Losing weight while trying to bulk, what gives?

[OlivierBB]

So I'm trying to bulk up from 200lbs to somewhere like 220 or 225.

I don't know my BMR, I don't know how much many cals, protein, carbs or fat I should be getting in but I'm pretty sure that at 5000cal I should be gaining some kind of weight.

I been trying for the past week to eat 5000 cal to gain but over the week I lost around 1 or 2 lb of bodyweight which is annoying me. I know I should give it more time before scaling myself but how come am I losing weight? I eat more than I ever did trying to bulk up and that was very disappointing.

I'm 22 y.o at 200lbs 6ft1/2in

My routine is starting strength

Here is my nutrition log if you want to take a peek at it
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...post1021498043

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[inautica]

I'm not an expert but it sounds like either: ****ty genetics (or good depending on how you look at it), thyroid issues, or you are "very active" (working a physically intensive job and working out), or your eating less than you think (but it sounds unlikely since your logging your ****). Stick with it and see what happens, your weight loss might have been a fluke.

[OlivierBB]

I'm not an expert but it sounds like either: ****ty genetics (or good depending on how you look at it), thyroid issues, or you are "very active" (working a physically intensive job and working out), or your eating less than you think (but it sounds unlikely since your logging your ****). Stick with it and see what happens, your weight loss might have been a fluke.

I'm actually working as a waiter in a sports bar, I'm active as in I walk a lot but rarely do I ever break a sweat on the job. I also been to school for the past month to become carpenter but I haven't really started the actual hammer n nails part of the program, I'm doing theory for now so... yeah I'm really wondering what the F

[Bulkandshred]

Why don't you calculate your BMR ?
Read the sticks in this section.

[KobiDC]

So I'm trying to bulk up from 200lbs to somewhere like 220 or 225.

I don't know my BMR, I don't know how much many cals, protein, carbs or fat I should be getting in but I'm pretty sure that at 5000cal I should be gaining some kind of weight.

This is why you're not gaining any weight. Start tracking your cals/macros.
Or, you could just eat more.

[MetalManuel]

If you're not gaining weight, eat more. I don't know if there's any simpler way of saying that.

[Bulkandshred]

The problem of just eating more is that he may add some fat, I believe that the best way is to calculate the BMR and track calories as said.

[MetalManuel]

The problem of just eating more is that he may add some fat, I believe that the best way is to calculate the BMR and track calories as said.

The statement above was assuming he was following the correct macro's. I guess it was a bit silly of me to assume that though.

[Bulkandshred]

The statement above was assuming he was following the correct macro's. I guess it was a bit silly of me to assume that though.

Ok, but he said himself that he doesn't know his BMR.

I don't know my BMR, I don't know how much many cals, protein, carbs or fat I should be getting in but I'm pretty sure that at 5000cal I should be gaining some kind of weight. d

Check some of his meals:

5/2/13

Diner 2
Ristorante Pizza Pollo (Chicken) whole pizza 760 cal, 32P, 84C, 32F

Total 760 cal, 32P, 84C, 32F

6/2/13
Meal 6
3 double cheese burgers 1290 cal, 72P, 105C, 66F

Total 1290 cal, 72P, 105C, 66F

In my opinion he has to change that.

[WonderPug]

The problem of just eating more is that he may add some fat, I believe that the best way is to calculate the BMR and track calories as said.

I don't think you know what BMR is.

[OlivierBB]

Ok, but he said himself that he doesn't know his BMR.



Check some of his meals:





In my opinion he has to change that.

you quoted the meals where i was in a pinch and had to pick something up on the go

as far as bmr. I can't find anything that gives me a descend reading ir that works in metric. I have no clue about kg"s like in the stickie

[OlivierBB]

So anyway, the majority seems to think that BMR is the best way to go so I did.

http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

According to this website, my BMR is 2089.5

I then with this chart figured my activity level, I chose the first to last, multiplying by 1.725

If you are sedentary (little or no exercise) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.2
If you are lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.375
If you are moderatetely active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.55
If you are very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.725
If you are extra active (very hard exercise/sports & physical job or 2x training) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.9

So I end up with 3600 cals, it then says that if I want to gain weight, I need to eat an additional 500 calories so it ends up being 4100, I been eating 5000

Now, according to this sticky:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=121703981

I find out I need 1g protein per pounds, 4g carb per pound and 1g fat per pound which makes my macros 200/800( 800 carbs really?)/200g fat.

It's pretty much what I been doing so far, except maybe for carbs which I'm not too far off, I'm almost on point with over 900 calories. How the hell am I still losing weight?

[Bulkandshred]

I don't think you know what BMR is.

You don't ?!
Your opinion is so important to me that I'll even change the weight of my bench press trainning on monday.

you quoted the meals where i was in a pinch and had to pick something up on the go

as far as bmr. I can't find anything that gives me a descend reading ir that works in metric. I have no clue about kg"s like in the stickie

OlivierBB if you were in a pinch try to get some better food or even some meal replacement.


If you want to calculate your caloric baseline use this calculator from Layne Norton:

w w w.bodybuilding.com/fun/layne36.htm

I can't post links yet, so please remove the spaces between the w's.

[OlivierBB]

You don't ?!
Your opinion is so important to me that I'll even change the weight of my bench press trainning on monday.



OlivierBB if you were in a pinch try to get some better food or even some meal replacement.


If you want to calculate your caloric baseline use this calculator from Layne Norton:

w w w.bodybuilding.com/fun/layne36.htm

I can't post links yet, so please remove the spaces between the w's.

It ends up being pretty much what I just posted up there... except it tells me my daily calorie intake should be 2800 which is either me not using it correctly or the calculator is broken

[MetilHed]

The problem of just eating more is that he may add some fat, I believe that the best way is to calculate the BMR and track calories as said.

If he's bulking he WILL add fat. Yes, he should definitely track his macros/cals. Are you trying to say that by tracking, and eating the same amount of food he is now (ie not more) he will suddenly start gaining ?

[johndouglas78]

So I'm trying to bulk up from 200lbs to somewhere like 220 or 225.

I don't know my BMR, I don't know how much many cals, protein, carbs or fat I should be getting in but I'm pretty sure that at 5000cal I should be gaining some kind of weight.

I been trying for the past week to eat 5000 cal to gain but over the week I lost around 1 or 2 lb of bodyweight which is annoying me. I know I should give it more time before scaling myself but how come am I losing weight? I eat more than I ever did trying to bulk up and that was very disappointing.

I'm 22 y.o at 200lbs 6ft1/2in

My routine is starting strength

Here is my nutrition log if you want to take a peek at it


Any help would be greatly appreciated

I suggest to track your cals.

[OlivierBB]

I suggest to track your cals.

I suggest you read what you quote, my nutrition log is up there, I track my cals. How would I be able to tell you I eat 5000 cals a day if I didn't track them?

[MetilHed]

OP: Please understand that the BMR and TDEE calculators are estimates only, to give one a starting point. No calculator can take into account even all of your activities, much less be useful for a wide range of people.

Barring some sort of medical condition or metabolic problem, the bottom line is to eat more, as mentioned above. Are you weighing your food portions ? Some people underestimate their actual intake.

[OlivierBB]

OP: Please understand that the BMR and TDEE calculators are estimates only, to give one a starting point. No calculator can take into account even all of your activities, much less be useful for a wide range of people.

Barring some sort of medical condition or metabolic problem, the bottom line is to eat more, as mentioned above. Are you weighing your food portions ? Some people underestimate their actual intake.

Okay all I linked my nutrition log, you can clearly see there I log every single thing I eat so stop asking me if I weigh my food portions or if I count my cals or macros, it's all in the works already, I'm already eating more than calculators tell me to eat with the 500 added calories to bulk ( assuming I need 4100 calories all in all to bulk) I'm already eating 5000's which means I'm 900 calories over.

[oceanus99]

well the answer to that is pretty obvious.. Eat more calories lol. I would kill to have a metabolism like that, although it might cost a bit more. Just eat some calorie dense foods.

[Ev3rL0nG]

I wouldn't sweat over losing 1 or 2 pounds in just a week. I feel like that would be a reasonable margin for error.

[Bulkandshred]

If he's bulking he WILL add fat. Yes, he should definitely track his macros/cals. Are you trying to say that by tracking, and eating the same amount of food he is now (ie not more) he will suddenly start gaining ?

I said that he should count calories and know his BMR. If he is not gaining wieght for sure that he has to eat more calories.
He will add some fat, but doesn't need to be a lot, eating a whole pizza is bad im my opinion.