Let the Gains Begin!

46069377.jpg

Now that bulking has started, I thought I would share my first bedtime snack:

10355457_10203106673619627_1829019264629177370_o.jpg

What we have here is:

15 grain double protein bread
crunchy peanut butter
banana
crunchy peanut butter
15 grain double protein bread
crunchy peanut butter
strawberry jelly
crunchy peanut butter
15 grain double protein bread

It was glorious.
«13

Replies

  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    Wow, how many calories in that thing?
  • winonavampire
    winonavampire Posts: 68 Member
    770! First day on bulk after cut, so I kinda let loose a bit. This won't be an every day thing, but I did a "cheat" day on day one of bulk.

    Seemed fair.
  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    and delicious.
  • hilts1969
    hilts1969 Posts: 465 Member
    46069377.jpg

    Now that bulking has started, I thought I would share my first bedtime snack:

    10355457_10203106673619627_1829019264629177370_o.jpg

    What we have here is:

    15 grain double protein bread
    crunchy peanut butter
    banana
    crunchy peanut butter
    15 grain double protein bread
    crunchy peanut butter
    strawberry jelly
    crunchy peanut butter
    15 grain double protein bread

    It was glorious.

    Always wondered if bulking was sensible health wise, see lots of big guys in the gym, huge muscles big bellies always seem to be in the bulking phase, as it takes longer to lose weight than put it on doesn't the bulk/cut routine mean you spend most of your life overweight?
  • mjudd1990
    mjudd1990 Posts: 219 Member
    From my experience it is way more difficult to gain weight both in terms of training and diet. Losing weight is fairly quick as all you have to do is expend more calories than you take in. It may take me 6 months to a year to put on 20 lbs but only 6-12 weeks to lose that much.
  • hilts1969
    hilts1969 Posts: 465 Member
    From my experience it is way more difficult to gain weight both in terms of training and diet. Losing weight is fairly quick as all you have to do is expend more calories than you take in. It may take me 6 months to a year to put on 20 lbs but only 6-12 weeks to lose that much.

    You are the exception not the rule
  • Edmond_Dantes
    Edmond_Dantes Posts: 185 Member
    From my experience it is way more difficult to gain weight both in terms of training and diet. Losing weight is fairly quick as all you have to do is expend more calories than you take in. It may take me 6 months to a year to put on 20 lbs but only 6-12 weeks to lose that much.

    You are the exception not the rule

    True. The obesity epidemic supports this statement.
  • waldo56
    waldo56 Posts: 1,861 Member
    Gaining fat =/= gaining muscle.

    Gaining muscle is way harder than losing weight. Cutting fat is simple after you've been bulking a while.

    I bulk for 8 weeks, cut for 2 weeks, rinse-repeat. Never lose my abs, not even close.
  • hilts1969
    hilts1969 Posts: 465 Member
    Gaining fat =/= gaining muscle.

    Gaining muscle is way harder than losing weight. Cutting fat is simple after you've been bulking a while.

    I bulk for 8 weeks, cut for 2 weeks, rinse-repeat. Never lose my abs, not even close.

    gaining fat doesn't necessarily mean gaining muscle, gaining muscle is harder than losing weight, but gaining fat is way easier than losing it
  • winonavampire
    winonavampire Posts: 68 Member
    I am definitely doing a clean bulk. Peanut butter and jelly may not seem clean, but I am not wolfing down poptart ice cream sandwiches on my bulk.

    My carbs are all coming from wheat bread, sweet potatoes, quinoa, oatmeal etc. I am trying to maintain a fairly low sugar count in my bulk (~60 grams a day).
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    Always wondered if bulking was sensible health wise, see lots of big guys in the gym, huge muscles big bellies always seem to be in the bulking phase, as it takes longer to lose weight than put it on doesn't the bulk/cut routine mean you spend most of your life overweight?

    Not if you actually know how to bulk correctly and control the amount of fat gained. Sure, fat gain is inevitable in a bulk, but you don't need to go from single digit to 20%+ body fat, that'd be stupid. Do it in shorter controlled cycles. It is much easier to lose fat, than it is to make lean gains. It becomes even more difficult to gain as you become more seasoned and your natural capacity diminishes as well...
  • iPlatano
    iPlatano Posts: 487 Member
    Good stuff. Started clean bulking not too long ago.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Gaining fat =/= gaining muscle.

    Gaining muscle is way harder than losing weight. Cutting fat is simple after you've been bulking a while.

    I bulk for 8 weeks, cut for 2 weeks, rinse-repeat. Never lose my abs, not even close.

    gaining fat doesn't necessarily mean gaining muscle, gaining muscle is harder than losing weight, but gaining fat is way easier than losing it

    well- you are in the gaining section- so people here are going WAY out of their way to meticulously put on weight- in terms of fat and muscle.

    yes it's hard- that's why it's laughable when people say they don't want to accidentally get houge over night.

    But it isn't a free for all in food gains- it's a meticulous surplus- there is a typically a sweet spot that will net you max muscle and minimum fat - but the fat will happen- it's inevetiable.

    Accept it- along with most likely you're glorious PR on your squat. because with great gains- come great lifts.
    You are the exception not the rule

    no he's not.

    almost any woman bulking can and will support his estimate that gains are harder than cuts.
  • shmerek
    shmerek Posts: 963 Member
    Gaining fat =/= gaining muscle.

    Gaining muscle is way harder than losing weight. Cutting fat is simple after you've been bulking a while.

    I bulk for 8 weeks, cut for 2 weeks, rinse-repeat. Never lose my abs, not even close.
    I am kinda trying this, at least that was the plan but I don't know if that phase is long enough. How many times have you done this and what kind of gains are you making? I would be beyond thrilled with 10 pounds of muscle in a year, so I don't really mind going slow if it means I don't have to get too fat. I don't want to be blobby again and I like not being ashamed of taking my shirt off.
  • hilts1969
    hilts1969 Posts: 465 Member
    In fairness i was talking about the general concept of gaining or losing weight, it is much harder to lose weight than put it on, not a guess or a stab in the dark just a fact, the world is full of dieters or overweight people, those who struggle to gain weight in comparison is small, some bro science gym boys maybe the exception but they are hardly representative
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Always wondered if bulking was sensible health wise, see lots of big guys in the gym, huge muscles big bellies always seem to be in the bulking phase, as it takes longer to lose weight than put it on doesn't the bulk/cut routine mean you spend most of your life overweight?

    I'm "overweight" and I have 20% body fat (as a female, so like 13% if I was a guy). If you do it right the bulking phase should be as long as the cut phase. The goal is to not gain a bunch of body fat.

    You can't really judge someone's goals by what you see of them in the gym. Maybe they aren't bulking and are just fatter guys who lift. Maybe they are powerlifters and in that case having a bit of a belly can be helpful. Also, powerlifters have stronger core muscles which leads to a larger looking stomach. From personal experience when you have a strong core any fat gain over that makes you look even fatter.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    In fairness i was talking about the general concept of gaining or losing weight, it is much harder to lose weight than put it on, not a guess or a stab in the dark just a fact, the world is full of dieters or overweight people, those who struggle to gain weight in comparison is small, some bro science gym boys maybe the exception but they are hardly representative

    We aren't talking about getting fat.

    We are talking about putting on muscle.

    And the gaining section is typically full of people who are bulking- meaning they are trying to put on weight and muscle- and SIZE.

    But that being said even getting extremely fat takes some work- over eating regularly isn't easy to do- as anyone who has actually bulk can attest to. People who consistently over eat significant amounts often are suffering from emotional issues that are blocking the "I'm full feeling" they eat when they aren't hungry- they eat when they are full- it can be miserable for them.

    Losing weight is easy- the problem with that is that it takes time and people are impatient- gaining weight- fat or muscle- requires a proactive stance. It's work.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    In fairness i was talking about the general concept of gaining or losing weight, it is much harder to lose weight than put it on, not a guess or a stab in the dark just a fact, the world is full of dieters or overweight people, those who struggle to gain weight in comparison is small, some bro science gym boys maybe the exception but they are hardly representative

    You have the wrong audience here me thinks...
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    In fairness i was talking about the general concept of gaining or losing weight, it is much harder to lose weight than put it on, not a guess or a stab in the dark just a fact, the world is full of dieters or overweight people, those who struggle to gain weight in comparison is small, some bro science gym boys maybe the exception but they are hardly representative

    You're talking about a bunch of people who sit at home in front of their TV in the evenings and possibly sit at a desk all day. I'd guess that the majority of people bulking are active (afterall they go to the gym often enough to be trying to add mass), so their bodies need more calories than someone who sits around all day.
  • winonavampire
    winonavampire Posts: 68 Member
    My situation is probably unique in that I was 340 pounds of jabba the hut when I I started. I lost 140 pounds down to 200 and was awfully squishy, so I put on 15 pound during a bulk (3 months), then I cut for 3 months and dropped 15 pounds (got down to 17% body fat). Now I am going back on a 20 pound bulk over the next 3-4 months. Once I gain about 20, I'm going to cut back to around 205, and then start over. My goal is to eventually be at about 225-230 at 15% body fat.

    I don't want a six pack. I'm going for a meaty bulk. My Bane pictures are not just for fun. I really want the "Bane build" as I call it.

    This is the upper body I am working towards:

    cf57186a-32e1-491f-8314-c73ecd6c926e.jpg
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    My situation is probably unique in that I was 340 pounds of jabba the hut when I I started. I lost 140 pounds down to 200 and qas awfully squishy, so I put on 15 pound during a bulk (3 months), then I cut for 3 months and dropped 15 pounds (got down to 17% body fat). Now I am going back on a 20 pound bulk over the next 3-4 months. Once I gain about 20, I'm going to cut back to around 205, and then start over. My goal is to eventually be at about 225-230 at 15% body fat.

    I don't want a six pack. I'm going for a meaty bulk. My Bane pictures are not just for fun. I really want the "Bane build" as I call it.

    This is the upper body I am working towards:

    He looks like one of my powerlifter friends.
  • hilts1969
    hilts1969 Posts: 465 Member
    Always wondered if bulking was sensible health wise, see lots of big guys in the gym, huge muscles big bellies always seem to be in the bulking phase, as it takes longer to lose weight than put it on doesn't the bulk/cut routine mean you spend most of your life overweight?

    I'm "overweight" and I have 20% body fat (as a female, so like 13% if I was a guy). If you do it right the bulking phase should be as long as the cut phase. The goal is to not gain a bunch of body fat.

    You can't really judge someone's goals by what you see of them in the gym. Maybe they aren't bulking and are just fatter guys who lift. Maybe they are powerlifters and in that case having a bit of a belly can be helpful. Also, powerlifters have stronger core muscles which leads to a larger looking stomach. From personal experience when you have a strong core any fat gain over that makes you look even fatter.

    Get what you are saying it's just from experience listening to the guys talk, i think with some they hang on to the bulking period because they like increasing what they want to lift, it becomes more about the weight and how strong they are and mentally the cutting period and not being able to lift quite as much they put it off, we all get into habits and obsessions
  • Chris_Pierce
    Chris_Pierce Posts: 267 Member
    Maybe it's just me but I can't see the pic you posted

    Never mind, it works now
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    Always wondered if bulking was sensible health wise, see lots of big guys in the gym, huge muscles big bellies always seem to be in the bulking phase, as it takes longer to lose weight than put it on doesn't the bulk/cut routine mean you spend most of your life overweight?

    I'm "overweight" and I have 20% body fat (as a female, so like 13% if I was a guy). If you do it right the bulking phase should be as long as the cut phase. The goal is to not gain a bunch of body fat.

    You can't really judge someone's goals by what you see of them in the gym. Maybe they aren't bulking and are just fatter guys who lift. Maybe they are powerlifters and in that case having a bit of a belly can be helpful. Also, powerlifters have stronger core muscles which leads to a larger looking stomach. From personal experience when you have a strong core any fat gain over that makes you look even fatter.

    Get what you are saying it's just from experience listening to the guys talk, i think with some they hang on to the bulking period because they like increasing what they want to lift, it becomes more about the weight and how strong they are and mentally the cutting period and not being able to lift quite as much they put it off, we all get into habits and obsessions

    What's wrong with being strong and deciding not to cut? Just because someone is "overweight" doesn't mean they are unhealthy. If we are going to go by a number for health I think body fat would be more important, because people can be at a normal weight with high body fat (which usually indicates more fat surrounding their organs as well, which impacts health and body function). More important than that are health markers like cholesterol and blood pressure. THOSE are true health.
  • winonavampire
    winonavampire Posts: 68 Member
    Here is what I managed to pull off last month at a comic book convention:

    Baneflex.jpg
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Get what you are saying it's just from experience listening to the guys talk, i think with some they hang on to the bulking period because they like increasing what they want to lift, it becomes more about the weight and how strong they are and mentally the cutting period and not being able to lift quite as much they put it off, we all get into habits and obsessions

    not everyone wants to have a beach body.

    pulling more weight off the floor than the next guy trumps looking "good" in terms of society's standards to some people. Aint no shame in that game.



    WINOVAMPIRE_ you need more chest LMAO!!! Otherwise great job!!! :)
  • winonavampire
    winonavampire Posts: 68 Member
    Get what you are saying it's just from experience listening to the guys talk, i think with some they hang on to the bulking period because they like increasing what they want to lift, it becomes more about the weight and how strong they are and mentally the cutting period and not being able to lift quite as much they put it off, we all get into habits and obsessions

    not everyone wants to have a beach body.

    pulling more weight off the floor than the next guy trumps looking "good" in terms of society's standards to some people. Aint no shame in that game.



    WINOVAMPIRE_ you need more chest LMAO!!! Otherwise great job!!! :)

    I need more everything! Hence the bulk lol.

    Here is a taste of where I started...

    dancropped.jpg

    I have come a long way, but still have a long way to go. Also, I feel like I have a great beach body... I just don't have a "traditional" beach body! ;)
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    Metabolically speaking it's not wise to jump from a bulk to a cut in one day op, that's how you gain more fat than necessary.
  • LolBroScience
    LolBroScience Posts: 4,537 Member
    Here is what I managed to pull off last month at a comic book convention:

    Baneflex.jpg

    Look good

    brofist.png
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I need more everything! Hence the bulk lol.

    Here is a taste of where I started...

    dancropped.jpg

    I have come a long way, but still have a long way to go. Also, I feel like I have a great beach body... I just don't have a "traditional" beach body! ;)

    GREAT JOB!!! That's a fantastic turn around!!! I LOVE IT.

    (Beach body comment had nothing to do with you and where you were- that was purely in contect of the guy saying he didn't get the endless bulks of fat lifters.

    I'm cutting but I had 5 plain oreo's and a second glass of milk because you inspired me... :)

    and yes- those fkcers fit into my calories!!!

    SCHAWAING!