I am starting to believe genetics play a much larger role than I initially thought...

R

realworksuks

2
Ya, so I have been looking back at a bunch of pictures from when I started lifting seriously two years ago, and I really haven't made hardly any noticeable gains..

I am 23 now, and I looked back at a picture from when I was 15 and my arms are maybe like an inch bigger than they were then.... it's bull****.

I am starting to think it's a waste of time... ya know? All that time I spend in the gym? And what's it for? So I can be twenty pounds fatter than when I started along with 10 extra pounds of muscle?? Plus all that time invested..... damnit it's frustrating.
 
Not eating enough I see. You're what...17, 18? Why're you getting so impatient. What else would you be doing with your time? Watching TV, playing video games?
 
evolution said:
Not eating enough I see. You're what...17, 18? Why're you getting so impatient. What else would you be doing with your time? Watching TV, playing video games?
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I said in my post I am 23. I am getting impatient because it's always the same damn thing. I do a bulk session and get fat way too quick, then I want to cut down and I lose all of my muscle (if any of the gains I even made were muscle at all).. it's bull****.

For example I started a bulk in April at 165 pounds. Now here I am two months later at 177-183 or so and my waist is over two inches bigger.

I don't want to be walking around with a 36 inch waist! hmph.
 
Try to bulk slower. Have you tried experimenting with different training programs? FBWs splits, high frequency training, low frequency training, doggcrapp training, etc?

you should put up pictures of yourself so we can see if you've made gains or not.
 
Genetics

There is no question genetics plays a role in muscular development. I've lifted for the last twenty years with a 25 lb gain and inches here and there. My goal has always been to have a healthy life, strength and endurance great definition and self confidence. Screw the bulking crap!! Eat right for long term health get over your frustration and train harder. I hope you're not looking in a muscle magazine and trying to get to that point. Probably not going to happen unless you really get serious about heavy lifting and massive amounts of food. Set some strength goals like benching your body weight, 100 pushups or a 10k run. Get rid of the mirror for a month and you'll see differences. You're a rookie at this stuff so suck it up and quit looking for reasons to quit get back in the gym and try something different with your workout. Take a session with a trainer and you'll discover how much harder you can work yourself. Self doubt is something we all go through so that's why it's important to express yourself in a forum like this. You are probably a hard gainer so don't lose focus take the advice of the experts here (not me) and get back to work when you feel this way. Eat an apple before you workout and a banana after.
 
You might be doing better than you think. Also, you might be looking at it wrong. If you wear a size Small shirt, of course you're not going to continue wearing that after you gain 20 pounds. So don't look at it in "sizes."

Also, what is wrong about a size 36 pants?
 
+1 on the slow bulk. Just eat +500 cal/day over maintenance. Reevaluate your training. So you said you have MS, try to find something that works for you, instead of trying to train like someone who is in perfect condition.

I suggest getting into gymnastics training-- loads of strength with little to no spinal loading.
 
I personally like getting fat and wearing strech pants. I've nicknamed the off season 'bear season' for several reasons. :D Needless to say, your diet is crap. If you lift heavy, the only things you need besides that are food and rest. If you're getting fat too quick, it's because you're not lifting hard enough (the easy part IMO) or your diet is way to heavy for your level.
 
Yeah, I suppose I just have to find a way to bulk slower.. my appetite is always so massive, and when I bulk I just eat when I am hungry. It probably turns out to be an average of 4,000 calories each day.. sucks that I have to restrict calories even when bulking, ****ty.


How do I keep my muscle while cutting then? Since I am too fat at this point.
 
Wish I had a gym.....It will all change soon :)

Right after Basic Training.........

Anyhow OP don't lose motivation. Try taking a break.
 
realworksuks said:
I said in my post I am 23. I am getting impatient because it's always the same damn thing. I do a bulk session and get fat way too quick, then I want to cut down and I lose all of my muscle (if any of the gains I even made were muscle at all).. it's bull****.

For example I started a bulk in April at 165 pounds. Now here I am two months later at 177-183 or so and my waist is over two inches bigger.

I don't want to be walking around with a 36 inch waist! hmph.
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How tall are you if you are ~180 lbs with a 36 inch waist? I am 5' 7.5'' and ~172-175 lbs and have 32 '' at navel and 31'' at waist.

With that said though, I find myself at times questioning why do I dedicate 15+ hours a week to working out like a madman? It's rare but it happens to most of us. Frustration will get to you but like other said, what else would you do with that time. Make a solid list of WHY do you workout (stress reduction, physical looks, future health, the gals, etc) and remind yourself.

As for the genetic thing, its all true. But i read somewhere on this forum what working out does and believe it's 100% accurate. This is paraphasing it but WORKING OUT HELPS SHIFT OUR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS HIGHER. Granted some people are born like a beast and with minimal work, they look solid and super strong. If you ever met real professional bodybuilder, then you will realize how little genetic you really have.

However, can you picture yourself and how much lower in physical limitation you would be if you had not train the past 2 years? It's rare that you NEED to use that power / fitness but it sure is handy when you do need it like moving or digging up a tree.

Working out may not make you the BEST out there but it helps you to achieve to be the best that YOU can be.
 
Trainer01 said:
Genetics play a huge role but many people do not want to believe it...
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Genetics do play a role, yes, but mostly for how big gains you make, maybe what kind of training that will give you the best gains (some recover quicker and can train more often ,etc) but I don't think you can blame not having progress or having very bad progress on bad genetics.
 
I have been doing my thing for about 2.5 years, and sometimes I feel like I should be so much further along. On the other hand, when I started, I weighed 230 pounds, was much weaker, no discipline, etc. Now, I weigh 205, I'm much stronger, feel stronger, more agile, less prone to injury, heal faster, etc. Don't be too hard on yourself. Try to find some workout info from 2 years ago if you have it. I have reviewed some of mine, and let me tell you, it's a quick way to feel good about the time you have been spending.

That said, I definitely hear you, loud and clear. I have bulked twice officially, and the first time got fat in a hurry, but I had made clear mistakes, so I corrected them. Second time, made more progress, took longer, which was okay because I had limited the fat gain. Buuuuut, still got fat. 25 pounds later, I'm at 205 here and now, have lost the peak of my gains, and still could lose a few pounds on my stomach. It can be frustrating for sure. And if I lose a few more pounds, I'll be ready to bulk, but I have that voice in my head saying...here we go again, sure I'll make some gains, only to get fat with those gains, and then lose them anyways when I cut down.

Ahhh well, like someone in here said, what else would I/you be doing? Watching TV, drinking (that's all me), and just being an all around bum-shlt. Lifting is fun, you know the feeling you get from it...I also enjoy biking, running, swimming, etc. I couldn't be happier with my decision 2.5 years ago to get into fitness/eating right. It might be the best thing I have done with my life so far. Keep at it man.
 
Pick yourself up RWS!

Like people have said there's so many things to do differently!

Bulk/cut slower, change of routine, even play about with rep timing etc. Small changes like that. Iv been training just over 2 years, and there's times i get like this.

Do you believe you had a decent diet/routine?
 
Brandibeth said:
Hoss.... We all know where you bulk. hee hee
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Don't make fun of Hoss. He luvs his meatpies. He is just a fat powerlifter. :D
 
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