Bulking help

Jessicaruby

I am eating around 1600-1900 net and i weighed myself today and it looks like i have gained two pounds in a month. i binged on thursday and did a heavy workout sat so i dont know if that accounts for the weight gain. not sure if 1600-1900 is enough for bulking or not? i am just so scarred of getting fat and worried that i may not be doing enough in the gym. i have only been using the weight machines and dumbbells. I started using the bar today so we will see if that will help. any other suggestions? Just wondering how others who are bulking as well are coming along? how long does it take to see good results?

UponThisRock

10-20% over maintenance for bulking. Take your average weight from a one month period, compare it to the average weight for the next month. If you see a 1-2 lbs gain, you're on the right track. If not, increase calories by 200 per day, and see where you are in another month.

JennLifts

Depends on your maint. Unless you're very tiny, 1900 isn't enough on a bulk. I'd say find maint, and start by adding 300.
As far as the lifts, find a program for your first bulk. Much easier. And you lost weight right? So if you get fat, you can lose it again. Don't let that stop you. Using one thing over another won't "help" per say. All 3 are valid options. You want to be using what best fits your needs. If fear of getting stuck under a bar is going to stop you from lifting heavy, don't use the bar. Otherwise, ask a guy to spot you, and take the plunge. Don't do loads of cardio out of fear you're going to balloon. Also, if you've been at a deficit, don't take the 2lbs gain as a bad thing. Your body will have to normalize. And 2lbs a month isn't much at all. You could go for 3-4 and be fine.

HeidiMightyRawr

That sounds like a reasonable gain but personally I don't think that 1600-1900 net would be enough, it may be but it does seem a little low, more like maintenance.

Maybe try 2000 net and make sure you hit that consistently, that way you know how much you really need rather than an estimate, and weigh again in approx 2 weeks.

Try not to binge in that time and stay consistent with your workouts.

3-4 times a week is a good amount to be lifting if you're doing full body workouts every time, you could probably handle more if you did a split routine. Free weights (dumbells & barbells are probably best - they work stabiliser muscles unlike machines)

Make sure you get enough rest, this is important.

Watch your sodium particularly a few days before weigh in. Try and use body fat scales - they may not be 100% but they're better than nothing. Lean mass includes water though so watching your sodium beforehand really help, it doesn't have to be ultra low but just try not to go over.

Make sure you get enough protein

I got weight gains straight away, strength gains were straight away too but never really got significant ones until about 4-5 months in. The extra weight in general would've helped though, not just the muscle gains.

Jeff92se

That 2lbs could be a host of things. Unless you've been weighing yourself multiple days and that 2lbs is an ave?

And even then, you'd have a hard time distinguishing that gain as fat or muscle unless you have a seriously accurate bodyfat test

Acg67

i'm pretty sure on your last thread about bulking a few days ago you said your maintenance was around 2400-2700, somewhere around there. So you are not "bulking" if you are eating in a consistent caloric deficit as you say you are.

You really have to make up your mind what you want to do, since in the last few weeks you've went from wanting to lose weight, recomp to bulk and it seems you can't make up your mind what you really want

Jessicaruby

i'm pretty sure on your last thread about bulking a few days ago you said your maintenance was around 2400-2700, somewhere around there. So you are not "bulking" if you are eating in a consistent caloric deficit as you say you are.

You really have to make up your mind what you want to do, since in the last few weeks you've went from wanting to lose weight, recomp to bulk and it seems you can't make up your mind what you really want

lol im sorry i am very indecisive. i really want to gain muscle mass i am just terrified of eating so much food. i have struggled with body issues and eating disorders before so it is hard for me to grasp that i need to eat that much to achieve my goals. i want muscles. i do not want to be super huge, more the likes of jullian michaels or jamie eason. my bodybugg says that i burn between 2300-3000 cals a day(i averaged it out to be about 2700 a day). i just cant get over the mental barrier of eating that much because i think i am going to just get fat and after all the work i put into losing weight i dont want that!!!

Jeff92se

You have a LONG way to go before getting "too huge"

dad106

i'm pretty sure on your last thread about bulking a few days ago you said your maintenance was around 2400-2700, somewhere around there. So you are not "bulking" if you are eating in a consistent caloric deficit as you say you are.

You really have to make up your mind what you want to do, since in the last few weeks you've went from wanting to lose weight, recomp to bulk and it seems you can't make up your mind what you really want

lol im sorry i am very indecisive. i really want to gain muscle mass i am just terrified of eating so much food. i have struggled with body issues and eating disorders before so it is hard for me to grasp that i need to eat that much to achieve my goals. i want muscles. i do not want to be super huge, more the likes of jullian michaels or jamie eason. my bodybugg says that i burn between 2300-3000 cals a day(i averaged it out to be about 2700 a day). i just cant get over the mental barrier of eating that much because i think i am going to just get fat and after all the work i put into losing weight i dont want that!!!

If you think about it, it takes 3500 calories to gain a pound of fat... and if your burning about 2700 a day, your almost burning a pound a day.

I never thought I could get over the barrier either.. but I am slowly. I'm not looking to bulk per say, but keep everything firm and if my muscles happen to pop in the process, well then it's a bonus.

Rae6503

I definitely think a first step would be to find a good heavy program. Something with big lifts like squats, deadlifts, bench, etc. I'm doing stage one of New Rules with added individual body part lifts. Bodybuilding.com has a lot of programs too. No, I don't think dinking around in the machines is really enough. Once you get a program then, yeah, get on a real surplus.

Jessicaruby

I definitely think a first step would be to find a good heavy program. Something with big lifts like squats, deadlifts, bench, etc. I'm doing stage one of New Rules with added individual body part lifts. Bodybuilding.com has a lot of programs too. No, I don't think dinking around in the machines is really enough. Once you get a program then, yeah, get on a real surplus.

i dont dink around on the machines. i just have not used the bar until today. i lift heavy and i lift for 65 min. there is not dinking involved

Jeff92se

I definitely think a first step would be to find a good heavy program. Something with big lifts like squats, deadlifts, bench, etc. I'm doing stage one of New Rules with added individual body part lifts. Bodybuilding.com has a lot of programs too. No, I don't think dinking around in the machines is really enough. Once you get a program then, yeah, get on a real surplus.

i dont dink around on the machines. i just have not used the bar until today. i lift heavy and i lift for 65 min. there is not dinking involved

How heavy could you be lifting if you just made this decesion recently?