No muscle in 3 years of Natural lifting

[SkinnyFatGuy]

hmmmm?
You already know what I think the main problem is, and I think that attributes to your self-fulfilling prophecy of failure.

If you don't use a progressive overload mentality in your workouts, you wont make muscle gains.

If you don;t make muscle gains, you get frustrated.

If you get frustrated, you will quit.

I'm not saying you need to jump into an advanced workout routine. Just bare with me here;

Muscles can do 3 things, get smaller, stay the same size, or get bigger.

The only way the later will occur is by lifting more weight, tearing down the muscle, and rebuilding it bigger. If you're doing the same workout with the same weight, you are just burning calories and not building muscle.

Exactly. I think this is my problem, which is why massive strength gains is my MAIN focus right now. I'm not worrying about "hitting the muscle with enough volume", or "getting the right pump", or "following this routine or that routine". I've done all of that. The only objective I've failed at, is a consistent accumluation of a lot of strength. It's the only variable left unturned. Like I said, if I get to squatting 300 lbs., benching 200, deadlifting 350, military pressing 135, all for 2 sets of 8 reps, in the near future, and I'm not substantially bigger, then we know something isn't right.


Dan

[SkinnyFatGuy]

I can;t understand why he cringes at the suggestion of lifting heavier, but complains about not being able to add muscle. Adding muscle is hard for everyone, and gaining fat is an issue for everyone also. I'm not buying the "hard-gainer" excuse anymore. If you wat to get big, lift big weights. PERIOD.
Also, judging by the pics, you don;t appear to be a true ectomorph either.
I'm not going to quote Arnold here, but maybe "discipline" is also an issue.

I don't cringe at this issue! This IS the issue! I'm trying to lift heavier!


Discipline is not the issue. That's almost insulting to me, because you have no idea, in regards to the amount of dedication I've put into this.

That's not an insult to you, it's just the truth.

You've probably given the best advice so far. Thanks.


Dan

[MAXIMA5]

You're starting to see the light.
Try this.
www.mystrengthcoach.com
I actually paid for this and it's worth it.

http://www.precisiontraining.com/ebook.cfm
Don't buy the book, just read and learn the principles

This helped me put on 30 natural lbs of muscle before I ever considered Juice.

[dabigcheese]

GASP!


15lbs huh? Hope you don't mean muscle, all water maybe.

Muscle. Never lost a single pound of it. Now it could've been that my diet and training would have added that anyway. But I was using creatine at that time and I gained 15 Lbs.

[MAXIMA5]

Ok, creatine may help, but there are bigger issues

[hauss man]

i agree maybe try and locate a powerlifter at you gym or someone with that knowledge to help you make gains in your max
powelifting helped me build my core strength and frame

[hauss man]

once you build a good frame and strength then worry about aas

[muscle_20]

i agree maybe try and locate a powerlifter at you gym or someone with that knowledge to help you make gains in your max
powelifting helped me build my core strength and frame

agreed!powerlifting is a great way to build a thick foundation which then can be refined at a later stage.

[hauss man]

looking at his pics i think he needs to to do all core lifts
low reps not long workouts and Eat correctly
after 3 years of lifting he should at least have some foumdation

[dabigcheese]

You bring up a lot of good points. So are you saying that at this age, adding muscle is going to start becoming easier, providing I train and eat right?

and let me ask you. is strength, directly related to an increase im muscle? so if you arent lifting enough weight, then theres no chance in heck to get bigger?

ala me squatting 150 for 8 reps.....

I always trained very differently. I'd do 15 reps of a low weight for a start and then jack it up. The last three sets may even be for only a rep each but Id try and lift the asbolute maximum possible.

Over time, my strength increased phenomenally. I am not a very strong guy by average gym standards but infinitely stronger than when I first started out and my lifts still seem to be increasing (touch wood).

The key is to lift with higher reps for a start and then really try to lift a lot even if you do few reps with it. That way, you don't "run out of gas" fast and you also keep on increasing your strength and muscle size (if you eat right).

Im not an expert at this but this is what has always worked very well for me.

[hauss man]

i totaly agree
i think he needs to stop what hes doing read a book on fundamentals or talk to a trainer The arnold encyclopedia will show you the exercises
thats what i used

[newbiroidsta]

I guess you guys aren't very familiar with routines for the hard-gainer. The whole point of me keeping my volume low is because my body, and my CNS can't handle the types of volume you guys can. I've tried heavy volume in the past. I simply burn out, and make no progress. You see those early pictures?That's with heavy volume. The most recent pictures, where I look half-way decent is with a lower volume.

I'm almost certain my problem is that I'm incredibly weak, and hence I'm not too big. Which is why I'm sticking a lower volume, so I can add strength more quickly and easily. If I get to a point where I'm squatting 300 lbs., for 2 sets of 8 reps, and I'm not noticeably bigger, then your alternative ideas may have more merit. I really think this is key. I've seen some growth in most of the body areas where the weight is increased substantially. My problem is that adding strength is such a difficult task (and hence my lower volume now, and greater frequency).

That's why I said in the beggining I was going to keep things vague. No one would believe that I've tried all the "recommended" routines. I'm tried the insane amounts of calories as well.

I think more than anything I just need some patience. If I can chill for a couple of months on this routine, I think I'll be satisfied.

Thanks for the input. Keep it coming if you choose.

I once followed anthony ellis's hardgainer program and i gained 28 pounds of decent mass in 3 months, Kept about 20 when i cut down but i would say that is pretty good. That program sugests start at a weight that you fail at 8 then 6,4,2 then a burn out set, Maybe you should try some thing like that.

[dabigcheese]

I once followed anthony ellis's hardgainer program and i gained 28 pounds of decent mass in 3 months, Kept about 20 when i cut down but i would say that is pretty good. That program sugests start at a weight that you fail at 8 then 6,4,2 then a burn out set, Maybe you should try some thing like that.

What a small world!

I read Ellis' book too when I first started out. At $76 it was a rip off though. LOL

It does however put together all the basic concepts in one place. Anyone who reads it first should make improvements immediately because he'd get all the basics right. That's certainly what happened with me.

I doubt if ellis got his body without ever touching the juice though. Ive seen pics of him online and he looks like a guy who's done at least a Test cycle somewhere. he certainly didn't get there all natural like he says he did.

But it is a valuable source of information, particularly on training and nutrition.

[dabigcheese]

i totaly agree
i think he needs to stop what hes doing read a book on fundamentals or talk to a trainer The arnold encyclopedia will show you the exercises
thats what i used

Its also a battle in the mind.

Every time I lift more than I have ever lifted, it really gives me an enormous confidence boost and I feel good about it.

If you only lift what you lifted five months ago with no noticeable change, your body is stuck in a rut and you lose all motivation.

[muscle_20]

i have to disagree about you being a hard gainer because you body looks like it adds mass easly!i dont know about the other guys here but i dont use high volume ever....i train on periodized westsidebarbell(for powerlifting comps)and a high intensity routine to build muscle(basiclly a mirror image of dorian yates system).remeber your mind will take your body where you want it so stop all this i am a hardgainer so i cant train hard bull shit and get focused all ways be positive!!!

[hauss man]

well put muscle 20

[mesomorph]

Do you have messaging turned off on purpose, or do you just not have enough messages posted to be allowed yet?

[hauss man]

yes i did have it turned off on accident

[MAXIMA5]

I agree with Muscle20. Your mind-F***ing yourself out of making gains.
Even if you only throw an extra 10 lbs on the squat for your last set and get fewer reps, you'll start to realize your potential when your strength increases. Then the next week, put 10 or 20 more lbs on for the last set. If you convince yourself in your mind that you only have a light weight on the bar (when you in fact have more), your body will beleive you and you will have a better chance of accomplishing the lift.