hope for hardgainers

[CapitalKarate]

For the most part you're right, mass doesn't hurt, to a certain degree. If you're above 5'9" and weigh more than 200-220 though (unless you're like, 6'2-3) it gets to where it's mass that will get in the way. It's a lot harder to retain flexibility with mass. I'd rather weigh 180-190 at 5'11" and have the advantage of being both faster AND stronger. But whatever floats your boat. If you really just don't care and you want size, there's folks at this site that can help emensely... wannabebigforums.com

[glockmeister]

I would not totally agree that mass gets in the way of flexability. Look at the Olympic lifters as big as they are, they are some very flexable people. I havemet power lifter who can do a full split. I am not sure what kinda mass we are talking about here. I don;t think the origional poster wants to look like Lou Farigneou I think he just wants to add some overall size. The by itself is not gonna hurt anyone unless of course they wanna get all steroided up and turn into hulks, but the fact is being "muscle bound" is really not something that a non-steroid user would have to worry about.

As for me, I dont think my increased mass has hurt my MA training at all, in fact it has improved alot of it. I would recommend that if someone is going to lift, they should also make sure they do ALOT of stretching to keep their flexability.

Alot of people who lift weights tend to neglect this, that is what gives the way for the myth that somehow mass equals loss of flexability.

[CapitalKarate]

o, nono, you misunderstood what I said. I said with more mass comes difficulty in retaining or developing flexibility. That's why kids have a much easier time developing flexibility. Also a lot of bodybuilding type weight lifters tend to ignore the flexibility aspect of fitness and therefore have a MUCH harder time getting any flexibility while large.

But you are right in that olympic lifters have amazing flexibility. I'm training in olympic lifting and you have to have a lot of flexibility in your shoulders for the overhead lifts, flexibility in your lower back and abs to keep your shoulders/arms behind you while squatting, and flexibility in your hips for squatting.

As for adding mass, if you're adding on useable mass (useable being mass to help you do more oly/power type lifting for every day things as opposed to trying to add mass to your biceps for looks) then all power to you! It's just that a lot of people don't know how to properly lift weights for functional mass.