Losing The Mental Game?

Training Beginners
1

Hey guys, pretty basic question! :]

Been on a mission to gain weight since starting Uni this year, and I’ve gone from about 78-80kg to about 96. I’m sure I’ve made some decent muscle gains as my lifts have all gone up, etc etc.

What I’m concerned about is that fat gain. I know it’s to be expected that you will put on some fat when you eat more calories than you expend, that’s fine. Just wondering if I’m overeating by too much if the fat has gotten to a level where it starts to make small rolls on my obliques if I lean to the side, for example.

Most of the fat seems to have gone to my stomach and the sides, the rest of me looks fairly similar to when I started out, just bigger.

I’m not really worried about it yet, but I’m gonna struggle to not be conscious of it if it keeps heading this way.

I realise the answer to this fat gain question is a very subjective thing but I’m wondering if I’ve let it slip away from me a bit too much?

2

Best way to tell is pictures.

Regardless, there is no reason to get fat during a “bulk” - if you are then clean up the diet, eat a bit less or throw in a couple days cardio.

You’d be amazed how much of a difference a really strict diet makes.

3

This is a simple question that is not so simple, really. It goes back to what your goals are. Why did you wish to gain the weight? To make your muscles bigger in certain areas or to be able to lift a certain x amount of kilos in a given lift? How do you know if you reached that goal? How much jelly roll are you willing to tolerate in order to reach your “measurement/lifting” goal?

Establishing metrics for success takes the subjectivity out of it, and sometimes gives you more willpower than you might otherwise have…

4

Thanks for you input, guys.

I’m not ‘fat’ by any means, with a shirt on nobody would notice. Also, I know just because I’m trying to put on weight it’s no excuse to get obese :smiley: I might try and get pics up later today but I think I got what I needed from this thread.

I’m going to cut out the junk I eat at home (standard stuff, mum buys biscuits and delicious rasberry liquorice), work to 100kg and see how I feel then.

Skidmark, I want to put on muscle. I’d like this muscle to be able to lift heavy things as well, but first and foremost, muscle. At the moment I’m doing a 4 day split with a heavy and high rep day for chest, back and legs. I totally understand your point about establishing what I will and will not tolerate though, and I’ll start implementing that.

Again, thanks for your replies!