Holding Onto Hard Gained Muscles

[in2win]

I'm 5' 11" 125 lbs

Mu goal is to add 50 to 75 lbs

I just completed my first week of workout. Boy, was it difficult!!
The workout itself is not a problem after all it over in 45 minutes.
It's everything else.

I seem to be spending a whole lot of time in the kitchen, grocery
shopping, cooking, eating & packing food for the next day to
take to work. Then I have to tell my friends "I sorry I can't
hangout, I have to go home & get my 8 hours beauty sleep
because I'm bodybuilding". I hardly have time to go out & meet any chicks.


I don't mind paying my dues for short period of time. However, I
can't see myself doing this for the rest of my life. Once I reach my
goal & am happy with the shape & size of my body, what do I
have to do to maintain my hard gained muscles in terms of
workout & diet. Would I begin to lose muscles if I do not get my 8 hous of sleep?

Thanks for all the informative post on this forum

 

[TheRelic]

get to the finish line first then start worrying about keepin em

 

[Nocturnal]

If you stop lifting, yes you will lose some muscle, but for the most part, as long as you are properly nourished you will retain most of it.

If you aren't doing any physical activity, however, it will be easier for your body fat % to go up.

 

[Double]

-keep lifting
-eat enough calories(try to keep it somewhat clean, but no need for a clean diet)
-have a whey shake everyday
-sleep is for building muscle, not for holding muscle

 

[ApocalypseCow2]

Without a doubt, the hardest part in my workout routine is trying to eat healthy. Our society makes it VERY hard to eat healthy...healthy food takes longer to prepare and isn't as readily available.

One trick I learned is to spend an hour cooking enough food that will last me several days. That way, I don't have to prepare food every single day. For example, I often cook up a whole package of chicken on Sunday evening, as well as a of pot of veggies. That means I don't have to cook for a couple days.

 

[Alpine]

2 points.

1. You will find it's much harder to gain muscle than maintain it. Did you know you have muscle memory? Yes, even if you slip back, you will find even years later you can regain the muscle you lost a lot quicker.

2. Yes it is hard work, however what a lot of people find is that over time it becomes an enjoyable pusuit, partly because of the constant positive feedback you get with lifting more iron and getting bigger measurements.

So hang in there and don't forget, you can back off for a while, in fact it's proven that easing off and then getting back into it is the most productive way to make gains year in year out.