[Vivek.Martin]

Originally Posted by prateekm

So my current intake is ~70g, I am looking at 120g of protein. Sometimes, I substitute 4 eggs with 100-150g of chicken breast.

If you're looking to make up for the 50 grams deficit and gain weight (not just muscle), you're better off with a weight gainer. One serving split into two times a day will give you around 1000 calories with 50 grams of protein. That's because downing an entire serving in one go is a waste, your body can only absorb so much.

A whey protein will also give you the required protein, but not the required calories. As you have mentioned, you can add a banana, peanut butter, etc to it. But you need two servings to get 50 grams of protein.

BTW, do you weigh 120lbs? What's your target?

[prateekm]

Originally Posted by Vivek.Martin

If you're looking to make up for the 50 grams deficit and gain weight (not just muscle), you're better off with a weight gainer. One serving split into two times a day will give you around 1000 calories with 50 grams of protein. That's because downing an entire serving in one go is a waste, your body can only absorb so much.

A whey protein will also give you the required protein, but not the required calories. As you have mentioned, you can add a banana, peanut butter, etc to it. But you need two servings to get 50 grams of protein.

BTW, do you weigh 120lbs? What's your target?

Yeah, my age is 20, weigh around 125 lbs, aim is to touch 150 lbs by Dec end. The thing with weight gainers is that 300g+ of xyz weight gainer has 50g protein, and consuming that amount of weight gainer translates to buying 5 kg of weight gainer every fortnight, which isn't affordable for me.

[Vivek.Martin]

Originally Posted by prateekm

Yeah, my age is 20, weigh around 125 lbs, aim is to touch 150 lbs by Dec end. The thing with weight gainers is that 300g+ of xyz weight gainer has 50g protein, and consuming that amount of weight gainer translates to buying 5 kg of weight gainer every fortnight, which isn't affordable for me.

Yes, that's true. Weight gainers are expensive on a per serving basis. Best suggestion I can give you is to double and split your normal meals.

Eg: If you're having 4 rotis for breakfast, eat another 4 rotis after three hours. If you're having a plate of rice for lunch, eat another plate after 3 hours.

This ensures you get 6 meals a day and double the calories. It is a very inexpensive and 100% effective method to gain weight, but beware of getting fat around the waist if you don't work it out.
If you can add 100 grams of chicken each into two of your meals, you get your needed 50 grams of protein too...

[narayan]

Originally Posted by Vivek.Martin

Yes, that's true. Weight gainers are expensive on a per serving basis. Best suggestion I can give you is to double and split your normal meals.

Eg: If you're having 4 rotis for breakfast, eat another 4 rotis after three hours. If you're having a plate of rice for lunch, eat another plate after 3 hours.

This ensures you get 6 meals a day and double the calories. It is a very inexpensive and 100% effective method to gain weight, but beware of getting fat around the waist if you don't work it out.
If you can add 100 grams of chicken each into two of your meals, you get your needed 50 grams of protein too...

Taking off from Prateek's question, I am in the same boat as far as the need to gain weight is concerned. Have failed miserably over the last 3-4 years ( most likely because I have not tried hard enough )

Been hitting the gym for the last 2 yrs and I continue to be in the same weight range of 64-66kgs. However I have improved the form/structure of my muscles. I am a vegetarian and my work life does not permit me to have multiple meals or have healthy snacks between meals. However I ensure I have 3 proper meals a day and hardly any processed or junk foods ( in fact almost nil ).

a senior chap in my gym commented that I am just not adding enough mass in line with the kind of weights I am pulling and hence i should go for supplements given that my diet is probably not giving me enough protein to add muscle mass

Given this background and the need to add more mass, should i go for whey ? could you guys suggest some good products ( affordable as well )

as i said earlier, my priority is to add mass. i think my work out regiment should help in ensuring this mass doesnt get added around the waist

thanks

[Samurai]

What is your age? If you are 66Kg and in the 20s, you shouldn't be worrying about weight gain. Once you hit 30s and later, you will get heavier and you will be looking for weight loss advice.

[abhinav.s]

Originally Posted by Samurai

What is your age? If you are 66Kg and in the 20s, you shouldn't be worrying about weight gain. Once you hit 30s and later, you will get heavier and you will be looking for weight loss advice.

God i almost LOL'd at my desk with nearly 8 people around busy at their desk with facebook and totally silent office atmosphere!!

Back to topic though, Prateek and Narayan, if you are not keen on supplements, then you can try to incorporate more milk in your diet. There is a workout plan i once followed which tells skinny guys to drink a gallon of milk a day along with other normal diet. But you have to also work out without fail else you will bloat up with unwanted fat. It did help me put on some bulk but genetically i am a skinny guy. Entered the 30's band wagon and I am still lean but not as skinny as i was in my teens and 20's. Some good advice on PM from Samurai about Body Weight calisthenics has helped me keep fit with a normal looking body.

[narayan]

Originally Posted by Samurai

What is your age? If you are 66Kg and in the 20s, you shouldn't be worrying about weight gain. Once you hit 30s and later, you will get heavier and you will be looking for weight loss advice.

I will complete 36 in about 27 days and I have been in this weight range for as long as I can remember

Originally Posted by abhinav.s

God i almost LOL'd at my desk with nearly 8 people around busy at their desk with facebook and totally silent office atmosphere!!

Back to topic though, Prateek and Narayan, if you are not keen on supplements, then you can try to incorporate more milk in your diet. There is a workout plan i once followed which tells skinny guys to drink a gallon of milk a day along with other normal diet. But you have to also work out without fail else you will bloat up with unwanted fat. It did help me put on some bulk but genetically i am a skinny guy. Entered the 30's band wagon and I am still lean but not as skinny as i was in my teens and 20's. Some good advice on PM from Samurai about Body Weight calisthenics has helped me keep fit with a normal looking body.

Abhinav - milk is a good suggestion but somehow over the last few years I have consciously tried avoiding milk consumption. Any other options ? Worst case, I will have to go for this suggestion

[Vivek.Martin]

Originally Posted by narayan

I will complete 36 in about 27 days and I have been in this weight range for as long as I can remember

How tall are you and do you know your body fat percentage?

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by abhinav.s

Some good advice on PM from Samurai about Body Weight calisthenics has helped me keep fit with a normal looking body.

Abhinav, if you [and Samurai ] don't mind, could you please forward that PM to me too?

Cheers,
Vikram

[narayan]

Originally Posted by Vivek.Martin

How tall are you and do you know your body fat percentage?

I am 175cms. I dont know my body fat percentage. Can i measure this at home ?

[amitk26]

Originally Posted by narayan

I am 175cms. I dont know my body fat percentage. Can i measure this at home ?

175cm and 66KG you have perfect BMI of 21.5 why you want to increase weight ?
Many people in India have absurd notions of health and perfectly normal people look skinny to them don't listen to them.

[narayan]

Originally Posted by amitk26

175cm and 66KG you have perfect BMI of 21.5 why you want to increase weight ?
Many people in India have absurd notions of health and perfectly normal people look skinny to them don't listen to them.

Feels good to hear this but Amit, my intention is to increase my muscle mass and have an overall better built. Right now, within my 66kg frame, i have decent muscle curves. objective is to probably take to a 75kg frame with proportionate increase in muscle mass as well. Hope I am able to convey my point better

[abhinav.s]

Originally Posted by narayan

Abhinav - milk is a good suggestion but somehow over the last few years I have consciously tried avoiding milk consumption. Any other options ? Worst case, I will have to go for this suggestion

Amit is right. Going by your BMI, you are right up there with a near perfect score. But still if you want to G.O.M.A.D (Gallon Of Milk A Day), be prepared for lose bowels the first few days or some acne erupting on your face, or forehead. I only had an issue with lose bowels for first 3 days and i was not even going a full gallon each day!!

[Samurai]

BMI is not really applicable to most regulars in this thread, who are muscular. My BMI is 28.4, but I ain't overweight. Most people guess my weight to be 10kg lower than actual.

I am 172cms & 84Kg.

[narayan]

Originally Posted by abhinav.s

Amit is right. Going by your BMI, you are right up there with a near perfect score. But still if you want to G.O.M.A.D (Gallon Of Milk A Day), be prepared for lose bowels the first few days or some acne erupting on your face, or forehead. I only had an issue with lose bowels for first 3 days and i was not even going a full gallon each day!!

Apart from milk, can soy serve the purpose ( to help increase muscle mass ) ? I don't normally like the mealmaker's taste but can it be powdered and mixed with hot water and had ? ( Say with some sugar ?)