Stuck!

[newguy25]

So I started my dedicated workout schdule on May 1st. I was 182 before starting, and my goal was 200 by July 1st (I'm 19 and 6ft 2in BTW).
I was doing a Max OT type workout, and eating lots of good food...put on 10 pounds easily in the first 3 weeks. Now for the past 20 days I've been wavering between 191-195 and just can't seem to get any higher. I really feel like I'm eating all the time. My strength is going up, but my weight isn't. Any suggestions on what to do? I don't know if I'm gonna make my goal by July 1st...

[maverick]

2 months to put on 20 pounds is a crazy aggressive goal. Be sure you are monitoring your bodyfat. Be proud of what you have so far and keep training hard. Wanna gain weight, eat more, its that simple. If you are eating as much as you were when you were 182, then of course you aren't gonna grow. If you are 192 pounds and want to weight 200, should you eat like a 192 pound person or a 200 pound person? See what I mean?

You'll learn in time to see the bigger picture and make goals much longer than 8 weeks. Good progress so far though, keep it up.

Keep plugging away. Your strength is going up - that is a good sign. Muscle growth should follow.

I understand you are eating like a horse. Since you have already put on about 10 pounds it means your caloric maintenance level (metabolic rate) has increased also. Have you upped your calories any since increasing your bodyweight?

EDIT: Beat me to it by a few minutes mav!

[newguy25]

Thanks for the replies. I know 20 lbs in 2 months is a bit much, but my orignal goal was 200 by September 1st...but when it was coming so easily at the beginning I figured I'd be there by mid June no problem.
I guess I could be eating more food...but I don't really know what. Any suggestions?
My daily food intake generally looks like this:
Breakfast: Oat cereal with skim milk and one egg with 4 egg whites
Morning snack: apple and bananna
Lunch: can of tuna on 2 whole wheat bread
Afternoon snack: another bowl of cereal and peanutbutter on 2 whole wheat slices
Dinner: steak/chicken/fish with potatoes/rice with corn/broccoli
Dessert: trans fat free brownies with fat free frozen yogurt (i know this is where i splurge...but my bf seems fine, and just 2 days ago when swimming my mom asked if i had a worm because she didn't expect me to be so skinny with all the food i'm eating)
Yep so that is a pretty accurate day. Usually one cheat dinner every week or two. So what else should I eat?
Thanks again!

[aptar]

WHAT ABOUT THE WHEY?!?!?!?

try adding some protein shakes in there and some slow release casein protein before bed what do you take post and pre work out?

do you take any supplements?

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by newguy25

My daily food intake generally looks like this:
Breakfast: Oat cereal with skim milk and one egg with 4 egg whites
Morning snack: apple and bananna Add Protein here
Lunch: can of tuna on 2 whole wheat bread
Afternoon snack: another bowl of cereal and peanutbutter on 2 whole wheat slices
Dinner: steak/chicken/fish with potatoes/rice with corn/broccoli
Dessert: trans fat free brownies with fat free frozen yogurt

Each meal should have protein, carbs and fats.
Add another snack between lunch and dinner. And maybe another one before bed.
Between which meals do you workout? The meals before and after should be the highest in starchy carbs.

[Psicosis]

You're not really eating that much. I'm 5'9" 176 and i eat more. But yeah lady c's right you need more protein and protein in every meal. I take it that dinner is your post workout meal? Well if it isn't than make sure that your post workout meal is one of your biggest and loaded with protein and carbs (your body NEEDS the fuel after a hard workout).

Also, if you can, eat a bigger breakfast and lunch. Especially breakfast, because remember that it's your first energy source since you last ate which is probably at least 8 hours ago (assuming that you eat before bed)...Oh yeah, if you're not having anything before bed be sure to down a couple glasses of milk and if you don't like the taste of milk by itself than just skull it. That's what i do and i can't taste a bit of it.

It's common to gain weight fast early and than slow down. I know that i gained 30Lbs in my first six months but since i started gaining again in january this year i've only put on 8 solid pounds. It's all because your body adapts and you have to adjust your routine and eat more to "shock" it.

Hope this helps.

[etothepii]

If you want to bump up calories without eating a ton more, then go with protein shakes (Pre and Post workout). Also think about swithcing from skim milk to 2% or whole. Yes, it's more fat, but it's easy extra calories. HIgh fat foods are calorie dense, which means you don't have to eat a lot of it to build up more calories. If it's good fat, go for it. Nuts are another good example. Don't go overboard. Try a serving per day. Maybe during your morning snakc, where Lady C suggested adding protein. Almonds and Walnuts have other health benefits too.

[newguy25]

Been a while since I've been online, but I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice! I've added some more egg whites in the morning and 2 protein shakes. I had tried them before, but I couldn't stand the taste. Now I've added in some strawberries and bananas so its more bareable.
Only thing I'm not sure about is about dropping the skim milk. I was always under the assumption that whole milk wasn't good for you. I know fat = more calories, but is it worth it? I don't mind drinking skim, in fact i'm not even sure what non-skim milk tastes like.
Well thanks again, and I finally got past that stupid 194!

[etothepii]

I've read about power lifters in the past who relied on whole milk (back before protein shakes). They were not too concerned with being lean, though.

Too much fat from dairy could prolly be a bad thing, but if you can add whole milk or even 2% into your diet without throwing off your nutrient ratios, it would be an easy way to get calories.