I'm 6 months in and have some questons regarding .....

[BatmiteReturns]

Thanks for reading this first of all.

I am 37 years old and 6 months ago my wife and joined a gym. At one point in my life I was up to 296 lbs. I gradually dropped all the weight and got down to a paltry 182. Now I am 5'11 so that isn't too bad but I still had a bit of a belly (genetics) and did not have any muscle tone whatsoever. Even at my heaviest I did not have very big arms. My chest, shoulders, stomach and legs were big but not so much in my arms.

Anyhow after researching I decided to go on a bulk and add some size. My diet consists of mainly....

A big bowl of oatmeal in the morning.

I am on the road a lot for my job so I don't have access to turkey, chicken and other whole foods throughout the day so I will have a Met Rx meal replacement bar every 3 hours. These are 400 calories and 31g of protein.

If I am home I will have a couple turkey sandwiches with some low fat chips on the side.

Throughout the day I will have a protein shake if I need it.

For supper I eat a high protein meal (over the limit of 35g usually) but it is usually low fat and low sugar.

At night before bed I have a tablespoon of peanut butter with a bowl of cottage cheese and a glass of skim milk.

Also, before my workout I would have a small bowl of oatmeal and after I would have 2 lowfat Poptarts for my sugar and carbs. I would then have Muscle Milk or a protein shake.

I have been very good at sticking to this diet and at the absolute most I will have a cheat meal once every two or three weeks. With the holidays coming up that will probably change but so far so good.

Ok, at the gym I am on the Actitrax program which basically starts with a strength test so it knows where to place you at on your program. It mixes up the routines so there is no plateau and gradually increases the weight that you use. I am seeing results as I appear to be lifting more then when I started.

I was going four days a week but that has dropped down to three and sometimes two as I have a 3 year old and a 11 month old at home and don't have a lot of time. I am going to be picking it back up real quick though.

I am now up from 182 to 203 and can see the results in my chest, shoulders, legs and a little bit in my arms.

I am still only able to curl 25lbs and I do 3 sets of 10 apiece for these. I could do 30lbs but I would only be able to get maybe 4-6 out of a set.

I had been using Cell-Tech Hardcore for a couple months but I didn't like the sugary crash. I got very sleepy after taking it after my workouts.

Ok, here are my questions....

I just purchased a tub of SizeOn after reading a lot of great reviews. Since I am ready to start with the supplement and am on a bulk should I not use the Activtrax and instead use a different program from this website to make sure I get the most out my work outs? Activtrax works good but as I said it seems to be moving very slowly.

What can I do about my biceps? I can do 150lbs on the tripcep extension machine and do 3 sets of 12 apiece but my biceps are very weak. Like I said, when I was heavy my arms still did not get that big.

I am starting to get a bit discouraged which is why I looked into getting back on the supplements. I have noticed my strength has gone down since I got off the Cell-Tech.

Thanks for reading and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[DeathtoToasters]

Originally Posted by BatmiteReturns

Thanks for reading this first of all.

I am 37 years old and 6 months ago my wife and joined a gym. At one point in my life I was up to 296 lbs. I gradually dropped all the weight and got down to a paltry 182. Now I am 5'11 so that isn't too bad but I still had a bit of a belly (genetics) and did not have any muscle tone whatsoever. Even at my heaviest I did not have very big arms. My chest, shoulders, stomach and legs were big but not so much in my arms.

Anyhow after researching I decided to go on a bulk and add some size. My diet consists of mainly....

A big bowl of oatmeal in the morning.

I am on the road a lot for my job so I don't have access to turkey, chicken and other whole foods throughout the day so I will have a Met Rx meal replacement bar every 3 hours. These are 400 calories and 31g of protein.

If I am home I will have a couple turkey sandwiches with some low fat chips on the side.

Throughout the day I will have a protein shake if I need it.

For supper I eat a high protein meal (over the limit of 35g usually) but it is usually low fat and low sugar.

At night before bed I have a tablespoon of peanut butter with a bowl of cottage cheese and a glass of skim milk.

Also, before my workout I would have a small bowl of oatmeal and after I would have 2 lowfat Poptarts for my sugar and carbs. I would then have Muscle Milk or a protein shake.

I have been very good at sticking to this diet and at the absolute most I will have a cheat meal once every two or three weeks. With the holidays coming up that will probably change but so far so good.

Ok, at the gym I am on the Actitrax program which basically starts with a strength test so it knows where to place you at on your program. It mixes up the routines so there is no plateau and gradually increases the weight that you use. I am seeing results as I appear to be lifting more then when I started.

I was going four days a week but that has dropped down to three and sometimes two as I have a 3 year old and a 11 month old at home and don't have a lot of time. I am going to be picking it back up real quick though.

I am now up from 182 to 203 and can see the results in my chest, shoulders, legs and a little bit in my arms.

I am still only able to curl 25lbs and I do 3 sets of 10 apiece for these. I could do 30lbs but I would only be able to get maybe 4-6 out of a set.

I had been using Cell-Tech Hardcore for a couple months but I didn't like the sugary crash. I got very sleepy after taking it after my workouts.

Ok, here are my questions....

I just purchased a tub of SizeOn after reading a lot of great reviews. Since I am ready to start with the supplement and am on a bulk should I not use the Activtrax and instead use a different program from this website to make sure I get the most out my work outs? Activtrax works good but as I said it seems to be moving very slowly.

What can I do about my biceps? I can do 150lbs on the tripcep extension machine and do 3 sets of 12 apiece but my biceps are very weak. Like I said, when I was heavy my arms still did not get that big.

I am starting to get a bit discouraged which is why I looked into getting back on the supplements. I have noticed my strength has gone down since I got off the Cell-Tech.

Thanks for reading and any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Gosh where to start.....

Those bars have over 25G of sugar! and over 40 Gr of Carb.....get a sandwich from Subway on whole wheat and double meat, no mayo etc....much better for you.

Pop Tarts???? Who cares if they are low fat, low sugar or low anything....drop them. Who says you need sugar anyway. It is in everything, so worry not, you are going to get sugar.

Couple of turkey sandwiches? Try double or triple meat and less bread. Or how about chicken breast with a veggie, easy to cook and do.

Cell-Tech.....? ummmm try ON or Isopure (IMHO)

Muscle milk? WAY too much fat and you are already sounding like you get tons of fat in your meals.

Size-On? Are you trying to gain the weight back? Size-on is not going to give you muscle....real food is, which you are not getting enough of, not even close.

Go the the main supersite area and look at the nutrition articles.....read alot....

This is all my opinion....

[Most Muscular]

Originally Posted by DeathtoToasters

Gosh where to start.....

Those bars have over 25G of sugar! and over 40 Gr of Carb.....get a sandwich from Subway on whole wheat and double meat, no mayo etc....much better for you.

Pop Tarts???? Who cares if they are low fat, low sugar or low anything....drop them. Who says you need sugar anyway. It is in everything, so worry not, you are going to get sugar.

Couple of turkey sandwiches? Try double or triple meat and less bread. Or how about chicken breast with a veggie, easy to cook and do.

Cell-Tech.....? ummmm try ON or Isopure (IMHO)

Muscle milk? WAY too much fat and you are already sounding like you get tons of fat in your meals.

Size-On? Are you trying to gain the weight back? Size-on is not going to give you muscle....real food is, which you are not getting enough of, not even close.

Go the the main supersite area and look at the nutrition articles.....read alot....

This is all my opinion....

I have to agree with the above poster... I was going to recommend many of the same things. Remember "supplements" are to supplement your diet, not be as a meal replacement. Concentrate on getting your lean protein levels with low fat, low carb type of selections if possible. Protein levels should be your first priority and then anything else will follow as fill in.

Don't worry too much how much you lift as long as it's heavy for YOU. In time, with more muscles development you will move up the weight rack to heavier weights in your workouts.

nuff said...

[Fifty+]

Good posts above. Just a comment regarding your arms. Continue pushing hard with compound movements such as presses, rows, squats and deads. As your rows and presses progress, your arms will follow. At the same time, remember that they are worked with all upper body movements and ample rest is required.

[BatmiteReturns]

Wow, I can't believe all I've been doing was wrong.

I'm not trying to gain all my weight back but I am trying to bulk up a bit so I can get bigger. That is my main goal in all this. This is why I tried Cell Tech and was going to start up with SizeOn on Monday.

I did have for lunch a 6" double turkey on wheat with lettuce from Subway. I'm still a bit hungry so hopefully it will pass. I wish this was a option all day long but as I'm on the road for 250+ miles a day it's not always convenient. I figured "meal replacement" meant that I could use them every 3 hours if need be.

I know I'll get my sugars throughout the day but I've read that you need sugar immediately after your workout and someone else suggested low-fat poptarts for both carbs and sugar.

Thanks for all the advice.

[DeathtoToasters]

Originally Posted by BatmiteReturns

I know I'll get my sugars throughout the day but I've read that you need sugar immediately after your workout and someone else suggested low-fat poptarts for both carbs and sugar.

Thanks for all the advice.

Not being a wiseass...but I am, so here is my question for you....

Did the person writing the article, who you listened to, have the results you wanted? If not....move on.

Check out the Supersite portion of bb.com and do research, it is worth the time!

Good Luck and ask more ?'s if you have them!

[imadam]

If you want to bulk you need (according to most ..)1-1.5g of protein intake per lb you weigh...so start with that. Don't be afraid to use that sizeOn...If you are training properly you can seriously benifit from good creatine and Gaspari is IMHO one of the best supp companies out there. For the Biceps: Try ''crazy 8's'' (its a variation of barbell curl...just google it) and dropsets. And you should look into Optimum Nutrition for your protein needs (check out 'pro-complex' and 'Nitro-core 24' and their casein for bedtime protein.)

[DeathtoToasters]

Originally Posted by imadam

If you want to bulk you need (according to most ..)1-1.5g of protein intake per lb you weigh...so start with that. Don't be afraid to use that sizeOn...If you are training properly you can seriously benifit from good creatine and Gaspari is IMHO one of the best supp companies out there. For the Biceps: Try ''crazy 8's'' (its a variation of barbell curl...just google it) and dropsets. And you should look into Optimum Nutrition for your protein needs (check out 'pro-complex' and 'Nitro-core 24' and their casein for bedtime protein.)

ummmmmmmmmm ok......thank for sharing. Do you need directions back to the teen section? Make a left at the Red Bull Machine...

[Bigdumogre]

natty pbutter on whole wheat doesent go bad and can eat at work
takes 1 sec to make
i make 1 with a apple instead of those meal replacements

[stackums]

Pack a small cooler to carry in your car of things you prepared ahead of time.

Lean meats rolled up
chicken breast strips
greek yogurt
apples/berries
hard boiled eggs/deviled eggs
soynuts/almonds/peanuts
cottage cheese
homemade granola bars
fresh veggie sticks
low fat cheese sticks
water

Keep it to protien and healthy carb snacks, you'll never get bored, its always available, its cheaper than Subway (and it has more meat on it )

[ECE]

Great job on dropping the fat.

As far as food try focusing on macros. You will need to write down everything you eat. It's painful at first but once you get a few days logged it makes the logging easier because you dont' need to keep lookign things up.

You will probably want the following per day:

250 grams of protein
250 - 300 grams of carbs
60 grams of fat

Even when you can't make it to the gym. Do some jumping jacks, burpies, something to stay in the habit of working out. It's too easy to get in the habit of not working out. (I have a 13 months old so I can relate to your time issues.)

I'm no expert and I'm definitley not cut and huge like some of the dudes on here, but I dropped a large amount of weight like you and the logging my food intake helped alot. I was then able to see where things like the MetRx Big 100 colossal bars fit in even with all the sugar they have.

[Old-Time-Lifter]

Originally Posted by BatmiteReturns

I know I'll get my sugars throughout the day but I've read that you need sugar immediately after your workout and someone else suggested low-fat poptarts for both carbs and sugar.

Thanks for all the advice.

All you need for your post workout meal is a orange juice whey shake. Ditch the pop tarts......

[billrich210]

Originally Posted by Old-Time-Lifter

All you need for your post workout meal is a orange juice whey shake. Ditch the pop tarts......

Agreed on the pop tarts (or any other pre-packaged crap).

OTL, you talking about mixing protein powder in OJ? If so, what flavor protein?

[Old-Time-Lifter]

Originally Posted by billrich210

Agreed on the pop tarts (or any other pre-packaged crap).

OTL, you talking about mixing protein powder in OJ? If so, what flavor protein?

I love Vanilla mixed with OJ............... very good!!! I'll be having one in about 90 minutes..... gotta go workout folks.

[Old_Swole]

Originally Posted by Old-Time-Lifter

I love Vanilla mixed with OJ............... very good!!! I'll be having one in about 90 minutes..... gotta go workout folks.

Chocolate with oj is good too!

[trans4mation]

My all time favorite post workout food is a Buckspin's sweet potato smoothie.

1 cup of 2% milk
2 scoops whey protein
1 microwave baked sweet potato, peeled
1 tablespoon honey
dash of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of cocoa
lots of ice

blend it up and enjoy!