Female Bulking Advice Needed

Barbellgirl

I'm finding this to be a little mind-bending. After struggling to get my weight DOWN pretty much since my pre-teen years, and finally managing to do it properly, it feels awfully strange to deliberately be putting weight ON. My new love of muscles is, happily, overriding my anxiety about it so far, though. Hopefully that keeps up over the winter

I have no doubt I'm going to struggle more with this as time goes by. We just have to keep reminding ourselves what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how nice that additional muscle is going to look in a few months when we can really see it.

bcf7683

sorry, don't know anything about bulking but if you're adding casein at night - ON 100% casein chocolate supreme is amazing with milk, microwaved for hot chocolate

you look amazing btw

I do this every night religiously, but not to bulk. Same flavor, too! Eta: only with water & no microwave, lol.

Yeah, I can't drink that stuff with just milk. It gets wayyy too thick. I use half water half almond milk. It's a good flavor though.

toutmonpossible

You look great and good luck with your bulk. I just wanted to point out that women who post about their concerns in regard to getting bigger usually don't have your body type. They can be goal weight or even low weight but still look relatively stocky: added muscle in the wrong places would not make them look better.

cmeiron

You look great and good luck with your bulk. I just wanted to point out that women who post about their concerns in regard to getting bigger usually don't have your body type. They can be goal weight or even low weight but still look relatively stocky: added muscle in the wrong places would not make them look better.

In your opinion.

Everybody is entitled to work towards their own ideal aesthetic. They may, in their own opinion, look better with added muscle, regardless of their body type.

seena511

bump

Barbellgirl

You look great and good luck with your bulk. I just wanted to point out that women who post about their concerns in regard to getting bigger usually don't have your body type. They can be goal weight or even low weight but still look relatively stocky: added muscle in the wrong places would not make them look better.

I don't understand what you are saying. Is my body type advantageous or disadvantageous to adding muscle? Are you saying that you agree that I have room to add muscle to my frame?

chrisdavey

Most things have been covered well

When you are dieting, your metabolism will naturally slow a little and as you slowly add the cals back it "should" increase a bit. This may be why you didn't gain any weight in the first month.

As was said, women can gain muscle at approximately half the rate of men so eating around maintenance or a very small surplus is best. Also depends on how long you have been resistance training for. More experienced = slower muscle growth.

I'd still keep some lower rep range stuff in your program. I don't really see the need to choose between high and low when you can do both and get benefits from both. (bulking or cutting actually)

P.S looking good

mrdexter1

Curious...

you intending to just bulk or are you intending to to widen the shoulders and back to make your waist look more in proportion ?

da_bears10089

I have nothing to contribue except, you are hot. I hope I'm hot like that when i'm in my 40s.

Yanicka1

You look great and good luck with your bulk. I just wanted to point out that women who post about their concerns in regard to getting bigger usually don't have your body type. They can be goal weight or even low weight but still look relatively stocky: added muscle in the wrong places would not make them look better.

I don't understand what you are saying. Is my body type advantageous or disadvantageous to adding muscle? Are you saying that you agree that I have room to add muscle to my frame?

She is against strength training and muscles.....don't mind her.

ItsCasey

You look great and good luck with your bulk. I just wanted to point out that women who post about their concerns in regard to getting bigger usually don't have your body type. They can be goal weight or even low weight but still look relatively stocky: added muscle in the wrong places would not make them look better.

I don't understand what you are saying. Is my body type advantageous or disadvantageous to adding muscle? Are you saying that you agree that I have room to add muscle to my frame?

You are better off not trying to understand what she is saying.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

You look great and good luck with your bulk. I just wanted to point out that women who post about their concerns in regard to getting bigger usually don't have your body type. They can be goal weight or even low weight but still look relatively stocky: added muscle in the wrong places would not make them look better.

I don't understand what you are saying. Is my body type advantageous or disadvantageous to adding muscle? Are you saying that you agree that I have room to add muscle to my frame?

Some people don't think women who are naturally "pear shaped" or have naturally big legs should add muscles to their lower body. Some people even advice these women to avoid lifting lower body all together even when in a deficit.

I am pear shaped, with naturally big legs. I did a bulk start at higher body fat than normally advised. Due to lack of motivation, I haven't successfully accomplished the "cut" that was supposed to follow. Even though my legs are an inch or so bigger than they were before my bulk I do not regret it. They may be bigger but they look better. Yes, they still have some fat on them but they did before as well, since that's of course where I store my excess fat. But now they have fat AND muscle making them look better. My butt is higher, tighter and rounder. You can see the "lump" of my quads just above the knee, and the line down the side of my thigh. The backs of my thighs are tighter and you can occasionally see some hamstring definition. When I sit in shorts instead of squishing out my thighs hold their shapes, staying rounder.

Barbellgirl

Curious...

you intending to just bulk or are you intending to to widen the shoulders and back to make your waist look more in proportion ?

I actually just started working with a personal trainer who is also a physique competitor two weeks ago. He is going to have me start working more on my back soon. He's added some shoulder/arm work already, the back is the next focus.

Chris, I'm switching to a four day split routine starting next week. The rep range will be in the 6-10 area, somewhere between hypertrophy and strictly strength. I started lifting in late June, so I'm sill pretty new, and still making very nice gains each week.

TriLifter

In to follow progress

ETA: And for tips!

MG_Fit

You look great and good luck with your bulk. I just wanted to point out that women who post about their concerns in regard to getting bigger usually don't have your body type. They can be goal weight or even low weight but still look relatively stocky: added muscle in the wrong places would not make them look better.

I'm curious, what is the "body type" you are referring to?

Edit: Nice progress OP

mrdexter1

Curious...

you intending to just bulk or are you intending to to widen the shoulders and back to make your waist look more in proportion ?

I actually just started working with a personal trainer who is also a physique competitor two weeks ago. He is going to have me start working more on my back soon. He's added some shoulder/arm work already, the back is the next focus.

Chris, I'm switching to a four day split routine starting next week. The rep range will be in the 6-10 area, somewhere between hypertrophy and strictly strength. I started lifting in late June, so I'm sill pretty new, and still making very nice gains each week.

Sounds perfect...
post a pic when the jobs done at 48 !

Barbellgirl

I'm curious, what is the "body type" you are referring to?

Edit: Nice progress OP

Thank you MG.

jlapey

You should talk to Sarauk2sf of the EAT, TRAIN, PROGRESS group. She is around your age and currently bulking and cutting with great results. You can find her here:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress

PS You look fantastic. Gives me hope for my own progress.

Barbellgirl

You should talk to Sarauk2sf of the EAT, TRAIN, PROGRESS group. She is around your age and currently bulking and cutting with great results. You can find her here:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/10118-eat-train-progress

PS You look fantastic. Gives me hope for my own progress.

Thank you.

I actually posted this is that section and received very little feedback or advice. I was basically told I should do what I had decided to do with gradually increasing my calories, that casein wasn't necessary, and that the creatine I should be using is creatine monohydrate, I am using creatine orotate. Basically, nothing that hasn't been discussed here. Maybe I just posted at a bad time.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I'm surprised I haven't posted this link here, yet.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/940668-ladies-who-have-bulked

Barbellgirl

I'm surprised I haven't posted this link here, yet.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/940668-ladies-who-have-bulked

Thank you. I tagged that thread and plan to check out your blog later as well. :flowerforyou:

brandiuntz

In to follow and for all the great info here. I still need to get my body fat down, but this could be in my future.

You look fantastic, OP.

Barbellgirl

In to follow and for all the great info here. I still need to get my body fat down, but this could be in my future.

You look fantastic, OP.

Thank you Brandi, and you are making fantastic progress. How are you liking the Stronglifts program?

amanda_gent

Following because OP, you look incredible! I've been thinking of bulking too but think my bf% is too high (22%) and I've just gotten back to feeling really good about my weight and I don't want to feel "fat" again! Head trip. Anyhow, looking forward to following your progress.

Barbellgirl

Following because OP, you look incredible! I've been thinking of bulking too but think my bf% is too high (22%) and I've just gotten back to feeling really good about my weight and I don't want to feel "fat" again! Head trip. Anyhow, looking forward to following your progress.

Amanda, thank you. I would estimate my bodyfat in the 21-22% range right now and I think that's perfectly fine for bulking.

messi08

bump

Barbellgirl

A new group has been formed here called "women who bulk" and ladies will be sharing their experiences there for anyone interested.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/51470-women-who-bulk

chrisdavey

I'd say you are a tad leaner than that barbell girl. Closer to about 18%.

It's always subjective when one thinks they should start a bulk (or a cut) as we hold fat in different areas so 22% on one person could look totally different to 22% on another. For the best nutrient partitioning you should be fairly lean before bulking. I've never seen specific recommendations for females but below 15% is the norm for males so that would correspond to around 25% for females I'd say.

Chieflrg

Bump for interest of being mid-forties myself.

Looking right OP.

obsidianwings

Looking good Haven't read whole thread, but I just finished my first bulk. I aimed for a max of 1/2 pound a week gain since we can't gain muscle very quickly. I prefer to use formulas to work out my protein and fat, and just fill the rest of my calories with carbs, so only my carbs really move up and down, rather than use a straight percentage split.