Recomp vs bulk

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Replies

  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    All I can say is I started a bulk with fatty thighs, at a higher weight than many women my height would, and I don't regret it. I wasn't going to kill myself getting down to 115lbs and looking like hell. I have no patience for a recomp. If anything, I had a BLAST in the gym. That was the most fun part of it all. There is something to be said for enjoying yourself while eating and lifting. I think we overthink things sometimes.
  • Kestrelwings
    Kestrelwings Posts: 238 Member
    FWIW, I am 5'5" and 121lbs. I carry a lot of weight on my stomach, with twig-like arms and legs. Body fat guestimate is 21-23%. I have weighed a lot less, and looked worse for it. I have put on 10lbs in the past couple of years, and look a million times better and can lift a lot more. I am currently trying to clean bulk because I want to be able to improve my lifts. Both people in the photos on this thread look fab to me.
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    Kestrelwings wrote: »
    FWIW, I am 5'5" and 121lbs. I carry a lot of weight on my stomach, with twig-like arms and legs. Body fat guestimate is 21-23%. I have weighed a lot less, and looked worse for it. I have put on 10lbs in the past couple of years, and look a million times better and can lift a lot more. I am currently trying to clean bulk because I want to be able to improve my lifts. Both people in the photos on this thread look fab to me.

    Im getting the impression that many things are set in stone across the board when it comes to recomp and bulk/cuts, but then other things are more individual based on the person. A little trial and error seems to be necessary for everyone to find what exactly works.

    With recomp you hear either eat below/right at/slightly over maintenance. Some swear by adding some cardio, while others do none and succeed. Some start bulking at a higher fat percentage and others prefer to wait .I don't think there's any real right or wrong. :/


  • Angellaree
    Angellaree Posts: 71 Member
    Following.
  • richln
    richln Posts: 809 Member
    cnbbnc wrote: »
    Kestrelwings wrote: »
    FWIW, I am 5'5" and 121lbs. I carry a lot of weight on my stomach, with twig-like arms and legs. Body fat guestimate is 21-23%. I have weighed a lot less, and looked worse for it. I have put on 10lbs in the past couple of years, and look a million times better and can lift a lot more. I am currently trying to clean bulk because I want to be able to improve my lifts. Both people in the photos on this thread look fab to me.

    Im getting the impression that many things are set in stone across the board when it comes to recomp and bulk/cuts, but then other things are more individual based on the person. A little trial and error seems to be necessary for everyone to find what exactly works.

    With recomp you hear either eat below/right at/slightly over maintenance. Some swear by adding some cardio, while others do none and succeed. Some start bulking at a higher fat percentage and others prefer to wait .I don't think there's any real right or wrong. :/


    The guideline body fat numbers are just for optimal physiological response. If you are unhappy with the way your body composition is heading, it may not be worth continuing to cut just to get a little closer to ideal starting point. Theoretically, you can continually get closer to your desired body comp with successive bulk/cut cycles. If you can't get there on your first bulk/cut, you can probably get a little closer after the next cycle.
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    richln wrote: »
    cnbbnc wrote: »
    Kestrelwings wrote: »
    FWIW, I am 5'5" and 121lbs. I carry a lot of weight on my stomach, with twig-like arms and legs. Body fat guestimate is 21-23%. I have weighed a lot less, and looked worse for it. I have put on 10lbs in the past couple of years, and look a million times better and can lift a lot more. I am currently trying to clean bulk because I want to be able to improve my lifts. Both people in the photos on this thread look fab to me.

    Im getting the impression that many things are set in stone across the board when it comes to recomp and bulk/cuts, but then other things are more individual based on the person. A little trial and error seems to be necessary for everyone to find what exactly works.

    With recomp you hear either eat below/right at/slightly over maintenance. Some swear by adding some cardio, while others do none and succeed. Some start bulking at a higher fat percentage and others prefer to wait .I don't think there's any real right or wrong. :/


    The guideline body fat numbers are just for optimal physiological response. If you are unhappy with the way your body composition is heading, it may not be worth continuing to cut just to get a little closer to ideal starting point. Theoretically, you can continually get closer to your desired body comp with successive bulk/cut cycles. If you can't get there on your first bulk/cut, you can probably get a little closer after the next cycle.

    That's pretty much what I was asking about when I started this. I completely understand not pursuing a bulk at a higher than average fat percentage. But yeah...,if you're getting to an average or slightly lower point and start to cycle...you would add fat (hopefully not too much if you played your cards right) but could that possibly work in your favor in the long run.
  • Sumiblue
    Sumiblue Posts: 1,597 Member
    I'm pretty sure I'm going to bulk in Fall. I think I'm at a good place, 21% BF, good amount of base muscle due to 20+ yrs of a very physical job.I look forward to increasing my lifts but I'm going to enjoy having a Summer at the leanest I've been since...college?
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    Sumiblue wrote: »
    I'm pretty sure I'm going to bulk in Fall. I think I'm at a good place, 21% BF, good amount of base muscle due to 20+ yrs of a very physical job.I look forward to increasing my lifts but I'm going to enjoy having a Summer at the leanest I've been since...college?

    That's awesome. :smile: I may just end up joining you. Maybe... LOL! I haven't given recomp much of a chance so I'm going to see how I do with dropping more fat that way, and...either I'll be pleased with how its going and continue or I may end up scrapping it.

    The way I see my situation is...my legs have always been a problem and they're never gonna look stellar. Whether I bulk or not they're still gonna be big, so at some point I'm going to have to look past that and just do the best I can with what I have to work with.

  • Sumiblue
    Sumiblue Posts: 1,597 Member
    When I bulk I will be back on this forum. See you here?
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    Sumiblue wrote: »
    When I bulk I will be back on this forum. See you here?

    Oh yeah. If I do it I'll be doing it here. I just hope I manage to lean out a bit more over the summer....

  • Dula73
    Dula73 Posts: 29 Member
    I am considering a bulk in the autumn too, but for now I'm very slowly recomping at maintenance and I'll see where I end up after the summer.

    I'm 42, 5'7" 120lbs but highish body fat as I've never done any exercise until now. Currently I lift twice a week with a trainer, run bridge to 10k twice a week and one day of circuit training. Trying to squeeze in another day of lifting!

    I feel like my body is getting more solid and I'm getting stronger but not seeing much change in my shape yet which is frustrating!
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    Thought I would check in since its been 2mos. I've lost 4lbs and am now maintaining at 118. This is the absolute limit for how far I'm willing to go as far as weight. Lost a bit as far as inches too.

    Upper arm .5"
    Waist .5"
    Belly 1.5"
    Hips 1 1/4"
    Thighs .5"

    clwms2p3dle8.jpeg

  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    I can't see the pictures because my computer is messed up but dang. That is incredible...the weight and measurement changes.
  • Dula73
    Dula73 Posts: 29 Member
    Wow! Great progress!

    Are you still running PHUL?

    I'm lifting in maintenance but not seeing anywhere near your results! Off to Google PHUL!!
  • tdeaux
    tdeaux Posts: 36 Member
    One thing that really sucks is we can't target exactly where we are going to lose fat. Many women tend to hold it in their lower half, so this thread didn't totally surprise me. I have been experiencing the same with my cut (I felt like my top half was disappearing!). It looks like you have made some progress! I looked into PUHL and it looks like a good program but if this is what you have been doing for months, it's probably time for a change. Sticking with the same program for too long can contribute to a lack of progress.
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    tdeaux wrote: »
    One thing that really sucks is we can't target exactly where we are going to lose fat. Many women tend to hold it in their lower half, so this thread didn't totally surprise me. I have been experiencing the same with my cut (I felt like my top half was disappearing!). It looks like you have made some progress! I looked into PUHL and it looks like a good program but if this is what you have been doing for months, it's probably time for a change. Sticking with the same program for too long can contribute to a lack of progress.

    I am still doing phul...yeah. Ice cream fitness doesn't get mentioned too much here, but I absolutely loved that too. I agree about switching things up every so often. I like having some variety, so I figure as long as I'm sticking with my compound movements, then tweaking the accessory stuff in a program now and then isn't hurting anything. That's my thought anyway.....

  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    Wow @cnbbnc great progress, you look fantastic!
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