Using MFP settings?

keithcw_the_first

is it unreasonable to set the MFP goal to "+.5 lbs." and just roll with that?

keithcw_the_first

Bump.

I should add that I'm also having my Fitbit calories fed into MFP so MFP is recommending anywhere from ~3,000 on a rest day to ~3,400 on a workout day.

This has the added benefit of helping me eat more if I do something activeon a rest day like mow the lawn. Then I get a dynamic adjustment of my target calories. It usually comes down to how much peanut butter and honey I put in my cottage cheese at the end of the day.

auddii

Hopefully with this bump some experienced bulkers can give you so more help.

As an uneducated guess, I'd say it's a good starting point. Stick with it for a month, track calories accurately and your weight (I've often seen it recommended that you use daily weigh ins with a rolling average to determine your weight). If you're not gaining at the rate you want, up your calories. Although keep in mind if you increase your calories from a deficit, you'll often see a fast increase in weight from replenishing your glycogen stores.

Again, hopefully someone probably has much better advice than me.

terizius

^^ Gotta start somewhere. When I started my most recent bulk, I tracked calories/macros for a week, got in the gym and determined my current strength levels and took measurements of everything. Then, using that initial data, I began increasing calories. By tracking meticulously, I was able to determine what is happening. Go ahead and start at the MFP recommended if you'd like, but make sure you track the changes so you can adjust. You can see my bulking thread and my method to tracking/analyzing in this thread:

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10113196/terrys-12-week-bulk#latest

TR0berts

keithcw_the_first wrote: »

is it unreasonable to set the MFP goal to "+.5 lbs." and just roll with that?

In my estimation, the MFP macro guidelines are more suited to bulking than losing weight.

It's not ideal, but it's not a bad start. I'd still suggest getting more protein in than what MFP is going to recommend, you should be fine.

keithcw_the_first

@terizius I'm a big fan of your other thread.

FitBit gives me a data dump in .xls format -- something MFP sorely lacks -- so I'm tracking a rolling 14 day average intake and a rolling 14 day average weight to see what's happening. That should be enough to even out the bumps and let me course correct if needed.

Then I'm just tracking lifts in Fitocracy. I don't have them in a spreadsheet like you do but I think it wouldn't be too bad to start plotting a calculated 1RM on the big three, maybe.

I just realized I was going nuts with all of the "bulk at 3000" or "bulk at 3500" when I could be leveraging *some* of the tools available on this very site. In theory. The numbers will dictate the truth.

terizius

Exactly. I don't follow the numbers of any particular site or tool. I test, make changes, and test again. Last year, my recommended calories for a bulk was actually my maintenance calories. This year, my bulking calories are 3-400 less than last year. The only reason I know all of that is because I track everything.

It seems like you are of a similar mindset. You'll do quite well and if you need anything, let us know.