PART TWO.
Finding the right program for training is the most important task and also the most difficult. I think most people fail to realize that and end up wasting so much time, energy, and money. I was lucky to have the whole three months of summer to look for a good program. Now that I think about, it was pretty simple actually. Granted, I was panic at times and super confused at times, but looking back now, I don’t think it could have been any other ways.
Bodybuilding.com is a great source of information, especially its forum. Just looking around the forum for a bit and sooner or later you will run into a post about the Starting Strength program. From then on, it’s only a matter of time before you pick up the program for yourselves. Why? First of all, so many people were doing the program, and so many people were committing so much time to help others on the forum. When enough smart people talk about something for a long enough time, it is bound to be something legitimate. Second of all, just look at the review of the book on Amazon. I have never seen any book with that level of reputation and positive feedback. They even have a wiki just for the book, just google it. Finally, I saw other people who had done the program, and the results had been great overall. I don’t know about you, but that was enough for me to buy the book and study it cover to cover.
The program was great for me. I was squatting and deadlifting with better form than most people in the gym. I started out 135 pounds for both squatting and deadlifting, and ended after three months with 230 pounds and 240 pounds, respectively (3 sets of 5 reps). Everything went great for me. I did not get injured even though I performed really hard exercises. I did not miss any session even though it was in the school year (not even when I had the finals). I did not sleep less than 7 hours or skip a meal even when I had two midterms the next day. I was well on course for a great physique at the end of the next summer.
Then I went to London to study abroad. Well, let’s just say I was lucky not to get any weaker or smaller.
Back in the United States for the summer, things went well again. I kept the 4 basic compound exercises (Squat, Deadlift, Bench Press, Press) and added other assistant exercises to target all muscle groups on my body equally. I also had to change the set and rep range now that I am not training for strength but for muscle. Over the summer, I gained 17 pounds from 173 to 190 pounds. Into the school year, my goal is to get to 200 pounds by December. Then, I will start losing fat.
136 pounds. 10% body fat. 192 pounds. 16% body fat.
Brandon S.
2 years ago
Great success story man. I’m a skinny, 6ft, 22yr old senior in college. I have basically the same story as every ecto growin’ up. Clothes don’t fit, got picked on, low self-confidence. I was athletic, thank goodness, but could never put any weight on. Everybody says “I wish i had your genes”, and I think to myself “No u DON’T”. I wasted a bunch of money on supplements in High School while spending 2 hours weight training every other day. Read the wrong magazines w/muscle bound mesomorphs on the cover. So much energy wasted on doing the wrong thing.
After stumbling across the word “ectomorph” this summer while surfing through bodybuilding.com, I had that epiphany like “damn, why didn’t anybody tell me this sooner”. The answer is- most people in the gym are uninformed about what they are doing in the gym. They get results because of their natural body type. After doing thorough research, I jumped on board w/doing what it takes to finally break out of the skinny shell.
I’m not there yet, but was 145 lbs this summer. Now, at the end of 5wks of training and proper nutrition, I weigh 158. I’m so glad that I will soon break the 160lb barrier just as I broke the 150lb barrier. It’s a relief to know there is hope for not being skinny forever.
jayrabb
2 years ago
Thanks Brandon for sharing your story. It’s amazing that you gained 13 pounds (from 145 to 168) after just 5 weeks of training. That’s more than 2 pounds a week. Some people can do this. But as far as I know, when you gain more than 2 pounds a week, there is a good chance that you are also gaining quite some fat. This may not be the case for you. I just want to point it out just in case.
Would you mind sharing with us what program you are doing? Have you done the Starting Strength program?
Nelson
1 year ago
I don’t know what to believe anymore, I’ve had trainers and people who should “know” by all means tell me to never expect to be a big guy. That the most I can hope for is to be slim and toned and it pisses me off. Then I meet one guy who’s a dedicated health fanatic, good shape, and takes courses in university regarding the science behind all this stuff tell me that of course it’s possible just hard. Then I stumble onto your site and read your story and see your before and after pics (not to mention some youtube videos of ecto’s that busted ass in the gym and now look like meso’s). Is it just some ectomorphs that can put on mass while others have to “settle” with being toned? Seriously man I’m tired having all these “professionals” either kill my hopes or give me hope. I don’t give a damn how hard it is or how long it takes, I hate being weak. All this about how mother nature intended me to be small and weak. I just wanna flip the old hag the finger, do my own thing and be in control lol. What do you think about my situation bro?
admin
7 months ago
Nelson, sorry I have not been very active with this blog recently. I hear you man. I find it best not to listen to other people telling me about what I can or cannot do with training. I trained with Starting Strength, and then 5/3/1 training program (you can look at my START HERE post to learn more about those two programs). It certainly did not get me HUGE, but it got me looking a lot bigger and more ribbed, and though it is true my frame (after getting covered by big clothes) can never be big, my body with the right clothes, or when just wearing a short, is now starting to turn heads.
You can get big Nelson. You can get 16-inch arm and become very very strong. Yes, dedication will push you forward. Don’t let other people set your own expectation. Follow those two programs and see your own progress. Check Amazon’s and my reviews to see for yourself.