How much should you bulk in relation to your end goal?

dillmilk
dillmilk Posts: 88 Member
edited December 2024 in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
My goal is to weigh 195 with 8% body fat. Right now I'm 170 with 19% body fat. Should I bulk until I'm 195 and then maintain but switch my diet to lean foods, or should I bulk until I weigh more than that and then cut down to 195? Either way, I'll be obese according to the body fat scale for a while, but I'm okay with that because I've always been very skinny and would like to experience the other side and try cardio. Unless there are other suggestions like reducing my body fat before I bulk, but I don't really like the idea of weighing less than I do now. And I don't have the patience for a clean bulk either lol. I'm 6'5 by the way.

Replies

  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    edited June 2016
    At 19% body fat, you are a bit high to bulk. I would cut to get closer to 12% and then bulk and run a few cycles. Also, switching to lean foods, will not have an impact on how much muscle/fat you gain. That is based on the size of the surplus.
  • dillmilk
    dillmilk Posts: 88 Member
    What are the benefits of bulking and cutting in cycles as opposed to simply bulking and cutting once the desired weight has been reached? Less fat gains? Would there be any downsides?
  • TomHinds86
    TomHinds86 Posts: 568 Member
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  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    edited June 2016
    dylan_mazur wrote: »
    What are the benefits of bulking and cutting in cycles as opposed to simply bulking and cutting once the desired weight has been reached? Less fat gains? Would there be any downsides?

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/calorie-partitioning-part-1.html/
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/calorie-partitioning-part-2.html/
  • jmule24
    jmule24 Posts: 1,382 Member
    dylan_mazur wrote: »
    My goal is to weigh 195 with 8% body fat. Right now I'm 170 with 19% body fat. Should I bulk until I'm 195 and then maintain but switch my diet to lean foods, or should I bulk until I weigh more than that and then cut down to 195? Either way, I'll be obese according to the body fat scale for a while, but I'm okay with that because I've always been very skinny and would like to experience the other side and try cardio. Unless there are other suggestions like reducing my body fat before I bulk, but I don't really like the idea of weighing less than I do now. And I don't have the patience for a clean bulk either lol. I'm 6'5 by the way.

    You've given some very generalized stats thus far. More information would be needed to help you more accurately...... 19% BF isn't "too high" to start a bulk but again more information is needed.

    Lastly.... 195 @ 8% BF is adding 42lbs of lean mass from where you are at not.....I hope you understand that is not obtainable naturally. Sorry to burst your dreams.......
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    jmule24 wrote: »
    dylan_mazur wrote: »
    My goal is to weigh 195 with 8% body fat. Right now I'm 170 with 19% body fat. Should I bulk until I'm 195 and then maintain but switch my diet to lean foods, or should I bulk until I weigh more than that and then cut down to 195? Either way, I'll be obese according to the body fat scale for a while, but I'm okay with that because I've always been very skinny and would like to experience the other side and try cardio. Unless there are other suggestions like reducing my body fat before I bulk, but I don't really like the idea of weighing less than I do now. And I don't have the patience for a clean bulk either lol. I'm 6'5 by the way.

    You've given some very generalized stats thus far. More information would be needed to help you more accurately...... 19% BF isn't "too high" to start a bulk but again more information is needed.

    Lastly.... 195 @ 8% BF is adding 42lbs of lean mass from where you are at not.....I hope you understand that is not obtainable naturally. Sorry to burst your dreams.......

    I wouldn't say impossible, but probably highly unlikely for a good percentage of people.
  • dillmilk
    dillmilk Posts: 88 Member
    Sorry I don't understand why 195 @ 8% is impossible. Are you saying gaining 42lbs of lean mass impossible? What would be a more realistic goal? I just got those statistics from bodybuilding.com when I made an account.
  • dillmilk
    dillmilk Posts: 88 Member
    LolBroScience wrote: »
    dylan_mazur wrote: »
    What are the benefits of bulking and cutting in cycles as opposed to simply bulking and cutting once the desired weight has been reached? Less fat gains? Would there be any downsides?

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/calorie-partitioning-part-1.html/
    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/calorie-partitioning-part-2.html/

    Can you give me the TL;DR version? Lol
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    dylan_mazur wrote: »
    Sorry I don't understand why 195 @ 8% is impossible. Are you saying gaining 42lbs of lean mass impossible? What would be a more realistic goal? I just got those statistics from bodybuilding.com when I made an account.

    At some point you will reach your genetic potential and will not be able to gain more muscle. Personally I would care more about look than a specific number.

    If the number is that important, keep in mind it could take several years to get there.
  • dillmilk
    dillmilk Posts: 88 Member
    Thanks. Any way I can find out what my genetic potential is? I remember now reading you can only gain so much muscle every year. Would it be safe to assume I can gain 20 lbs of lean muscle this year and reach 8% with a lower weight goal, or likewise keep the same weight goal but accept a higher bf%? This is my first year lifting, I know each year you gain progressively less.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    dylan_mazur wrote: »
    Thanks. Any way I can find out what my genetic potential is? I remember now reading you can only gain so much muscle every year. Would it be safe to assume I can gain 20 lbs of lean muscle this year and reach 8% with a lower weight goal, or likewise keep the same weight goal but accept a higher bf%? This is my first year lifting, I know each year you gain progressively less.

    Generally, 20 to 25 lbs the first year is possible. And cuts in half after that. It may be possible to hit 8% but some stemruggle to get that low because compliance is very difficult and there is no room for error. But you may also find that you may not need to get that low. Again, try not to get tied up in the exact numbers but rather asethic and progress. Most would find 10% great.
  • dillmilk
    dillmilk Posts: 88 Member
    Thanks man! 8% does seem rather hard. I've changed my goal to a more realistic 185lbs @ 14% bf. Will fine tune along the way. Cheers.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    edited June 2016
    Nvm
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    dylan_mazur wrote: »
    Thanks man! 8% does seem rather hard. I've changed my goal to a more realistic 185lbs @ 14% bf. Will fine tune along the way. Cheers.

    That may be a good start. Once you get there, you can keep reassessing your goal.
  • jmule24
    jmule24 Posts: 1,382 Member
    dylan_mazur wrote: »
    Thanks. Any way I can find out what my genetic potential is? I remember now reading you can only gain so much muscle every year. Would it be safe to assume I can gain 20 lbs of lean muscle this year and reach 8% with a lower weight goal, or likewise keep the same weight goal but accept a higher bf%? This is my first year lifting, I know each year you gain progressively less.

    Great website...almost all of the content is from Casey Butts who has his PhD .

    http://weightrainer.net/potential.html
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