Need to Gain Weight?

Expert

1183

Fort Wayne, IN

Subject: RE: Need to Gain Weight?

When I was in my early 20's I was a little of 6 feet tall and weighed around 155. I lifted weights, ran and ate like a pig and gained 10 pounds of muscle over about 4 years. Now 25 years later, I'm 185 (down from around 200) and trying to get back down to 175. If you are in good health and slender, I wouldn't worry about it. That being said, have you always been thin or is this something recent? If its recent, you might want to check with a doctor.

My Training Log My Race Log

Expert

703

Colorado Springs

Subject: RE: Need to Gain Weight?

I don't think that weight will help with your triathlon speed. The less weight to drag up hills on bike and runs the better. I am no expert by any means, but I would be thankful I am thin and would work on building lean, slowtwitch muscle.

My Training Log My Race Log

Expert

1183

Fort Wayne, IN

Subject: RE: Need to Gain Weight?

bmass - 2009-01-12 8:56 PM I don't think that weight will help with your triathlon speed. The less weight to drag up hills on bike and runs the better. I am no expert by any means, but I would be thankful I am thin and would work on building lean, slowtwitch muscle.

You make a good point. I've noticed that my swim speed has tracked fairly well with my weight loss. F=ma.

My Training Log My Race Log

4	Subject: RE: Need to Gain Weight? Thanks for the replies. Being thin is not new, weight has been stagnent for about 9 years now. Think I will just focus on some core training and take the thinness as a positive.

Expert

757

Florida

Subject: RE: Need to Gain Weight?

yea you can do that, or just bump it up slightly and see how your body responds. bump it up with clean calories though, maybe you can add a few pounds of muscle, because honestly that sounds a little thin..even 7-10 pounds really would not hurt you at all. i mean 5'11 and 135ish is pretty darn thin

Edited by BeginnerMan 2009-01-13 2:31 PM

My Race Log

New Haven, CT

Subject: RE: Need to Gain Weight?

Light people go faster than heavy people. You only have to drag 135 uphill, I have to drag 225 uphill (6' 1". Run, bike and swim, lift weights, etc. and increase your strength to weight ratio. I may be stronger on an absolute basis but you will be realtively stronger and therefore faster tghan I can be.

That said, If you want to gain weight: ice cream, pound cake, bacon and beer will do it.

My Race Log

Elite

2421

Subject: RE: Need to Gain Weight?

TorontoTri - 2009-01-12 7:58 PM Need your advise! I've just begin training, ramped up my diet and trying to figure out if weight gain is necessary. I'm 26, 5' 11", and 128-130 pounds. I'm eating 5-6 meals a day with a goal of 2800 calories. I seem to average burning 400-500 a day working out. Thoughts?

Best advice I ever heard on the subject: "Eat lots, lift heavy."

But that should, of course, depend on your goals.

bts

My Race Log

Veteran

262

Sarasota, Florida

Subject: RE: Need to Gain Weight?

Being thin is one thing. Being weak is something else altogether. You can be heavy or light and be weak or be strong. Also, having strong muscles will help in everday posture, as well as running gait, swimming technique, and injury prevention. If you're trying to gain weight, make sure it is muscle. Extra fat will not help you up hills, but extra muscle will. Also, remember that strength training can do wonders for your strength without increasing overall mass. Once you have your goals in mind, look for programs that can help you achieve those goals- not all will help you the same way.

Most people on the forums here who are looking to change their body type are thinking in terms of weight loss, not weight gain. It's easy to understand from that point of view that less weight equals better performance, b/c it means less mass to drag up the hills. But what if instead of dragging that extra mass up hills like a big rock, that extra muscle helped pull you up the hills? I'd say that could lead to better performance as well. The key, again, is that (if this is your goal) you MUST add lean muscle and not just eat and have the extra calories stored as fat. Think about your goals, find out how you can achieve them, and then get it done! Good luck!

My Race Log

Extreme Veteran

454

Canton, MI

Subject: RE: Need to Gain Weight?

chunta - 2009-01-16 1:50 AM

Being thin is one thing. Being weak is something else altogether. You can be heavy or light and be weak or be strong. Also, having strong muscles will help in everday posture, as well as running gait, swimming technique, and injury prevention. If you're trying to gain weight, make sure it is muscle. Extra fat will not help you up hills, but extra muscle will. Also, remember that strength training can do wonders for your strength without increasing overall mass. Once you have your goals in mind, look for programs that can help you achieve those goals- not all will help you the same way.

Most people on the forums here who are looking to change their body type are thinking in terms of weight loss, not weight gain. It's easy to understand from that point of view that less weight equals better performance, b/c it means less mass to drag up the hills. But what if instead of dragging that extra mass up hills like a big rock, that extra muscle helped pull you up the hills? I'd say that could lead to better performance as well. The key, again, is that (if this is your goal) you MUST add lean muscle and not just eat and have the extra calories stored as fat. Think about your goals, find out how you can achieve them, and then get it done! Good luck!

F350 Turbo Diesel vs Mini Cooper S... That's what I am thinking of when I see your thread

My Race Log

Extreme Veteran

336

Chicago

Subject: RE: Need to Gain Weight?

chunta - 2009-01-16 12:50 AM

Being thin is one thing. Being weak is something else altogether. You can be heavy or light and be weak or be strong. Also, having strong muscles will help in everday posture, as well as running gait, swimming technique, and injury prevention. If you're trying to gain weight, make sure it is muscle. Extra fat will not help you up hills, but extra muscle will. Also, remember that strength training can do wonders for your strength without increasing overall mass. Once you have your goals in mind, look for programs that can help you achieve those goals- not all will help you the same way.

Most people on the forums here who are looking to change their body type are thinking in terms of weight loss, not weight gain. It's easy to understand from that point of view that less weight equals better performance, b/c it means less mass to drag up the hills. But what if instead of dragging that extra mass up hills like a big rock, that extra muscle helped pull you up the hills? I'd say that could lead to better performance as well. The key, again, is that (if this is your goal) you MUST add lean muscle and not just eat and have the extra calories stored as fat. Think about your goals, find out how you can achieve them, and then get it done! Good luck!

I agree 100% with this.

I was 6' 130lbs when I was 22. I'm now 27 and 6' 155lbs. I'm faster and stronger then I've ever been and I wear exactly the same size cloths. Actually my waist is a little smaller. I didn't try to gain weight, it just naturally happened over several years of mostly running and 1-2 days of strength training a week. I didn't even do heavy lifting cause I don't want lots of bulk. If you are like me you probably aren't going to be able to train significantly without gaining some weight in added muscle.

Veteran

262

Sarasota, Florida

Subject: RE: Need to Gain Weight?

yorkee - 2009-01-16 1:32 PM

F350 Turbo Diesel vs Mini Cooper S... That's what I am thinking of when I see your thread

LOL...Yeah, that sounds about right.

My Race Log

Need to Gain Weight?

REGISTER TODAY