Getting bigger and stronger, but belly growing even faster

[coreJack]

I'm eating enough that my weight is increasing, and while I'm skinny at 5'7", 140lbs, it's an improvement from being scrawny at 120lbs. The only problem is my belly. I was willing to give up lean abs for the sake of getting bigger and stronger, but my belly is about to start becoming a muffintop unless I buy lots of new pants. Since I don't expect to keep this fat gut forever, I'm not inclined to buy a new wardrobe (unless of course my shoulders, back or thighs outgrow my current clothes!).

My goal is to continue to gain weight, but to drop a little of the belly - I'm not trying to get six-pack abs, I just don't want to look like I'm 5 months pregnant - so that I can more comfortably fit into my pants. Seems I have a few choices:

1. cut caloric intake by cutting back on carbs a little bit
2. maintain same caloric intake, but add in more physical activity - like swimming, Tabatas, etc.

Since this is the first time I've really gained weight relatively quickly (20lbs in <1yr), I'm not inclined to cut back on calories and slip back into my old (smaller) eating habits. So I'm leaning toward option 2 - continue to eat big, but add some fat burners to my exercise regimen. Any suggestions on what I should add? Ideally, I want an effective fat burner that doesn't interfere with recovery from the main lifts.

[itsbruce]

HIIT at the end of your regular 5x5 routine is going to be the favourite answer to this. Tabata, the Bear, that kind of thing. The consensus seems to be that it does the best job of fat burning with the least impact on muscle growth and recovery.

[atypical1]

Diet is going to influence your belly more than cardio will.

How many calories are you eating now? What does the Cunningham equation say that you should be consuming? Use those to figures to balance each other.

james

[tenkev]

What everyone else said; but, also, I'd pay more attention to caloric quality than quantity. What I mean is if you are trying to grow muscle but not fat you have to get the majority of your calories from fat and protein, not carbs.

I've never once counted calories and I've easily been able to maintain the weight I wanted with very little cardio, just by watching the carbs.

[coreJack]

How many calories are you eating now? What does the Cunningham equation say that you should be consuming? Use those to figures to balance each other.

I'm not counting calories. All I know is that I'm eating more and finally gaining weight, and I'm recovering from my workouts.

[coreJack]

I've never once counted calories and I've easily been able to maintain the weight I wanted with very little cardio, just by watching the carbs.

I'm not trying to maintain weight, I'm trying to get bigger.

[atypical1]

I'm not counting calories. All I know is that I'm eating more and finally gaining weight, and I'm recovering from my workouts.

I guess my point was that perhaps you should start. It's good information to know.

james

[coreJack]

HIIT at the end of your regular 5x5 routine is going to be the favourite answer to this. Tabata, the Bear, that kind of thing. The consensus seems to be that it does the best job of fat burning with the least impact on muscle growth and recovery.

Sounds like what I need. I like the 4min aspect of Tabatas. I guess these are best done on off days?

I might try doing kettlebell swings as my Tabata exercise, since I have a kb at home.

[coreJack]

I guess my point was that perhaps you should start. It's good information to know.

No doubt. But I don't have the patience to track calories. I know what I was eating the last few months when my weight stalled out in the low 130s, and what I've been eating in the last month, when I added 6-7 pounds. I figure as long as I'm gaining weight, so long as I can keep the belly in check, then I'm eating enough to recover from my workouts.

[Van]

I was having the same problem, belly was getting big and my 32 pants didn't fit anymore, i bought a couple 34's. Then I realised I didn't want to have to replace all my clothes and i definately don't want a huge gut!
At the same time, my lifts were beginning to stall a lot so I figured it was a good time to do something drastic. I cut a ton of carbs +fat out of my diet, stopped drinking milk and was eating way below maintainence calories. I didn't add as much cardio as I should have, but in a month, I was able to drop 8lbs. I'm sure if I did more cardio, I could have upped that to about 10lbs.
I did a big deload on my lifts so I could handle the weight even on a major caloric deficit. Another positive that came out of this was that I was able to correct many minor form issues I had and was previously ignoring because I was just trying to make the numbers go up.
Within a month I'm back up to the same weights I was lifting when I was 8lbs heavier. I still have the little belly fat, but my 32" pants fit and I'm just as strong. I want the ripped abs everyone wants, but thats going to take a kind of dedication I just don't see in myself.
I just thought it was too troublesome to watch everything I ate and track calories. That scientifc approach is definately the better way to go. I'm pretty much using the mirror to judge progress. I'm young and I can afford to eat some crap. If need be, I know a cutting cycle is going to work for me.

[coreJack]

I was having the same problem, belly was getting big and my 32 pants didn't fit anymore, i bought a couple 34's. Then I realised I didn't want to have to replace all my clothes and i definately don't want a huge gut!

Finally, someone in a very similar situation. I figured there'd be lots of such people on SL. Anyway, Van, I don't think I need to take such drastic action b/c my pants still fit (barely; can't get any fatter around the gut), and my lifts are progressing. So a deload and big caloric cutback might be overkill for me.

That's why I'm thinking tabatas on my off days, maybe a little swimming just b/c I enjoy it, and Iet's see if that sheds a little belly fat (which is where I'm prone to store most of my fat). If that isn't enough, I could reduce carbs slightly. My only worry is that it's taken me months to build up to my current caloric intake levels, and I don't want to go back down in food consumption, which is very easy for me, and have to build back up.

I took some waist measurements today, both around the waistband area, and around the belly button. I'll refrain from posting the numbers out of sheer embarrassment.

[Van]

I did that deload when i was almost to 1.5BW squat and 2xBW deadlift and was stalling. When the weight starting to get heavy, tabata and extra cardio affected my recovery too much. the deload seemed like a good way to maintain my strength while cutting the excess fat. I would only recommend it if you are stalling big time and the deload makes sense. Of course it could have backfired on me very easily. the deload and caloric deficit could have easily led to a loss of strength. I can tell you my workouts were much harder and i was even worried at time that i might not make it back up to the same weights I had previously attained. For me, off days should be just for rest. Lifting usually takes me 1.5-2 hours. I don't mind stretching that to 2 - 2.5 hours and do the cardio after lifting.

[TylerK]

Same deal here. Started lifting weights and eating a lot about a month and a half ago. Have gained 16 pounds including my fair share of fat... used to wear a 32 waist, can barely fit into them now. As long as I'm still making steady strength gains, I'm just trying not to worry about it that much. Getting a little fat isn't the end of the world, I should be able to lose it easy enough when I want to.

[coreJack]

As long as I'm still making steady strength gains, I'm just trying not to worry about it that much. Getting a little fat isn't the end of the world, I should be able to lose it easy enough when I want to.

Sure, I'm confident that I can lose the fat once I stop bulking - I've been skinny all my life, so this shouldn't be a problem. I just don't want to buy new clothes b/c my belly is temporarily too big for my old clothes.

[cripmeister]

It's nice to know I'm not alone! I have gained around 15lbs/7kg since I started SL in September. Pre-SL I wore 32' waist but now I have to upgrade to 34'. I've been careless with my intake and consumed to much carbs, my only thought has been to get strong and gain weight. It worked but now I'm sporting a gut and love handles. I have become addicted to late night sandwiches. I will try to cut down on carbs and add more protein/fat to my diet as that seems to be the way to go. Also I think I'll take 4 scoups of whey (80g of protein) on gym days and 2 scoups on lazy days.