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2004/05/09, 03:56 PM
Here's my deal. I'm 23, male. 6'1", 190. Between 14-18% body fat.
I've tried for years to bulk up and fail miserably every time because I'm a hardgainer and I find the diet to strict to stick to (the amount of calories on a daily basis and ridiculous amount of protein). Recently I've tried to just cut up my abs by burning the fat so I could at least be thin but cut. I can't seem to do that either.
I eat healthy. Recently I've cut out unnecessary carbs- bread; bananas etc. Now I primarily just eat salad, green apples and grapefruit as carbs, and eat lean poultry and peanut butter and cheese for protein. I usually eat my salads with red vinegar and olive oil/grapeseed oil.
My questions are the following:
I notice that my chest isn't well developed. I'd like it to be thicker. However, it never seems to work for me. regardless of all the great advice I've recieved on this board and in general, I never put on much muscle. I figure that if I cut up my abs, my torso will look better. I imagine that even if I'm skinny, cut abs will compliment whatever chest tone I have.
Q#1-Am I right in this assumption?
Q#2-Should I try and bulk up my chest or try and lose the fat from my midsection to showcase my abs. I think the abs would be easier.
Q#3- Why can I not cut the fat? Should I eat plenty of healthy fats and just cut low on the carbs? Should I eliminate the grapefruit and green apple from my diet too? Is there such a thing as too muc fat? I eat plenty of natural peanut butter and have recently added the oils to my salads.
Q#4- Please clear this up, as there is too much contradictory info for me to sort through. Is HIIT in the morning before eating good or bad? I've read that it cuts fat faster and cardio isn't even worth doing if ou don't do it in the morning. But, then I have also read that it eliminates muscle if done on an empty stomach. Is it a matter of opinion or is there a right way?
Q#5- I continue to do some weight lifting just to maintain whatever muscle/strength I have. I don't bulk up, but I do it anyway. Does this help in my diet and is it as good as cardio?
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2004/05/09, 04:58 PM
Q#1 - You assume correct. Still you should worj your chest hard.
Q#2 - You should do both
Q#3 - I would have to know your routine and diet exactly to answer this question.
Q#4 - There is a great post written by BB1fit at the top of one of these boards. Seek it out, read it, become one with it. It tells you everything you need to know about cardio.
Q#5 - Weightlifting in my opinion, done with great intensity is better than cardio.
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Would it be classified as overly competitive if I refused to let a 4 year old beat me at chutes and ladders?
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2004/05/09, 05:58 PM
Should I work my chest twice a week to build it up?
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2004/05/09, 06:11 PM
Also, is it possible to bulk up my chest while simultaneously slimming down on fat?
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2004/05/09, 06:20 PM
Prioritize - either choose a goal of building your chest or a goal of low bodyfat. i would pick chest and work it hard - first thing, first workout of the week and again 4 days later. Hit it with different angles.
Next - eat oatmeal, yams/sweet potatoes, rice and beans for carbs - you need them to grow. Keep your vegetables and fruit, they are good too, but you need more carbs to grow. You may even drop some bodyfat by adding the carbs.
Figure out the right postworkout shake and use it. Look in the supplements forum, bbfit gave a very good recipe for post and pre workout shakes. This wil make a big difference.
I feel creatine has helped me tremendously in gaining muscle, as has ZMA (recovery-wise).
Cut your cardio down to 20 minutes, 3 times a week, HIIT. Do it first thing in the morning if you'd like, but have a protein shake first.
After 12 weeks of heavy lifting, good nutrition and chest priority you should see a difference in your chest. Then switch to a fat burning program, while keeping your heavy lifting up.
Good luck.
PS We are all hardgainers.
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If you fall down seven times, get up eight.
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2004/05/09, 09:26 PM
I'd prefer the low bodyfat first because I think its more attainable. Ive invested 12 weeks in gaining muscle with little results in the past. I know I can cut bodyfat faster and don't have much to go. i just have to figure out the appropriate diet. I recently cut oatmeal from my diet, so hopefully that will aid in the caloric defecit necessay to burn the 10 pounds of fat necessary... However, if I were to use creatine and go heavy on protein while simultaneously aiming for low bodyfat and working my chest 2X a week, could I bulk my chest while simultaneously burning fat or is it impossible?
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2004/05/09, 09:47 PM
:surprised:
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