How to Build Muscle as a Hardgainer

I have seen books, DVDs, supplements, and even equipment all geared towards the hardgainer. The strange thing is, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hardgainer.

I’ve worked with thousands of athletes of all levels, and while some have a harder time adding muscle than others, I’ve never had someone who couldn’t gain appreciable amounts of muscle mass and strength when they followed a scientifically-designed training and nutrition program.

But there seems to be quite a few people out there who think of themselves as hardgainers. So I’m going to give you some hardgainer muscle building tips. If you think of yourself as a hardgainer please answer the following questions:

Did you eat 5-6 good meals everyday for the last month?
Have you gotten at least 8 hours of sleep per night for the last month?
Are you following a scientifically-designed muscle building program that allows you to progress at every workout?

If you can honestly answer “Yes” to all of these questions and you still haven’t gained at least 5 pounds in the past month, then you are either doing something wrong or you’re a hardgainer. And I would bet good money that you’re doing something wrong.

The problem is that instead of paying attention to the above three questions, so-called hardgainers ask themselves the following questions:

Should I do 3 sets or 4?
Should I have eaten 300 grams of protein yesterday instead of 298?
Where is that miracle supplement that is going to finally answer my muscle building prayers?

These questions are a waste of time, or what has been termed “mental masturbation.” Forget these questions and focus on the big, important questions. If you don’t know what you are doing then get advice from someone who does (NOT a personal trainer, friend, or bodybuilding magazine).

Don’t get caught-up in the mindset that focuses on minutiae and thinks that what I am writing here doesn’t apply to you. It does. You are not the exception to the rule. This is the best hardgainer muscle building tip you will ever get.