Primary goal is strength.
I wouldn’t mind the change in body composition if I was making noticeable and proportional strength gains
Coach said that the bulk would help with strength gain….. and as in the past…. It isn’t working
What was their intention for the bulk? I’d have guessed more than 2lb?
It’s pretty obvious that I’m in a surplus
I’m just confused as to why it’s not translating to my goals despite adequate protein and fat + good amount of carbs+ veggies for micros
Have you ever considered the impact of oxalate accumulation?
6oz of spinach daily is going to have between 1-2000mg of oxalate. Consumed daily, unbroken, over a 3 year period, is going to be a lot of oxalate. I know you’ve expressed concerns of kidney health, having only 1 kidney at present. If nothing else, it can impact nutrient absorption, which could lend to some of the issues with getting nutrition to support training. Oxalate dumping could also explain some of the digestion issues.
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The guidelines they’re following is .5 to 1% body weight gain per month, so I’m on track in that regard
I’ve not considered this. I’ll swap to another veggie then.
I only stuck with spinach because it’s relatively cheap, digests better than other veggies of similar cost and tastes nice
Popeye was probably the first influence in my life regarding wanting to be bigger and stronger. I REALLY want to like spinach, but upon discovering how high the oxalate level is on it, it definitely moved down on my priority list. Dr. Bill Schindler has some real fascinating stuff to discuss on the subject.
I feel like making a few small changes to your current approach may help you get closer to the goals you wish to achieve. Even while keeping the macros the same, changing the actual composition of the foods may go a long way. Someone (I don’t know the source) has said “It’s not ‘you are what you eat’, it’s ‘you are what you digest’.” Getting your body in a state where it can better digest and utilize what you’re taking in may go a long way.
I like your thoughts regarding finding a different veggie. Giving the yogurt and kirkland bars a rest could help as well. I know you’re a fan of animal proteins: bringing them into the diet could definitely help. Perhaps some fruit as a carb source as well, swapping out some of the bread, as this can get a spectrum of other nutrients.
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Most consider I have a stomach of steel. My so said stomach of steel cannot process those “protein bars”. Lots of bathroom breaks needed. I only bought them once and learned my lesson.
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It’s amazing: we can end up eating these things and thinking everything is fine until we STOP eating them and realize that we were living very “not fine” lives. I lived off of protein bars for quite a while and just thought constant bloating, gas and bowel movements were just a part of life. Cutting them out, you realize what normal is SUPPOSED to feel like.
With lowered calories on off days, and 2 days of low calories after 1 day of surplus calories, It looks like you’re spending the Majority of the time in a caloric defecit.
Calories “In” vs Calories “Out” and bei g in a slight surplus at the end of the week is cool.
But part of Bulking is making hormonal changes (like raising Test, Growth Hormone and Insulin) to get your body into “Building Mode.”
You’ve got to spend the majority of time in the surplus to make those hormonal changes.
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Something I have trouble with is that on lifting days, I have lower inhibition and end up going over.
Even when I don’t eat in a deficit on the non lifting days, I still can’t seem to kick the urge to eat on lifting days
I have lower inhibition and end up going over.
I have long suspected that this was due to nutrient deficiency, and with the diet you shared, I feel strongly in that regard. You may be able to overcome this by actually eating those foods you are craving in place of the foods you’re currently eating. There is, most likely, a good reason your body wants fruit and meat.
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Girls gain muscle at a much slower pace than men, so I’m not super surprised that the weight you’ve gained isn’t super aesthetic weight. Your calories are higher than I have any woman on and your protein appears to be lower as well.
I know you’re working with a coach already, but you aren’t getting the results you’re looking for, so you’re coming to us. I say, kick him to the curb and figure this out. Pull your calories back, increase your protein and make sure your lifting routine reflects that of the physique you want. Play around with it, add exercises, up the volume, make sure you are connecting with every exercise and feel the target muscle working (otherwise, why are you even doing it?). If you want to look insane(or at least rather elite), you have to Train insane and eat very disciplined. This is something that’s hard to pull off if you’re only casual about it or you’re inconsistent.
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Your calories are higher than I have any woman on and your protein appears to be lower as well.
In fairness: are your clients averaging 25k steps a day like @anna_5588 ?
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I was maintaining weight on 1800kcal and I have to go lower protein because of kidney issues.
My activity level is high. I might have a lower maintenance now that I reduced steps though (only 1 week in)
I paid for 1 year coaching, which ends in February. I’m not going to re sign with him
also, my goal isn’t to maximise physique. It’s to get stronger. I complain about physique because I’m getting fatter without progress towards my goal
No that’s crazy lol is she backpacking through Tibet? I feel like it would be brutal trying to add muscle if you’re walking 25k steps a day and not allowed to eat protein. That all feels very at odds with the goals stated!
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Nothing to add to the conversation at hand as there are more qualified people helping, but wanted to spotlight this -
Preach Dave! Effort is the number one variable!
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Very strongly concur. When you take on clients, do you have them fill out a questionnaire that would discuss stuff like that sort of activity level or anything else to suss out some of the “behind the scenes” things that could be sabotaging results?
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Yes, they fill out a survey and then we do an orientation call where we discuss what their approach has been recently to training and nutrition, what their life circumstances are and try to build a road map to their goals. Taking those things into account as well as equipment setup, any dietary restrictions and weekly schedule.
If someone were to come with me with the same restrictions/behaviors as Anna and the same goals, I would have to be honest with them about how difficult it would be to achieve said goals unless we could compromise some of these things. Adding muscle tissue is a very difficult process, especially for women and even more so if your activity level is through the roof and you don’t eat ample protein.
I’m no doctor, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that activity level plays into the no period for two years thing, as well as the strange diet. I feel like I’d want to get to the bottom of that before I worry about getting jacked, there’s clearly something wrong hormonally that’s probably also going to effect the ability to add muscle.
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I love your priorities. I’m so on board with that. A lot of folks don’t like hearing it either, but Mark Bell expressed a similar sentiment “I need to get you HEALTHY before I can get you jacked”
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