I'm new here - Just some general questions about my body type and related problems.

Hello everyone (I'm posting in this board because I'm not sure where else a thread like this would fit in, so if this is the wrong place then a moderator can feel free to move it.)


I've been searching around the internet for a while now trying to find some forums or websites that discuss similar issues to the one's I have about my well-being, but it has been fruitless so far. I'm not saying my case is unique, or that I even know exactly what sort of advice I'm looking for, but I figured this is a logical place to start.

So I'm a 20 year old male; 6'1'' and 135lb give-or-take. If it is not obvious, I'm phenomenally skinny.

My problem isn't gaining weight necessarily, but moreso gaining the so-called "good weight," or gaining weight inthe right places. I know from experience that over-eating, or eating a lot of junk foods causes me gain a fair bit of flab around my belly and midsection. Over the past few months I've cut high-sugary foods out of my diet in an attempt to attain a more balanced wellness, and I actually lost a fair bit of fat (I dropped down from 145lb to my current 135lb) but despite my various attempts at weight-lifting I haven't been able to gain one ioda of muscle mass.

I find myself feeling more and more self-conscious and stressed about both my appearance and also my general sense of well-being. I find my physique very unbalanced in that I have virtually no mass on my back, shoulders, or neck which makes it hard to stand with good posture or to sit comfortably. Additionally - and I don't know if this is related - I find I am bloated very easily, or that my stomach sticks out and causes discomfort after eating, and that I am very frequently constipated.

I should probably mention too that I've been a vegetarian for about 5 years now, and that my diet revolves largely around cereals and grains (always whole grain breads), dairy (usually milk), and of course fruits and vegetables. Over the past while I've made a big effort to introduce more tofu, faux-meats, legumes, and nuts - but I haven't noticed much of a difference either in appearance or feeling.

The reason I'm posting this here is because I realize that something is amiss either in my diet or lifestyle, but I don't know what: or whether the things I've mentioned here are a cause or a symptom. If anyone has experience with a similar situation, or is any bit more knowledgeable about nutrition than I am, I would be very happy to hear from you, even if you simply reccommend me to a nutritionist.

If there is any more information I can give about myself that would make responding easier, I'll gladly give it.

Many thanks in advance for any and all comments or suggestions.
 
There are a few posts on here that will give detailed workouts. Below are the basics for bulking, to be able to do this you need to already be familiar with weight training and very good at the movements, if you aren't please look at beginners sessions or you will injure yourself.

Growth requires food. Balance is not difficult if buying at ingredient level, follow the food pyramid and eat more of everything you need. Only add more of one thing if your diet is lacking that area now.
Training short simple sessions using the hit it hard, hit it fast, leave it alone system. Reps between 10 and 6, not overworking anything, and using key movements like squat, bench press and deadlift as cornerstones.
Rest time. Make sure you allow adequate time for recovery and growth between training the same body parts.
Set a program and stick with it for at least 6 to 8 weeks and then change it. Don't keep it after its ceased to be affective or change as soon as you have started.
Don't rush. If you are designed to be slim, as I am it will take time. Have this in your mind at the start, and be thinking about next year not next week. It took me about 4 years to get my initial target. Ironically I have been that weight ever since, by choice. I was shorter and a ot smaller than you at the start, so it can be done.
 
I'm definitely not qualified to diagnose or even talk really specifically about diet and potential dietary issues, but if a client or anyone else came to me describing what you've described regarding your bloating and constipation issues and the types of food that eat (not saying they are "bad" in any way) I would send them to a dietary specialist immediately. I'm fortunate to know a couple of excellent registered dieticians and a great naturopath, so these are the people I would send you to. The term "nutritionist" is often not regulated, so you never really know what background or qualifications a nutritionist has. Not knowing where you live or the regulations in your area makes it a bit harder for me to recommend who you should see, but your doctor is a good start. They should be able to order some tests (sorry not all of them will be all that pleasant) if they think that you may have some issues with some of the foods you're eating.

From my experience with clients, friends, and family with food "issues" is that it could be one food item (for example, gluten or dairy) that can cause a whole host of gastro issues ranging from mild discomfort to problems absorbing nutrients. Sometimes, tests will show that you have a sensitivity to many different foods, but often this happens when your gastro system has been taxed for a long time by constantly eating the "problem" food(s). I've heard many times that people had to cut out a lot foods from their diet for a period of time, then were able to re-introduce many of them once things settled down. Doing this requires some guidance from a professional to ensure that you get the range of nutrients that you need to be healthy.

Regarding the foods that you listed, many of them, while mostly being "good" food choices, are red-flags in my experience in terms of food allergies or just foods that can potentially cause some serious bloating and discomfort. Grains and dairy are both very common food groups that cause gastro issues for a lot of people. Fruits, veggies, legumes, nuts, seeds, etc. are all fantastic foods, but are usually high in fiber and can cause a lot of bloating. As for the tofu, it is made from soybeans, which are an allergen for many people OR the fermentation process can cause issues for others. I can't comment on the "faux-meats" as I have no idea what's in those...

I don't want to scare you off of eating all of those things, because most of the foods you listed are excellent choices. Sometimes it might not even be a food allergy or intolerance, but how you prepare the food that can ease the digestive issues. Soaking your rice, grains, and nuts for a certain amount of time can reduce the bloating effect and help your body to absorb more of the nutrients... lightly steaming some of your veggies instead of only eating raw can help with bloating as well. Just some things to consider!

....And what CrazyOldMan said!...
 
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