Not seeing any physical changes

[Kcampbell87]

I followed starting strength first and am currently doing a 4 day upper lower split. I am constantly struggling to progress. I will get the weight I can lift up one week but then I always end up having to start over with lighter weight bc it's just too heavy. I eat well over 2000 calories a day which is supposed to be more than enough for my size. I am 5'3 100lbs. I am so frustrated bc I keep getting stuck and having to go back to light weights. How do you progress when the weight just becomes too heavy? Skull crushers for example I can easily do way too many reps with the 20, 30, and 40lb bar but the 50 is just too much. Any advice is greatly appreciated thank you!

[ironwill2008]

I followed starting strength first and am currently doing a 4 day upper lower split. I am constantly struggling to progress. I will get the weight I can lift up one week but then I always end up having to start over with lighter weight bc it's just too heavy. I eat well over 2000 calories a day which is supposed to be more than enough for my size. I am 5'3 100lbs. I am so frustrated bc I keep getting stuck and having to go back to light weights. How do you progress when the weight just becomes too heavy? Skull crushers for example I can easily do way too many reps with the 20, 30, and 40lb bar but the 50 is just too much. Any advice is greatly appreciated thank you!

Any well-structured program will include direction on how to proceed through a stall/plateau. If yours doesn't, drop it and start over with this:

Fierce 5 Novice routine:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=159678631


If you don't know how to perform any of the exercises in this program, look them up here to learn how to do them correctly:
http://exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html

[okayest]

How long did you do starting strength? What were you lifts when you started and when you ended? What exactly is your U/L program now?

[fitfanatic123]

There are different ways to progress besides adding weight. You can throw in an extra set or add reps.

For example if 3 sets of 12 reps is easy at 40 pounds, but you can't do the same at 50 pounds, then you can do 4 sets of 12 or do 3 sets of 20 reps at 40 pounds until you can get the 3x12 at 50. Hope that makes sense.

You *should* follow the routine as prescribed for breaking through stalls/plateaus, but i understand sometimes you can't follow it to the exact science. I like to add in extra reps in order to break through.

[mavd]

Also, are you gaining weight at 2000 calories? It might seem like more than enough, but if you're trying to build muscle, it might not be. If you aren't gaining about 2 pounds a month, increase the calories some and see if that helps you progress in the gym.

[kimm4]

I followed starting strength first and am currently doing a 4 day upper lower split. I am constantly struggling to progress. I will get the weight I can lift up one week but then I always end up having to start over with lighter weight bc it's just too heavy. I eat well over 2000 calories a day which is supposed to be more than enough for my size. I am 5'3 100lbs. I am so frustrated bc I keep getting stuck and having to go back to light weights. How do you progress when the weight just becomes too heavy? Skull crushers for example I can easily do way too many reps with the 20, 30, and 40lb bar but the 50 is just too much. Any advice is greatly appreciated thank you!

I'm frustrated because you post the same thing over and over and never take anyone's advice. You've been told for months in numerous threads that you need more calories to gain weight and you haven't done that.

You're still at the same weight you were months ago and you wonder why things don't change...

[maeva27]

Also, are you gaining weight at 2000 calories? It might seem like more than enough, but if you're trying to build muscle, it might not be. If you aren't gaining about 2 pounds a month, increase the calories some and see if that helps you progress in the gym.

Not the OP, but guess I need to up my calories yet again. I'm gaining maybe 1 pound a month, if all goes well.
I'm eat 2200-2500 calories. I'm TINY (I feel tiny anyways, 5'5 and 126 pounds now)! Do I really need 3K calories or so?! LOL. Bring on the ice cream.

[Kcampbell87]

I have been adding in more and more calories. I currently eat 2,300 daily. I have taken that advice so I'm frustrated too. I'm not sure if it's bc of my health issues bc I'm sure that is playing a part in this. I also havent updated my profile on here in a long time so the information is not accurate. I'm not sure how truly important nutrient timing is if maybe I'm doing something wrong with my diet? How do you ladies eat daily to build muscle? I make sure to hit my calories and macros daily but I'm not really sure that they are set properly. No matter how I adjust I cannot really see changes. I've only noticed I'm not as lean in my stomach as I've upped my carb intake. I feel like I'm eating too much when I see what other people are eating but I know that I'm not if I'm not gaining.

[maeva27]

I have been adding in more and more calories. I currently eat 2,300 daily. I have taken that advice so I'm frustrated too. I'm not sure if it's bc of my health issues bc I'm sure that is playing a part in this. I also havent updated my profile on here in a long time so the information is not accurate. I'm not sure how truly important nutrient timing is if maybe I'm doing something wrong with my diet? How do you ladies eat daily to build muscle? I make sure to hit my calories and macros daily but I'm not really sure that they are set properly. No matter how I adjust I cannot really see changes. I've only noticed I'm not as lean in my stomach as I've upped my carb intake. I feel like I'm eating too much when I see what other people are eating but I know that I'm not if I'm not gaining.

I am 5'5 and was 120 pounds when I started bulking. I am now around 126 pounds and eating about 2200-2700 calories daily. It is a lot compared to the people around me but even with that amount of calories I am only gaining about 0.5 a month. So yeah I gained 6 pounds in 6 months which isn't a lot... and I have a solid lifting routine. I decreased all cardio. I do have more muscle mass than 6 months ago though, it is noticeable. I feel I just need to eat more than most people in order to gain, which is a good thing I guess. But maybe you're just like me... GL! Keep eating and keep lifting

[Stacy36]

Don't give up!

[Kcampbell87]

Thank you!