Bulk/cut for a body I can maintain (Women)

t_radiohead
t_radiohead Posts: 4 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello all,

I've been using MFP for more than two years and recently got down from 156 to my goal weight of 128!
P90x through 4 times
P90x2 through once
Swimming, biking, rock climbing, jogging, and lots and lots of walking.

The problem is - while I like how I look at 128, I can't hold on to that point! Well, I can, but I'm hungry ALL THE TIME.

Currently I'm taking a shot at a bulk/cut sequence to build a body I can like AND maintain.
I started at 135lbs and about 20% BF

EXERCISE: 5 times a week (P90x legs and upper body videos with heavy weight and heavy use of the pause button :smile:, and a regular yoga class once a week to keep my body from locking up.)
I also walk between 90minutes and 180minutes a day

FOOD: I haven't been trying for a caloric goal, just eating until I feel full. Chickpea flour pizza with homemade kale pesto, greek yogurt, egg whites and then whatever I want for lunch as long as it is lean meat and low glycemic index. MFP shows I have been eating anywhere from 100-600 calories over maintenance per day - 40% Carb, 40% Fat and 20% Protein

So far I'm about 6 weeks into the bulk phase and, I'm getting bigger! And it's freaking me out! LOL - my measurements have gone up across the board, chest, waist, thighs, neck, everything. I can also pump out 15 pushups and 6 pullups back to back - which is WAY better than at any other time in my life. I've gone up a pants size and a dress size - but I can see the outline of a six pack underneath the tummy goo!

I'm looking for advice on how long I should continue the bulk process, any changes I should make to my bulking approach (and please, I'm not a professional weight-lifter or keen on eating nothing but uber hormone processed chicken in order to stay under budget - real person life solutions please!) and when to start a cut.

Thanks!

Replies

  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Maybe mods will move this to the weight gain forum.

    At 0.5 lb/week surplus, you're going to be adding fat consistent with your observations. Women don't typically put on 2 lb/month of muscle. Might try kicking up the protein a bit for satiety.

    Check out the weight gain forum for several related threads in any case.
  • climbing_trees
    climbing_trees Posts: 726 Member
    ~MOAR PROTEIN~

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