Skinny Boy Starting Strong Lift 5x5 / Starting Strength - Lots of questions!

[Lewis.]

Firstly hello to you all. I have been training for a while but kinda confused on some points so would like further clarification / sensible advice.

I am 6ft 3" and pretty skinny. Always have been really, and most of my life have been able to eat whatever without changing weight - I have always been pretty constant in terms of weight, and it's never fluctuated. I now weigh around 12 Stone.

I'm 30 years old at present, and have recently started Weight Training again (5x5). There's so much info on the net it's hard to pick a program with confidence, but I chose this as it seemed the best one out there (this was before i'd heard of the Starting Strength one).

I am still pretty skinny, and have been eating a fair amount of food along with the training, with a view to packing on some bulk and getting a bit bigger. However, although I am seeing results (small but they're there), I am also aware that I appear to be getting a bit of a belly. Kind of annoying as I do not want to be a skinny guy with a belly! It's not bad, but I don't want it to get worse, and it's frustrating as the weight I gain seems to go to my belly rather than my other 'lacking' skinny parts. Chest is an area where I really need to pack out as that accentuates my 'mini belly'. I am painting a terrible picture of myself, i'm not that bad but I am not sure i'm doing the right thing in terms of training and diet. When I tense up and hold my breath my physique looks pretty decent, but when I relax my chest has a tendancy to sit back and my belly sits forward - ha this is a slightly exaggerated description but you know what I mean.

I have been doing 5x5 since the start of 2012 (properly again after dabbling last year), and eating the following most days.

Breakfast 8AM @ Work: Big bowl of porridge with nuts and raisins

Snack 10AM @ Work: 2 x whole Eggs poached in Microwave in 2 slices of brown bread

Lunch 1PM @ Work: Approx 150g Rice and Chicken Breast

Snack 4PM @ Work: 2 slices brown bread with peanut butter

On training day (we have a weights gym at work) I train at about 5-6PM.

Dinner about 8PM: Generally meat, veg and some pasta / rice / spuds etc

I was having a cottage cheese snack or protein shake before bed but haven't been bothering of late. Lately I have been cutting the carbs at night and just having meat and veg to tackle the impending gut, but it doesn't fill me up I must say - I love the pasta!

In regard to my lifts, I can squat an ok amount, deadlift and ok amount, and bent over rows aren't too bad either, but my bench is pretty whack as well as my overhead press (which is pathetic!) I really struggle with it.

Max squat now is approx 70Kg (longer olympic style bar and 25Kg each side)

Deadlift (haven't maxed that yet only at approx 40Kg (shorter olympic bar and 15Kg each side)

Bench press has increased a little since trying creatine to approx 50Kg (shorter bar and 15Kg each side)

Bent over row is the same as bench, but my overhead press is totally whack at like 15Kg total! (short bar and 5Kg a side). Have done a few reps with 7.5Kg each side but i'm normally tired after the squats and the warm up reps so it suffers. I currently weigh in at about 12 stone too.

I climb a bit too, and I found when doing that regularly I had a lot of upper body strength for pulling my weight up, and one arm pull ups etc which my mate who can bench 100Kg struggles with, but I still stall on some of the bar bell exercises.

The 5x5 really helps improve climbing strength, but I am wondering if I should perhaps try the Starting Strength program instead as my goals are more orientated towards bulk and size, but then I don't want to turn into a big bellied power lifter either! You know what I mean anyway.

My questions generally relate to my diet and the program i'm on. Some of the boys at work are into the gym and they reckon i'm eating too much and the training doesn't support the 'diet'. I also sit on my **** all day at a desk so getting a belly is inevitable. I like to think my form on the weights I use is pretty good, and i'll always deload if I struggle too much as I don't want to blow a gasket trying to lift too much.

Finally I don't really love the idea of suppliments but have been using the reflex natural protein as well as some creapure of late. Creapure seems to have more noticeable affects, and I am unsure of sticking on the protein as i'm worried it's adding to the belly further. I am aware you can't build muscle with getting a little fat, but I would like to do things right the first time round.

Anyway sorry for such a long first post, but i'm looking for some advice (hopefully I won't get a million conflicting opinions also), and i've read most of the online bumpf that I can but I can't really decide what will suit me best. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated guys.

Thanks in advance!

[chill9]

Few questions, have you worked out your macros and daily calories needed? What are the totals of the food above? Ohh and don't mention competitor products on here.

To be honest you need to build your strength more before doing stronglifts 5x5.

[fussyjim]

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Few questions, have you worked out your macros and daily calories needed? What are the totals of the food above? Ohh and don't mention competitor products on here.

To be honest you need to build your strength more before doing stronglifts 5x5.

Eh?

Lewis - Unless counting calories, the chances are you are going to put on a certain amount of bodyfat while bulking. If you want to go count calories, as already mentioned you will need to provide a breakdown of the food above. If not you should be weighing yourself regularly, 0.5-1lbs a week is more than enough weight to add.

Are you still progressing on stronglifts?

4 weeks isn't a long time for a training programme and stronglifts won't turn you into a fat powerlifter!

[chill9]

There are more effective routines to build strength in this case.

[Lewis.]

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Eh?

Lewis - Unless counting calories, the chances are you are going to put on a certain amount of bodyfat while bulking. If you want to go count calories, as already mentioned you will need to provide a breakdown of the food above. If not you should be weighing yourself regularly, 0.5-1lbs a week is more than enough weight to add.

Are you still progressing on stronglifts?

4 weeks isn't a long time for a training programme and stronglifts won't turn you into a fat powerlifter!

I think I'm about reaching plateaus on the SL program if I'm honest so was considering reverting to the Starting Strength one instead (less sets so maybe have energy for more weight)!

Pretty confused about the whole calorie counting idea but I do know that I'm consuming more than before as I'm eating more meals a day.

[pb75]

5 x 5 is great for building strength, stick at it imo. Try and eat most of your carbs on training days, preferably after your workout, although save some for an hour before. Might be worth investing in some instant oats for this. Avoid sugary stuff and eat maintainence level on non training, and around 500+ on training days. This is basic advice and only based on what worked for me but try it for a while and see how you go. If you are getting stronger and bigger but the belly is as well just drop your cals slightly and see if you can still maintain your progress. End of the day you are just starting out so lots of trial and error to go through!

[Lewis.]

Ok cheers.

What about protein intake in terms of suppliments? Just 2 a day?

[hootchi0]

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When I tense up and hold my breath my physique looks pretty decent, but when I relax my chest has a tendancy to sit back and my belly sits forward - ha this is a slightly exaggerated description but you know what I mean.

this may sound stupid but don't relax. what you do every minute of the day also helps alot with what you'll see in the gym... Someone will explain this better. Also you're not that skinny. I'm 6 foot 4 and 11 stone! Used to be 10 st 10!

[pb75]

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Ok cheers.

What about protein intake in terms of suppliments? Just 2 a day?

i use protein supps first thing after training for convenience...only other time is when i cant get protein through whole foods

[EddieEdwards]

With having a gym at work, could you train earlier in the day and then have all that food? It may help to have the majority of your calories after training, rather than prior to?