Cant gain weight without dishing out $$$

[mrMac]

So no matter how dedicated you are to the gym or how healthy you eat if you don't eat enough you won't gain weight and muscle?? So no matter if I go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week. Eat nothing but chicken, steak, tilapia with brown rice or pasta but if it's not enough there's no point? I'm not rich, hell I'm not even "ok" off. I can't afford to spend $200 a week on 20 lbs of chicken steak and fish. So no matter how much effort I put into it. If I don't have the money for more food, is there even a point for me trying?

This is probably more of a rant than a question but this is what I feel like. I can't afford more food than I already buy but I need to gain more weight. Seems like I've reached a dead end.
/rant

[< <Samson> >]

200 a week. . . . Chicken is 3 and a quarter a pound, broccoli is cheap as garbage, eggs are 5 bucks for 5 dozen at Sam's Club. Steak and good fish are the killer.

Canned tuna is cheap as it can get also, but you can't pound that shit too much.

I been fortunate to have a extreme hook up on supplements. So I use shit ton of egg protein and it costs me near nothing. If it wasn't for that I would use the cheap ass egg whites in a carton from Sam's Club.


You just have to coordinate on your budget. It's doable but nowhere near as cool as if you were able to afford ostrich and buffalo meat by the pound(I wish I could too).

[pasha]

Yea bro, i know what what you are sayin.. there is no doubt about it that is it expensive to eat clean.. and eating clean has less calories than junk food so you gotta not only eat clean but eat more... get a crock pot put some meat in there, vegetables, rice, beans... make a big meal for like 10 bucks and that will last you for several meals... yea bro.. every time i look at a big guy i always think.. man that guy put some money in to his body... its expensive to have a nice body!!

[--->>405<<---]

So no matter how dedicated you are to the gym or how healthy you eat if you don't eat enough you won't gain weight and muscle?? So no matter if I go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week. Eat nothing but chicken, steak, tilapia with brown rice or pasta but if it's not enough there's no point? I'm not rich, hell I'm not even "ok" off. I can't afford to spend $200 a week on 20 lbs of chicken steak and fish. So no matter how much effort I put into it. If I don't have the money for more food, is there even a point for me trying?

This is probably more of a rant than a question but this is what I feel like. I can't afford more food than I already buy but I need to gain more weight. Seems like I've reached a dead end.
/rant

mr mac u have a point to an extent. u do need money to eat well i know cuz i spend about $250 per week on my food alone! bUT.. ur trying to gain muscle. this is gonna come mainly from carbs. u need 1.5g pro per lb LBM and ur growth will come from the carbs dude! carbs are fairly cheap for what u get. my wife does the shopping so i dont know about individual items but i would guess oatmeal is cheap and rice ought to be fairly cheap.

thats where ur gonna get ur gains man .. hope this helps!

[< <Samson> >]

i spend about $250 per week on my food alone!

Holly fvck!

I love muscle and all, but fvck that noise. I rather drive a 2012 AMG, it will cost the same.

[cue_artist]

mr mac u have a point to an extent. u do need money to eat well i know cuz i spend about $250 per week on my food alone! bUT.. ur trying to gain muscle. this is gonna come mainly from carbs. u need 1.5g pro per lb LBM and ur growth will come from the carbs dude! carbs are fairly cheap for what u get. my wife does the shopping so i dont know about individual items but i would guess oatmeal is cheap and rice ought to be fairly cheap.

thats where ur gonna get ur gains man .. hope this helps!

I disagree with u 405, growth comes with hard training and a sufficient amount of protein. Carbs only provide with energy to keep strong during your workouts and pull u through the day. IMO most of the poeple that complain about not growing even though they eat healthy and get there protein in is that they dont know how to workout right. I see alot of people in the gym lifting some heavy ass weights but there form and technique is awful. Point is if you dont cause muscle damage in the gym by propely contracting the muscle group that you are working , you wont see growth. As Kai Greene said its all about having the mind and muscle connection

[--->>405<<---]

I disagree with u 405, growth comes with hard training and a sufficient amount of protein. Carbs only provide with energy to keep strong during your workouts and pull u through the day. IMO most of the poeple that complain about not growing even though they eat healthy and get there protein in is that they dont know how to workout right. I see alot of people in the gym lifting some heavy ass weights but there form and technique is awful. Point is if you dont cause muscle damage in the gym by propely contracting the muscle group that you are working , you wont see growth. As Kai Greene said its all about having the mind and muscle connection

well cue from what ive learned on here it requires a caloric surplus, carbs, protein, and proper training.. from what ive read 1.5g pro per lb LBM is all u need. the rest of ur cals (other than 15-20% dietary fat) should come from carbs. not only do they give u energy but they also help ur body repair which is when growth occurs.

the OP put emphasis on not being able to afford $200 per week on "20lbs of chicken, steak, and fish". my point was to address the issue of concern about extremely large quantities of protein. he only needs 1.5g per lb LBM. with 175lbs LBM thatd only be 262g protein. any more than this while bulking (and not on cycle) is unnecessary IMO and from what ive read by a reliable author.

i was simply trying to emphasize not to forget about carbs which are very important on a bulk not only for energy but also for repair...

[mrMac]

Thanks guys for all your replies. Of course I've done my reading on here too and from what I've gathered you need 1-2 grams of protein p lbm. But it's the calories surplus that I keep missing. Right now I'm hitting about 2500 calories. I should be somewhere between 3000-3200 to see a nice gain. I eat chicken and fish and steak plus my optimum nutrition whey and oats protein for my protein. Now to get an extra clean 500-700 calories is what I'm talking about.

Also I went grocery shopping and a 2 lb bag of frozen chicken breast cost 6.99. So 10 lbs would be about $35? At 8 ounces a serving that's about 4 servings per bag. Multiply that for 2 weeks and it starts to add up. Again I see dedication and hard work are no match for how much food I can afford.

[--->>405<<---]

Holly fvck!

I love muscle and all, but fvck that noise. I rather drive a 2012 AMG, it will cost the same.

Hey man i like to eat good and i Can afford it

[< <Samson> >]

Hey man i like to eat good and i Can afford it

I hear ya, it sounds so out of reach for me and most people I would say.


I wonder what shape I would be in if I could eat the quality foods I want? Ostrich, buffalo and other high end rare meats and fish.

But, I also wish I drove a AMG. Oh man would would it be nice if I could have both

[MuscleInk]

Thanks guys for all your replies. Of course I've done my reading on here too and from what I've gathered you need 1-2 grams of protein p lbm. But it's the calories surplus that I keep missing. Right now I'm hitting about 2500 calories. I should be somewhere between 3000-3200 to see a nice gain. I eat chicken and fish and steak plus my optimum nutrition whey and oats protein for my protein. Now to get an extra clean 500-700 calories is what I'm talking about.

Also I went grocery shopping and a 2 lb bag of frozen chicken breast cost 6.99. So 10 lbs would be about $35? At 8 ounces a serving that's about 4 servings per bag. Multiply that for 2 weeks and it starts to add up. Again I see dedication and hard work are no match for how much food I can afford.

There are still ways to hit your caloric needs. Adding egg whites, olive oil, and Greek yogurt to a protein shake with rolled oats can bring your shake to a healthy 800-900 cals. Brown rice is cheap and should be added to your meals if not already (but not every meal). Sweet potatoes are another great low fat, healthy carb source. It just requires some thought and reading.

I am easily hitting a clean 3800-4000 cals a day now on a bulk cycle. My proteins is 350-400g (a bit high but I train 5 days consecutive, 2 days off and 3 of those five days I pull double duty in the gym with morning cardio on an empty stomach); fat is 60-65g; carbs 300-400g.

[mrMac]

There are still ways to hit your caloric needs. Adding egg whites, olive oil, and Greek yogurt to a protein shake with rolled oats can bring your shake to a healthy 800-900 cals. Brown rice is cheap and should be added to your meals if not already (but not every meal). Sweet potatoes are another great low fat, healthy carb source. It just requires some thought and reading.

I am easily hitting a clean 3800-4000 cals a day now on a bulk cycle. My proteins is 350-400g (a bit high but I train 5 days consecutive, 2 days off and 3 of those five days I pull double duty in the gym with morning cardio on an empty stomach); fat is 60-65g; carbs 300-400g.

Yeah I already add 6 egg whites to my protein shake as well as oatmeal. Lunch and dinner mainly consist of brown rice with either steak fish or chicken.