Strength + cardio + weight gain?

G

Grover

0
So I'm trying to get in shape for a one month (maybe longer) rock climbing/bike tour. I need to gain upper body strength and anaerobic endurance while I also work my cardio. I also would like to gain weight in the process, maybe 15-20 lbs.

Now I realize that the amount of cardio training I'll be doing will make weight gain difficult, but I have a fast metabolism and at this point losing weight probably wouldn't be a good thing. I'm 5'7 and about 125 lbs right now, and the most I've weighed is 135 lbs. That was 3 years ago after 6 months of training.
I've got about a year ahead of me, perhaps a little more. The trip will involve between 5 and 8 hours of biking each day for probably 5 or 6 days a week, plus quite a bit of climbing.

Would a weight gainer supplement be a good idea for me? Are these supplements healthy? Do they have any side effects?

What about creatine? I realize there are a million threads and the same questions have been asked many times, but in this case my question is more specific. For my particular goals, would it be something that would help? Would it hinder my cardio training? I've read that it can sometimes cause muscle cramping. Is this something that happens often or regularly? Or is this a rarer side effect?

Are there any other supplements that would definitely help or that would be recommended?

Sorry for asking so many questions at once like this. I also realize that all these question make it seem like I'm just looking to buy and ingest a bunch of crap. I'm just looking for some help reaching my goal because it involves a level of fitness that I've never actually attempted before.
 
Grover said:
So I'm trying to get in shape for a one month (maybe longer) rock climbing/bike tour. I need to gain upper body strength and anaerobic endurance while I also work my cardio. I also would like to gain weight in the process, maybe 15-20 lbs.

Now I realize that the amount of cardio training I'll be doing will make weight gain difficult, but I have a fast metabolism and at this point losing weight probably wouldn't be a good thing. I'm 5'7 and about 125 lbs right now, and the most I've weighed is 135 lbs. That was 3 years ago after 6 months of training.
I've got about a year ahead of me, perhaps a little more. The trip will involve between 5 and 8 hours of biking each day for probably 5 or 6 days a week, plus quite a bit of climbing.

Would a weight gainer supplement be a good idea for me? Are these supplements healthy? Do they have any side effects?

What about creatine? I realize there are a million threads and the same questions have been asked many times, but in this case my question is more specific. For my particular goals, would it be something that would help? Would it hinder my cardio training? I've read that it can sometimes cause muscle cramping. Is this something that happens often or regularly? Or is this a rarer side effect?

Are there any other supplements that would definitely help or that would be recommended?

Sorry for asking so many questions at once like this. I also realize that all these question make it seem like I'm just looking to buy and ingest a bunch of crap. I'm just looking for some help reaching my goal because it involves a level of fitness that I've never actually attempted before.
Click to expand...

I quoted you just for a quick reference to all of your questions.

1) Working on your cardio while trying to gain weight/muscle mass is going to be a b!@#$.
--- I read that you will have roughly a year to have all of this accomplished. With this fact in mind, and assuming you are already particularly lean, I suggest that you start a building/bulking phase as soon as possible in order to put on the muscle mass you are looking for. This would involve: upping your caloric intake, changing your workout style from aerobic/anaerobic to mostly all anaerobic, and keeping the mass gained as lean as possible.
--- Next, after you finish your bulking phase and reach the amount of muscle you were looking for... start another cardio/strength phase. I'm calling it a cardio/strength phase because at this point you shouldn't focus so much on the fat you just gained from the bulking cycle. You being a naturally lean person will probably take care of the extra fat while working back up to your desired cardio level. I.e. start biking and exercising just as you are doing now.

2) Weight gainers.
--- These products are normally high calorie shakes, bars, or other foods that just help you put nutrients into your body that then go to build muscle. (The muscle being broken down by your anaerobic exercise.) For you being a smaller guy, I'd recommend these because otherwise, the calories you need to get that excellerated muscle growth might be too hard to intake within a daily period.

3) Creatine.
--- I take creatine, even while on my cutting cycle. The supplement is supposed to be used in cycles to ensure body safety, and can do wonderful things for you. I've read studies where creatine preserves muscle mass (making it beneficial during cutting stages). And I've read articles outlining the usefulness of it in bodybuilding and mass gaining. With that said... Yes, I recommend you take it. But, I also recommend that you read up about how much to take daily, and how to cycle it into your life. (I think its some where around 3 months and then a break [not sure... that's why you need to check it out]). On the side effect... I've never experienced cramping in all of my use... so... I couldn't tell you. It would have to come from personal experience, because every human body is different.

4) The mass-gaining supplements themselves...
--- GNC (the health devil) has some tasty stuff at outrageous prices, but I recommend looking up other products through online retailers. Also, when looking for these supplements online... you can try to find promotional codes for the specific website by checking out .

Hope that helped you out somewhat. Shoot me a private message if you have any other questions, and I hope I covered most in your original post.
 
Thanks a lot, that was actually very comprehensive and helpful.
Upon closer scrutiny, I notice that many weight gainers contain creatine, so I suppose it would be useless to take another creatine supplement.
EDIT: Except maybe for loading beforehand.
 
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The creatine content largely relies on the maker of the product. Smart money says to check all of the nutritional facts and learn about the exact amount of creatine and/or type of creatine in the product you are thinking about using. Also, look up BCAAs (Branch Chain Amino Acids)... in doing so, you might find the mass-gainers you're looking at purchasing may have different amounts of these helpful molecules.

EDIT: I recommend reading the creatine sticky created in this section of the forum [Supplements]. That will explain the proper use of creatine and how to fully maximize its effects.
 
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I picked up 2 15 lb bags of Mutant Mass weight gainer and I've been using it for just about 2 weeks. I'm just about done with the first bag now, but I've been off creatine for three weeks.
I just started up the creatine again, but I'm having trouble keeping up because of the sheer amount of water I need to drink to get both the gainer and the creatine in.
I'm taking 4 16oz shakes a day at 500 or so calories each and during my loading phase I'm trying to take 4 more 8oz glasses of water with creatine. That's 96oz of water a day, which has been hard for my stomach to take. The shakes are supposed to be twice as concentrated, but they just become too thick and it makes me sick.
I tried mixing the creatine into my shakes, but the creatine won't dissolve so it gives me diarrhea, basically wasting it all in the process. The reason I wanted gainer without creatine was so that I could keep taking gainer while I was off creatine, but it's not really working out too well for me so far.
 
I suggest that you read up about how much to take every day, and how to cycle it into your life. (I believe its some where round 3 months and then a shatter [not sure... that's why you require to ascertain it out]). On the edge effect... I've not ever skilled cramping in all of my use... so... I couldn't notify you. It would have to arrive from individual know-how, because every human body is different.
 
hello
maybe you can try this ....
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