Bulk/Cut Cycle With Cardio

ttippie2000
ttippie2000 Posts: 412 Member
in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
I'd like to go through a bulk/cut cycle such that I wind up at a peak around the end of next July. That gives me about 10 months. But here's the problem: in July I need a high level of cardio vascular fitness. I'm talking about 8 hours a day of Thai boxing working out with Secret Service, SEAL teams and pro boxers BTW. I could use some advice on how to go about this.

I'm wondering how much cardio I can maintain during the bulk phase. Probably a lot more than a bodybuilder, but nothing at all for a Thai boxer. In any case, I figure I would start hitting intervals and sprints as soon as I start the cut. I think I can take in sufficient calories, but it will be a lot. Anybody who has experience with this and has advice I'd be obliged.

Replies

  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    I would just bulk for 6 months with a couple good HIIT sessions thrown in per week. Then start ramping up the conditioning for the last 4 months while leaving the calories the same. With a small surplus for the bulk this should start to put you in a deficit as you increase the work.
  • MrGonzo05
    MrGonzo05 Posts: 1,120 Member
    You can gain weight even while doing this much cardio if you take in the calories. Depending on your conditioning it may interfere with strength training. I do not do your sport, but I have noticed this effect when I overreach with bicycling.

    That, and it just doesn't sound like much fun. LOL
  • ttippie2000
    ttippie2000 Posts: 412 Member
    Thanks for the replies. Intentional caloric surpluses is definitely a new thing for me. I tend to burn a TDEE of between 4 and 5k calories on cardio days. But I CAN eat. Heck, I can eat 10k calories if I put my mind to it. (I LOVE prime rib.) I can put on 500 calories with a couple of protein shakes. I figure another 1k with nuts. I'll have to find some additional souces of fat without derailing my wife's non-fat thing. Hello ice cream is my first thought. I think I can get to moderate surpluses if I just measure carefully and maintain my food journaling.

    @whodidntante, you have a good point about the cardio affecting the strength training. I think that managing the cardio will require some periodization planning, especially in the weekly timeframe. I've been trying to take a page from the triathlon training manual and work two systems (Pulling strength, pushing strength, legs, cardio-aerobic, cardio-anaerobic) on any given day but only stress one and then make the subsequent 3 days easy for that system. I'm hoping that'll work.

    If I'm not in shape they're not gonna hurt me. They'll treat me as a 'respected elder' and try to put crutches under my *kitten*, which will piss me off no end. Essentially, I'd like to represent my age group well (which is a polite euphemism for delivering some unpleasant surprises.)

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