Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure
I like the way you think.
10 bucks says you're somehow involved with Crossfit.
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Give the man 10 cyber bucks!
I started Crossfit in Jan of 2007. Did a cycle of Starting Strength this past Jan - I did about a 1/2 gallon of milk (I am 32 after all...I did not want to add too much pudge
) hitting about 4000 - 4500 calories a day. Eating this much food is no joke if you are trying to eat clean...I love food and I have never felt like not eating before like I did this past February.
In six weeks I went from from ~166 to 197lbs (I am 5'9" maybe just shy of that). Looking back I think I would have been best off at about ~3500 - 3700 to gain a little more slowly, although I may have stalled sooner on my linear progress. I found that I did not like being that heavy as it affected my over all fitness. My goal was to finish at about ~180, after losing some of the extra - I am now 176 and I am at less bodyfat now then earlier. When gaining you will most likely add 50% muscle and 50% fat. Unless you go real slow and take a lot longer to add the wieght
BTW, you do not need to eat that much food to see benefits from a program like Starting Strength. Depending on how much lifting you have done previously, you can see some massive linear gains as a novice...even those that are relatively strong and have done lifting before can benefit from a program like that. It is 3 days a week for about an ~1 hour to 1:30 towards the end of a cycle (the end is longer cause you need longer breaks to recover between sets)
Any fitness program should be programmed around your goals and what you want to achieve. Set your goals and work toward them.
Be specific (25 one legged squats per leg, 100 straight pushup - full extension, 10 hand stand pushups, 10 muscle ups etc) Set the physical goals and the appearance will follow and pick something you enjoy doing. Intensity is key...push your own limits. 1 hour 3 times a week is plenty for staying in good physical shape. You need to push your limts though in order for your body to adapt and grow stronger/leaner and more efficient.
If you really want the defined abs, focus on your nutrition. They are made in the kitchen.
Wow...that went longer than planned and I got work to do!