From weight loss to bulk! (does weight gain scare you?)

Shouliveshappy

keithcw_the_first wrote: »

Shouliveshappy wrote: »

Thanks for your kind reply! Actually how strict are you with calories counting when on a bulk, especially when i do eat out on weekends and when we have to be in a consistent calorie surplus (but i'm looking for a lean and clean bulk)? ! How much weight did you gain and over how many months? Will love to hear if there's a possibility of bulking (to a happy weight) and just maintaining...Do you think its possible? Will be great if you can share your workout routine now for the week! I know it's a lot of questions to soak up, but i really need to some advice from you guys! thanks!!!

I'm still starting out so... I guess just keep that in mind.

I'm fairly strict with calories in that I have a surplus in mind and I try to hit it and not go over too far. It varies though, as my training days and rest days differ by about 400- 600 calories.

Right now I'm approaching week 2 of the bulk. Weight gain is difficult to assess with water weight and that but it looks like it's going to come in at about a pound (averaged out). I'm going to give it two full weeks before really considering changing anything.

I think bulking to a weight and then maintaining would be something like a modest caloric excess, something slow, and then the notorious "recomposition" where you eat at or slightly above maintenance and continue to slowwwwwwly put on muscle while hopefully slowwwwwwly leaning out.

I do Stronglifts, kind of. It's 5x5 twice a week on Mondays and Saturdays. I can't get to the gym more than that so I do some bodyweight stuff on Wednesdays; planks, decline pushups, that kind of thing. For the bodyweight exercises I try to keep them difficult enough that I can't do more than 9 or so reps. I'm not banging out 50 pushups Wednesday morning or anything. If you're curious about bodyweight stuff, I reccomend this guy:

http://www.startbodyweight.com/p/exercise-progressions_12.html

He's got progressions that go all the way from pushups on forearms and knees to one armed pushups, with about eight increasingly difficult steps in between. It's a great way to progress. I only recently graduated to wall planks and when those get easier, I'll start walking up the wall a bit more.

So, that's it. Hopefully people with some more experience will chime in as well.

Nice! Thanks for the recommendation! Is there such a thing as metabolic damage? I don't really believe in it. I just believe that the more lean muscle mass one has, the higher the metabolic rate... Now I'm constantly hungry (leaner). When i was obese I ate lesser meals (lunch and dinner) but I wasnt constantly hungry...

keithcw_the_first

I don't know if metabolic damage is real, but I think when your deficit is low enough, things slow down.

I'm eating a lot more now and if nothing else, the volume of my workouts has increased to sort of keep pace with the added food.

tiffanyaiv

I think the psychological part of actually seeing the number go up is the hard part!

JoRocka

Shouliveshappy wrote: »

I guess it's always starting.. Maybe I should stay away from the scale and just go by what I see in the mirror! Now I see a skinny, boney me... I want a well defined butt! I'm sure you are already well on your way! I can feel my butt starting to shape up, slow and steady... For yourself... How many meals do you eat a day? 5 to 6? And even when you are not hungry you'll still eat?

I personally liked the scale- making sure I was actually going up.
You're mind plays tricks on you- but the scale's stead march up or down tells the real story. But that's just me.

Food- I usually have a decent breakfast or rather mid morning snack- lunch- and then I tend to snack all afternoon. Then a snack around 7- and then a big dinner around 10/11.

There is no right answer- just works best for you. eating late works best for me- but not for everyone- so just figure out what's the best for you.