What are the drawbacks of doing a physical job?

[Boxtrot]

Obviously it will cause you to burn a lot more calories than usual, but what other drawbacks does having a physical job have whilst bulking relating to my hormones?

Even though it's taken me 5 years to figure out why i have such a hard time bulking, i still feel this question is warranted due to my inability to give up. I still want to gain muscle but i want to know if doing a physical job will do more than just burn extra calories as i dont want to be eating more calories to balance out the energy i burn from work if the physical job is doing more than that, it just feels so pointless, yet i cant give up, so here i am.

[DanB]

eat more, your tdee increases from physical work then you need more cals, pretty simple really and no way around it unless you want to sit behind a desk and save a few cals from being expended

depending on your line of work it may fatigue the muscle but cant see how it would have any drastic infleunce on hormones providing you get sufficient rest and nutrients

[poppz]

Well try a test cycle. I work 12 HR shifts and get up 1 HR early for the gym. Some days before work. Some after. The testesterone gives an energy boost.

[< <Samson> >]

I did both, extremely harsh physical work(cable installer, attic crawls, telephone poles and digging ditches) and super no physical activity job (inside insurance sales rep).

Working out when I had my office job was money. I would sit for hours then hit the gym right after work and explode since I been sitting forever. This is when I gained all the muscle I currently have coming from 14" arms.

When I had my cable gig I was beat when I got home. I still worked out, but slaked. I was tired and just didn't want to do shit. I never gained much at all the whole time I had the job.

[keep fightin]

^^^ samson is right I had a very hard outdoor job for a long time, yes eating a lot more helped hold my weight but gain? wow, that was tough. I was in great shape, low BF and didn't need much warm-up and could go heavy quick. moved indoors and gained 15 pounds in about 6 weeks, same level of fitness? no, but arms went up 1/2 inch in about 2 weeks and looked good!

[DanB]

I did both, extremely harsh physical work(cable installer, attic crawls, telephone poles and digging ditches) and super no physical activity job (inside insurance sales rep).

Working out when I had my office job was money. I would sit for hours then hit the gym right after work and explode since I been sitting forever. This is when I gained all the muscle I currently have coming from 14" arms.

When I had my cable gig I was beat when I got home. I still worked out, but slaked. I was tired and just didn't want to do shit. I never gained much at all the whole time I had the job.

couple years ago i was doing 0 cardio when working on building site 5days a week and staying lean, when out of work i needed to do fasted am at least 3 days a week, and thats with a drop in cals and cleaner diet, different story/lifestyle now though. . . . but i know everybody is different

[Boxtrot]

couple years ago i was doing 0 cardio when working on building site 5days a week and staying lean, when out of work i needed to do fasted am at least 3 days a week, and thats with a drop in cals and cleaner diet, different story/lifestyle now though. . . . but i know everybody is different

Confirming my thoughts...

And for me its not just a change in cals i am constantly on a perpetual tiredness cycle every week aswell as trying to make up cals/cut cals, which i have no way of telling how much i need because every day is a different TDEE. Some days i dont do a whole lot, some days i am ran off my feet, some days i am breaking myself to complete the day.

^^^ samson is right I had a very hard outdoor job for a long time, yes eating a lot more helped hold my weight but gain? wow, that was tough. I was in great shape, low BF and didn't need much warm-up and could go heavy quick. moved indoors and gained 15 pounds in about 6 weeks, same level of fitness? no, but arms went up 1/2 inch in about 2 weeks and looked good!

Ha! Ok feeling much better about all this. Over the last 5 years i have literally felt like i was one off bodybuilding retard where i was super special for not being able to build muscle. I have thought of everything that could be wrong except this!

Btw i did a 3 month bulk eating rice/turkey/vegys (had no idea what macros or cals were) 5 days a week whilst working at a vineyard where by that time i was only doing a few hours a day cause i was so over it being in a massive paddock by myself, and it actually worked! only gain 4 pounds but i looked amazing. Out of the 8 people i worked with at my next job everyone commented on how buff i was. I would just giggle to myself thinking ok i havent really improved that much, but to them i looked really muscular which i later realized how happy i was with what i'd done.

I did both, extremely harsh physical work(cable installer, attic crawls, telephone poles and digging ditches) and super no physical activity job (inside insurance sales rep).

Working out when I had my office job was money. I would sit for hours then hit the gym right after work and explode since I been sitting forever. This is when I gained all the muscle I currently have coming from 14" arms.

When I had my cable gig I was beat when I got home. I still worked out, but slaked. I was tired and just didn't want to do shit. I never gained much at all the whole time I had the job.

Further confirms what i've been thinking. Feels so good to hear this!

[Boxtrot]

What could anyone suggest i do from here?

Given that if i stick to one cal intake i am bound to gain fat given my erratic TDEE. And of course changing my cal intake according to how much energy i expend each day is impossible. And eating a surplus on my surplus isnt plausable given there may be days where i still gain nothing as i my TDEE could still reach that.

[DanB]

Confirming my thoughts...

And for me its not just a change in cals i am constantly on a perpetual tiredness cycle every week aswell as trying to make up cals/cut cals, which i have no way of telling how much i need because every day is a different TDEE. Some days i dont do a whole lot, some days i am ran off my feet, some days i am breaking myself to complete the day.

But I prob hadnt a sufficient diet to bulk at the time, my diet was shit to be honest, and drinking alot but staying lean, if I cleaned it up and tried to bulk Im sure I could of done a lean bulk with minimal cardio, many of my friends do 0 cardio and still stay lean all year around with good size and are in same line of work

If the tirdness is effecting your workouts then look into a pre workout supp or even ephedrine and make sure your getting sufficient carbs and cals throughtout the day as this will be your energy, might do you no harm to post your diet in nutrition section and see if its up to par for your goals and lifestyle

[Boxtrot]

But I prob hadnt a sufficient diet to bulk at the time, my diet was shit to be honest, and drinking alot but staying lean, if I cleaned it up and tried to bulk Im sure I could of done a lean bulk with minimal cardio, many of my friends do 0 cardio and still stay lean all year around with good size and are in same line of work

If the tirdness is effecting your workouts then look into a pre workout supp or even ephedrine and make sure your getting sufficient carbs and cals throughtout the day as this will be your energy, might do you no harm to post your diet in nutrition section and see if its up to par for your goals and lifestyle

Well the tiredness isn't realiy an issue im just saying that im trying my heart out in the gym and eating yet getting minimal results and as a 2nd consequence of all this im tired a lot of the time too (just whinging). Physically i have the energy i can work all day and still do a strong workout at the gym just my eyes are super dry and foggy from being knackered lol

Soooo sounds like my only option is to eat more than i already am.

[Ronnie Rowland]

Unless you are a genetic freak who puts on muscular weight with ease (and from the sounds of things you are not) then you should cut down your training days to only 3 days per week. Then you can make the most of your genetics.

[NotConvincedYet]

You ask what it can do to your hormones... Cortisol mate. Do everything you can to minimize it. It puts fat on your gut and burns muscle away! What is cortisol??? It's also known as stress hormone - whether is be from too much stress of physical work, or mental work (desk job) or too much training (listen to Ronnie's advice). More training doesn't necessarily mean better, especially in a hard physical job.

Nutritionally, take vit C, drink calming tea like holy basil and chill out - don't lose your shit.

It's not just about calories in versus calories out, it was a very good question to ask what happens to your hormones. Manipulating your hormones to the best of your advantage will help you make the best of your genetics...

[Boxtrot]

Unless you are a genetic freak who puts on muscular weight with ease (and from the sounds of things you are not) then you should cut down your training days to only 3 days per week. Then you can make the most of your genetics.

Well on my successful bulk i was at times only doing 3 days per week and sometimes 4, and it worked. I just have a hard time doing less days cos i want to enjoy it and believe i benefit from doing more because i am so impatient after years of spinning my wheels. But i will do my best to cut it down.

[Boxtrot]

You ask what it can do to your hormones... Cortisol mate. Do everything you can to minimize it. It puts fat on your gut and burns muscle away! What is cortisol??? It's also known as stress hormone - whether is be from too much stress of physical work, or mental work (desk job) or too much training (listen to Ronnie's advice). More training doesn't necessarily mean better, especially in a hard physical job.

Nutritionally, take vit C, drink calming tea like holy basil and chill out - don't lose your shit.

It's not just about calories in versus calories out, it was a very good question to ask what happens to your hormones. Manipulating your hormones to the best of your advantage will help you make the best of your genetics...

Yeh well i just figure there has to be more to it. And there probably is.

I think i stress more now than i ever have before, mostly about people and not getting what i want in the gym.

Im gonna stick at it right now. But in the near future i definitely have to make something 'happen' in the future. One way, or another.r

[Flacco]

I am an Iron Worker. I'm lifting and carrying heavy shit all day long. I had a few months off an all I did was eat, gym, and sleep. Once I started working again... I was dissapointed seeing my weight go down gradually. I didn't know what to do. I had kept the same workout schedual and even upped my calorie intake. What worked for me, was to cut my gym days. Instead of 6 days a week, hitting specific muscles everytime... I go 2 to 4 times a week and mainly just have upper body and lower body days. At this point, I'm happy with my gains, so I'm just maintaining. I eat clean, but I eat like a madman. 8 medium size meals a day + a shake or two. I think the extra rest has really been whats helped me mintain my gains.

[ironbeck]

Flacco what's up brother............ditto for what he said. Ironworker for 13yrs

[stpete]

When i was a stucco plasterer i had to cut my workouts back so i was able to perform my job, and not lose it. After months of trial and error, i settled on 2 days a week. Wednesday and Saturday were my days. And when i went i worked chest, back and legs. Mind you, i'm no BB by no means. I just wanted to maintain my weight and strength. And it worked. And i ate practically anything i wanted whenever i wanted. But i eat pretty healthy, just a lot of it.

Trial and error. And remember rest is very, very important.

Good Luck

[Flacco]

Flacco what's up brother............ditto for what he said. Ironworker for 13yrs

Whats up My man! I'm only a lowly second year apprentice. Have you seen the new "Iron Men" show on the weather channel? A few guys I go to school with and one of my teachers are on there. I hope I can make it as long as you without getting seriously injured. Respect!

[Boxtrot]

Flacco and St.pete i see where you are coming from, i will cut it back to 3 days a week. thanks guys.

[ironbeck]

That's awesome Flacco, best of luck to you and yours....work safe