I’ve read a lot of articles about bulking.
Some saying eat everything in sight. Others saying to only eat ‘clean’ foods and to avoid fast-food etc.
But which is best?
I am looking to starting bulk at the moment, i’m a skinny 18 year old (6’5" and 172lbs). So what is the best way for getting big fast? It seems easier just to be able to eat whatever you want regardless of the content as long as it’s high in calories.
I’m hoping to put on roughly 24lbs plus (the more the better) over 5 months-or-so of training (Feb-mid July)
Based on my experience and everything Ive read, it REALLY depends on the person. Many people who are naturally thin and have a hard time gaining weight (ectomorphs) really can benefit from the “EAT!” suggestion, as they typically are the ones starting threads about how they cant gain weight.
Im an endo. I look at food and I gain weight…good bad or otherwise.
Keep it simple would be my suggestion. Start using something like fitday.com and begin tracking calories. Start at, say…3k cals a day. Aim for lots of protein, healthy fats. carbs etc. Try to keep it healthy. If you gain weight…good. If not, up the cals a few hundred. Try to keep it healthy. When you simply cant eat enough to gain weight, eat more. 
Then consult supplements like weight gainers.
Your young, you have a found a good educational resource here, and you have your age and natural growth abilities on your side. Keep it simple…eat and lift heavy.
Best of luck, Im sure others will chime in and offer better insight.
Thanks for your post Irish Pilot.
I’ve tried gaining weight before (no-supplements) for 8 weeks, I ate between 3000-3650 calories a day and gained 14 lbs during that time. I know i’m an Ectomorph, but I don’t believe that I am a Hard-Gainer, so I’d like to make sure I don’t put on predominately fat when I do bulk, which I assume is a more apparent side-effect from unclean bulking in comparison to clean bulking.
I plan to eat clean foods and use Whey Protein and Creatine as well, totaling about 3500-4000 calories a day. (Is that too much to start on?)
[quote]Dorrance wrote:
Thanks for your post Irish Pilot.
I’ve tried gaining weight before (no-supplements) for 8 weeks, I ate between 3000-3650 calories a day and gained 14 lbs during that time. I know i’m an Ectomorph, but I don’t believe that I am a Hard-Gainer, so I’d like to make sure I don’t put on predominately fat when I do bulk, which I assume is a more apparent side-effect from unclean bulking in comparison to clean bulking.
I plan to eat clean foods and use Whey Protein and Creatine as well, totaling about 3500-4000 calories a day. (Is that too much to start on?)[/quote]
We will never know. Try it for 2 months. Track your calories, weight, and also look in the mirror. Make adjustments suited to your needs.
[quote]Dorrance wrote:
Thanks for your post Irish Pilot.
I’ve tried gaining weight before (no-supplements) for 8 weeks, I ate between 3000-3650 calories a day and gained 14 lbs during that time. I know i’m an Ectomorph, but I don’t believe that I am a Hard-Gainer, so I’d like to make sure I don’t put on predominately fat when I do bulk, which I assume is a more apparent side-effect from unclean bulking in comparison to clean bulking.
I plan to eat clean foods and use Whey Protein and Creatine as well, totaling about 3500-4000 calories a day. (Is that too much to start on?)[/quote]
No.
If you start gaining too much fat, which is a long shot for a beginner with your height and weight, you have two choices. Eat less or work harder. Going with the latter is probably going to be more satifying.
There’s a good chance 4000 calories will be nowhere near enough food for someone your height if you plan to get BIG. I’m about 10 inches shorter than you and maintain 175 pounds at about 3700 calories per day. Everyone has different needs but my point is don’t have any preconceived notions of a certain number of calories as being too much before you’ve actually found out for yourself.