Hardgainers need not worry any longer. Part 1 of this 4 part series covers nutrition for real muscle building. Try it and leave your skinny past behind.

Hardgainer Muscle Building, Part 1: Nutrition!
Part 1: Nutrition

By: Roger Lockridge

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Article Summary:
  • Without nutrition, building muscle isn't going to be possible.
  • Eating more often in the day is key to growing.
  • A nutrition log is vital to your muscle-building success.
  • There are millions of people out there that would love nothing more than to have a blueprint or a written plan on how to go from Steve Urkel to Ronnie Coleman. Skinny people out there are hoping, dreaming, and praying that someday they can be bigger, stronger, better looking, and more confident in themselves.

    Well, I am here to let you know that it is possible and yes, you can do it. It is not easy, but it is possible if you want it bad enough and are willing to do whatever it takes to meet your bodybuilding goals. Believe me, I know. I graduated high school at 17 years old, 5'8" and 125 pounds. My upper arm measurement was ten inches, flexed!

    Skinny People Out There Are Hoping, Dreaming, And Praying That Someday They Can Be Bigger, Stronger, And More Confident In Themselves.
    Enlarge Click Image To Enlarge.
    Skinny People Out There Are Hoping, Dreaming, And Praying
    That Someday They Can Be More Confident In Themselves.

    I am going to give you the blueprint I used to develop my physique into something that I could be proud of. This four part series is going to cover every aspect and give you all of the tips necessary to do what I did or become even greater. Part one is going to cover nutrition. Part two will be supplements, followed by training, and finally motivation.

    dot
    Growing Doesn't Occur In The Gym
    dot

    When you think of bigger guys, you develop images of them benching 500 pounds, curling dumbbells that you would use as doorstops, and leg pressing what appears to be a small house. I want you to get these images out of your head right now.

    Growing doesn't take place in the gym, it takes place at the table. I don't believe muscle building is 50% training and 50% nutrition. I want you to think that nutrition is 100% and training is 100% from now on.

    RELATED POLL
    Do You Consider Yourself A Hardgainer?

    Yes
    No
    Not Sure

    The smaller percentages translate to some people into that percentage of effort being needed. You must devote 100% to nutrition. I am not going to get into a major science lesson on nutrients. You can find all of that information all over Bodybuilding.com. I am going to give a quick definition of what they do and tell you how much you need.

    dot Protein: dot

      Protein are part of every cell, muscles, connective tissues, enzymes, etc. You need protein to build muscle. You need a lot of protein, straight and simple. You want 1.5 grams per pound of bodyweight.

    RELATED ARTICLE
    How Drinking Milk Can Help A Hardgainer Get Bigger!
    [ Click here to learn more. ]
    Get Bigger With Milk!
    The focus of this article will be geared towards hardgainers who have tried everything and still can not manage to get the scale to where they want it.
    Author:
    Jay Johnson

    Jay Johnson

      If you weigh 125 pounds (like I did) that means you want 125-188 grams of protein per day. Good sources of protein can be tuna, egg whites, steak, protein powders, skim milk, or even 90/10 ground beef.

    dot Carbohydrates: dot

      Carbs are the key source of fuel for the body. Most carbs are either simple (fruits), complex (healthy breads, potatoes), or fibrous (veggies). You want to go for about 2.5 grams of carbs per pound of bodyweight.

    Carbs Are The Key Source Of Fuel For The Body.
    Enlarge Click Image To Enlarge.
    Carbs Are The Key Source Of Fuel For The Body.

      For the 125 pounders out there, that is 250-315 grams of carbs per day. Eat a veggie with every meal. Go for fruit in the morning, but stay away from them in the evening. You want to gain quality mass and you want the simple carbs in the morning so the body will burn them when they need them. Eating them in the evening could leave them unused and may be stored as fat.

    dot Fats: dot

      The fats you want are called Essential Fatty Acids (EFA's). They also contribute to energy, diffusion of oxygen into the bloodstream, and they can help regulate moods. There are many more benefits, but these alone should motivate you to eat them.

      Get the notion out of your head that fats are bad. You need them, period. They can be found in salmon, tuna, pumpkin seeds, and walnuts. Stay away from nonessential fats. I took in a maximum of 80 grams of fat per day.

    RELATED VIDEO: Video Tip Of The Week!
    Tip #61: Jamie Eason's Dietary Fats Tip!

    Bodybuilding.com Fitness Model Jamie Eason brings you this week's Video Tip of the Week. Don't be afraid of fats! The body needs good essential fats from a variety of foods on a daily basis for optimal health.
    Watch More From This Series Here.

    dot Water: dot

      Water is essential for the human body anyway. Water clears out toxins, helps metabolize fat, and reduces water retention. Your body is 70% water.

      As a hardgainer, you better learn to love it and not go anywhere without it. Drink one gallon a day. That is a lot, but since you are trying to literally build muscle that isn't there, you will need it.

    What Is The Importance Of Drinking Water? Topic Of The Week:
    The Importance Of Water?

    Many people do not understand the benefits of water, and do not meet their recommended daily intake. Learn what the importance of water is and more.

    [ Check Out The Topic Of The Week! ]

    dot
    When To Eat
    dot

    You are probably reading that and thinking, "How can I fit all of that into three meals a day?" You don't. You get all that in six to eight meals to day. Every 2-3 hours, you eat. You eat a serving of protein, one or two servings of carbs (always a veggie), and drink water with every meal. A meal can consist of something like this.

    That could make a great lunch right there. If you are on the run and need to eat something quick, go for something like this.

    The key is to eat as often as possible. Your body needs that nutrition constantly in order to grow. If you tried to cram all that food into three meals, your body won't use it all and store the extra as fat. That is not the mass you want.

    The Key Is To Eat As Often As Possible.
    Enlarge Click Image To Enlarge.
    The Key Is To Eat As Often As Possible.

    Eating more often and having smaller, balanced meals keeps the body running efficiently which goes a long way into growing. It takes some time to get used to, but in the long run, you will build muscle, have more energy, and feel healthier overall.

    dot
    Keeping Track Of All Of This
    dot

    Trying to take in so much food as often as you will need to is not easy and is hard to keep track of in your head. Are you sure you ate a couple of hours ago? Did you get enough protein today?

    This is where a nutrition log is handy. You keep track of your food just like you keep track of what weight you lift in a training log. It is really not that difficult really. You just write down what time you ate, what foods you ate, and if you want, keep track of the calories, protein, carbs, and fats.

    Printable Nutrition Log Bodybuilding.com Printable Logs:
    Free Printable Nutrition Log!

    A diet log will help you track your eating progress, and give you a great base when looking back at your most valuable cutting and bulking phases.

    [ Check Out The Printable Nutrition Log Here ]

    Let's use breakfast as an example. You had breakfast at 8:15 this morning. You ate egg whites, had a couple slices of whole grain toast, and some walnuts. You also drank water. You just post this as an entry in your log.

      8:15 AM: Breakfast
      • 4 scrambled egg whites
      • 2 slices whole grain toast
      • 1 handful of walnuts
      • Water

    You just do that with each meal throughout the day. If you happen to miss a meal, don't sweat it. Just post you missed it and move on. Also keep track of your weight in your log. If you notice you are having trouble gaining mass, look back at your log and you may notice something you are missing.

    Logs are a great tool and are very valuable to your success. If you have a BodySpace account, you can use your BodyBlog. It is a great tool and others can see it so it will keep you motivated to stay on track. If you don't have a BodySpace account, signing up for one is free.

    GET MORE FROM BODYBUILDING.COM!
    Learn What BodySpace Can Do For You!
    Updating Your Profile.

    [ Click here To Start Your Account. ]
    1 of 9: Your Profile Page: BodySpace is more than just a MySpace for bodybuilders. It's your best tool for staying motivated over the long term. On BodySpace, you can create a profile with your photos, your body stats, your progress, and much more.

    dot
    Other Things To Keep In Mind
    dot

    Just because you don't see pizza, burgers, ice cream, or other treats listed in this diet does not mean you can't have them. This is going to take a lot of effort and a reward every now and then doesn't hurt.

    I would treat myself to one cheat meal every two weeks. I would buy a pizza, or eat a couple of double cheeseburgers, and then get back on track. If you start cheating more than that, your gains may not be all muscle and what is the point of gaining muscle if it is going to be covered by fat?

    RELATED VIDEO: Train Insane With Kane
    Episode #28: Cheat Day!

    Kane's been changing up his workout routine lately, possibly to avoid alienating his audience with his strange antics. First up is some slow incline bench work with Ascent 81 coaching from the sidelines before taking his turn, and as usual not a word from Kane in return. The fun continues with heavy side laterals and a bit of shameless cheating.
    Watch More From This Series Here.

    Also, if you have to choose between eating something not on your plan or not eating at all, always eat. Skipping meals will not help you. If you have to stop at a fast food restaurant, find something relatively healthy on the menu and order it.

    There are healthy choices at most restaurants, so you don't have to suffer too much. Just avoid temptation and stay away from the Big Macs and Baconators.

    RELATED ARTICLE
    Finding Your Way In A Fast Food Restaurant: The Good, Bad & Ugly!
    [ Click here to learn more. ]
    Healthy Fast Food!
    I'll go over some of the more popular establishments and outline the healthiest options to choose from, as well as some you should stay away from.
    Author:
    Shannon Clark

    Shannon Clark

    dot
    Conclusion
    dot

    Please do not take nutrition lightly. The foods you eat and how often you eat them is a direct influence on how you get bigger and stronger in the future. You follow this plan and you will be well on your way to your ultimate fitness destiny. If I can do it, trust me, you can do it.

    The next part of this series is going to cover supplementation. What are the essentials to gaining mass? Which ones should you avoid? I will cover these topics and more.


    rock23@bodybuilders.com

    Recommend this article to a friend by e-mail here!

    Back To Roger Lockridge's Main Page

    Back To The Articles Main Page.

    Related Articles
    Hypertrophy Training For The Ectomorph: Program Design & The 10-8-6-15 Program!
    Lose The 'Hardgainer' Mentality To Initiate New Muscle Growth.
    Defeat Skinny Genetics: The 1 + 1 Skinny Guy Transformation Program!


    Mass Impact Muscle Asylum Project Mass Impact

    Quality Weight Gainer For Packing On Dense Muscle!*
    Learn More!
     
    Member Login

    Sign in for more FREE features and tools!

    Username or
    Email Address:
    Password:
    Remember Me


    New to Bodybuilding.com?
    Sign Up Now It's FREE!



    Abs SuperFeature