Is calorie partitioning real or a myth?

daz2270

I've been cutting pretty much for 14 months now (with an odd diet break here and there) and have lost 60+lbs. I'm 5ft 10 and 166lbs. I'd guess my bodyfat is around 12%-15%. I have read that in order to maximise the proportion of muscle gained in a bulk it is recommended to get <10% bodyfat. Do you think starting BF% does have a big impact on how much muscle is gained relative to fat gain? I'm keen to start a slow bulk but I don't mind continuing to cut for a few more weeks if there's some benefit to it.

richln

Yes, it is real. Lyle McDonald recommends getting down to 10-12% before starting a bulk:
http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/initial-body-fat-and-body-composition-changes.html/
Use a small surplus during a bulk to minimize fat gains.

MityMax96

Yes it is real, and the lower BF% and being in a deficit maximizes it....
Since your body is working with a lot less energy (food), it has to be more efficient with what it gets.
So being low in BF% as well as in a calorie deficit will typically lead to better partitioning....
That is why Lyle recommends being ~10%, I would say sub 10% is better.

And yes, starting BF% does make a difference....
See what I put above.
Excessive Body fat can dull/blunt hormonal signaling, and plus since your body has so much energy available to it, it can get sloppy with any excess energy it gets.....

trigden1991

The leaner you are, the more responsive your body is in respects to insulin and nutrient partitioning. Sub 12% is the ideal area to start a bulk!