I don't know how to bulk...so many questions!

sophzhr

Could you guys help me out? I want to do this right and I have some questions.

My maintenance intake is roughly 2300-2400kcal. How many more should I eat to bulk? 2550-2650 calories?
I lift and train hard 5 days a week...on my off days, should I lower my calories? Or eat the same amount?

How long should the 'average' bulk last? I actually still have some fat to lose, but circumstances in my life right now are making cutting hard and so here I am - I'm just focusing on upping my strength in the gym and eating more, but I don't want to just get fat either.
One last question...can I average out my bulking calories weekly as I did to lose weight? As in, if I only manage to eat 2000 one day, is it the same if I then eat 3000 the next? Will these give me the same results as hitting a 250 surplus daily?

Thanks so much guys

ndj1979

did you read the "most helpful posts" at the top of this forum…? Start there and then ask questions…

a bulk should last as long as necessary to get to your goal weight or how you want to look.
you want to be in a consistent daily surplus…..but yes, if you are in a surplus of 500 or 1000 calories at end of week that is fine too…

finally, when you bulk you are going to add fat, you need to accept that and embrace it as there is no way around it. Females can hope to gain about .25 pounds of muscle a week, so the rest of your surplus is going to be fat….