I'm a thin vegetarian male, whats the best way for me to gain muscle without having to eat meat?

Question

I'm 30 years old, 6ft with a 30" in wist which I want to keep but how do I bulk up on muscle on my chest, arms and legs without eating loads of meat? I go to the gym for about 2 hours 3 times a week, do I need to do more?

Answer 1

Walk like a panther; please understand that not everyone is the same. Genetics plays a 60% role in building lean muscle mass, and no matter how much science there is, a persons ability to gain muscle has allot more to do than science and how long you workout in the fitness studio. Being 6 foot tall and having a 30 inch waist equates you to one of the three body groups that every human falls under. You fall under the Ectomorph and that means that you are a hard gainer. You have long legs/arms and low body fat, and of course your muscles are small. The best training that will be beneficial is if you train with heavy weight. You must use a combination of barbell and dumbells in achieving this. 4 or 5 sets of 6 to 8 reps should be you training plan, and ensure you have a 2-3 minute rest between sets. You will also need allot of protein, and if you can digest whey, I would recommend a good quality whey protein powder. You have a faster metabolism and burn calories rapidly, so don't be too concerned about your cardio training, in fact you should do cardio after weight training and only about 15 to 20 minutes. You should also consider a Mon/Wed/Fri weight training schedule by body parts, keeping Tue/Thr for swimming, or other low-impact cardio. You will have to find some healthy snacks, and your calorie intake should be over 2600 daily.....watch your fat intake!

Now, in reference to you being a vegetarian we have to consider some things you will lack in not eating meat such as Vitamin B-12, etc. You will have to get some good vitamin suppliments mostly one that covers all the Vitamin B's. Pasta, Oatmeal, Dark Bread should be the foundation of your diet.

your weight lifting should be about 45 minutes. 2 hours may mean you are over training!!!!!

www.bodybuilding.com

You can do it. But you have to understand that your training techniques, nutrition, etc., may be different than other people. One strong positive point about your body type and that is your muscles will not have any fat around them...and that is Great!

Answer 2

Build Ripped Muscle Fast

Answer 3

Got to be a high protein supplement you don't say what you are doing in the gym you need a free weights gym give yourself weight targets increasing weights and reps I think what you are doing at the moment is basically a good fitness routine but not programmed enough to put on muscle eg with enough resistance on the cycle machine you will put on calf muscle all muscle building is, is simply lifting a resistance you then put on muscle to overcome the resistance (you will get a high protein sup.from any good health shop)

Answer 4

Some things are just gentic my man. It is hard to pack on weight and muscle being a veggie. But when lifting, you can increase your weight, lower your reps, and eat good amounts of protein and calories. There are nice options such as boca burgers and veggie dogs that have tons of protein, or as another option you could buy a vegitabel derived protein fomr a GNC or other health food store.

Aside form that, keep goals, but at the same time be ok with what your body is like now.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Well going to the gym is about the best thing you can do, but order protein powder online, I don't have the source right now, but get the wheat protein powder (it comes in a couple of flavors) with double the protein. You will get results in a couple of weeks, and if you dont like how it tastes, add some splenda to it, it helps alot. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

if you want to build muscle spend less time in the gym, you are burning more calories by being in for that amount of time . 1 hour is plenty maybe even 45min. Try adding more protein to your diet by eating whole grains, soy, flax, and legumes. eat more meals a day (6) and drink juices and exercise drinks in addition to water also limit the amount of cardiovascular exercise daily, how much you weigh may also play into muscle proportion

Answer 7

when i was 30 i had a 30" waist and am 6' too. and also veggy since i was 19, now 39,couldnt put on weight wotever i done, im a builder so very active and stressfull. knocked it on the head when i was 37 for 5 months and done taxi work, put on 2 stone!!! back to building work now and lost it again although i am a 34" waist now, beer that is .lol

Answer 8

a high protien diet doesn't mean meat only dear....go for high protien shakes and power bars...
that aught to help some...
drink lots-o-soymilk
3 days a week of lifting to build,
1-2 days a week for cardio,
you should start to see a difference in about 30 days...keep up the good work...also carbs such as pasta is good right b4 a workout, dont overdo though...keep us posted on how you do..

Answer 9

Soy products are good-quality protien, as are seitan and mushrooms. Eggs are good if you're ovolacto or ovovegetarian.
Do your body a favour and stay off the steriods, though. None of those capsule supplements they sell at the gym are good for you in the long term.

Answer 10

go to Vitamin Shoppe. They sell vegetarian protein supplements and weight gainer for you to build muscle. Plus, make sure you eat plenty of carbs every day too - if you don't eat enough calories through carbs, your body will burn protein and muscle instead, thus working against your muscle building efforts.