Thinking about giving up bodybuilding. Can an ectomorph really get big?

[John Smeton]

I think he was clean until 200 maybe? That's still a hell of a gain, and the OP can gear up in 5 years.

he was clean in till 248 in late twenties.

[pistonpump]

smeaton, ectomorph doesnt equal undereater. its a scientific fact that we have bodytypes. Undereater in this sport maybe but even if an ecto over eats they are still ecto.

its not easy esp being an ecto. if you want to give up then you dont have the patience anyway and you dont deserve to have muscle given to you. Everyone has their battles you have to figure out with time and smart experimentation what works for you. Ecto is not neccassarily a bad thing.

Definately dont use any steroids either. Up your calories and change your training routine.....add some smart choices as far as supplements go and get good rest. Stay dedicated and be rewarded with hard work in the end. Dont give up

[dbow196]

I have the same story as you man.

I’m 6’5” and started lifting around 15 and did not see the same results as all the munchkins would get. At 18-19, I was just as frustrated. Everyone grows in different ways, but when I was in my early 20s (21-23) I started filling out and put on a lot of lean weight. You might be going through the same thing. Even though you have been working out for five years, you’re still young enough that your body might not have fully grown. I gained over 20 pounds after 21, just from ‘growing up.’

[Nitrox]

smeaton, ectomorph doesnt equal undereater. its a scientific fact that we have bodytypes. Undereater in this sport maybe but even if an ecto over eats they are still ecto.

I agree with this up to a point. That is that an ecto's limitation will be in lean body mass. If the OP cannot get past 200lbs on the scale then as long his endocrine system is up to the task, he is simply not eating enough. Excess calories WILL be used either to build muscle or to add to fat stores.

It is a different issue altogether if the OP's problem is that he cannot add any more muscle regardless of a weight increase on the scale.

[MikeyBuddha]

When you say you take in loads of calories does that mean you count them by measuring out your meals? If not then that is the first place to start.

This.

Throw your diet and all that in here and we can help a lot more than you might think...

[dfohio]

Great post thanks! I suppose I was a little depressed at the realization that I wouldn't be taking steroids. I'm going to try to start aiming for:

55g protein
80g carbs
15g fat

per meal for 6 meals a day. Also with PLENTY of veggies and fruit and of course lots of water.

Supps will include:

weight gainer
multi
flaxseed oil capsules
creatine monohydrate (looking into kre-alkalyn atm...I hear its quite effective when taken with a banana)

And thank you suncloud for your advice. I will be looking into a program. I'm not sure that 3 times a week is enough though...

That is still 4050 calories a day. For a guy that is ecto, that probably is not enough to make significant gains. Being an ectomorph myself, I know where you are coming from. A couple years ago I was 5'10 and 135lb. It took awhile but I got up to 155-160 eating 4000-4500 calories/day.
I recently just did a havoc cycle and now I'm up to 177. My hands, wrists (6") and frame are all always going to be small but the added muscle defintely helps.
Obviously I'm not trying to get you to take a steroid. But I figure if I had to eat around 4500 to gain significantly at 5'10 and 135, then maybe you should look into throwing in a lot more food.

[John Smeton]

smeaton, ectomorph doesnt equal undereater. its a scientific fact that we have bodytypes. Undereater in this sport maybe but even if an ecto over eats they are still ecto.

its not easy esp being an ecto. if you want to give up then you dont have the patience anyway and you dont deserve to have muscle given to you. Everyone has their battles you have to figure out with time and smart experimentation what works for you. Ecto is not neccassarily a bad thing.

Definately dont use any steroids either. Up your calories and change your training routine.....add some smart choices as far as supplements go and get good rest. Stay dedicated and be rewarded with hard work in the end. Dont give up

too get big ectomorph means undereater. Im an ecto and I weigh 240 lbs. In high school before I ever touched a weight I was 150. at 6ft2 that is skinny. senior year i took an elctive weight lifting class and only did chest basically and gained. I was still a twig. 165 maybe. I ate about 1000 calories per day and skateboard for three hoursd per day most days.

Since Ive gone up to 4k I gained. eat your ass off and then eat some more. the reason your not gaining is your not eating enough. Dante Trudel is a former ecto graduated hs at 6ft and 140lbs..Im also a former ecto now I look damn big when i walk in anywhere. (esp with my dress shoes that I'm about 6ft4 with)

simple as that..eat more. esp prortein get in 2 lbs of protein per bodyweight when training heavy and intense youll see the difference.

[Flaw]

ectomorph=undereater..

Completely agree! I've seen results from "hard gainers" who have used the bodybugg arm band device to measure how much calories they burn in a day. These guys were burning 4,000-7,000 calories doing nothing more then weight training in a day. Eat more then you burn and you will gain weight. It's simple. The hard part is stuffing down that many calories. Some man's curse is another man's blessing I guess. I wouldn't give up.. JUST EAT!!! It will take time but slowly each year you will put on more weight..Nothing in life comes easy.. You gotta work hard for good results!

[David Dunn]

Consider a few things that you younger guys are forgetting - not intended to minimize some of your successes - some guys just grow late.

When I hear a guy tell me he was 16 or 17 and 140lbs and by the time he was 20 he "put on" 60lb from "his hard work, diet and discipline" I always kind of giggle. I've seen kids put on 60lbs over a year or two after they graduated HS doing absolutely nothing.

A best friend whom we called "the skinny guinie" was a skinny little kid of 5'7" and 145lbs soaking wet at 18 yo. By the time he hit 21 he was 6'0" and 220.

Now lifting will keep you fit but you are not done growing you'll just keep growing with or without lifting. Like I said I'm not minimizing, but I wouldn't be so fast to take credit either

DaveWalton - consider NOT lifting like a bodybuilder for a year. Instead train as a power lifter or Olympic lifter - and eat.

[suncloud]

Consider a few things that you younger guys are forgetting - not intended to minimize some of your successes - some guys just grow late.

When I hear a guy tell me he was 16 or 17 and 140lbs and by the time he was 20 he "put on" 60lb from "his hard work, diet and discipline" I always kind of giggle. I've seen kids put on 60lbs over a year or two after they graduated HS doing absolutely nothing.

A best friend whom we called "the skinny guinie" was a skinny little kid of 5'7" and 145lbs soaking wet at 18 yo. By the time he hit 21 he was 6'0" and 220.

Now lifting will keep you fit but you are not done growing you'll just keep growing with or without lifting. Like I said I'm not minimizing, but I wouldn't be so fast to take credit either

DaveWalton - consider NOT lifting like a bodybuilder for a year. Instead train as a power lifter or Olympic lifter - and eat.

to clarify about myself here B, i was 135 in HS (1994). 117 when i turned 18 and joined the army (95). maxed my weight at 145. got out of the army at 135 (99). sunk to 126 when i was 29 (05), and that was the last straw for me.


ohh... a powerlifter idea. now that's a really good idea!

[PowerlifterMB]

ectomorph=undereater.. eat more and then eat soem more intill you almost cannot stand it. push yourself to that point. and in addition learn what foods to eat. and lift heavy, sleep good

Being an ectomorph is about more than undereating. It has to do with the bone size and skeletal structure.

[nparisi]

Being an ectomorph is about more than undereating. It has to do with the bone size and skeletal structure.

That's exactly right. I could eat 15,000 cals a day and my forearms and calves wouldn't ever be "big". Genetics plays a part, you can't attribute it all to undereating.

[Flaw]

well that's kind of a given but the Pro bodybuilders we all see in magazines like flex and muscle mag distorts the image of what we should look like. Those guys have great genetics but do everything possible to maximize their genetic potential including a lot of potentially harmful substances. Let's not let this distort our passion for body building thinking we can never be "big" or what we think is big. There's many local bodybuilding competitions at different weight classes and levels and so on so that anyone who is passionate about the sport can enter. Will everyone win? No.. but atleast you can be involved in what you love.

[DaveWalton]

I gotta go with a more traditional workout than an 8x8, it is said that maximum growth occurs in no more than 4-5 sets, most often in the fourth set, as that should be your max work set. 8x8 is more to get definition and keep size, but not add much, I use similar workout when I am leaning out for a comp in order to striate the muscle and also keep as much mass as possible without losing, i really have no hope to gain any mass when I lean out. heavy compound lifts is really where the money is, I will usually try to hit my two rep max once every 8days or so in all compound exercises, also i throw my muscles for a loop almost every workout, say I do just regular flat bench as my heavy set on chest one chest workout, the next I will do incline with chains on the bar for resistance, or I will do decline negatives till i wanna puke, be creative and ensure that you are working the desired muscle group. my girlfriend sometimes gets irritated that I spend so much time thinking of different ways to shock my muscles, she'd rather see more effort put towards her, but it is an addiction, change some stuff up and i bet you will see some great results. and remember looking into the near future is sometimes disappointing, look 2-3 even four years down the road, it has taken me 3 to put on 20 pounds of muscle naturally. but it was well worth it now looking back. good luck

Great post once again. I have decided to start with James Chan's "Hypertrophy Training for the Ectomorph". Here's the program:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ecto...d_training.htm

It actually utilizes Gironda's 10, 8, 6, 15 pyramid scheme.

I've also begun to realize that I am not in fact taking in as many calories or enough carbs/protein as I should be. I'm also working on drinking at least a gallon of water a day now. It's tough but I think once of the best ways to accomplish my dietaary needs will be to prepare most of my meals at night before bed so i have them ready to go the next morning.

[DaveWalton]

Overall, I agree with most of what you guys are saying. I still need to take the time to fill out, but eating more (of the right foods of course) will help me to gain...and changing my program to focus on compound lifts will also help. Eating is tough but its what it will take me to get big.

I've also decided to throw in some cardio 2 times a week. It will be HIIT for 15-20 minutes on the treadmill to burn fat.

[poopypants]

Proof in the puddin. first pics taken @140lbs same height in 2003. Second pics taken @ 190lbs same height in 2007





It just takes ALOT of cals to get it going then eventually youll break through. At 21 and 165 lbs I finally resorted to anabolics (Im talkin legal orals, this was a fine choice for me, I hit puberty early and had been the same height since 14, I was done growing long ago) though to push me above and beyond, now its easier to gain natty AND with anabolics I can make great strides. I wouldnt hit them up though till you are of age and have expended many other possibilities.

You can see in my avi Im even more lean now and another 10lbs heavier then in the pics above.

Keep at it man, you can do it.

For now creatine and cals and sleep are your best friends. Check the workout section also for some good routines, maybe the HST program would work well for you.

[suncloud]

nice transformation poops!

[poopypants]

thanks suncloud! its been a fun trip and if I didnt have to start almost all the way over like 3 times(dropped to 145 once and 165 twice) Id be alot further... BUT at least Im at my pinnacle now and gaining

[DaveWalton]

My log:

My Ectomorph Transformation (Hopefully!)

[Brenn]

Keep eating Bro, High density foods are where it's at. Pasta and meat was the thing that finally did it for me.

Along with multis and fruit and salads, for vitamins etc. But the high density foods did the trick.

I've been there bro, as many of us have. Im old now, lol, but I was a 5'11" 140lb freshman in highschool. By the time I left college, I was 260 @ 6'2". I was a bit piggy compared to now, but still under 20% (hydrostatic). No AAS then BTW, as we were tested.

With little knowledge, I did this: I ate 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts for breakfast, with a plate of pasta and same for dinner. I mean a plate, bro. Overflowing with pasta. It changed my metabolism and set up the whole day and in the evening, set up the recovery for sleep. It sucked, and made me lethargic in the morning. But it worked. 4 meals in between with protein/carb shakes also.

I simply had to be big and recover, or no performance on the field or gym, and no scholarship. No choice. Eat, Eat, Eat.

There is a threshold for growth for you, is it 6000cals? 5500? Your body will know. Dont worry about getting fat. Once the abs disappear or get clouded, just back it off a bit.

Like lifting, you gotta give your body more than it can handle.

Good luck.