getting stronger but not gaining weight

[Pump Freak 86]

In the past few months, I have been steadily getting stronger. In the past 2 months, my bench has gone from 225 for a set of 5 to 250 for a set of 5, and all my other lifts have made similar improvements. I have noticed growth in my shoulders, traps, chest, and arms to boot. Sounds great, but my bodyweight has not changed. As a matter of fact, I've lost weight. I now weigh 168 (what I weigh in my avatar which was taken 2 years ago). When I weighed 175, my listed weight, I was there for all of 4 weeks, and I looked about the same actually. I don't understand what's going on here. I went right back down to 168 and I've been there for over a year. My strength level has increased tremendously and I'm eating all that I can get my hands on at college (yeah I know) and am supplementing. Everything is improving except my bodyweight. I would expect that muscular growth would entail bodyweight increases, but its not. What could be the problem.

my training is as follows
Monday:
Bench Press - 5X5
Seated Smith Machine Military Press/Barbell Row - 5x5
Shrugs/One-Arm Pulldowns - 5x5

Tuesday
Squat - 5x5
Stiff Leg Deadlift/Standing Calf Raise - 5x5

Wednesday
rest

Thursday:
Incline Dumbell Press 3x10-12
CGBP 3x10-12
Dumbell Flat Press 3x10-12
Preacher Curl/Standing french press 3x10-12
Seated Dumbell curl/Tricep pushdowns 3x10-12
cable curl/weighted dips 3x10-12

Friday
Seated overhead dumbell press 3x10-12
arnold press/one arm dumbell row 3x10-12
lying reverse flyes/seated cable row 3x10-12
Upright row/Weighted Chins 3x10-12


weightgainer with creatine within 90 minutes of each workout
90 second rests between sets
zma tablets at night

First and foremost, the most obvious thing is diet, but I'm getting enough calories and protein through regular eating and my supplements (about 160-170 grams a day). I can't get much more than that without doubling up on supps ($ issue). Somehow I don't think that's the issue though. What's going on here?

[canyonracerx]

First and foremost, the most obvious thing is diet, but I'm getting enough calories and protein through regular eating and my supplements (about 160-170 grams a day). I can't get much more than that without doubling up on supps ($ issue). Somehow I don't think that's the issue though. What's going on here?

Obviously if you're not gaining weight you aren't eating enough. Everything else you posted doesn't matter. Just add in 500 calories a day more until you start gaining weight. Use food not supplements. A peanut butter & banana sandwich with some oats on top with a glass of milk is about that.

[Pump Freak 86]

Obviously if you're not gaining weight you aren't eating enough. Everything else you posted doesn't matter. Just add in 500 calories a day more until you start gaining weight. Use food not supplements. A peanut butter & banana sandwich with some oats on top with a glass of milk is about that.

lactose intolerant

[darvoz]

The average person to bulk up need's about 300 grams of protein per day, and slightly less on carbs this equals out to be approximately 50 grams of protein per meal times 6 a day. Make sure you eat smaller but more frequent meals per day. All day, just slowly increase your amounts over time and most importantly dont skip meals or training.

[weissistschoen]

Are you gaining muscle weight, yet losing fat weight right now?

You are looking pretty cut in your picture.

[canyonracerx]

lactose intolerant

OMG, don't rely on being spoonfed. The basic principle remains. EAT!

[Pump Freak 86]

Are you gaining muscle weight, yet losing fat weight right now?

You are looking pretty cut in your picture.

I'm not sure what I lost. I don't think it was fat, but idk if it was muscle because I got stronger. Getting enough food at this college is like a daily adventure though. There's a limit to how much food I can actually eat at one time though (my biggest obstacle). I'll have to try adding more calories from my weight gainer. I was under the impression that it couldn't be diet since I've been getting stronger, since strength is a type of "gain". O well. What exactly is going on then because I didn't know this (losing or staying at the same weight and gaining strength steadily) could actually happen. I'm not saying it's not diet, but I'm not really making sense out of the strength gain part. How does that interaction work?

[Mysterious One]

If you gained strength you didn't lose muscle. It just doesn't work that way. You also said you noticed growth in some muscles.

You lost fat and gained some muscle. Good work.

[stracin]

The average person to bulk up need's about 300 grams of protein per day, and slightly less on carbs this equals out to be approximately 50 grams of protein per meal times 6 a day. Make sure you eat smaller but more frequent meals per day. All day, just slowly increase your amounts over time and most importantly dont skip meals or training.

O' Rly?!?! I wonder how I've been doing it on roughly 120 grams then. Your body can only use so much protein at once and what it doesn't use will successfully bulk up your fat stores. I believe one of the most common mistakes is going overboard with protein. .75 - 1.25 grams per body weight is plenty for anyone who trains.

[Ronnie Rowland]

More calories....

[Pump Freak 86]

More calories....

I suppose so. Perhaps I did gain a little fat at some point, but I guess I didn't notice it since my abs have looked exactly the same for 5 years. I guess it went to other places. That's what was throwing me off in figuring out what's going on here I guess

[jgreystoke]

lactose intolerant

Most people who say they are, aren't!

There is no lactose in any natural yoghurt, cheese, buttermilk. So you can use them to greatly up your protein and calories. I just love cottage cheese, as a substitute for icecream etc.

Whole milk:

If you don't take a certain food for a long time, your body will stop making the enzymes necessary to digest it. So you introduce a little at a time to allow the body to build up a tolerance again. Taking a little live yoghurt everyday will help you digest milk.

When I developed ulcerative colitis, i became genuinely lactose intolerant, 'til I lost my colon. I can drink as much milk as I like now, it is my drug of choice on my path to monsterhood. I just built up my tolerance a little at a time, like anything else in bbing.

Bottom line, don't put too many limitations on yourself.

Best of luck.

[heardy10]

ha this is funny because it's exactly what i would like to do! I'm in sports and lift more for improved performance than looks, I wish I could increase strength like you without gaining much weight!

[Pump Freak 86]

Most people who say they are, aren't!

There is no lactose in any natural yoghurt, cheese, buttermilk. So you can use them to greatly up your protein and calories. I just love cottage cheese, as a substitute for icecream etc.

Whole milk:

If you don't take a certain food for a long time, your body will stop making the enzymes necessary to digest it. So you introduce a little at a time to allow the body to build up a tolerance again. Taking a little live yoghurt everyday will help you digest milk.

When I developed ulcerative colitis, i became genuinely lactose intolerant, 'til I lost my colon. I can drink as much milk as I like now, it is my drug of choice on my path to monsterhood. I just built up my tolerance a little at a time, like anything else in bbing.

Bottom line, don't put too many limitations on yourself.

Best of luck.

dude, trust me. Dairy foods, (particularly cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, and milk) are among my favorite foods, but if I eat those things, there's hell to pay. I'd actually lose weight that way. I had to stop eating that stuff because of the puking and diarrhea.

[jgreystoke]

dude, trust me. Dairy foods, (particularly cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, and milk) are among my favorite foods, but if I eat those things, there's hell to pay. I'd actually lose weight that way. I had to stop eating that stuff because of the puking and diarrhea.

If you are eating natural cheese, yoghurt, and buttermilk, there should be no problem, 'cos their is NO lactose in them.

If your idea of cheese is those abominable spreads, or easy single slices, look at the label. You'll see that they are bulked up with stuff like milk powder. Same for the imitation yoghurts.

If you get a reaction from REAL cheese and yoghurt, then lactose is not your problem. Maybe it is the casein.

Remember your sensitivity to certain foods can change 'cos of other health factors.

I do sympathise. I used to crawl around on my hands and knees, the pain was so bad. Actually I developed problems with milk as a kid. Nothing to do with lactose, then. It was sensitivity to the antibiotic residues which weren't as regulated as now. Didn't drink milk from 7 to 17, by which time I was fully grown. Maybe that's why I was only 130lbs for years after leaving school.

When I started exercising at 23(!), I built up to drinking a couple of pints a day without any problems. But I did it very gradually. When the U.C. became severe, however, I became severely lactose intolerant. And yes, I could eat all the real cheese, yoghurt(used to make it myself, at times), and buttermilk I wanted. But I couldn't eat processed cheese, faux yoghurt, or anything containing whole milk fillers, like biscuits etc.

You might discover that you can eat the real stuff, while the artificial substitutes are harmful to you.

[MISSINGLINK]

Chalupas and Gorditas FTMFW!

[Rick_Trahan]

Well I had this problem for a while too. I had huge gains in strength but it did not convert into muscle size. For me it just took time, repitition, and lots and lots of food. Start eating and dont stop. Strength doesnt always mean size, remember Franco was stronger than Arnold. Short BB's ftw!!

[ChristianGuy]

If you are eating natural cheese, yoghurt, and buttermilk, there should be no problem, 'cos their is NO lactose in them.

If your idea of cheese is those abominable spreads, or easy single slices, look at the label. You'll see that they are bulked up with stuff like milk powder. Same for the imitation yoghurts.

If you get a reaction from REAL cheese and yoghurt, then lactose is not your problem. Maybe it is the casein.

Remember your sensitivity to certain foods can change 'cos of other health factors.

I do sympathise. I used to crawl around on my hands and knees, the pain was so bad. Actually I developed problems with milk as a kid. Nothing to do with lactose, then. It was sensitivity to the antibiotic residues which weren't as regulated as now. Didn't drink milk from 7 to 17, by which time I was fully grown. Maybe that's why I was only 130lbs for years after leaving school.

When I started exercising at 23(!), I built up to drinking a couple of pints a day without any problems. But I did it very gradually. When the U.C. became severe, however, I became severely lactose intolerant. And yes, I could eat all the real cheese, yoghurt(used to make it myself, at times), and buttermilk I wanted. But I couldn't eat processed cheese, faux yoghurt, or anything containing whole milk fillers, like biscuits etc.

You might discover that you can eat the real stuff, while the artificial substitutes are harmful to you.

Everyone reacts differently brother. If I drink the smallest amount of milk, it's over, however aged cheese (Which has little to no lactose) doesn't affect me at all. I wish I could drink milk, even Lactase although is better, still makes me feel like garbage. Soy milk is the answer IMO. Haven't tried rice milk, but heard its pretty delicious.

[mydamnself]

Echoing what previous posters have said, remember that size does not mean strength. I know many big guys who are not nearly as strong as I am. For the most part we only actually use 20-30% of the muscle we have, and becoming stronger with the same mass is simply a matter of reprogramming the 'muscle software' with training, or other techniques such as dynamic tension or proper utilization of intra abdominal pressure.
Oh yeah, and eat more.

[jgreystoke]

Everyone reacts differently brother. If I drink the smallest amount of milk, it's over, however aged cheese (Which has little to no lactose) doesn't affect me at all. I wish I could drink milk, even Lactase although is better, still makes me feel like garbage. Soy milk is the answer IMO. Haven't tried rice milk, but heard its pretty delicious.

You're right there. You can buy lots of milk, bring it just to the boil to kill bacteria, allow to cool to body temp, and add real yoghurt. Leave in a warm cubbard or near the stove, or on a special gentle heating pad other people use for home brewing beer!

Next day, a big pot of delicious real yoghurt. The bacteria in yoghurt actually help you digest lactose. So you might be able to experiment with taking a sip of milk to see how it goes. But you don't have to bother. The yoghurt is fantastic as it is. You can add fruit or whatever. Just don't ruin it by adding sugar!

I tried soy milk, when the problem was severe. Ugh! Guess our tastes are all different as well. Never even heard of rice milk. I don't have the lactose intolerance anymore. The only thing I have to avoid like the plague is cabbage and lettuce, worse luck. Used to grow our own, lots of lovely varieties.

Muscle and might, bro.

[darvoz]

O' Rly?!?! I wonder how I've been doing it on roughly 120 grams then. Your body can only use so much protein at once and what it doesn't use will successfully bulk up your fat stores. I believe one of the most common mistakes is going overboard with protein. .75 - 1.25 grams per body weight is plenty for anyone who trains.

Thankss for clearing that up. Maybe I have been over doing it then on protein its just that whenever I think food i tend to think protein.

Thanks for the info.