5 ft 2" and bulking (when 2000 cals dont seem enough?)

Options
Shouliveshappy
Shouliveshappy Posts: 161 Member
in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
Hi All, i've just started on ICF 5X5 and looking to go into a lean bulk. I'm not planning to go through the cut cycle, hence a goal weight of 115 - 120lbs will be good for me for maintenance with muscle definition.

My workout plan:
3 days of ICF 5X5
2 - 3 days of Cardio (1hr each approx.)

My bodyfat % is pretty low for ladies, i can constantly see vascularity in my arms and legs. Scares me sometimes.

Height: 5ft 2"
My bodyfat %: 13% (Average)
inbody media scan machine (9.2%) - measured at hospital with 8hrs fasting
Tanita machine (15% - 16%)

Week 1 into bulking:
Calories: 2000 - 2100


Weigh ins:
10 Aug: Test workout A
11 Aug: 101.6 lbs (Started eating 2000)
12 Aug: 105 lbs (Test workout B)
14 Aug: 103.2 lbs
15 Aug: 104.6 lbs (Official start of ICF)
17 Aug: 106.2 lbs
18 Aug: 105.6
19 Aug: 106
20 Aug: 104.8
21 Aug: 104
*(Average weight: 104.5)

As you can tell, the weight fluctuates quite a bit due to water retention and probably my new workout, and hence I am not sure if i should be increasing my calories now? Or just remain. Usually i dont exactly feel full at the end of the day, sometimes even hungry....

Replies

  • annette_15
    annette_15 Posts: 1,657 Member
    Options
    Too early to tell. If you're hungry tho, just have an extra snack and dont sweat it.
  • ndj1979
    ndj1979 Posts: 29,139 Member
    Options
    three hours of cardio is overkill during a bulk. I would ramp the cardio down to about 30 minutes to an hour a week and up your calories by 100 per day.

    if you are not gaining then you need to eat more, period.
  • Shouliveshappy
    Shouliveshappy Posts: 161 Member
    edited August 2015
    Options
    ndj1979 wrote: »
    three hours of cardio is overkill during a bulk. I would ramp the cardio down to about 30 minutes to an hour a week and up your calories by 100 per day.

    if you are not gaining then you need to eat more, period.

    Cardio makes me happy :) Should I be increasing this calories now? Or just wait 1 more week? Btw, today's my off day from the gym, eating out :) Tomorrow is back to Workout B!

  • AsISmile
    AsISmile Posts: 1,004 Member
    Options
    Are you atleast eating back your exercise calories? That's really really important during a bulk.
  • Shouliveshappy
    Shouliveshappy Posts: 161 Member
    edited August 2015
    Options
    I base it off iifym's tdee. http://iifym.com/iifym-calculator/

    Currently:
    Lifting days: 100-120 mins (Including rest in between sets) X 3 days
    Cardio days: 60 mins X 2-3 days

    For lifting dayss: Should i include rest time under exercise time when keying into iifym? Or just leave them out. If i include my rest time: My TDEE 1950 - 2050. Hence i averaged it to be 2000cals.

    Also at such a low bodyfat for ladies, i am not sure if its healthy?

Categories