I am very happy to introduce an exciting new gainer podcast/comic/blog/recipe library/general multimedia awesomeness created by my two dear friends, Matt and Pete. It's called GainTirade and it's awesome.
Matt and Pete are a very cute, committed, whip smart and hilarious encourager/gainer couple and they have put a ton of effort in to start up a very fun, interesting, engaging podcast. It deals with the various ins and outs of having a relationship that has gaining as a central aspect, and generally existing within the gainer/encourager community.
It's funny, it's really well done, the podcast is updated every Sunday, and if you have a tumblr, you should most assuredly follow them there so you don't miss any of the adorable comics Matt makes. Give it a listen and a look over, if you're reading my blog, I am sure you'll enjoy it. And check out and follow their twitter too!
Over the past few weeks I've had the wonderful opportunity to throw a few cocktail parties for a handful of friends from BeefyFrat, and attend a dinner party that had solely gainer and/or encourager types in attendance. It's been pretty awesome, but also, as a host, taught me that it's a little more complex than one might originally anticipate. Here are a few of the things I've learned.
Tip 1: Sturdy Chairs are an absolute fucking must!
Well, you know what they say -it's not a real BeefyFrat cocktail party until someone breaks a chair. Know your guests, and make sure you have adiquate seating, both for the number of people coming and the size of your bigger guests. Even though my BF is a pretty big guy at about 300, there really is a big difference between 300 pounds and 400 pounds when it comes to what a chair is willing to support. Don't go crazy, but be thoughtful about the realities of the party your planning.
Tip 2: If people are bringing things, try to coordinate (and don't feel bashful about asking people to bring stuff!)
This is kind of obvious, but, you really would be amazed at how one tracked gainer and encourager minds can be with what they feel like bringing to a party -if you leave guests totally to their own devices, it's pretty easy to end up with a fridge full of the ever fattening favorite, Juniors cheesecake, and little else (not that this is a bad thing, especially if your gainer boyfriend ends up eating all leftover cheesecake). But don't be afraid to divide up what you want your guests to bring -usually having something like guests with last names a-m bring some sort of beverage and guests n-z bring some sort of fun dessert will leave your party balanced, boozed up, and stuffed.
Tip 3: Realize it's not going to be a crazy sex orgy, so don't worry about that!
While I'm sure if you really felt like organizing a wild gainer orgy it wouldn't be all that difficult, anyone you're planning on inviting is prolly just as nervous about it turning into some sort of crazy belly rubbing sex party, and even with the addition of tons of alcohol, it most likely won't go that road, so, relax.
Tip 4: Make sure even if you have snacks and such, that you have a good plan for grabbing a more major meal.
Again, pretty obvious but, gainers get hungry, so, make sure you have a plan for getting a real meal, if you're not serving one. Non-gainers get hungry when they drink, and gainers are going to want to eat if your party lasts for more than one cocktail (as it should), so be prepared.
Tip 5: Respect peoples boundaries.
Everyone has different comfort zones, so, try to be respectful. Some guys have no problem with you going up and rubbing their belly, but, it's a fairly personal thing to do, so, be sensitive. It's important to learn a bit about a person (like if they're in a relationship, for example), before copping a feel. A simple point, but, an important one.
Tip 6: Just do it!
If you throw a party with a bunch of gainers and encouragers, you will have a fantastic time. It's very affirming to hang around with a bunch of guys that feel the same way you do -I'd compare the experience to the first time I was ever in a gay bar, and I thought to myself "Gee, everyone here is OK with the fact that I'm gay." Dropping all of the internalized second guessing that comes from not wanting everyone in your life to know that you love gaining, even if just for a few hours, is fantastic.
Yeah, the pic isn't related to the post really but, a hot boy for the New Year can't hurt.
So, around this time, everyone seems to be making dramatic, sweeping new years resolutions. Tons of people are making up big exercise plans, attempting to stick to ridiculous diets, determined to loose weight. And most of these people, within a few weeks, a month or two tops, will fail.
Now, you may be thinking, why would I bring up people trying to loose weight on The Encourager? I personally think that there a lot of gainers fall into the same two main pitfalls that these New Year’s Resolution dieters hit.
Similarity one: The Impossible Goal
Yeah, he didn't drink all that and get that belly in one day
Much like dieters who proclaim “I’m never going to eat sugar or any kind of dessert again,” gainers often feel like they’re not doing enough if they don’t eat enormous meals all the time. By setting the bar unreasonably high, you set yourself up for failure, and then get discouraged.
Just like if you were going to diet, getting fat is a lifestyle shift. It doesn’t have to be a huge shift, but it has to be consistent. I was chatting with a buddy of mine who has been hovering around 200 for a while now. I pointed out if he consistently adds 500 calories to his daily diet (about the calories of 1 grande caramel Frappucino with whipped cream from Starbucks, or a handful of cookies) he’ll put on nearly 50 pounds this year. Now, adding a Frapp’s worth of calories to your diet every day isn’t rocket science, but, many guys try and just stuff themselves silly every now and then instead of the simpler, easier to follow through on option of just making sure they get an extra 500 calories right before bed.
Similarity two: Slow Results
Yum. He wasn't discouraged that it took a little while to get that big.
Many gainers complain that they just eat and eat and they don’t see any results. Many dieters complain that no matter how little they eat, they don’t see any results. The answer to both is the same. Changing your body takes time. If you’re eating to gain, or eating to loose, don’t expect to see any real changes in your body for at least four weeks. You may get a nicely bloated gut after a big meal, but, you’re gonna have to overeat pretty consistently for about a month to start noticing a change. To see a dramatic change in your body, it’s prolly gonna take at least 3 or 4 months.
So, in short, relax, eat up, and have fun. Just cause you don’t gain 10 pounds your first week, doesn’t mean that you’re not putting on weight, doesn’t mean your body’s not changing, it just means that you’re normal and this takes time.
Anything worth having is worth working for, right?
In short, keep up as regularly as you can, consistently getting at least 500 extra calories in your daily diet, and don’t get discouraged.
My Resolutions
As for my New Years resolutions, here is what I’m going to try and stick to:
Update the blog at least twice a month, with the end goal being a weekly update schedule. I’m not sure how easy it’s going to be to stick to this one, but, I am hopeful.
Be more regular about going to the gym. Since November I’ve been all over the place with holidays and parties and such and a regular routine will make me (haha and the boyfriend I imagine) quite happy. This shouldn’t be too hard to stick to as the weather will be getting warmer and I really love being outside.
Be more consistent about eating organic and avoiding transfats. Whatever your intention weightwise, gaining, maintaining or loosing, pesticides and transfats are gross. I think I'll be pretty good about this, cause I'm already pretty good about eating organic and avoiding transfats. I'm prolly looking to go from like 80% success to like 95%.
Be more positive, even when dealing with people I really don’t like / Find other ways to be funny besides putting other people down. This will be hard as I am exceptionally talented at making fun of people who annoy me.
My last resolution is to be more focused and organized. Making lists and such. This post was one of the first things I put into my new To Do app (Things for Mac), and look, I actually wrote it up! I’m normally a really super organized, a-type kinda guy so I’m most confident about this one.
What kind of things did you guys pick as resolutions (gaining related or not)? Post yours in the comments section.
It's November 1st! Go stock up on discounted Halloween candy boys. No excuses :P Gotta get a jump on the holiday weight gain! Just remember -if you start pushing yourself today, you could be 20 or 30lbs heavier by New Years. Exciting, no?
This public service message was brought to you by The Encourager and BellyBuilders Moderator OneOddGuy.
Something that has always amazed me is that a lot of gainers don’t have scales. I was hunting around online for a good one as a gift for the boyfriend, and I got to thinking. What are the essentials for a gainer? I talked with a few of my buddies about it and this is the list we compiled.
Scale
Numbers can be a great motivator. Although in the end, it’s all about finding the body you want, who are we kidding. We’re guys, guys like measuring things. Watching the numbers go up on the scale can be an incredible turn on.
Make sure you have a scale, but don’t weigh yourself every day. As I said in the post before, the small ups and downs on the scale will generally just discourage, but, weigh once a week and watch the numbers go up up up. Make sure the scale has a high enough upper weight (most go only to 300, but home scales going up to 400 do exist).
Also, think about investing in a talking scale, if you plan on getting really huge. My friend Oneoddguy (from BellyBuilders) was talking to me about this and said:
“They need to make a scale that dings when it’s done, cause I can’t see past my belly.”
Bryan (author of Trouble in the Mix) suggested gym shorts. They’re comfortable, elastically waisted, and perfect for a really big meal. And oh yeah, you can use them for the gym too. ;)
Bryan said:
“You can find stylish workout shorts, pair them with zipups (like this one) and do american sportswear look and accommodate an elastic waistband for lunch. But buy your size, don’t just get big ones, cause you want them to hug your ass. The elastic will give, but you still want a hot ass. You can do casual and comfortable that gives you room to get stuffed but still be sporting prep. Because if I'm in tight pants and I eat so much that they get painfully tight, I usually stop eating.”
And anything getting in the way of Bryan’s eating is not good. Not good at all.
Lotion
Another indispensable thing for a gainer (or an encourager actually) is lotion. Nothing increases the pleasure of a bellyrub than a little bit of lotion. Keeps the skin soft and strong, and if fortified with vitamin E, often helps prevent or fade stretch marks a little.
For you guys worried about stretch marks already existing, ask your dermatologist about retin-a for fading them. Although a lot of over the counter stuff doesn’t do much, there are things you can do, just ask your doc.
Tape Measure
Any generic tape measure will do. As I mentioned with the scale, numbers can be a big motivator. Measure your belly -you’ll notice growth there even sometimes when you don’t see it on the scale.
LiveStrong Calorie Counter App for iPhone
This app is fantastic for a gainer. You put in your stats, tell it you want to gain 2lbs a week, and log everything you eat. It tracks your progress, accounts for exercise (cause a strong, healthy gainer is a happy gainer) and gives you a visual representation of how much you need to be packing in each day (at least haha). Blender
What aspiring fatboy doesn’t want the internet to bring him food. There are a host of websites that make finding a local place that delivers easy. A few places even deliver groceries.
In Manhattan, I am a fan of SeamlessWeb.com, and a little less so of Delivery.com. Bad customer service experience on Delivery.com, but both are pretty solid. Menupages is a little less streamlined, but also useful. FreshDirect.com is unbeatable for groceries, and they have nutrition facts. You can pick the most caloric thing, and have a great selection of high quality and organic stuff delivered right to your door. Awesome.
Zagat.com is great if you’re planning on leaving the house, and they have guides for cities all over the world. If you're in college, or even near one check out CampusFood.com According to Oneoddguy, a lot of pizza places have online delivery too. His favorite website is Domino’s. Here’s why:
“I love Dominos. It tells you what’s going on with your pizza, from who made it to who’s bringing it.”
I personally enjoy Poppa Johns cause they’ve added a whole wheat pizza crust. I mean, I know it’s still not good for you, but it’s cute they’re making the effort.
Camera
The one complaint I’ve heard consistently over the years from gainers is that they wished they had taken more pics of their progress. Nothing is hotter than seeing how far a gainer has come, and few things are more inspiring to a beginner who doesn’t even think they’ll be able to get fat. Get a decent digital cam, and take pictures whenever you feel like it. I have a Canon Elph, and I love it. So, take a pic. Make a vid. Even if you don't show anyone, you’ll be glad you did when you’re rubbing your hard earned belly, reminiscing about your skinny days.
See? That hotness would not have been possible without a camera. And a lot of beer contributing to that Freshman 40.
Premium Beefyfrat
Although some guys might find this a little controversial (and no, I’m not being paid a dime to say this), I really think every gainer needs a premium Beefyfrat membership. Seriously. It’s 5$ a month. That’s like, one frap at Starbucks, or two ATM fees a month. I’ve def. spent a lot more money on things that don’t directly lead to me getting off. The guys on there are incredibly inspiring. Feeling full? Look at a few pics of one of your idols on Beefy and try finishing that last slice of pizza. It’ll make it easier.
The Encourager has already tackled the some of the big obstacles to building American bellies—tight pants, lack of focus, etc.. Now it’s time to take it home: Use these simple tips to turn your home into a fat-gaining, belly growing superweapon.
You don’t have to throw away any of your favorite foods, stop going to the gym, or turn your life upside-down. Just make these 15 simple tweaks to stay motivated and active as you drive toward your weight-gain goals.
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
If you’ve got candy or nuts sitting in your cupboards from the holidays, put ‘em out, and make sure there are always snacks around all the time—Never put them in a cabinet.
“When those things are in plain view, you’ll eat them regardless of whether or not you’re hungry,” says Chris More, Ph.D., nutrition adviser to the Discovery Channel and others. “When you’re not walking by and seeing them, you’re less likely.”
In Sight, In Your Mouth
While you’re moving food in your kitchen, get whole fruit out of your fridge—and out in the open. You’ll be more likely to grab a piece when you see it—and when it fills the room with aroma as it ripens.
“Whole fruit is getting a bad rap,” says Get A. Snack, The Encourager’s weight gain coach. “It’s the perfect snack –Natural sugars and carbs to keep you healthy, but no shortage of calories. Grapes and blueberries are great little anti-oxidant laden calorie bombs”
Work On This
Keep your muscles growing with your gut. Put a pair of barbells by a door you use a lot in your house—each time you cross the threshold, do one rep of bicep curls, and one lunge. It won’t seem like much, but all that moving will add up, and your muscles will keep your heart healthy, and support your growing belly.
Set This Alarm
Does Apple's iCal beep to remind you of meetings? (Us too.) Does it annoy you? (Us too.)
Put that little beep to work: Set an alarm every 15 minutes—using Outlook or your phone—as a reminder to get and grab a handful of something to snack on. Each time it rings, eat a hand fun of some healthy, caloric snack food—nuts are great, mixing almonds and M&Ms, anything.
Your I'm Late! Strategy
Does this routine sound familiar? You wake up in the morning, stumble out of bed, and realize you’re already late… and run straight out the door. You’re famished, but you don’t have time to even grab something quick (and probably less than you’d like to be eating).
“Change your pattern,” says Chris More, Ph.D., nutrition adviser to the Discovery Channel and others. “Pack something substantial the night before for the car ride to work so you’re not missing out on your hunger. And try and make time to eat, the results will show for themselves.”
Reorganize Your Fridge
The “crisper” drawer in your refrigerator is made for fruits and vegetables—and don’t forget it. Use the more visible parts of your frige to keep higher-calorie foods like high quality protein, cheeses and chocolate in plain sight, and move the fruits and vegetables down to the crisper. Keep easy-to-grab snacks that will kickstart your progress—on the top shelf, in plain sight.
Banish Your Scale
Don’t leave your scale to sit out and haunt you. Put it in a bathroom closet so you’re not tempted to weight yourself too often—and get distracted by small fluctuations in weight.
Weigh yourself just once each week, and spend the rest of the week focusing on the stuff that will move the needle—your eating, your workouts, and your attitude.
Empty These Bags
A lot of carb calories are usually easy to grab—chips, cookies, bagels, or bread (for a quick sandwich). Make sure you keep the easy calories in your kitchen, don’t just favor of foods that need preparation—meats, brown rice, or vegetables—or you might be more likely to let a fleeting craving pass.
If you snack on an easy high carb option, “you might get less nutrients, but there are often lots of calories, and it’ll stick to you,” says Carlos Gordo, author of The Perfect Belly Diet. You’ll stay be less full, and for a shorter period of time, and feel more likely to grab more food. And the tried and true rule of, "If you can open it, you can finish it" is sure to pack on the pounds quickly
Always Have Time For A Shake
Keep all the components of a gainer shake in your fridge—all of the ingredients of a high calorie gainer shake, ready immediately.
“You’re not making the whole shake ahead of time,” says Chris More, Ph.D., nutrition adviser to the Discovery Channel and others. “But it’s like your own encourager.” And the calories in your shake bar are safe—gainer shakes are basically free calories in your diet, as long as you stay away from hydrogenated oil and too much saturated fat.
Take a Tip From Rocky IV
Rocky stared at a picture of Ivan Drago every day as he trained to fight the enormous Russian. Find your own motivator: a nemesis like a picture of the way you never want to look, a mantra that reminds you why you’re gaining, or a photo that reminds you of your goal—like a picture of a guy with a belly you’d like to have.
Tape your motivator to your bathroom mirror—look at this one every morning to stay motivated. Tape another to your refrigerator—look at this one whenever you feel your hunger slipping.
Recycle Paper
All those menus in your kitchen drawer and next to your fridge? Put as many as you can on the frige itself. Even if you have the numbers memorized, adding the visual cues—the menu in plain sight—will increase your temptation to order.
Decorate Your TV
Give yourself a constant reminder to eat: Put a can of nuts on top of your television each day. Keep them there until you’ve finished the can for the day. Don’t like the look it gives your living room? Get eating and get ‘em off the set. Get New Plates
You’ll gain weight with bigger plates: A study at Cornell University found that participants scooped out 50 percent more ice cream when given bigger dishes and spoons.
Put the power on your plates: Swap 10-inch plates for 12-inchers, and you’ll eat 22 percent more calories.
Use Your Couch
Make sure you eat when you’re in front of the tube. People who eat meals in front of the TV snack more between meals—20 percent more, according to a British study.
Invest In Yourself
Use your wallet to stay motivated: Buy a pair of pants, book a vacation to visit an gainer or encourager buddy you always wanted to meet, or make reservations to gorge yourself at a spectacular restaurant—choose a goal, and throw your cash behind it. Remind yourself of the investment by keeping your new purchase in plain sight. When your money’s in it, your motivation won’t be far behind.
Stick with these tips, and you'll have packed on 20lbs before you know it.
The Article was adapted from Men's Health Magazine for Gainers
