Once skinny, now huge. (sore, muscle, lifting weights, gym)

[tonyurban]

I am a fairly slim guy. I started out lifting weights about a month ago and I am seeing gains and starting to see a few changes. My question is were you once a slim/skinny guy/woman and how was your experience trying to gain muscle? How long did I take for you?

Also a side note, how does it feel to be big? Do you actually feel it in your arms and legs, like do your legs actually always feel tight? The reason why I say that is because a day or so after lifting I feel a little bigger, however, if I take a full 2-3 days off I feel back to normal and skinny and feel like I didn't feed myself enough.

[mfpd]

I used to be really skinny. I am 40 now. I graduated HS at 130 lbs and 5'8. I graduated college at 5'10 and 170 lbs. I have always been very lean. I am now 215 and still lean. I intend to compete in a men's physique competition in a few months in the master's division.

I will say it took a long time for me to gain muscle. I only seriously started trying about 5 years ago. I would say that I average 5-10 lbs of lean mass per year, at most. My problem is I don't like to eat enough to grow.

It still makes me feel weird when people refer to me as "the big guy" or things like that. I look in the mirror and still see the scrawny 130 lb guy from HS.

My body doesn't usually feel "tight." I may be sore for a day or so after a really crazy workout. I set some new PR's in dead lift last week and my low back was tight/sore for about 4 days after. I usually work my legs to death and have a hard time walking to the car on squat days. I don't notice the "pump" being around for more than an hour or so after working out.

You will see the most changes in the first 6 months. I suggest you keep a photo journal of the progress you are making. When I get frustrated at plateaus, I can go back and see what I looked like at 170 or 180 lbs and compare to current stats to see the progress that is being made.

[OhZone]

You guys are are so intent on getting "big" are at risk for permanently damaging yourself.
My son tore ligaments in his shoulder trying to lift 250 #. This didn't bother him a lot at the time, but years later now and having further damaged himself in the course of his work is resulting in the need for surgery to fasten those ligaments back on .
So just take it easy and don't try to be the strong man.
Don't expect to feel "bigger", you won't.
Did you feel bigger when you were a growing child?

[1208]

Originally Posted by mfpd

I used to be really skinny. I am 40 now. I graduated HS at 130 lbs and 5'8. I graduated college at 5'10 and 170 lbs. I have always been very lean. I am now 215 and still lean. I intend to compete in a men's physique competition in a few months in the master's division.

I will say it took a long time for me to gain muscle. I only seriously started trying about 5 years ago. I would say that I average 5-10 lbs of lean mass per year, at most. My problem is I don't like to eat enough to grow.

That part I am curious about. I like lifting but hate the eating part of it, having to eat a lot of calories, protein shakes, etc. Is it possible to keep getting stronger/bigger without worrying about the nutrition? How did you gain weight, did you consciously eat a lot all year, or just do a few bulks a couple times or what?

[Huckleberry3911948]

big is overrated. skinny people are faster and lighter on their feet. they also look great in their clothes.
lets hear it for the skinnies.

[mfpd]

The eating is hard for me. I am constantly trying to force myself to eat more. My goal is to hit about 4500-5000 calories per day. I really don't like to eat. I am not a "foodie" at all. But, I try to eat every 2-3 hours that I am awake. If you don't like to eat, getting bigger will be a challenge.

As far as injuries and such, if you lift with good technique and form, you should be able to keep injuries to a minimum. I have 2 bulging discs from a previous injury. I am still able to dead lift and squat relatively heavy and without injury.

I will admit it is challenging to find clothes to fit. But, a nice fitted shirt looks better on some one with broad shoulders and a narrow waist than on some one who is basically the same size at shoulders and waist.

Also, you can still be fast and light on your feet at higher weights, as long as you are not a fat slob. I also train in muay Thai kick boxing and submission grappling. All things being equal, strength and size will win.

By the way, I know the title says "once skinny, now huge," but I feel I am far from huge.

[tonyurban]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

big is overrated. skinny people are faster and lighter on their feet. they also look great in their clothes.
lets hear it for the skinnies.

LOL...go team skinnies...But seriously, I'm not wanting to be bodybuilder big, I just want to be naturally big. Like mario lopez. I like being lighter on my feet however I would like some shape to my body not just skin.

Yes the constant eating is the most unmotivating part.

[mfpd]

You truly have to eat to grow. I am glad to hear others say that it is very unmotivating to have to eat. My friends and my wife think I crazy when I say something like, "Crap! It is time to eat again!" They are jealous that I get to eat so much and still be lean. My wife is a gym rat / fitness fanatic as well, but she just doesn't get the luxury of a metabolism that rivals most teenage boys, even in my 40's.

Basically, if you want to get bigger, you are going to have to eat big and lift heavy. When you reach your goals, then you can drop to a maintenance diet and workout routine. My ultimate goal is to add another 25 lbs of lean mass to my frame. It will take me several years, but I have the dedication to get it done.

Don't worry about getting "body builder big." If it were so easy, I am sure more guys would be doing it. It takes a lot of hard work and extreme dedication to diet / training. As I stated above, just lift big and eat big until you reach your goals.

Good luck in doing so! It is quite a ride to be on!!!

[boxus]

Originally Posted by OhZone

You guys are are so intent on getting "big" are at risk for permanently damaging yourself.
My son tore ligaments in his shoulder trying to lift 250 #. This didn't bother him a lot at the time, but years later now and having further damaged himself in the course of his work is resulting in the need for surgery to fasten those ligaments back on .
So just take it easy and don't try to be the strong man.
Don't expect to feel "bigger", you won't.
Did you feel bigger when you were a growing child?

Your son was lifting wrong, that is why, that and/or he had poor mobility as a result from his routine, thus too much strained resulted, 250 is not a lot when talking of weight induced injuries, it was not like he was putting up 600.

In my years and years of lifting I have found that injuries are rare (I do not personally know of anyone that has gotten injured), and are more often than not a result of poor form. Also, go to any therapist and you will see non-athletic people make up the bulk of the injured list, heck, as a PT coordinator in the military and as a manager now, it is always the non-athletic types that are having the injuries.

Form is the most important part of lifting, and it is the most abused part as well.

It is not about being big, that is for body builders, many lifters are there for strength, size comes as a result.

What was the exact injury?

[tonyurban]

Yeh I don't want to get "big" like I said. However, having some shape to my body would be nice. Plus I'm not an ego lifter. I lift the most I can safely with a spotter.