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ectomorphs?
- Thread starter blawar
- Start date
jacshelb
New member
I don't actually know why ectomorphs are skinnier. Maybe it's a little bit testosterone but also could be dna- as in simply how the body produces insulin, gh, igf-1 and metabolizes macronutrients. I am a bit of an ecto too. I am probably a little better off than some as I have broad shoulders, but have always been gangly.
In late 2000 and early 2001 I weighed 140-145 lbs at 6'2" tall. Everyone was asking if I was sick. I felt ok, I was just skinny. I started lifting again (after a long layoff) and tried to eat more. I got up to about 155 pretty quick but had trouble from there. What put me over my sticking point (probably pretty similar shape as you are right now as every inch represents 5 lbs or so... 140 + 15 at 3 inches diff.) was cycling my calories. I began to eat 4000+ calories per day for 12-14 days at a time, then would eat "healthy" i.e. normal 2500 cal. or so. I had learned to count calories a long time ago when I was training before this point. Anyway, it worked. I jumped to 162, then 170, then 180 and so on. Five years later, I have been as heavy as upper 220s and am now a lean 205 as I prepare for my first competition.
I'm not against using steroids at all, if it is done intelligently. By that, I mean that a person should seriously research what they want to try and work into it slowly and with plenty of caution. Personally, I believe you can reach a weight of 175 naturally within 2 years of training with low numbers of sets/ heavy weights and eating in the way I described above. If you want to talk more about this, please pm me. I'd be very happy to answer any question you may have as I can totally relate to where you are coming from.
Jacob
In late 2000 and early 2001 I weighed 140-145 lbs at 6'2" tall. Everyone was asking if I was sick. I felt ok, I was just skinny. I started lifting again (after a long layoff) and tried to eat more. I got up to about 155 pretty quick but had trouble from there. What put me over my sticking point (probably pretty similar shape as you are right now as every inch represents 5 lbs or so... 140 + 15 at 3 inches diff.) was cycling my calories. I began to eat 4000+ calories per day for 12-14 days at a time, then would eat "healthy" i.e. normal 2500 cal. or so. I had learned to count calories a long time ago when I was training before this point. Anyway, it worked. I jumped to 162, then 170, then 180 and so on. Five years later, I have been as heavy as upper 220s and am now a lean 205 as I prepare for my first competition.
I'm not against using steroids at all, if it is done intelligently. By that, I mean that a person should seriously research what they want to try and work into it slowly and with plenty of caution. Personally, I believe you can reach a weight of 175 naturally within 2 years of training with low numbers of sets/ heavy weights and eating in the way I described above. If you want to talk more about this, please pm me. I'd be very happy to answer any question you may have as I can totally relate to where you are coming from.
Jacob
theprofessor
New member
I am an ectomorph myself, and let me tell you, you will just need to eat more clean foods (4000-5000cal) and sleep well and most importantly...blawar said:
give yourself more time!!!!!! 4 months isnt enough time to expect a whole lot, especialy for out body type. i dont think its low test levels, I never had any trouble with libido, or getting my wife pregnant when I tried (2 kids)... its simply "difficult" genetics to work with. give yourself more time before you try AAS, I can't tell you exactly how long, but 4 months working out, I realy only had some minor strength gains, not realy much mass at all. it is a long battle... how old are you? some "ectomorphs" can grow frame size a bit late in life (20 or even a bit older). my dad was a rail and he said around age 22 he had some frame growth... i never did and im 26... what is your diet like? do you do cardio? if i do cardio i lose muscle... lifting alone is enough to keep me at a fair leanness (varies on diet but usualy in the 10% or slightly less range). how is your workout routine...? i suggest focusing on heavy compound movements, quat , deads, bench, clean and jerk. i feel for you, as I have struggled and battled and slaved in the gym and force fed myself protein after protein.... but alas, the gains we make will look better than the gains of a larger framed person... full muscle bellies on a small frame can be very impressive. Keep up the hard work and DONT GIVE UP!!
only beeen working out for 4 months! you jsut started. lifting and training takes time. Diet has to be dialed in. try eating at least 3000 cals/ per day. i am an ectomorph.. i was 6'1'' and 150 when i started... 9 years later i was 225 and then started my first cycle.. it all takes time.. yes u want to jump on gear and blow up, but you def not ready for it right now... give your self a good solid year of dieting/ training and making sure you get rest. you will see results.. 5-10 lbs of year is what u can expect naturally. and if you are young 18-20, please wait at least 4 years. gl to ya
I am sorry I didnt post more information. I turned into a diet nazi. I eat between 3000-3500 calories day. Whole meats, low fat high carb high protein etc. I have been trying really hard for 4 months. I was 125lbs when I started, and 140 now. THe initial weight gain was the most, was probably mostly water weight. i've been at 140 for about 2 months with no change. Honestly dont know if I can justify spending $20/day on food for very little gain for 2 years to get up to 175. Eating is very expensive (not that i am complaining, if i was gaining weight I wouldnt care).
here are some pix if you need any to know i am skinny lol
here are some pix if you need any to know i am skinny lol
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immortalis
Guest
Dude... 15 pounds of naturally gained weight in 4 months? I will take it.
Keep going. Dont lose your motivation.
Keep going. Dont lose your motivation.
d_o_c_
New member
Your stomach probably is not as small asyou think it is. Being that you are skinny your stmoach can easilyt stretch too allow for more food. My guess is you are eating too slow, which in turn gives your stmoch enough time to tell your brain that you are full. Eat quick as shit and you'll be alright.
15lbs in 4 months really is good. As for food cost throw some more egg whitesinto the picture at $0.99 a dozen you can't go wrong.
Keep up the good work.
15lbs in 4 months really is good. As for food cost throw some more egg whitesinto the picture at $0.99 a dozen you can't go wrong.
Keep up the good work.
gettnlarge01
New member
cycling my calories and powerlifting is what made the biggest improvement for me. 4 days a wk I would eat 7500calories a day then drop down to 3500 calories a day. YES it will cost money to eat like this but everything costs. I concentrated on the 3 big lifts squats,deadlifts, bench. Correct form is a must to avoid injuries and get plenty of rest.
jacshelb
New member
I know you don't want to hear this. But, simply put, you are eating too clean! Throw in some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, mix it up a little. If you keep your overeating to just 10-12 days you won't gain much fat at all. BTW- 3500 cal will not be enough. I'm sorry to say. If you aren't gaining weight on it, then it's not enough. And, by no means keep your fat low. Shoot for about 30 percent fat in the diet. But don't take anything out, add in the fat. If you have to add it in the form of healthy fats like flax seed or flax seed oil and the like then do that. It will not cost you much to add in 60-100 grams of fat per day. Sounds crazy? Keep in mind that fat fuels hormone production. The higher your fat intake, the more test you create (to a point). Also, it has been proven that high protein, low fat diets reduce testosterone output. Like others said, give it time, up the calories and for God's sake, be flexible or your not going to accomplish anything more.
Jacob
Jacob
nothing I can really say that everyone isn't already telling you bor. I will give u some tips that have worked for me. When eating, don't hunch over. Many people tend to eat at their desks or on the couch while watching tv. Either case you tend to be hunched over, which compresses ur stomach. Sit up straight when eating. Hell, stand up if u can. If you must eat in front of the tv, sit on the floor in front of the coffee table instead of on the couch. This will help keep u upright.
Next, keep forcing down food. For the first few weeks you'll feel like shit and probably throw up a few times. BTW, try not to do that.
Eventually, ur stomach will expand and get use the the larger amount of food that you are putting in there.
Last tip, make sure that you're getting enough fiber, be it through real food or supps. Without it, all the extra food (especially protein) that you're taking in will cause havac on your digestive track and you'll feel backed up and bloated all the time.
Good luck mang
Next, keep forcing down food. For the first few weeks you'll feel like shit and probably throw up a few times. BTW, try not to do that.
Eventually, ur stomach will expand and get use the the larger amount of food that you are putting in there. Last tip, make sure that you're getting enough fiber, be it through real food or supps. Without it, all the extra food (especially protein) that you're taking in will cause havac on your digestive track and you'll feel backed up and bloated all the time.
Good luck mang
jacshelb
New member
Well, your very best cycle will be your first, if done correctly. I don't know exactly why, virgin receptors? or that you have the most room to grow at that point? I'm not sure. So, I wouldn't want to waste my best growth on just getting to where I could already get to naturally. That's no. 1 No.2 is that you will need to be able to handle the extra food, i.e. have your diet down pat, and your training at an "advanced" (- this just means you totally know your body and how to train it effectively, when to rest etc.) stage to get all the benifits of aas anyway. As anyone who has done a decent cycle while "dieting" (- possibly even just eating the way you are now, no offense but that is fat loss diet for many) can tell you, you don't gain much muscle without the food and heavy effective training!
Ok, so that was a lot of run on sentences, but I think you get the idea. Of course, it is totally your choice. I made two attempts to purchase aas early on with the same thing in mind as you. Once was when I was in highschool, another was when I'd only been training again for 8 months. Both times, the transaction fell through. Looking back. I'm very glad it did. By the time I did actually do anything, I had researched for about 3 years and got my training pretty much down as well as my eating and had gained more than 40 lbs before starting. You know what, though? I still made some stupid mistakes, even used to much too soon in some ways and suffered some side effects that I wouldn't tolerate nowadays. These days, I don't do much at all (with aas), even compared to my first two cycles. I focus on diet, training, and ancilliaries more than aas. As crazy as that may sound. I wan't to be patient to get where I'm going so that I get there in one piece!
So, I hear what you are saying. And, you are right. You could gain 20 lbs in a year, maybe even 30 if you really went at it. But, when you came off, you'd be left without much quality and more than likely lose most of what you'd gained. Whereas if you do it naturally for the next two years, I don't see why you couldn't put on 15 lbs. a year.
Again, good luck and use good judgement!
Jacob
Ok, so that was a lot of run on sentences, but I think you get the idea. Of course, it is totally your choice. I made two attempts to purchase aas early on with the same thing in mind as you. Once was when I was in highschool, another was when I'd only been training again for 8 months. Both times, the transaction fell through. Looking back. I'm very glad it did. By the time I did actually do anything, I had researched for about 3 years and got my training pretty much down as well as my eating and had gained more than 40 lbs before starting. You know what, though? I still made some stupid mistakes, even used to much too soon in some ways and suffered some side effects that I wouldn't tolerate nowadays. These days, I don't do much at all (with aas), even compared to my first two cycles. I focus on diet, training, and ancilliaries more than aas. As crazy as that may sound. I wan't to be patient to get where I'm going so that I get there in one piece!
So, I hear what you are saying. And, you are right. You could gain 20 lbs in a year, maybe even 30 if you really went at it. But, when you came off, you'd be left without much quality and more than likely lose most of what you'd gained. Whereas if you do it naturally for the next two years, I don't see why you couldn't put on 15 lbs. a year.
Again, good luck and use good judgement!
Jacob
theprofessor
New member
excellent advicejacshelb said:
yea, if you cycle before your diet can support gains, when you come off cycle and your diet is weak you will definately not keep what you gain. dont eat to support 140lbs... eat to support 200lbs, so you can achieve it
jacshelb said:
Great post. Its all mental for me. I could improve my diet alot if i really set my mind to it. But doing so for a year for 30lbs seems a waste to me in my mind. Thats ALOT of work spanned across a year for 30lbs. Now if I could try my hardest and gain 20 lbs in say 2-3 months I would be all over it. Wasting my first cycle wouldnt be a big deal to me because a) it would more than likely be my last and b) once i am a certain size, I would have no problem committing more to a better diet. If I walk up to someone now at 140lbs and say "i'm a body builder", they would laugh at me. Life is too short to be small.
theprofessor
New member
how bad do you realy want it?blawar said:
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immortalis
Guest
blawar said:I do eat really slow, I didnt know that would be a problem. I will eating fast at lunch today
How did it go?
Eatting quickly always seems to allow me to put down a little more food, because its like my body hasnt had enough time to tell my brain that im full and dont need to consume anymore. It definitely helps. If I sit and eat slow... I can pick and prod at the same meal for an obscene amount of time, and then I feel lethargic as shit afterwards.
You seem to really be in an ideal situation here bro. Youve put on that kind of weight naturally in a short amount of time, and you said you havent gained in 1.5 months... youre keeping the lean mass that you've put on and thats good stuff.
You've gotten your body accustomed to taking in 3500 cals a day, and im pretty sure that since you sound like you've had a pretty decent handle on things that your body is used to all the small meals that you are feeding it a day. All we have to do is maybe slightly alter your diet and get you to consume just a little bit more in those snacks to up your cals just a tad bit.
Your body will react... its already shown you it can and will. We just gotta get more out of it.
KEEP GOIN! Im pullin for ya bro
jacshelb
New member
Blawar, I hear what you are saying about the mental aspect. But, you won't gain 20-30 keepable pounds in 2-3 months. Yes, you will likely gain 20 lbs. but, 8-9 of those will be water- at least. (again, I'm not saying this purely to dissuage you, just telling you what happens for just about everyone) Then, for the next couple months, it will be a fight to maintain that 12 lbs or so through diet and hard training while your natural test levels recover. At the end of everything (2+ months of cycling, 2+ months of recovery etc) you will, IF your training and diet are SPOT on, start to make small gains again. By the end of half a year, if you are lucky, you will have gained 15 lbs. of actual muscle. Anything else you have put on will be water and fat. Even the most genetically gifted among us, such as Jay Cutler- a true mesomorph if there ever was one- only gained 25 lbs. per year their first two years. What I'm saying is: between getting the diet and training right, and your recovery time from the cycle, you are going to make about the same gains on steroids these first couple years (when all is said and done) as you would really getting the food in and training heavy.
Now trust me when I say this, I have NEVER been one to discourage freedom of choice, creativity, new ways of doing things etc. But, what you are talking about has been done and the results are posted above. I wish I had pictures of Chris Hart, the young guy whose father put him on reasonable doses to transform him. He looked pretty damn good for a couple months, now, just a couple years later he looks like a tub of lard from not training and dieting properly. Not saying this is what will happen to you, but quoting an extreme example of what can. Whatever you decide, best of luck and use your head- I'm sure you will.
Jacob
Now trust me when I say this, I have NEVER been one to discourage freedom of choice, creativity, new ways of doing things etc. But, what you are talking about has been done and the results are posted above. I wish I had pictures of Chris Hart, the young guy whose father put him on reasonable doses to transform him. He looked pretty damn good for a couple months, now, just a couple years later he looks like a tub of lard from not training and dieting properly. Not saying this is what will happen to you, but quoting an extreme example of what can. Whatever you decide, best of luck and use your head- I'm sure you will.
Jacob
ic, well that looks pretty grim. I shrink my testicles for 5-10lbs of muscle?
I found a few ways to cram more fodo into m ystomach. Eating faster helped. Also dont drink anything until all of your food is gone. And eat the solid stuff first (like steak), then pack i nthe soft stuff like veggies and crap, and then down the drink. Most effective way I have found so far
I found a few ways to cram more fodo into m ystomach. Eating faster helped. Also dont drink anything until all of your food is gone. And eat the solid stuff first (like steak), then pack i nthe soft stuff like veggies and crap, and then down the drink. Most effective way I have found so far
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