[CJU]

i don't know why it's so hard for me to get big...i'm starting to wonder if it's because i'm not strong enough for my size. my question is how many pushups, pull ups, dips, ect ect, should i be able to do before i'm strong enough to try to gain mass?

[tim290280]

Its a progression. You get stronger as you get bigger. If you're not growing then you are either not stimulating your body enough (lifting heavier) or you are not eating enough.

Keep logs. Log how much food you eat and of what macros these break down into. Log what exercise and weights you used (plus sets/reps) to see how you progress. Remember as you progress the more you have to eat, the more weight you will have to use.

[Rocky]

^^That's basically it! Remember the compounds!!!!

[purenatural]

You should be as strong as possible and along that you will get big. Are you familiar with the 5x5 rountine or hit or wb routine. It as well consists of the compound exercises and I will guarantee you will make good gains.

[BigBen]

Bro if you are advanced enough try incorporating supersets into the program. If u want to gain strength quicker than normal i would suggest 6 second negatives. In this training style u can focus on compound or isolation lifts, but i would avoid deadlift with negatives its a difficult movement to perform a negative with.

U basically just controll the movemnet smooth on the positive, and slowwith a 6 second count for the negative, i will warn u tho if your not an advanced lifter stay away from this until u work up to it.

if youve just been doing regular liftin i would suggest supersets as a next step bro.

Good luck and Godbless man

[big04pimpin]

How old are you? Depending on that is also a HUGE factor. You will get bigger but not built if your still developing like say 14-18 (everyone is different) I got most of my gains 195-230 in the past year, year and a half.

[CALIBBER]

being strong and mass dont also go hand and hand. altho its great to be as strong as you look.. but to gain mass is mostly do to ur diet. and doing lots of compound movements. be very intensit and limiting the time in the gym. if you stay too long, your body starts to break down muscle for fuel. having time to recover. lets you hit'em 100% each ti me

[Lineski]

A lot of the guys in here gave great advice so far so I'm just going to add a little bit to it. At your age (15) you shouldn't worry too much on isolation movements and, as the other guys stated, base your routine around compounds and a healthy diet. You're at a great age to start growing and as your body starts to respond more and more to training/dieting you'll also start to develop the all-important "mind-muscle connection". After awhile in your training, you'll be able to feel the target muscles contract, even on compound lifts and this in turn will also give you better stimulation of your target muscle. This will come with time and experience though. For instance a lot of guys "out curl" me in regards to weight in the gym, however I feel I get a much better contraction than them and thus my arms push ~18.5" while their's do not. After building a solid foundation of strength and mass, you can start to pull back a little and learn to "work" the muscle more efficeintly as opposed to just moving weight. But like I said, this comes with time and for now focus on the big lifts.

Also, in reference to the great suggestion that Tim made about keeping a log, try to beat your personal best every time you go into the gym. Whether it's adding weight or doing one or two extra reps. Setting goals like this will in time add strength and size will soon follow as long as you're eating adequately. Take care bro, and keep us posted.

[CJU]

yeah i'm 15 so maybe that's why i'm having a harder time getting big...but these 2 other guys in my grade and below are bigger and more cut than me....it fucking drives me crazy. i'm a very sore loser.

thanks alot for the great advice guys. and bigben...i started lifting about a year and a half ago, i'd say i'm ad a level where i can do super sets. i just don't know what to super set and what not to super set! also, i will try your 6 second negatives! are there any lifts i shouldn't do them on?

lineski- i do the compounds. bench, squat, DL, but not power cleans. i don't know how to do them! are power cleans crucial?

purenatural- yes, i do a 5x5 on military press but thats all. i dont know whats good to 5x5, and i don't know how long i should rest!

tim- yeah i'm going to start bringing a log tonight. however i'm pretty new to dieting...very new infact. i just pretty much wing it =/. i get my protien qouta every day, but i don't know my other quotas so i just wing it.

pimpin- i'm 15.

rocky- for the compounds, should i only go heavy? what should by rest intervals be?

[BigBen]

Originally Posted by CJU

thanks alot for the great advice guys. and bigben...i started lifting about a year and a half ago, i'd say i'm ad a level where i can do super sets. i just don't know what to super set and what not to super set! also, i will try your 6 second negatives! are there any lifts i shouldn't do them on?

um avid the negatives for now work on supersets bro.

just superset compound movements with isolation exersices. basically supersets barbells movements with cable or dumbells movements.

stick with uh, 12 sets for big bodyparts and 9 for smaller ones while supersetting.
whats your training spilt?

Also when u superset try n keep reps around 8-12, or even 15 this will blood volumize, and avoid unecessary stress on the joints, you are at an excellent age to start putting on size simply bc your test and GH levels are redicilously high bc your so young.

Godbless bro

[purenatural]

Originally Posted by CJU

purenatural- yes, i do a 5x5 on military press but thats all. i dont know whats good to 5x5, and i don't know how long i should rest!

your rest should be 2-5 minutes. Depends until you feel recuperacted, recovered enough and as well mentally ready to do next set.

your first 3 sets won't be as hard but for sure when it comes to your last 2 sets it will start getting difficult.

And your splits at least have 24-48 hours of rest between each workout. Once again it depends, until you feel your muscles have completely recovered the go on to your next workout.

[tim290280]

Originally Posted by CALIBBER

being strong and mass dont also go hand and hand. altho its great to be as strong as you look.. but to gain mass is mostly do to ur diet. and doing lots of compound movements. be very intensit and limiting the time in the gym. if you stay too long, your body starts to break down muscle for fuel. having time to recover. lets you hit'em 100% each ti me

Show me one BB or PL that is not stronger after putting on muscle!

Strength and mass are linked, but the body will vary in its responses to diet and training stimuli.

[purenatural]

Originally Posted by tim290280

Show me one BB or PL that is not stronger after putting on muscle!

Strength and mass are linked, but the body will vary in its responses to diet and training stimuli.

agreed.