7 Losing focus of your fitness goals. Finally if you're not gaining any muscle mass it may be due to lack of motivation. Can you honestly put 100% everytime you hit the gym? Ways you can help yourself stay motivated include keeping a training diary, taking before and after photos, getting a photo of a former hardgainer who's succeeded in gaining muscle, get involved with online fitness forums, watch training videos from former hardgainers and psyching yourself up before a training session with motivating music.