10 Simple Things I Did to Gain 30 Lbs of Muscle (COPY THESE!)

If you are skinny and find it hard to build muscle no matter what you do, then you may be a hardgainer and been told that you need a “hardgainer workout” to help you start to pack on muscle size. Not so fast. In this video, we show you former skinny guy Jesse from ATHLEAN X and the 10 biggest lesson

(Jeff) What’s up guys, Jeff  Cavaliere Athleanx. com. (Jesse) Jesse Laico Athleanx. com. (Jeff) Former Hardgainer, Athleanx.

com. (Jesse) Ha, ha. (Jeff) So listen, today we’re going to talk about are the  ten biggest lessons that you learned (Jesse) Yup. (Jeff) to make the transformation from former Hardgainer to  what you are now, what Jacked Jesse? (Jesse) Jack the Jes— Jack the Juicy.

(Jeff) All right. So, listen, so for any of the people that haven’t seen this video, we actually  just showed it again recently in a short. But this is your transformation. This is cute little Jesse  who started out, look at that little kid. (Jesse) Way back in the day.

(Jeff) All right, so now obviously you didn’t have a lot of muscle here take us through (Jesse) Or good posture. (Jeff) Or good posture, but take us  through a little bit and then we’re gonna get specifically into the lessons here,  but a little bit of what was going on. I mean, look at look at your arms there. (Jesse) They re all tiny. Ugh, look at that squat.

(Jeff) Right. But again, there’s nothing wrong, as we’re going to say  here, because everyone — I mean, I think I went on the same journey as you. Maybe not quite as  skinny, but I definitely went on this journey at some point in my own lifting career. So, what was  the main point? Because let’s be honest here, you did — this was not a straight path for you.

(Jesse) No, it was not. There was actually a lot of inconsistency (Jeff) Okay. (Jesse) in my path, um. (Jeff) So what was the big thing? (Jesse) The big thing was  consistency and showing up to the gym every day that I was supposed to.

(Jeff) So now hold on, because everybody will say, I’ve heard that a million times. The  problem is, Jeff, I can’t be freaking consistent. If I could be consistent, this  wouldn’t be a problem for me. So. .

. (Jesse) Believe me, I get it. I was, I was very  inconsistent for a long time. Like I — the first time I lifted weights was in high school for  lacrosse, and I did it for three weeks. (Jeff) So, what made it now?

What was the  thing that was the trigger for you? (Jesse) Honestly, the big trigger was  being on the channel, and you, you wanting me to be something featured here. (Jeff) That’s interesting. All right, so let me illustrate a point here, because this  is really crucial. First thing you need to do, if you’re a hardgainer and you want to get on  track, find that motivation.

But that motivation doesn’t oftentimes come solely from within. (Jesse) No, it’s definitely partly comes from within. But there are external factors  that are important to drive you forward in being consistent and showing up. (Jeff) So candidly, for me, obviously this channel and being an example for you guys is  a huge motivator for me. But now, as a father and especially a father, at the age of 40 right  now, 48 with, with two eight year old twin boys, they’re my motivation.

I want to make sure  that I stay fit and healthy so that I can continue to be around for them, number one  and number two, to be able to, you know, be fun and perform with them. (Jesse) Yeah. (Jeff) So consistency. The next thing  was actually very concrete for you. (Jesse) Yeah.

(Jeff) And this is something I think that a lot of people screw up out there. What is it? (Jesse) Uh, drinking more water. (Jeff) Right. So.

. . (Jesse) And being adequately hydrated throughout the day. (Jeff) What was your specific change that you could help them with? (Jesse) It was going from drinking little to no water a day (Jeff) Right.

(Jesse) to — actually your recommendation,  which was what it was one ounce per three quarters of your body weight? (Jeff) Yeah, basically for you, you were like, what, 125 pounds or so when you started? (Jesse) Yeah, 125, 130. (Jeff) So, you re about 90 to 100oz of water (Jesse) Yeah. (Jeff) per day, right?

Concretely, increase the  amount of water. If there’s one thing that will destroy your consistency because  it’s destroying your motivation, because it’s destroying your concentration  and your overall feeling of well-being, (Jesse) Yup. (Jeff) is being dehydrated. Forget about the nutrition right off the bat, fix your water intake. Do what I just said  there, that will actually help you a lot.

(Jesse) Yeah. (Jeff) The next thing was in relation to your training. Number three here. (Jesse) Uh, it was actually overcoming something called exerphobia, fear of exercises. (Jeff) Right.

And more particularly the barbell exercises. (Jesse) Yeah, like the squat, the bench, the deadlift and even the overhead press. (Jeff) So, when you show up in a gym and you’re a hardgainer and you know you’re skinny, you  feel skinny, you’re skinnier than the rest of the guys in the gym. (Jesse) Yup. (Jeff) The most intimidating lifts that  you’re going to try to attempt to do (Jesse/Jeff) are the barbell lifts.

(Jeff) Why? Because usually the bare minimum of plates that you see other people lifting  on those exercises is the one big plate. (Jesse) Yeah. (Jeff) A 45 pounder. And when you’re putting maybe even 10s on the end.

(Jesse) Thank God for bumper plates because they at least look the same size. (Jeff) Same diameter, but, you know, much less weight. But yes, you can feel self-conscious about  that. That could steer you away from doing those exercises, which is a giant mistake. (Jesse) Yeah.

(Jeff) Because that is the most capable exercises  of being overloaded, progressively overloaded, and building that base foundation strength that  builds you bigger and stronger, which was a huge part of your transformation. (Jesse) Yeah. (Jeff) So one of the things that I like to stress  here at Athlean-X is, as a physical therapist, we have to make sure that form serves as the  foundation of whatever lift that you do. (Jesse) Yup. (Jeff) So, when you start to attempt those exercises, it’s not about rushing  to the weights so quickly, as much as it’s about learning the proper form.

(Jesse) Yeah. (Jeff) You had a built-in excuse,  which was actually number four, the big reasons of how you got to where you were,  that form was your focus, which helped you to build confidence with the barbell. (Jesse) Yes, it did. And as I built my confidence with the barbell, with  good form, I was able to increase the weight significantly over time. (Jeff) Did you actually take shit for that sometimes from your buddies?

(Jesse) Yes, I did take quite a bit of shit for that, but I was looking at  the big picture and working on form and safety and everything like that. (Jeff) Yeah. All right, so now but this is where you get a chance to shine. So, I think it’s  very important — what are we at number five. (Jesse) Yeah.

(Jeff) The accessory lift, right? (Jesse) Yes. (Jeff) The other exercise is the non-barbell  compound exercises. That’s where you get a chance to shine in terms of learning  what real effort feels like. (Jesse) Yes.

(Jeff) Learning what it actually feels like to train to failure. (Jesse) Yeah, and knowing what failure is. Because a lot of times as a hardgainer or even just a  beginner, you’re told to use RIR or RPE and (Jeff) Not here. (Jesse) Yeah. (Jeff) Not here.

(Jesse) The problem with that is if you don’t know what failure is, how do  you know what to reps and reserve is or 3 or 7 RPE is. Because for me at least, when I was trying  to, you know, go a little bit shy of failure, I was stopping when the set got hard. (Jeff) Of course. (Jesse) I wasn’t stopping at failure. Once I learned what failure was through the accessory movements and learning like,  okay, I can’t move this weight in good form anymore.

Or if it’s mechani