"Skinny guy" no more!

HipHeat · Tue, March 30th, 2010, 11:09 AM

Hey, everyone. I'm 15 years old, and pretty skinny. I'm 5'10 and weight in the 120-120 range. It's strange because I can see my ribs a little bit, but don't have "abs".

I've been working out since I had to go to physical therapy when I was 13 (Had some back problems for a number of years)

I've started doing P90X about a year ago. I got 2/3 of the way through it but, kinda fell off. Christmas happened, a death in the family, Just never got back to it. I started again recently and I'm on the second week, second day.

I've never made any gains though. It was really making me mad. I found out what I think it is. I only eat 1,500 calories a day. I was told by some friends I need at least 2,500 a day. What do the real experts think?

Also, I'm about to read the guides that apply to me. Read a great article called grow, ectomoph, grow.

Edit: I wan't to bulk up significantly, at at least 30 pounds of muscle. Do I need a routine different than P90X? Or can I just get the bigger weights and such?

Hockey4 · Tue, March 30th, 2010, 07:52 PM

I'm assuming you mean you eat 1,500 calories and your friends say you should be eating 2,500 calories (not 15,000 and 25,000). Based just on your age, weight, and height, I would say those friends are far closer to what you should actually be eating. What you're eating isn't nearly enough, unless you're severely overweight or a diabetic elderly woman, there's no reason to be that low.

In fact, I'd say it's dangerous for an active male to eat that few. No wonder you're 5'11 and 120. EAT. Make sure it's clean food, but stuff your face. I'm guessing you will need to eat closer to 3,000 calories to do any sort of bulking. You can use some online calculators to get a better estimate.

Also, I'd drop the P90X and hit some heavy compound lifts. That's how you bulk. Deadlift. Squat. Press. You're still growing some, but I don't see any reason you can't learn good form and do some serious lifting at 15.

HipHeat · Wed, March 31st, 2010, 11:26 AM

Right, I didn't mean I was eating 15,000. That would be a whole different problem.

And, thanks! I can't imagine eating 3,000 cals a day though. I'm struggling to eat 2,000. I passed out Sunday, that might be a result of eating very little and doing a hard workout.

I know that P90X isn't for bulking, and I'm not just sicking with it because of the money, as I got it from a friend, but I live about 45 mins from town and there are no gyms around. So it could take a while for me to buy a bench, and weights, and whatever else I might need. Believe me I would love to work out the "real" way but, it's not much of an option right now.

I can do body weight and dumbbells... Not much good for bulking, huh?