12reps and the last set at 4-6 reps). Go heavy enough to make each set end up in muscle failure. This usually builds muscle very quickly at first, for people who haven't really weight trained, but then you get gains in strength over size once your body has become moderately built for the excercises.

For stamina, go with moderate weight and a large number of reps. Vary the sets from 1 large one to say up to 10 sets, again pushing each set to failure. This is the one where you can be creative in how many reps and sets you work. This typically builds the most amount of muscle over time as you end up breaking down more muscle tissue from the greater amount of total reps.

[FngSaiYuk]

Oh yah, and eat enough quality protein to rebuild your muscles, and enough complex carbs to give you energy. The amount you'll need depends quite a bit on your metabolism, body mass, body type, muscle & fat distribution, etc. You may want to check with a sports nutritionist.

[KaiKhoon]

I had done 3 sets of exercises for about 2 years. I've got better results in under a year of doing 1 set, not to mention how it takes way less time. I'm barely in the Gym for 40 minutes and I'm done. When it used to take upwards of 1 and a half hours to do lifts with 1 less exercise.

[blooming lotus]

Originally posted by - Human
as a matter of fact, it is!

Another question on losing fat:

I heard that lots more fat is burned before breakfast. Howeveer, a personal trainer i know said it's good to eat a tiny bit of something before you do the pre-breakfast work out, like an apple or something like that.

What's better, going empty or going wit ha little bit of fruit in me?


firstly lol at Iron diggin the metalicca ref......... kinda made me read more as well......



the reason "apple" is advocated pre - workout 1st thing morn workout is beacuse the sugar acts in lieu of caffeine/ waking you up and speeding metabolism. i'd still rather orange juice with vit suplement, coffe + green / cleansing tea ( tannin ( in tea / coffee etc) prohibiting Iron absorbtion >>>> come promtoting constipation :( ) 1/2 hourish later and protein shake / milk chaser........


I personally do protein as either a viscous restoration ( spleen, pancreas , gall bladder etc etc.organic filter lining ) , but also as a must for muscle recovery post workout recovery .... protein is the mortar abnd your complex carbs the brick for cellualar ( including muscle ) building. if you wanna be strong and grow muscle, it's gotta be done.........

I do protein ideally up to 6-8 times a day in portions of approx 1/4 - 1.25 bw pending work load.... but do this get lean and expect to be feeling heavy...... don't forget your carbs ( fruit / veg mostly ) for min 1.15 : protein consumption so it has something to bond to. I also cleanse regularly with green tea and alot of water.


Protein is what gives you the "full feeling " and for an athlete is essential, but carbs not only break it down, but rebalnce your nervous system. Unless you want to be either hollow muscled or a raving lunatic with runaway nevers, pls treat your self to both regularly in portions adequate for your size and weight.


HT says 1 gm protein / kg bw , I say go harder and make it 2 - 2.5 , but fibre and fluid essential!!!!!! Cut your sugar intake, up your sloppy /fruit veg and minimise that flour !!!!


Enjoy dude.:)


Ps: so awesome to hear you are still seeing results, for HTs' diet , plan pls pm me at leisure!:)

[Serpent]

Originally posted by blooming lotus

I do protein ideally up to 6-8 times a day in portions of approx 1/4 - 1.25 bw pending work load....
You eat a quarter to one a quarter times your bodyweight in protein six to eight time a day!? :eek:

And that's just the most obvious thing wrong with your post. I'll let some of the others pick up the other errors so that you don't accuse me of picking on you.

:rolleyes:

[blooming lotus]

on a full training regime ...yah..for sure.

but that much food is hard to eat so protein shakes invaluable. Most folks don't train as much as I usually do though, so above portions maybe 4 x should be fine. Just make em lean or liquid.

[blooming lotus]

[B]200lbs :confused:

no, what ever I posted, a little logic would tell you I meant 12 1/2 - 15 gms ( though I usually do around 25 - 30 at 45 ish kgs ) 8x for me and 4x for you at the same weight ( hence need for milk/ egg whites and shakes being more soluable) . Hard core keto ( aimed at what?? ) but there're things you do to protect your kidneys and aid absorbtion, break down and flush.

Can you apply logic to your own posts occassionally?? Would be easier - but clear is clear and now we are.

cheers

[Bak Kuei]

:confused: :confused:

[IronFist]

Just read posts by Ford Prefect, Toby, and myself. Use the search button.

[blooming lotus]

I just lost the jist??


was that directed at me Iron??

[blooming lotus]

Originally posted by blooming lotus
on a full training regime ...yah..for sure.

but that much food is hard to eat so protein shakes invaluable. Most folks don't train as much as I usually do though, so above portions maybe 4 x should be fine. Just make em lean or liquid.

Ps: you're a weight and complex( lol @ the faux par ..... carb on edit :) ) feind, unlike alot of the world!!

can you accept that people train differntly and therefore need alternate dietary requs??


sorry dude! I'll never be a hard core weight lifter, but managing my 70 + kgs of gifts and luggage drag over china, looking nicely v'd up top and no plans to take heavier.

I'm just not real sure what you think your problem is???


Serps?? :confused:

[Serpent]

I have absolutely no idea what you are raving about in your recent posts other than you seem to be saying that you do indeed eat your bodyweight in protein 6 to 8 times per day, which is complete shyte.

You're hurting my brain and nobody is going to understand, let alone attempt, your advice, so I'm just going to ignore you now.

[blooming lotus]

ok, fair enough, but just cause you don't understand that doesn't mean no-one else does.

I eat by the gram and weigh by the kg....

have an easy one soonish ha ;)

[Serpent]

Look at me. I'm ignoring you.

[blooming lotus]

And because of that, I am so so sad and feeling bad!! :rolleyes: :p


Serps,

I know you read what I write, because you are an affectionado of the truth and are not convinced I don't have some. Pretend to be ignoring me, but i'm still reading your posts and still posting my info and my own versions........


peace babes.

ignore on........ i didn't notice :)

[IronFist]

Sorry, when I said "read posts by Ford, Toby, and myself" I was referring to the title topic, "gaining muscle." Pretty much us three have told many times the basic principles for gaining muscle. I wasn't paying attention to any side topics that came up in this thread. Sorry for any confusion.