Calories Query

[trevorlawrence]

Hi All,

I have done a bit of reading from some where else, and from what I concluded (correct me if I am wrong), in order to gain mass (mainly muscle) you must count the calories you take in daily and experiment with that a few times until you find your maintenance calorie intake and then add around 500-700 more calories daily to see some gains.

My question is, due to fluid levels (water etc) your weight changes by around .5 to 1 kg, so if I weighed myself in one week and was around 70 and then by the next week I went up to 71, how do I know that this gain is not due to fluid levels?

I am getting a bit frustrated as my weight seems to be fluctuating every week without seeing any solid gains.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,
Trevor.

[thesinner]

Hi All,

I have done a bit of reading from some where else, and from what I concluded (correct me if I am wrong), in order to gain mass (mainly muscle) you must count the calories you take in daily and experiment with that a few times until you find your maintenance calorie intake and then add around 500-700 more calories daily to see some gains.

My question is, due to fluid levels (water etc) your weight changes by around .5 to 1 kg, so if I weighed myself in one week and was around 70 and then by the next week I went up to 71, how do I know that this gain is not due to fluid levels?

I am getting a bit frustrated as my weight seems to be fluctuating every week without seeing any solid gains.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks,
Trevor.

There is no method of attributing water weight to your actual weight. I would try not to worry about miniscule changes in weight. You are not going to make noticeable gains on a weekly basis.

For more useful weight measurement, try doing the following:
-Measure your weight at the same of day.

-Measure your weight daily for about 2 weeks and keep record. Assume "zero gains were made" with your data and calculate a coefficient of variance (%cov). If your weight fluctuates ± %cov, your change in weight is not considered significant.

Remember, if you would expect to gain 2-5 kg annually (as muscle mass), you'd be an IFBB pro within the decade. Heck, on cycle, the target gains are typically 2-3 kg of gross weight gain. Gains don't happen very quickly.

It's like when Ralphie checked the mail every day for his Orphan Annie decoder pin. Checking doesn't make it come any faster.

[*big D*]

Maintenance calorie intake can be worked out, info taken in includes: Height, weight, metabolic rate, amount of activity etc. I think There's a sticky in the diet section to try work it out. Add 400-600 calories to that and your bulking.

Basically then count calories for a week to make sure your reaching the right amount and then after that you got a rough idea of what to eat and it comes naturally. After a month or 2 re-assess. Building muscle is a vary long process unfortunately!

[autoguy]

I can not wait until what I eat comes naturally for me. When it comes to calorie counting, how many calories are in one pound?

[kevinT]

You will feel like you have had a huge wight lifted off your shoulders. You still have to be aware but it is not as difficult. Also there are 3500 calories per pound. That is US standards. Some countries have different standards.

[autoguy]

Thanks for the advice. I am going to stay patient end remember nothing comes with out good old hard work.. I do feel more prepared now that i found this forum.