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

Shouliveshappy

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
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....

annette_15

Too early to tell. If you're hungry tho, just have an extra snack and dont sweat it.

ndj1979

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

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

Are you atleast eating back your exercise calories? That's really really important during a bulk.

Shouliveshappy

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?