weightlifting/weight gain?

I've come to the conclusion that I am a "hardgainer" and it doesn't seem to matter what program, how much I eat, etc, I will remain so. I've spoken to trainers and used a couple of them before and they don't really believe in the "hardgainer" concept.

Over the last 15 years or so, I've been weightlifting an it doesn't matter if I do high weight/low reps or the other way around, it doesn't really add weight. I'm 6' tall and weigh about 165 and am pretty well defined and age 50. I'd like to get to about 180 to 185, but not gain fat.

rickster
 
eat more. You think you have been eating enough, but you probably haven't. Try to write down everything you eat and how much and calculate how many calories you get. Do it for 3 days and then see how many cals you eat average every day.
 
Follow the Westside for hardgainers, Defranco's WS4SB III and then get a and log and eat above your maintenance level. There is no such thing as a hardgainer or hardloser. Incidentally the Westside methods are based on Louie Simmons methods from the Westside Barbell Club. Louie Simmons at over 50 could bench over 600 pounds and squat over 800 pounds. Talk about walking the talk!!
 
There is no such thing as a hard gainer, just an under-eater. After 15 years I thought you'd have realized this by now...
 
Follow the Westside for hardgainers, Defranco's WS4SB III and then get a and log and eat above your maintenance level. There is no such thing as a hardgainer or hardloser. Incidentally the Westside methods are based on Louie Simmons methods from the Westside Barbell Club. Louie Simmons at over 50 could bench over 600 pounds and squat over 800 pounds. Talk about walking the talk!!

Exactly what I was thinking

Make sure you're reading Part 3 of the Westside for Skinny bastards program, there are changes from parts I
 
I probably average 2,800 to 3,000 calories a day. Example:

Breakfast: Two pretty good size bowls of cheerios (3 cups), blueberries, 2 cups of non-fat milk.

Snack: two packets of oatmeal along with walnuts (mid-morning), a banana, tangerine.

Lunch: Regular size Quizno's Honey Bourbon chicken sandwich, sun chips,

Snack: Fresh vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, celery). 6" subway turkey sancwich on wheat.

Dinner: Chicken breast and cup of brown rice

Snack: Two packets (4) granola bars along with 24 oz. non-fat milk.

I checked on boxes, the internet and thecaloriecounter.com.

I also do quite a bit of cardio a week, but it still seems I should gain weight.

For those who say there is no such thing as a hardgainer, I'm not sure...
 
I probably average 2,800 to 3,000 calories a day. Example:

Breakfast: Two pretty good size bowls of cheerios (3 cups), blueberries, 2 cups of non-fat milk.

Snack: two packets of oatmeal along with walnuts (mid-morning), a banana, tangerine.

Lunch: Regular size Quizno's Honey Bourbon chicken sandwich, sun chips,

Snack: Fresh vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, celery). 6" subway turkey sancwich on wheat.

Dinner: Chicken breast and cup of brown rice

Snack: Two packets (4) granola bars along with 24 oz. non-fat milk.

I checked on boxes, the internet and thecaloriecounter.com.

I also do quite a bit of cardio a week, but it still seems I should gain weight.

For those who say there is no such thing as a hardgainer, I'm not sure...

Your not a hard gainer, your just not eating enough. If your eating 3000 calories and not gaining then bump it up to 3500.

There are people on this website that need around 4000 calories just to maintain their weight. NOW thats a hard gainer
 
Well, after 15 years, I have discovered it's hard to gain weight. And, if it takes someone 4,000 calories to maintain, but someone else could gain by eating 2,500, that seems like the exact definition of a "hard-gainer." It's "harder" for them to gain?
 
I also do quite a bit of cardio a week, but it still seems I should gain weight.

For those who say there is no such thing as a hardgainer, I'm not sure...

Quite a bit of cardio = more calories being burned. If you're not putting on weight, your not eating enough. The more cardio you do, the more you'll have to eat to have a surplus.

Someone that needs 4,000 calories to maintain is probably quite big. Someone that maintains on 2,500 is probably quite small. It's not the case that someone needs a certain amount of calories while another person of the same height, weight, and activity level needs a different amount.
 
Some people have higher metabolisms. This just means you have to eat a lot more than other people to gain. I'm one of those people.

I'm roughly your height and weigh about what you want to weigh. I have to eat at least 4200 calories to bulk. I'm currently finishing up a slow cut with 3600 per day.

Here's my food journal if you want any ideas on how to get more calories



Some people think this would be a wonderful problem to have, and I guess in way it is....but I know what a pain in the ass it is to force feed yourself too.;)

You can eat a lot of calories with healthy, clean food if you know what types to eat.....If the "larabars" I eat sound decadent with flavors like "apple pie" "cherry pie" etc I assure you they are nothing but dried fruit and nuts
 
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3000 kcals / day for a 50yo is a lot! I am 49 and I probably do at least as much cardio as you and I would balloon out at 3000 kcals / day.
 
Great help. I do need some good examples of healthy food. As it is, I am rarely, if ever hungry, since I'm eating all the time. I will probably have even a more difficult time gaining since I'm training for a triathlon, in addition to weight training. I do want to gain weight, but don't want it to be fat.

I've taken lots of protein drinks over the years, but haven't noticed much of a difference?

Also, is there any protein drinks that are superior and taste good?

As far as maintenance, it probably is around 2,700 a day, depending on how much cardio I'm doing.
 
If 2700 is your maintenance then shoot for 3200 to gain 1 lb per week.

That may be a lot for someone of your age/height/weight, but you may be an outlier like me. I'm 33 6'1 183...3600 calories should balloon me up, but I'm cutting at that level
 
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