How do you decide when to bulk?
RaggedyPond
Posts: 1,487 Member
At what point is it generally ok to start as a first timer?
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Replies
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Too many specifics....
Some do it for strength gains.
Some do it for aesthetics.
Some are wanting to compete in Powerlifting or Physique shows and want to improve on some areas.
Some are recovering from ED and want to regain lost LBM.
Some claim the term "bulking" to excuse their eating more.....and know not a thing about it.
What are your goals? What is your lifting like? And where are you at body comp wise? It's not suggested for women to bulk at a much higher BF even though many do.
I was perfectly happy with my body and muscle mass but I bulked to improve to possibly compete. Did I need to? No. Did I enjoy it and improve my body? Yes and I'm grateful I did.0 -
^^^^^
that.
I personally did it because I felt I was stalling on my lifts and wanted to pull 300+
goals shifted and I moved into pure hypertrophy.0 -
I noticed when I dropped weight that my legs didn't have the necessary mass to look good. Same with the bootay. Gotta build the muscle to have something left when the fat starts dropping...0
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I decided to bulk because I was already fairly lean and I wanted more out of my lifts. I knew I couldn't do that as well with staying at a deficit or even maintenance. Mine got cut short but depending on where I am in the Fall, I might try again. We shall see!0
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I did it for the following reasons:
I'm petite and wanted to look fuller and I prefer the look of defined muscles on my body rather than pockets of fat
I want to be strong: for athletics, for personal security/safety, and to improve chronic back problems0 -
I didn't have the mass to support losing any more fat -- I've already had people tell me I look better and that I was looking sick before (I've only gained 5 pounds, but it's made a huge difference). And I was stalled out or actively moving backward on most of my lifts.0
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I didn't have the mass to support losing any more fat -- I've already had people tell me I look better and that I was looking sick before (I've only gained 5 pounds, but it's made a huge difference).
^^This for me too.0 -
I didn't have the mass to support losing any more fat -- I've already had people tell me I look better and that I was looking sick before (I've only gained 5 pounds, but it's made a huge difference). And I was stalled out or actively moving backward on most of my lifts.
^^^ And me
I finally made the commitment to start bulking for real when I got fed up with making little to no progress after almost 1 year of lifting (and almost 2 yrs of strength training). And I finally got over my denial that I could lose more fat before putting on significant mass.0 -
^^^^^
Me too
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I got to a body fat % that I'm comfortable with and wanted more muscle mass. As well as the fact, that I wanted my big power lifts to go up.0
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2 reasons:
1. I'm vain, I wanted definition without turning into a scarecrow
2. More importantly and and part of 1. I like food!!! No way could I have dieted down to the definition I want and still feel happy about the amount I eat. So now I upped my lbm and can eat a reasonable amount while hopefully getting to where I want to be.
ETA: it was winter so it was now or wait a year (because of the being vain thing)0 -
It's not suggested for women to bulk at a much higher BF even though many do.
I've heard this too. What percentage are we talking? I think I might fall into the higher range but I decided to bulk anyway. Sidesteel and Sara put me at about 24%. But it's all in my butt and thighs so anyone looking at me with clothes on thought I was too skinny. I was getting a lot of comments about my weight and agreed, I was looking pretty weak. I've only gained 3 pounds but it's made such a difference. My ultimate goal before starting all this was to get down to 20% body fat. But I couldn't imagine losing any more weight than I already had with how my body was. My goal is still 20% but now I want that with muscle.0 -
I am now re-starting my bulk after loosing 2kg. My reasons are:
1) To improve my lifts, as I seem to be constantly swimming upstream and not getting anywhere :-(
2) To be generally healthier
3) To even-out my body: I have a fat belly that no amount of dieting or sittups would shift, and spindly legs and arms. It just looks plain weird!
No idea what my BF is. I had it done by the electric conductance thingy back in sep/oct and it was 23%. I have really good muscle definition on my arms, despite the weedy muscles, so it might have changed.0 -
It's not suggested for women to bulk at a much higher BF even though many do.
I've heard this too. What percentage are we talking? I think I might fall into the higher range but I decided to bulk anyway. Sidesteel and Sara put me at about 24%. But it's all in my butt and thighs so anyone looking at me with clothes on thought I was too skinny. I was getting a lot of comments about my weight and agreed, I was looking pretty weak. I've only gained 3 pounds but it's made such a difference. My ultimate goal before starting all this was to get down to 20% body fat. But I couldn't imagine losing any more weight than I already had with how my body was. My goal is still 20% but now I want that with muscle.
:lurker:
Lyle McDonald recommends women get to below 24% before attempting a bulk to (hopefully) minimize fat gain. http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/initial-body-fat-and-body-composition-changes.html0 -
I'm at a good weight but my BF is higher than I want for a bulk. But I don't know if it is just because all my weight is on my upper body. I'm wanting to increase my muscle mass but my husband says I should lose another 10 lbs first. I'm 5'5", 139 lb, 24-25% bf. I am also sick of none of my weights going up.0
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I was in the same boat as a lot of the other women in this group...very thin. I wanted to have visible muscles, but I had to build those muscles first!0
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:lurker:
Lyle McDonald recommends women get to below 24% before attempting a bulk to (hopefully) minimize fat gain. http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/initial-body-fat-and-body-composition-changes.html
This was a very intersting read. I would have to do more research on it, but very interesting take on why you shouldn't bulk at a higher body fat percentage. Thanks Barbellcowgirl!0 -
Yea I didn't see the boards all weekend. Read that article previously as well as quite a few others that suggest under 20%. 20-24 is actually a bit generous but doable.
I read you're profile and remember saying you didn't trust your hydrostatic test. That's actually a very accurate way of testing, one of the best. Personally I would rely on that one more than over what 2 people on the internet guesstimate you as.0 -
Looks like I need to still get into the thin club to think about bulking.
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Looks like I need to still get into the thin club to think about bulking.
Not neccessarily. How are you determining your %? Many methods are wildly inaccurate and is not the end all be all decision makes for bulking. If you're truly unhappy with where you're at, don't feel you could lose more weight or need to for that matter, then bulk. 5'5 139lbs IMO is not a weight where you need to lose 10 more pounds.0 -
I read you're profile and remember saying you didn't trust your hydrostatic test. That's actually a very accurate way of testing, one of the best. Personally I would rely on that one more than over what 2 people on the internet guesstimate you as.
Oh Holly, there you go again with all your common sense talk. :flowerforyou: I was thinking about getting the hydro test done again. You're right, I didn't believe that I was 18% but if a re-test shows similar results, well, how can I argue with that?
Ultimately bulking is too much fun, no matter what my body fat % really is.
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I read you're profile and remember saying you didn't trust your hydrostatic test. That's actually a very accurate way of testing, one of the best. Personally I would rely on that one more than over what 2 people on the internet guesstimate you as.
Oh Holly, there you go again with all your common sense talk. :flowerforyou: I was thinking about getting the hydro test done again. You're right, I didn't believe that I was 18% but if a re-test shows similar results, well, how can I argue with that?
Ultimately bulking is too much fun, no matter what my body fat % really is.
I miss bulking!!!!!! I never thought I would say that....0 -
I think I'm the odd one out here. My scale says 30% (I know these are wildly inaccurate) and I'd probably place myself between 30-35 but I went ahead with a bulk anyway.
I'd read all the stuff about p-ratio but I was sick of dieting and my lifts not moving. I don't regret it and I realise my progress will be slower than most as I will have to do many cycles to achieve the bf% I want but.....how can it be wrong when it feels so right?!?
Cutting now 0 -
I was a little meaty to be bulking- but I did it anyway- I wanted more size- and bigger lifts. Whatever- don't care. LOL
I'll regret and care next year when I'm trying to get to 140 LOL for now- it is what it is!!!0 -
I recovered from anorexia and then realised that a BMI of 20 was actually not a good look for me, nor where my body functioned optimally. Became more interested in strength gains than anything else and just ate to my hunger til I was +18kg/+40lb. It took 2 years. Body fat never really changed - stayed around 16-19% the whole time. I feel lucky that I was able to keep my body fat low, and that I don't really *need* to cut (although I am, because vain + powerlifting weight categories).
In future I'd want my body fat to be under 18% before bulking, and I'd go with the same approach again - eating to my hunger levels while lifting as I do. I guess having a history of anorexia and obesity means I am very wary of gaining/losing weight fast, and has left me with an intense dislike of cutting and counting calories.0 -
I think I'm the odd one out here. My scale says 30% (I know these are wildly inaccurate) and I'd probably place myself between 30-35 but I went ahead with a bulk anyway.
I'd read all the stuff about p-ratio but I was sick of dieting and my lifts not moving. I don't regret it and I realise my progress will be slower than most as I will have to do many cycles to achieve the bf% I want but.....how can it be wrong when it feels so right?!?
Cutting now
I'm glad to read this. I've been "cutting"(with many diet breaks) and lifting for nearly two years now. My lifts are pretty much stalled and many days I'm sick of worrying about deficits, but I'm still probably 30% bf at 5'5" and 145lbs (calculators have me at anywhere from 21%-26%). While I DONT want to gain more fat in a bulk than necessary, I'm tired of not seeing my lifts go up in a steady trend.0 -
Well although I won't know till I've finished this 'cut' what the results will be, I can honestly say, I don't regret doing it. This is the first time I've gained weight on purpose and it's quite liberating. With the 8lb gain, I've stayed in the same size clothes (granted, they are tighter) and the fat seems evenly distributed (whereas it would normally all end up on my belly). The biggest benefit was seeing my lifts go up after stalling and deloading many times when I was at deficit and maintainance - 10 whole kilos on my squat!
And from averaging out what I've eaten on maintainance week I have appeared to give my metabolism a good 'boost'. It might take longer but at least I'm not getting to a goal weight then getting in the old mindset that I'm finished now, eat all the food. The plan is to cut down to 140 (will be paying attention to the great advice on here and concentrating on measurements/mirror etc though) then start the whole process again 0 -
Sounds awesome 0
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Well although I won't know till I've finished this 'cut' what the results will be, I can honestly say, I don't regret doing it. This is the first time I've gained weight on purpose and it's quite liberating. With the 8lb gain, I've stayed in the same size clothes (granted, they are tighter) and the fat seems evenly distributed (whereas it would normally all end up on my belly). The biggest benefit was seeing my lifts go up after stalling and deloading many times when I was at deficit and maintainance - 10 whole kilos on my squat!
And from averaging out what I've eaten on maintainance week I have appeared to give my metabolism a good 'boost'. It might take longer but at least I'm not getting to a goal weight then getting in the old mindset that I'm finished now, eat all the food. The plan is to cut down to 140 (will be paying attention to the great advice on here and concentrating on measurements/mirror etc though) then start the whole process again
Where's the "like" button when you really need it?0 -
Well although I won't know till I've finished this 'cut' what the results will be, I can honestly say, I don't regret doing it. This is the first time I've gained weight on purpose and it's quite liberating. With the 8lb gain, I've stayed in the same size clothes (granted, they are tighter) and the fat seems evenly distributed (whereas it would normally all end up on my belly). The biggest benefit was seeing my lifts go up after stalling and deloading many times when I was at deficit and maintainance - 10 whole kilos on my squat!
And from averaging out what I've eaten on maintainance week I have appeared to give my metabolism a good 'boost'. It might take longer but at least I'm not getting to a goal weight then getting in the old mindset that I'm finished now, eat all the food. The plan is to cut down to 140 (will be paying attention to the great advice on here and concentrating on measurements/mirror etc though) then start the whole process again
That's great. I'm really hoping to get a TDEE boost out of this process.0
