Bulk/Cut Cycle With Cardio

ttippie2000

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.

mustgetmuscles1

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

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

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.)