staying big

[Row1and]

I go through phases where I lift weights really hard, and then get lazy and stop for a while. Usually when I lift, I drink muscle milk for protein, and of course I gain weight, and even look bulkier. I lifted all of June, gained like four pounds and looked bulky. I haven't lifted much in the last three weeks at all, I have been playing basketball though, and doing some yoga. However, I have lost like four pounds, and don't look as buff at all.

I don't like to take creatine because it's all water weight that you gain with it. Is there any other protein drink other than muscle milk that you'd recommend I use that'll help me keep my muscle weight even if I get too busy with school/work and can't go to the gym as much as I want? Is it normal to gain all that weight when you lift, and then loose it so fast not doing as much lifting, or not even look as bulky?

 

[MegaVovaN]

I don't know how fast one would lose muscle, but you gained 4 lb a month? Like 2 lb of that is fat/water, for sure.
-newbie opinion

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
I don't know how fast one would lose muscle, but you gained 4 lb a month? Like 2 lb of that is fat/water, for sure.
-newbie opinion

Yeah, but I get the impression he doesn't care ("Looked bulky").

I use Burger King, but your mileage almost certainly varies. How about just not leaving the gym? If you can't avoid it, buy a few moderate-weight dumbbells, and use those on your time off. There isn't a food or supplement which by itself will make you muscular. If there was, we'd all be on it all the time.

 

[Row1and]

Originally posted by: presidentender

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
I don't know how fast one would lose muscle, but you gained 4 lb a month? Like 2 lb of that is fat/water, for sure.
-newbie opinion

Yeah, but I get the impression he doesn't care ("Looked bulky").

I use Burger King, but your mileage almost certainly varies. How about just not leaving the gym? If you can't avoid it, buy a few moderate-weight dumbbells, and use those on your time off. There isn't a food or supplement which by itself will make you muscular. If there was, we'd all be on it all the time.

lol.. talking about the pill makes sense.

When I say bulky, it's not like fat.. I meant toned, and like beefed up. my shirts fit tighter than they do now. it's like I have lost muscle mass, especially in my biceps.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Ok so you probably worked out for a good month, ate in excess of your maintenance calorie level, stopped working out for a few weeks and probably ate less calories than were needed to maintain weight, and you're asking why you're now smaller? Am I missing something here?

Unless you're a genetic freak/natural athlete, you're not going to maintain or grow in size without working out on a regular basis and eating enough calories to at least maintain your current weight. Want to get bigger? Eat more calories than the maintenance level. Want to lose weight? Eat less calories than your maintenance level.

 

[Special K]

First of all, you couldn't have gained much, if any, muscle in only a month. The body simply can't build it that fast. Most of the 4 lbs. you lost and gained was likely water, which can have an effect on your appearance. That said, you need to consistently work out to make any gains or even keep what you have already gained.

 

[KoolDrew]

That said, you need to consistently work out to make any gains or even keep what you have already gained.

/thread

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Here's an idea: don't stop lifting and you won't get smaller. Problem solved! Did you really think there was an alternate solution? If your body isn't using it, it's gonna get rid of it - it's called atrophy. Use it or lose.

 

[Row1and]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
Here's an idea: don't stop lifting and you won't get smaller. Problem solved! Did you really think there was an alternate solution? If your body isn't using it, it's gonna get rid of it - it's called atrophy. Use it or lose.

yeah, I think that's what it is really.. muscle atrophy.
Like when I got to work out, It doesn't take me that long to get back to lifting more weight than it did before. I just think the muscles look smaller cause they are not being stimulated as much since I'm not working out.

It's easy to say don't stop working out... but it's hard to actually not stop, especially since school gets busier and then one has to work too.

 

[Row1and]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
Ok so you probably worked out for a good month, ate in excess of your maintenance calorie level, stopped working out for a few weeks and probably ate less calories than were needed to maintain weight, and you're asking why you're now smaller? Am I missing something here?

Unless you're a genetic freak/natural athlete, you're not going to maintain or grow in size without working out on a regular basis and eating enough calories to at least maintain your current weight. Want to get bigger? Eat more calories than the maintenance level. Want to lose weight? Eat less calories than your maintenance level.

I have actually been eating a lot less than I did the month before... I'm afraid to eat soo much tho' if I'm not lifting as much, then I'll just gain fat! - that sounds awful. lol

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: Row1and

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged
Here's an idea: don't stop lifting and you won't get smaller. Problem solved! Did you really think there was an alternate solution? If your body isn't using it, it's gonna get rid of it - it's called atrophy. Use it or lose.

yeah, I think that's what it is really.. muscle atrophy.
Like when I got to work out, It doesn't take me that long to get back to lifting more weight than it did before. I just think the muscles look smaller cause they are not being stimulated as much since I'm not working out.

It's easy to say don't stop working out... but it's hard to actually not stop, especially since school gets busier and then one has to work too.

Make it part of your daily schedule. Make it not optional. If you integrate it within your day with no excuses, you learn to cope and schedule around it. It just takes some practice and some habit forming.

 

[TallBill]

Yeah bud, I worked 14 hour days in Iraq and made it to the gym every day. Either do it or don't. Half assing it is just wasting your time.

 

[GenHoth]

Originally posted by: TallBill
Yeah bud, I worked 14 hour days in Iraq and made it to the gym every day. Either do it or don't. Half assing it is just wasting your time.

Don't think too many of us have a bigger excuse then that! Time to get our lazy asses to the gym!

 

[Row1and]

Originally posted by: GenHoth

Originally posted by: TallBill
Yeah bud, I worked 14 hour days in Iraq and made it to the gym every day. Either do it or don't. Half assing it is just wasting your time.

Don't think too many of us have a bigger excuse then that! Time to get our lazy asses to the gym!

word to our mothers!

 

[StageLeft]

no food, keep lifting.

Yeah bud, I worked 14 hour days in Iraq and made it to the gym every day. Either do it or don't. Half assing it is just wasting your time.

Yeah, I want to fvcking scream when people say they're "too busy" to workout. It's what separates the eventual fat sloth 45 year old with somebody who looks like this.