Making bread is just like anything else - it's easier to do if you have the right tools. Do you have a bread mixer? I have had a Bosch bread mixer for years and it makes ALL the difference in the world. In fact, I don't even know exactly how much flour I use in my bread, because I just keep adding it until the dough pulls away from the side of the mixer. When it gets to that point, I just let it mix for four more minutes, put it in the bread pans, let it raise, and bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. It seriously comes out perfectly every time. I'll give you my recipe like I do it in my Bosch (just in case you have one, too) It is the most simple bread recipe ever and it is the best one I have every tried.
Put about 5 cups whole wheat flour in mixer and add:
3 Tablespoons SAF Instant yeast (you can find at WinCo - MUCH better than regular yeast)
1Tablespoon salt
Mix this together just a little bit and add:
5 cups very warm water
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
Mix together and add more whole wheat flour, cup-by-cup until the dough pulls away from the side of the mixer (while it's on high speed.) Once it reaches this point, let it mix on high speed for about four more minutes. (If dough start to stick to the side of the mixer at any point of the four minutes, just add a tiny bit of flour until it doesn't stick any more) Once it has mixed, dump the dough out onto a counter that you have sprayed with non-stick spray and shape it into one big ball. Cut into four pieces. Take each piece and just flatten it out by had in a rectangular shape, roll it up, pinch the ends and seam together lightly, put it a bread pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray and let raise for about 20 - 25 minutes. Put in an oven that has been pre-heated to 350 degrees and bake for 35 minutes. When you take it from the oven, immediately take the bread out of the pans and put on a cooling rack. I usually spray the tops lightly with non-stick spray to keep it nice and soft.
One little thing that might help: When you are first starting out making whole wheat bread, it sometimes helps to add about 3 tablespoons of wheat gluten flour with your flour. I used to use it when I first started making w.w. bread and it helped to ensure it would come out nicely. After just a few times, though, I found that I didn't need it.
Well, I don't know if this will help you at all (actually, I know the bread recipe is an excellent one to use, even if you don't have a Bosch - I just don't know exactly how much flour to add). I wish you luck. It's a great skill to have and there is nothing like the smell of freshly baked home made bread!!