Nah, I'm not an ectomorph I just have a very very fast metabolism. I meet 3,500 calories a day quite easily and have been for the past two months. I hit puberty quite late (hit me in the face at 17-18) and I have been filling out since then. I'm not going to change what I'm doing as it's working brilliantly right now. Taking a two day break from the gym (cardio exempt).
Saw something a long time ago where this guy developed a peanut butter weight gain strategy. He basically added a couple of spoonfuls of all natural peanut butter at the end of each meal. Adds a good 500 cals a day if you do it consistently. http://www.adamspeanutbutter.com/products_detail.aspx?prodID=632
One thing I have noticed, I feel like whenever I work on my back I never get a burn the day after. Is it because the back muscles rebuild quite quickly?
I consume about 90g of protein per day just from my shakes (slightly less than my body weight) so I'm definitely consuming at least 120g a day. I need to start eating at more regular times though. Tuna is the shit!
When you're doing those lifts focus more on the squeeze of the muscles conracting. Go very slow to make a point that you are working the muscles. I see too many people go through the motions with back. There's so many muscles in the back, a lot of people do the same exercises everytime and it only works one portion of the back.
I'm always looking for protein when I'm eating. Tuna, cottage cheese, peanut butter, yogurt, chicken/beef, oatmeal. Stock that stuff up in your fridge/cupboard. Get the grams of protein you're aiming for in bodyweight.
Yeah, I make sure I use machines that are working different muscle groups. I just don't want to put too much weight on or I'm scared I'll fuck up my back. Heh.
I never really realized peanut butter had that much protein but it's quite obvious now that I think about it. Always loved it so I'll be munching on some peanut butter sandwiches.
Thanks. Long term question, when I reach the level of muscle mass I want, how do I stay at that level instead of endlessly adding muscle?
Dont go up in weight, lift the same amount. I know a lot of people who just maintain. Its not really that fun though.
Biceps are strongly correlated with back. The more strength you get at one of those muscle groups the more beneficial it will be when working either body part.
I like to go up and test the waters every now and then. I'm already lifting 30 lbs more on every machine than before. Three times a week I cycle for five miles. I can obviously feel the burn in my thigh muscles so I know they're getting a good workout but will cycling also build mass on my calves?
It will, but you should throw calf raised in there. if you have one of these machines at your gym, get on it.
Mix free weights in there with machines. Mixing it up is the best way to shock the muscles, see growth and avoid plateau's.