I Have Failed || The Problem With Maingaining

[@xBx3xAxSxT]

I find these videos of greg on his own, talking honestly to the camera without a script the best. Reminds me of the old school videos when he first blew up in his old apartment. Just raw emotions and advice.

[@johnsands146]

Agree. Have you noticed that there's far fewer edits now than days of old as he's got much more comfortable working to camera and flows with ease.

[@josuemontalvo221]

Agreed, these are the best.

[@matthewjess5488]

Loving the bucket hat coach. Immediately increases gains by 52%

[@aidanmclovin5033]

on god

[@coffeecel]

Hatgaining

[@unepeiteappitiser]

Big Scooby vibes

[@RyanH2198]

He’s turning into scooby1961 lol

[@anthonymoore8302]

Agree, Coach looks like Henry Winkler in the Waterboy movie...

[@edwinwoods8294]

I never found anything in any of your videos ," confusing." and I ve watched hundreds . You ve been very helpful to my progress.. If anything you dumb it down enough so I don t get lost in big scientific wording. Out of all the channels I watch , I watch this the most. Keep up the good work. and thk you

[@arianadonis4099]

Exactly I feel like he already makes this shit so easy to digest people just creating problems when there are none to "be involved"

[@thedon9670]

Agreed. Some people in this world are just quite slow mentally and will struggle with understanding anything. I've found all his videos easy to understand. He's so clear at explaining things.

[@suckonthebigtoe279]

Lost soul

[@executivelifehacks6747]

Yeah, don't delete your old content Greg, it's history, and not confusing

[@case8987]

You’re obviously a novice. He totally contracted himself. Watch revival fitness’s video on it.

[@ulric9964]

Step 1: a) If you fat you slowly cut. b) if you too shredded you slowly bulk. c) if you are at an ok bodyfat go to step 3 Step 2: Keep repeating step 1 until: a) you notice your gym performance and overall energy improving. b) you get lean enough without your gym performance and overall energy declining. Step 3: Eat around maintenance and monitor your gym performance, overall energy and bodyfat. If needed go back to step 2. This should work assuming your training and recovery remains consistently good.

[@adrientorres3367]

Perfect explanation

[@amadorluis2008]

How but skinny fat.. should people bulk ,cut or start step 3 right away ??

[@JohnDoe-kf5iq]

@@amadorluis2008 if your skinny fat cut very slowly and do body recomp or stay at maintenance and recomp

[@johannesstephanusroos4969]

@@amadorluis2008Track your calories, and train hard. If you look better, eat the same calories, if you lose muscle/look worse, up calories slightly. You'll learn what works for you

[@joeyh6521]

So you go up in weight and come back down? Sounds like bulking and cutting to me.

[@SIenderplier]

As someone who's been frustrated at the various descriptions of maingaining online I thought this video did an exceptional job of clearing up some of the confusion and inconsistencies, better explained than last time!

[@abiola100000]

How?

[@atomicwalker2515]

I replied to your comment in the last video, talking negativity about maingaining. I must say that I was in the wrong. Since you can't accurately track calories, if you are aiming for maintenance you're going to be just a bit over your maintenance some days and just below on others, which means that you won't be eating too much and gaining a lot of unnecessary fat or too little and losing muscle. It makes sense.

[@DannyValchev]

@@atomicwalker2515 no it doesn't make sense because if your aiming to eat at maintance you can't build muscle. It is better to lean bulk and cut like everyone is doing. I don't understand you people...🤨🙄

[@DannyValchev]

@@atomicwalker2515 gaining some fat is part of the process!

[@samueltaylor9935]

it's not that hard, just eat in like a 300+ surplus get ur protein and veggies in gg

[@powerlifterlite1768]

The confusion with maingaining has always been that Greg uses “maintenance” to refer to body fat/body composition. He has historically defined it as adding muscle while maintaining your body fat percentage. But everybody else uses deficit/maintenance/surplus as terms referring to body weight. Greg’s maingaining has always been consistent with increasing your body weight slowly over time-which is bulking/gaining/massing/surplus whatever-as long as your body fat percentage doesn’t get out of hand. This confusion between body weight and body comp is the source of all misunderstanding. Since maingaining includes intentionally adding muscle/mass slowly overtime, it is by definition not maintenance. It is just a controlled, long, slow, lean bulk/mass/gain. And this is a conceptual disagreement. I am not criticizing what I see as Greg’s true intention. I agree with his approach to dieting and body composition. I just think the explanation and name he has given it are lacking.

[@snwachuku]

you're right

[@yeeyee1690]

Exactly.He should ditch the term "maingaining"

[@pulkpuller]

Bang on this is what happens when someone coins a new term for the same thing that has been done forever…it’s the KZbin version of beach body

[@karlinggard]

I agree completely. What you wrote out here is what a lot of people get wrong about Greg's idea of maingaining.

[@JohnDoe-fk7bv]

@florene bleu so u take words whole with 0 thought process. Its your fault for having 2 brain cells.

[@FilipTheMachine]

Want to show appreciation for the content Coach Greg is producing and how educative it is in first place especially for something as important as health is. Can't explain how worth the knowledge this man shares is but really hope that people acknowledge and appreciate all the positive people out there and remember that the minority doesn't represent the people (referring to the unreasonable hate spreading comments which compared to the people who consume the content but fail to interact with the creator are statistical error as when something is in small number but gets to the media even tho it's minority). Wish Greg long and healthy life stays strong mentally and physically and remains to educate us for long time

[@KevinsKontentKorner]

It’s easy to value Greg’s knowledge. Go buy his cookbooks!

[@keithjohb2198]

Haha not at those prices.

[@6packonlyripped604]

Lol

[@gustavl3946]

Nah, he says the same things in every video almost, good for a beginner but shen u watched few videos u can unsubsribe. I respect him for fixing his mistales with using the word ”maingaining” though… 👍

[@valentinocozzi]

Not really no, I appreciate the fact at the start of the video he says it's his fault people didn't understand what he meant, but he's still spreading misinformation. Listen to what he says "to me lean bulking is bulking". When he says *to me* you have to assume everything he'll say afterwards it's just his opinion, his perception of reality, so he is basically stating from the beginning he may not be right

[@daetros1626]

Love the "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" hat and glasses combo! I have to be honest, I agree that you attributed the word maingaining to a lot of behaviors but it's always seemed clear to me what it was. You explained it pretty clearly and often. Get a very minor calorie surplus (less than 100/day) just to aid muscle growth without adding fat. I'm glad you made this video clarifying again what you mean but for most who watch a lot of your content I'm surprised if they were very confused.

[@91CRSTP]

I would say Greg’s the new Scooby. If you know Scooby you’re a real OG of Fitness KZbin 😎

[@alisbai4376]

Yeah i saw the hat and I was like coach greg looks lik scooby.

[@haydantoon3422]

The real OG of gains

[@hans5040]

Wow what a peaceful and beautiful intro Wouldn't expect that from a coach greg video

[@JK-mp1mg]

There was a substantial lack of yelling as well, not sure this is the same Greg. Maybe he got replaced by an alien while at "the beach."

[@Geveretzah1]

I’m all for Greg doucette mental health tips he’s such an amazing influencer. And consistent information Ive been watching Greg for 3 years and he’s still spreading the truth in such a simple yet positive and easy to understand way

[@darthsidius9631]

greg Your sugar video was confusing as hell you say at sugar is good for you without saying why it's healthy for you and how much can you eat you didn't give any science why it would be healthy for you and ignored the fact at it causes fatty liver disease and diabetes

[@MarkarthsForge]

I knew what you meant Greg. And it’s been working for me. Gains have been slow, but when I look at pictures of myself a year ago, i still look like a completely different person. Iv been able to stay pretty lean eating whole foods in a very slight surplus while slowly adding muscle. Haven’t lost my visible abdominal muscles. I do think part of it is my genetics, and have a fast metabolism, but what I am doing is working. And your advice HAS helped me. Don’t worry about the haters. Iv recently started slowly upping my calories slightly to experiment a little bit to accommodate my hunger and do what my body is telling me to do and to feel good.

[@JohnDoe-fk7bv]

Brah. U alrdy look awesome. Keep it up

[@JohnDoe-fk7bv]

@florene bleu get out keyboard warrior. Youre sad. 2 braincell crybaby

[@timmian85]

@@JohnDoe-fk7bv No u.

[@falcn3012]

@florene bleu u is a keyboard warrior my guy. U said in another comment ur on steroids and can bench 400 pounds 🤣 🧢🧢

[@thanasis-_-]

@florene bleu so what?

[@timizo691]

You have explained this so many times. The explanations have been very clear. I don’t know how anyone could still be confused over this. It’s not that complicated.

[@jimcarlisle3085]

I’ve been watching Coach Greg for almost two years. I’m almost 50 and just started to weight train and get it the best shape my broke down body will let me. With that being said I’ve watched several other fitness channels over these two years but always end up back here. Listening to Greg’s advice Ive seen more gains in the gym and my diet is on point and I’m looking better than last time. Glad I found his channel when I started this journey. Thanks Coach Greg

[@rafaelosilva80]

Here's my experience with "maingaining". I've been lifting for 6 years. I'm 5' 11. Started at 62,5kg (137,75lbs) at roughly 10%, and currently I'm at 80,3kg (177lbs) at roughly 12%. Before I lifted, I did a lot of track and field, so I burned a lot of calories. I mantained my died, but, because I stopped running, my weight increased slowly but surely. In the first year I put on 8kg (17lbs), and took me another 5 years to put on 10kg (22lbs), although let's say that 5 of those pounds are recent, due to make Creatine intake, and subsequent water absorption. Never been fat, never been shredded, but always have been cut. A bit more during the summer, cause I work harder, so I burn more calories. I think it's the best way to do things. You wanna be healthy and look good no matter the time of the year, and slowly, you're getting a bit more size. My diet is the same as it was 6 years ago. The only difference is: a put an extra spoon of rice when I'm feeling a little weaker, or I do a little extra cardio if I'm looking softer. That's how I control my macros. Just maintain your habit of lifting, your habit of eating, and give it time. It happened for me, it will happen for you too.

[@Hezzadude12]

I just want to say thank you for sharing this experience. I am 6 foot and started at 63kg probably around 12% or so, maybe 13% body fat, but was very skinny fat in terms of appearance (like my fat stores were in my chest and stomach etc). I have lifted for 3 years now and have gone up to 76kg at around 16.5% (in my opinion, my friends think I’m 14%, but I know I’m more than that). Makes me happy to see someone with a similar starting point to me slowly getting up to 80kg, and it gives me motivation with the maingaining approach. Keep up the great work man.

[@Ryan-yc4rk]

You lean bulked. Lets just stop using the term maingain.. it's obviously a portmanteau of the words "maintain" "gain" which is contradictory in nature. If the maintain in this case is talking about body fat (maintain body fat, gain muscle) then you didn't maingain cause you gained 2% bodyfat. If the maintain is body weight while gaining muscle (this is called a recomp, what Greg preached as maingaining for the longest), you also failed, because you gained nearly 40lbs of body weight. What you did do, is lean bulked, and very successfully and you should be proud. Great work and keep it up!

[@Sniper474]

Firstly, congrats on your progress, keep it up!!! Secondly, thanks for sharing that awsome story. Its always nice to see people talk about realistic goals/achievements with realistic steps in their journey. More people should adopt your style of eating and training, its much healthier and also is easier to be consistant over long term.

[@rafaelosilva80]

@@Hezzadude12 looking good man! Just be aware the next 3 years won't be as productive as the first 3, at least in terms of overall size. But still, by now you must feel like you're way better then when you started, and understood it's not only about the end result, but the process itself. Keep going!

[@rafaelosilva80]

@@Ryan-yc4rk I guess you're right. If one is putting on size, it's obvious we are in a calorie surplus. I feel like Greg is preaching not to make that surplus too great (less then 300 cal), and at the same time, don't bother with counting your macros like you're in a lab setting. I find the mirror method to be quite effective. That and photographs. My next goal is to stand at around 85kg. But that will take 2 more years, to do it right. At this point, any faster and it will be mostly fat gains.

[@atomicwalker2515]

I left a negative comment on your last video about maingaining and I have to say that this changed my view. I appreciate your effort to clear things up, and I'd like to apologize for the negativity. Thank you coach Greg!

[@TeamYouphoric]

It's good to fail. Great opportunity to learn.

[@JiraiyaSama86]

Situational but I get what you mean. Unfortunately, some people make it seem like a crime to fail or make mistakes, more than certain situations require.

[@scapeghost4212]

That's why you train to failure

[@moonwolf8470]

Failures have consequences too

[@TeamYouphoric]

@@moonwolf8470 Everything in life has consequences. Even success.

[@coreygrice3212]

I’ve been watching for a while now, love the no bs honesty. Keep up the great work

[@robertprije8078]

Honestly, your message here sounds to me the same as it always has. I don't think the new terminology is going to help. Your explanation has always seemed clear to me and if people weren't getting it before they're probably still going to miss the point. Thank you for working so hard to try to get this very important point of avoiding bulking and cutting through to everyone. I've definitely let myself eat in surplus under the guise of "bulking" in the past and your maingaining videos have helped me understand why it's been both suboptimal and unhealthy. Your explanation of everyone having a different healthy level of lean mass also helped me a lot with making realistic goals and focussing more on how I feel than how I look. Thanks, coach Greg.

[@calebgodard4554]

Coach Greg looking like Scooby here!

[@victorjones1995]

This is true leadership. Willingness to take responsibility and correct things that others took the wrong way. That's why I support this man 💯 percent! Thanks Coach Greg!

[@jasonrios3120]

Yeah took him like a fucking year to do so, such true leadership and responsibility 🤣🤣🤣

[@T..C..M]

Yeah, once backed into a corner

[@mayank626]

took him tens of videos and pushbacks to take the responsibility lol! Honestly, where does it stop with you guys?

[@coldwindfarm1309]

@@mayank626 Wow, let supporters support just like when haters like you hate.

[@timmian85]

LMAO. I havent seen as graphic a dick swallow even in european porn as this gay ass comment.

[@christopherjones2179]

All this information is what I gleaned the first time around. Not sure where the confusion was for some folks. Thanks Greg.

[@marcmcphee]

Honestly, maintaining my body fat percentage around the same has been the best (I have done the traditional bulks/cuts)….eventually my metabolism increases and I am getting stronger. I’m by no means shredded (about 193 pounds and 5’10”)…but I can see my abs a little more each week and my jeans are getting looser. Small victories are the best ones. Whenever I have a raging hunger, I make myself a protein ice cream and it satisfies me for hours and tastes great!!! Just make good choices most of the time and you will do fine. ❤️💪🤩🏋️‍♂️

[@jocelyngalipeauphotographe]

For me every video you did on maingain were crystal clear and i appreciate you teach us theese notions. Thanks a lot..!

[@bernie9901]

Right before I found Greg I thought I needed to bulk. Only put on maybe 5 pounds when I found him. I stopped and I quickly lost it. Ive been around 2500-3000 a day. It works

[@JoshTheScribePersonal]

This is an awesome video. Very clear and very on point with general health guidelines. 100% on point

[@crashgaming247]

Good to see you invited Scooby1961 to host a vid on your channel.

[@Chetezz_]

Epic vid coach!!

[@Phyrrax]

Your Scooby1961 cosplay is on point, coach.

[@mrtastyshots]

Great vid, commenting for the algorithm

[@emilyfarr9897]

While I thought it was clear, it was also clear that some were confused by all the noise on the internet - and that matters too. I think it is awesome that Coach Greg is humble and responsible enough to make this video and try everything within his ability to clear up any confusion. Makes me respect him even more.

[@Marta1Buck]

I really can't comprehend how people doesn't understand what Greg meant.

[@pulkpuller]

Humble 🤣🤦‍♀️

[@MrAcidKnight]

@@Marta1Buck because he flip flopped on his own definition, that's why people are confused. He's defined maingaining as lean bulking (while also claiming that you don't even need a 30cal surplus), as gaining weight while maintaining body fat % and also as a recomp. That's why people are confused. There is evidence for all of this. I don't like revival fitness, but if you check out his video on the topic he does a good job of exposing Greg's flip flopping on the definition.

[@dvm9609]

@@Marta1Buck Because he changes what he "means" to fit the current narrative. Be silent simp lmfao

[@emilyfarr9897]

@@Marta1Buck 😄 I think sometimes when other KZbin fitness folks are trying to basically say the same thing but either change just enough of the working so that it doesn’t sound plagiarizing OR it’s their own thoughts which are in agreement but presented with less clarity or pedantic nuances, it can get more and more twisted until it is something easily misinterpreted. Then it eventually sounds like two trustworthy people are saying different things when really they aren’t and it confuses people. Then it is also made worse by people trying to create drama where there is none. Not always…but sometimes.

[@stefanmccrae]

This is the part that I love about coach Greg. Never hides from the topic and when he’s wrong he’ll admit it.

[@Jameyy_Jamm]

Solid advice as always, Greg! Been following your diet advice for almost a year and it’s been amazing, but a really slow process 😅 wouldn’t trade it for anything else, rock on 🤘 also, you look like OG Scooby with that fisherman’s hat!

[@Doxsein]

18:32 Coach Greg, I'll watch whatever length of video you upload, 10 min is a mere tease

[@PygmaApril]

The way I approach maingaining is "maintaining body fat %". This means that first you have to find a bf% that's sustainable for you. Then put yourself in an ever so slight (200-300 cal) surplus to make sure most of the weight gained is muscle and water. Also emphasize getting stronger in the gym.

[@Tnz69]

Yh but thats not how greg defines it

[@collan580]

Its lean bulking, but its much better especially if you are natural.

[@Tnz69]

@@collan580 so its lean bulking? Not maingaining? I dont get it

[@collan580]

@@Tnz69 When you add a relatively small 300-400 calories you will gain both muscle and fat your body percentage will go up slightly. You can lean bulk for even a year and gaining just 4-5 bodyfat % + while gaining a ton of muscle. And than you can do a month or two of cuting to go back to around 12-13% bodyfat. Problem with "maingaining" so staying the same bodyfat % that you dont know exactly how many calories you need, and an average person can misjudge their bodyfat %. A lot of times this leads to stagnation because you are too focused on staying lean (even 12% is too lean for a natty)and as a natural its hard to gain muscle when you are lean. Its easier to have a good amount of calorie surplus build muscle have some extra body fat and than just cut the fat, loose a bit of muscle and start again.

[@scottsmith1652]

Well said, Greg. I think many people forget that being healthy is the real purpose for training. I know when I was younger, that was the case. It was more about ego lifts etc. Now that I'm in my early 50s, health is much for important. Being healthy really makes a difference in your quality of life. I've been on an 18 month journey so far to get my body fat down to a healthy level. So far I've lost over 130 pounds and still have about 25 pounds or so to go. My goal is around 15% bodyfat and I'm getting there. Having been obese, I certainly do not want to gain body fat again if I don't have to. Lastly, your statement about calorie ranges I've found to be very true. Somedays I'm at 1800 or 1900, others 2000 or even 2100 calories. Depends. But over time, I see results and continue to lose bodyfat. For me, it's about what is sustainable? Also, I've found that my excess bodyfat has been great fuel for adding muscle while in a deficit. I've made strength gains as well as muscle gains during this process. I know each person is different and people need to find what works for their body and lifestyle. I believe anyone with diligence, true effort and patience can succeed and feel good about themselves. Whatever that means as an individual. Thanks for taking the time to make this video!

[@brincessbeach208]

The concept of maingaining seriously changed my life and mindset around fitness. Cheers to getting our heads out of our ass! Unrelated, but would love to see a natty or not (or collab?) with Rachael Daniels. Would love to see my two favorites working together :)

[@JT-yx7vf]

cbum is not on a "300-500 calorie surplus". He seems to be way above that. 300-500 calories is not what anyone usually calls a "lean bulk" as far as I know; its just a normal bulk, when people say "lean bulk" they're usually referring to 200-300 calories above maintenance or so from everyone I have ever listened to.

[@elka-bs8590]

Ggreg is- a wasteman he need to dir

[@scottswift8153]

Never confused me, seemed fairly straight forward with the old videos.

[@yooowon]

As someone who's been on the skinny and scrawny side his whole life I just wanna express my thanks for helping me out through my fitness journey. Keep up the great work Greg and the editing has improved so much!

[@maximillianirazabal5855]

Loving this collab with scooby!

[@guilhermecharrua3901]

Thank you, Greg. Over the 6 past months, I've been feeling quite low energy because I was trying to maingain at around 7-8% body fat. I was eating 2000 calories for over 6 months (losing weight on a constant basis) and thought I was maingaining. About two months ago I started slowly increasing my calories (now I am at 2300) and with this small increase I have been feeling much better, my pumps are better, and I feel like I've finally started making gains - which I think I should have been noticing all the way since I only started working out about a year ago. I might increase my calories slowly to around 2500 over the next few months, and track my progress. (I must say I have been quite obsessed over my diet, weighing all my food, and if I went out I always made sure to overestimate the calories in the foods I was eating, so I did not go over my budget) While I do believe your explanation might not have been the clearest I really appreciate that you admitted your error and from now on hopefully people will not make the same error I did. (Still gonna keep eating the foods from your cookbook, though! :)) )

[@fl676]

U are doing it right , u make adjustments accordingly, after a while u have a better idea what calories are in food and don’t have to meticulously track and get obsessed. Good luck 👍🏻

[@miniweeddeerz1820]

Bruh this is just lean bulking.

[@miniweeddeerz1820]

@El Cristian fr...

[@krischanlive]

So honest question: did you gain any bodyfat at all after increasing calories?

[@loveisallthatmatters21]

Omg loved “ya plump” ...Greg you have to put that on a shirt!!

[@arrow5046]

how can you even be mad at this guy , he one of the few that tells you things as they really are and is not trying to sell you stupid programs for quick money. He really is a great help to everyone in the fitness community , especially for beginners who are surrounded by fake nattys and influencers. Honestly Gregg keep doing what you are doing , your advice has always been truthful and great

[@kowya5952]

nah he lied like a million times he just has so many videos and hes good at twisting his words so you dont notice it

[@collan580]

"Selling programs for quick money" you do realise that he plugs his supplements,cookbooks and workout plans in every single video. Btw he stalled my progress.

[@pleaseleavemealone5234]

Welcome to South Africa bru 🤙🏻 Hope you enjoy Cape Town ;)

[@WonderWomanInMichigan]

Ive been binging your videos like crazy! Learning so incredibly much. Your approach is sustainable. Im 45 year old female at 30%. My goal this year is to be 25%

[@bonkersdonkers7381]

I don’t know you, but I’m rooting for you.

[@bassioelmucho]

Realistic goal! tear it up!

[@chrisbailey19801]

Coach Greg helped me. Filters out alot of the miss information on the internet and gives it to you plan and simple. Good luck on your journey

[@nv8949]

You got this!

[@lol12345-j]

For people who’ve been around the KZbin fitness community for a while… does coach not remind you of OG fitness man “Scooby” with his bucket hat and topless look!?!?

[@vivianweidiwu]

We all know your intention is good!!!! Sooo much good info you have given us. How people take it~~~ it’s really up to them. When I get lost, or stress eating, I watch coach Greg. It helps!!!! Hope it does the same to others. If not, they can find someone who are more their vibes. And that is okay~~~ we are all different. I still think coach Greg is good influencer than sooo much more.

[@dr.truthteller9768]

Damn it, there goes Greg being an awesome person again....Much love bro!!

[@MODELBODYINTL]

This was great. What really helped me unlock this was the calorie range idea 🙏🏼

[@zam50]

You got it

[@benjaminadams9607]

Genuinely thought you were Scooby1961 for a moment there. The bucket hat brings much wisdom.

[@luisvdc]

I feel like coach Greg explained it so well from day one, I don’t know how people still don’t get it. 1) stay at healthy body fat that is good for you 2) maintain it and build muscle from there People say bulking is the answer when they are already fat and is the same shit because then you will be in caloric deficit that you wouldn’t have needed if you weren’t in a surplus in the first place

[@muscletev4662]

Exactly

[@bestgirl3380]

There’s no one answer. Different manipulations of the methods offer different results. For health standards, maybe Greg’s advice is the best. Maybe even for the average person in the world. But not everyone is the same. One reason someone would want to bulk while already fat is because they don’t want to look skinny. That’s probably the case for a lot of people and what can you tell them? Suck it up and just get skinny? Ehhh if that’s not what they want then the advice is pointless! Instead you can manipulate the method to make it work for them. Thing is, some people aren’t serious and many have slow attention spans so making a time consuming workout plan could end up being a waste of both of your time which can be annoying and why it might be easier to just follow the standard Me thinks

[@user-nm3ug3zq1y]

People doing it wrong (dirty/sloppy bulkers) don't disprove a method.

[@Ryan-yc4rk]

He didn't, though, he said "eating even 100-300 calories above maintenance will eventually get you fat and is not maingaining"

[@biohazard9503]

You've been gaslit

[@milky7550]

I understood this meaning from your older videos, ppl just pick and pluck info they want to hear. But i know most ppl knew what you meant

[@TheLazyEconomist]

This year has been a rollercoaster of emotions with this idea. Lol. But I understood it from the start.

[@00psyon]

I saw the whole video and I don't think you have to explain yourself or apologize. You were always very clear from the beginning. I think some people are very jealous of you and your success and they are just trying to find ways to criticize you or bring you down

[@cesaralejandromarinaguiler7528]

I just love the fact that he's addressing the issue during vacations

[@TheSimzelp]

Respect for admitting when you make mistakes! 💪 That's how you grow. Also makes you a more trustworthy source of information. Keep going Greg!

[@HHmz-rp8ht]

4 lbs of muscle in a year? but coach I thought your Turkesterone was gonna make me build that amount in a month?

[@djjohnson4037]

Coach Greg out here lookin like the OG Scooby with the bucket . 💪

[@justushilliard6994]

Looking lean and mean like a maingaining and bulktaining machine, Greg

[@pooolish334]

Tbh i understood exactly what Coach Greag ment by maingaining but people like to type a lot before they inform themselves accurately on a topic.

[@HarrisonPaololz]

Wake up babe coach greg posted

[@voduz999]

Wake up babe i just ratio'd Harrison 💀

[@BlockyRaptor]

@@voduz999 you really didn't

[@arclyte1859]

I don’t see how anyone was confused with your previous explanations. They were pretty straight forward. Unless ppl were being deliberately ignorant, there should have been no confusion.

[@bribradt3450]

People were confused because his definitons of maingaining changed from video to video.

[@djcastano1180]

A simple example of how to do this for people confused; When cutting weight for a show, photoshoot or just to test yourself to get as shredded as possible, you slowly reduce your calories over time. For a simple example, let’s say going from 2,000 to 1,800 to 1,600. When you finish your cut, the mistake a lot of people make is they immediately jump into a surplus that is too high. Too fast. This results in gaining more bodyfat than you should and leads to sloppy results. What you should do is slowly reverse the cals back in the same order in which you lowered them. Using the same example, going from 1600-1800-2000. Once you’ve returned to your baseline, you’d ideally be at your most optimal/healthy bodyfat. From here, to assure you don’t gain too much bodyfat, and remain lean, you would slowly increase the cals again. Going from 2,000 to 2150 or 2200. If you’re not gaining any size at these cals, slowly increase again. If you’re gaining too much bodyfat w the increase, slightly adjust down. The key is to go slow with it in either direction to assure you don’t lose too much too fast or you don’t gain too much too fast. Once you reach your ideal bodyfat percentage the goal is to not stray TOO FAR away from that ideal. Greg’s never said to stay the exact same, he’s saying not to get sloppy and get too far away from your ideal otherwise it’s going to be incredibly challenging to get back there. This is not a new idea either. Frank Zane has preached this since the 60s. The problem is Too many people increase too much and go from 14% to 28%. Then have to work 5 x as hard as someone who went from 14-17%. The message I always got from Greg’s videos was he is against aggressive bulking and getting sloppy. I just think he did not relay his message properly.

[@djcastano1180]

@@contadogoogle7416 I’m detailing how I do it, aka the correct way to do it, now how Greg does it. So Greg being against it has nothing to do with my post. Sorry for the confusion. I circled back to “maingaining” at the end to correlate it to the video and to describe how to get there correctly and how to go about it correctly once you do get there.

[@williamhurtarte2298]

You’ve always explained it correct and clear, everyone’s just an idiot

[@zeekeleton]

I took coach Greg's advice calories in and out I started doing cardio and don't starve myself just workingout more I lost soo much weight 😇

[@bonkersdonkers7381]

Daily cardio has freed me to eat more. I used to be afraid of cardio, because bro myths said that I’d lose all my muscle. My maintenance calories are 2800 with daily cardio. I’m no longer starving every day just to look good. I can look good, and eat good, because I added the cardio.

[@domepiece11]

*Maingaining:* MAINTAIN your BF% (ie health) while GAINING muscle. Achieved through a *very slight* caloric surplus and leading to very gradual weight gain over time. WHY IS THAT SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND. No, it’s not maintaining your body composition because your goal is to add lean muscle mass over time. No, it’s not bulking, which by most definitions is gaining muscle AND fat (gain-gaining…). That is why we NEED a term like this. It is NOT maintaining nor bulking. Keep using the great term, Coach Greg! I love it.

[@justanerdwholiftweights4061]

I have been watching you for over one and a half years now . I have watched your older videos explaining about maingaining or why you shouldn't bulk and cut, but after watching this video I dont know where you went "wrong". You explained it same as before . I think its the term "maingaining" that has caused a lot of confusion among people. I have been maingaining for over a year now and I love it. I always look pretty good because Im not gaining fat. Thanks for everything coach!

[@timmian85]

The reason why it went wrong is that the entire concept is wrong and counter productive to people wanting to build muscle. You can build much more than 4lbs a year the first couple of years of training, but NOT if you dont eat. And the only people who bought into this bullshit are new people, because if you've been working out for a few years, you know that in order to "work out harder than last time" you need the energy to to so, and that what food is - energy. Bulking isnt simply a tool for your body to grow - it fuels the fucking work outs, it makes it possible to progressively overload, to add more volume, to recover from more volume. Carbs create the pump. If you are afraid to add an inch to your waistline, you're never going to add inches to your upper arms. Simple as that.

[@alpasca753]

@@timmian85 It just hurts me to see him mislead thousands of people, and see them thanking him for it.

[@TK-db6tg]

@@timmian85 that's a personal choice, not everyone wants to put on fat, also a lot of people do take it too far to the point that it's unhealthy, the thing with Greg is that he is only making a suggestion for your health, he is not declaring something to be right for you or wrong for you, he may mislead some people but thats not in any way his fault, it's on the viewer to use their own brain too

[@justanerdwholiftweights4061]

@@timmian85 and I'm ok with that. I don't want to have an inch on my waist in order to build my arms lol. By doing this I look good all year round and I fuckin hate cutting. I like the slow gains if that's what I have to do to stay lean

[@justanerdwholiftweights4061]

@@alpasca753 I'm not mislead lmao. I have tried bulking & cutting and hated it. I really like this maingaining approach even if I only gain less than if I'm bulking. I like the slow gains because I will stay lean every day. And it's my choice what I should do with my body not yours :)

[@dinocollins720]

Coach Greg your videos aren’t unclear at all! Keep doing what you’re doing. They make complete sense

[@liamfitness4077]

Hey Greg, first big props that you have the balls to see that you havent done everything as clearly as you could. For me Maingain is a big deal because I want to look and feel good year around. This why im gonna try this. Btw. I Love so mich more when you talk normaly its very much more calm to me. Keep it up and greetings

[@ghamm32]

Love the message! You were never confusing. It’s all about health!

[@mighty0974]

People are so closed minded that when they hear that there is a way to build muscle while not putting on fat, they literally think you are saying that every single body type should do this.

[@dvm9609]

Stay smal.

[@goaltotroll4241]

smarter than fricken last time

[@heribertohernandez6501]

Greg always goes out of his way for the greater good. Always making sure people understand his perspective and what he’s pitching. He really tries promoting health in the best way. Thanks for clearing things up for those who needed it. 👍🏼

[@redchief6735]

OR he calls out his mistakes when he gets too much hate just like the previous times 🤣

[@themikegough]

All the videos make sense, please don’t take anything down.

[@Vottav1]

Love the content coach been following you for a long time and follow what you preach it works! I've been at a consistent 15% body fat and I've gained a lot of muscle over the 5 years I've been training and haven't gained much fat if any so it's been great!

[@zam50]

How much weight gain? Just interested in the results over years

[@0956y]

A very insightful approach. Also bodybuilding but without the highs and lows.

[@moulishree9214]

*confusion intensifies.* I don't know coach, you're the reason I got over my fat loss plateau and understood nutrition so well but over past few month, things are getting shadier, and honestly I've been maingaining for quite a while and saw no significant gains. I've recently switched to a small surplus. I still owe my growth to you and Will, hope this is the last definition of maingaining.

[@JiraiyaSama86]

Some people are always going to argue. I remember the last video where he said that it was going to be the last time, and it still went on. At some point, they have to figure it out of for themselves rather than just complain that this or that influencer is misleading them, scamming them, and so forth. Some, I'm pretty sure, have nothing better to do than be resentful, immature, and so forth.

[@SuperDodoe]

There's no way you can count calories that accurately. Using a scale, looking at yourself in the mirror with broken laser eyes and keeping cognizant of your energy levels is the only way to properly "maingain"

[@moulishree9214]

@@SuperDodoe the problem I and what I feel others have faced with maingaining is that to avoid surplus most of us go into unintentional deficit.. a lean bulk of 200-300 calories atleast reduces the chances of the deficit. Yes you might gain some fat, but atleast you're not in deficit trying to eat at maintenance. I've been using kitchen and weighing scale religiously for past two years. And felt a gains plateau for past 8 months. I compared my pictures from 2020 to 2021 December and the gains didn't change a bit, also I saw some decrease in strength.. Anyway whatever works for people.

[@BasedOut100mil]

If this is your first proper bulk, you’re gonna feel like your making damn near noob gains again! (I wasted two years of training trying to maingain, and maybe put on a lb of actual muscle throughout the entire time)

[@OmegaDonut]

@@BasedOut100mil im actually finally bulking too and its crazy even a few days in sure ill gain fat but who gives a shit lol

[@waynemccormick4773]

Greg Thanks, its refreshing to see someone take ownership of info they put and not beings afraid to correct inaccuracies. Way to go, that's how to do it

[@Paramontana92]

my understanding was just to sit around 15% body fat and build muscle slowly over time.

[@marlenehooper426]

Excellent AGAIN • Love to you and ALLY 💋

[@Yakupx95]

I think all of your previous videos were pretty clear, i never had the impression that you accidentally preached something else

[@mike.mentzers_top_guy]

If you are skinny, then yes you HAVE to bulk. If you are overweight, the last thing you should do is bulk. If you are at normal bodyfat %, you do not need to bulk nor cut especially when you start. THATS when you should just eat at maintenance/maingain. Its that simple, its not rocket science, people are always making things unnecesarily complicated

[@arcanegaming1587]

Hey greg how u doing... Just want to tell you, your cookbook works really good for me.. I literally had like boost in my physic and the meals are not even that expensive. Thanks a a lot your cook boo works great ♥️

[@chew2866]

Awesome video, could not have came out at a better time I was looking up about this all day yesterday and today

[@Josypozy659]

Scooby is that you?

[@yasminagreen306]

Ate a pint of ice cream and cookies while watching your lovely video Greg. You are so funny. You’re taking about my chubby self right now. Have been in a deficit for a year and am currently taking a break lol. Twenty pounds to go. Thanks for all that you teach us

[@emilyblack8982]

my best friend is *pleasantly over-chubbed* 🤗 but seriously we are working to get him from 260 to 235 again.

[@bendelaughter]

This is very clear and well explained Greg. Nice job.

[@taitcarrillo8926]

I appreciate you addressing this I’ve been on the maingain life, my trainer taught me and so did you Coach Greg. Glad you’re clearing it up so other people can do this too. I’ve never bulked or cut, I’ve fluctuated daily calories of course, but that’s part of maingaining. I’m a specific situation because my health so I never thought the bulk cutting thing sounded healthy for me. Just did the whole “Healthy eating,” thing at first then I skyrocketed my daily protein. I do what feels better for me, even if it’s not optimal for muscle development. I’ve consistently been around 175-180lbs and I look much better now than I used to at this weight.

[@tbtb7084]

I like that you’re taking responsibility for not explaining it well enough for people to understand

[@growingsoul30]

The fact that he can admit when he’s wrong and doesn’t let his ego hinder his ability to share important fitness information is kinda why I keep watching him.

[@darthsidius9631]

Greg's sugar video was confusing as hell you say at sugar is good for you without saying why it's healthy for you and how much can you eat you didn't give any science why it would be healthy for you and ignored the fact at it causes fatty liver disease and diabetes

[@growingsoul30]

@@darthsidius9631 I haven’t seen that video but I’ll check it out

[@Bonsoirmonamie]

@@darthsidius9631 excess sugar causes those things, naturally we NEED sugar. That’s why it tastes so good, it’s our bodies reacting to something that naturally is good for us. What do you think makes a banana sweet? Sugar.

[@andershaukoos]

How anyone is confused by this is beyond me. But good on you for attempting to correct it.

[@ElfhanOfficial]

I can only speak for myself, but it took me a while to understand that you had to be at a surplus to gain muscle; a small one, but a surplus nevertheless. It is also very difficult for me to determine my own body fat percentage. I have watched several videos about this subject, but I still don't feel I know my range. I'm pretty lean, but I don't know if I'm lean enough to have to be at a bigger surplus or not.

[@ArgonEygovsson]

You can hire a coach

[@ElfhanOfficial]

@@ArgonEygovsson Exactly, that’s what I did. Lol

[@krisamagus1]

I gained muscle while lost overall bodyweight. In calorie deficit. Possible to gain.

[@valerioscharer4676]

@@krisamagus1 for a beginner it is even if it isn't ideal. For an advanced pretty unlikely

[@jdllim]

Thanks Scooby, love ya

[@ashenloyce]

I think the issue was skinny beginners would try to "maingain" even though they're too lean. Here Greg has said you can't "maingain" like that so you should lean bulk first. I hope that just clears it up for y'all.

[@sensationalseb7576]

Yeah I think that might be the problem, you maingain once you get to a healthy level first, not just maingaining even if you are skinny

[@bonkersdonkers7381]

Yes. It’s all about getting to the body fat percentage that allows optimal muscle growth/quality of life for you. Take me for example. I feel terrible training hard at 12-13% body fat. I may have abs and look conventionally good, but it’s not optimal. So, I bulked to 15-18%. Should I continue getting heavier? No, because I’m at a weight that allows me to function. Now, many will say that I bulked. Yes, but am I perma bulking? No, Im intentionally staying at this weight, because I like it. Will I cut down? Yeah, probably for special occasions like a beach body, which due to my poor genetics I’m unable to sustain. But, the cut will be easier, because I’m maintaining a body fat percentage that’s not too far from my beach body goal.

[@voodoochile6796]

Yes that is the problem. Also they think they're fatter than they really are because of body dysmorphia promoted by these influencers.

[@bonkersdonkers7381]

@El Cristian no, that video was off putting and kind of sad. I know what he’s trying to say, and it’s pedantically true. If you don’t have visible abs, you are by popular standards fat. BUT, the way he said this made it seem like being fat was a bad thing. It’s ok to have some subcutaneous fat, and sometimes due to your genetics you can’t avoid it. I know I can’t have perfectly chiseled abs year round, and that’s ok, because those were the cards I’ve been dealt. Watching that video was disappointing. As the chubby kid, who was called fat nearly his entire childhood, it actually brought up some negative feelings.

[@Mr.Henri2000]

Amazing video Greg, defenitly going to try this! Thank you for your advice an explenations.

[@btg49]

I appreciate not only admitting you made some mistakes with messaging, but also the levelheaded approach to this discussion. I also really like your definition of maingaining, and I agree that it is the best approach for a number of people. However, I still can't agree with you saying that maingaining is just as optimal as bulking and cutting. You're argument for them being equally productive has two major flaws: you're misrepresenting the point of a caloric surplus, and you're overstating the amount of muscle the average person can gain while maingaining. The point of the caloric surplus is not simply to provide the chemical energy required to build the muscle. Being in a positive energy balance improves performance, improves recovery, and overall makes your body more willing to spend energy on muscle creation, which is otherwise a luxury good for the body. So sure, maybe only 30 or so calories per day are gonna be going directly into the tissue creation process, but the rest of the surplus is still contributing to growth. Aiming for "around maintenance" will not provide the same benefits as aiming for a moderate surplus. How big of a surplus? Well, like you say, it's silly to try and be exact about it, which is why I think the more appropriate gauge should be the rate of weight gain. If your weight is going up at a slow rate (let's say .25% of bodyweight per week), then you can be confident that you are in a productive surplus and you aren't putting on a disproportionately large amount of fat. practical You hit the nail on the head with the trajectories at 16:30. To be more efficient than maingaining, you have to gain enough extra muscle on the bulk to still net more muscle after putting muscle building on pause during the cut (by the way, the threat of muscle loss on a cut is very small so long as you don't cut too sharply or for too long). Again, if you have excellent genetics, your rate of muscle gain while maingaining might be already so high that bulking and cutting doesn't offer a distinct benefit, but for the reasons I've mentioned, I think the average person would be building a significant amount more muscle on the bulk such that even after the cut they've made more progress than maingaining. Does that mean the average person should bulk and cut? Not at all. You are still 100% right about advising maingaining to the general population. Most people do not want to bulk and cut. They don't want to go up in body fat, they don't want to have to periodically diet, and the extra muscle they could gain from phasic dieting is not worth the time to them. It's about considering personal preferences to find the appropriate method for each individual, not finding what is optimal and prescribing it to everybody. Not everybody wants optimal. One last point is that you are also overblowing the health ramifications of bulking and cutting. Not everything has to be an extreme. Of course it's unhealthy to cut down to 5% or to bulk up to 30%. If you slowly bulk from low teens to high teens, maybe even low twenties, you are not putting your health in any significant risk. Especially if you're working out, living an active lifestyle, and eating healthy foods the entire way through, you can be 20% bodyfat and still be physically very healthy. Is staying at 15% or so the whole time healthier? Probably, but by a trivial margin. And even if you want to say it's not as trivial as I'm saying it is, again, this comes down to preferences. Some people might be completely fine accepting that risk for the pursuit of better overall progress. Just because you don't think people should take that risk, doesn't mean the method is less effective. Overall though, I'm very happy with this video and even though my essay here probably conveys the feeling that no matter what you say on the matter people will still be complaining about it, I think this is helping move the conversation in a better direction.

[@voodoochile6796]

I agree!

[@RobertSmith-God-man]

Thanks Greg for that explanation of the terms that get thrown around.

[@bigt9374]

Next video, Greg’s new mainbulking recipe book . You don’t have to mini cut because as you gain muscle that new tissue requires more calories so you bump your calorie accordingly. You will gain fat but not indefinitely while in a surplus , it will find its set point.

[@Propraj]

Okay now this is straight up hate. I have been calling Greg out a lot for maingaining and confusion but if he is trying let him try. If he again f ups. We will call him out again.

[@pulkpuller]

@@Propraj “hate” come on 🤣 calling someone out for what they keep doing …even in the video here …not to mention the guy didn’t say anything negative just a joke in the first like that wasn’t offensive…enough fake outrage

[@Propraj]

@@pulkpuller idk man maybe that's my thought process and fake outrage ? Are you talking about me ? See my comments on his other videos I have called him out multiple times. I even said Tom did a better job explaining maingaining than Greg. And calling someone out when they do something is a better way rather than Calling someone out throughout their life even if they wanna change (maybe he doesn't but who knows ?)

[@pulkpuller]

@@Propraj you said the op had commented “straight up hate” there was zero ..not even a hint …and as for Greg he even contradicts himself again with this vid …his flippant use of calorie numbers and terms that he has muddled up is a massive disservice….he could have from day one said you need to have a calorie surplus (bulk) to gain but you don’t need to become obese and cut to get the gains you want …stay in a healthy range of surplus and you will be way happier and healthier….simple but he is now what he hated …more spews for views

[@Propraj]

@@pulkpuller Well I might agree in most of the part of your comment. But maingaining maybe not. But yeah true being at a healthy bodyfat and building muscle is the key. If you are trying to shred down and planning to gain muscle it won't happen.