Stop counting calories during bulk

taso42

I keep think I should quit counting calories, continue to lift heavy, and eat plenty of food for the next few months. As long as I'm eating at a surplus things should go fine. And somewhere down the road I can get back to a more strict mode of measuring/counting calories and cut the excess fat.

Why does this seem like such a crazy idea!? This calorie counting stuff is an addiction. :laugh: :sad:

Sidesteal

I keep think I should quit counting calories, continue to lift heavy, and eat plenty of food for the next few months. As long as I'm eating at a surplus things should go fine. And somewhere down the road I can get back to a more strict mode of measuring/counting calories and cut the excess fat.

Why does this seem like such a crazy idea!? This calorie counting stuff is an addiction. :laugh: :sad:

If you can tolerate putting on extra body fat with the plan to cut it out when you're done, and if you also make the assumption that you'll get enough protein and you'll be in a surplus, then I'd say do it.

You'll likely end up fulking, but in doing so, if you train hard, you'll still gain lean mass. I know there's at least some people that greatly favor fulking over doing a really controlled bulk (which I presume, you would do if you count calories/macros. Maybe my assumption is wrong here).

That's just my opinion.

Ebbykins

I stopped counting after 4 weeks into my bulk, I started out counting to have a general idea what portions/foods would work best for me and then I let the neurotic counting tendencies go out the window to take full advantage of it. Like I tell so many people, putting muscle on is hard enough (especially as we age and have more going on/stressors/not getting enough rest etc) so go for a full bulk, enjoy the food, then start a taper at the end and start getting mentally adjusted to more greens, less grains/carbs, keep protein the same and then after a short taper when your used to eating a bit less, get serious about the fat loss, because fat loss is the easy part when your armed with the right information/tools.

Rae6503

I've contemplated doing this as well but I can easily "accidentally" eat 4000 calories a day and yeah.

robin52077

please explain fulking...I wanna say it's a "bulk with too much fat and not enough muscle"? "Fatty-Bulking"?

But I never heard the term before and it literally made me LOL and it just sounds dirty.......

HeidiMightyRawr

I'm bulking at the moment, but personally choose to count calories, I don't want to put on too much fat really and I know if I stop it's going to go one of 2 ways.
1) I'll eat everything I feel like with the excuse that i'm bulking, and end up over 4000 most days, but not getting as much protein as I would ideally like for that amount of food.
2) I'll try and stick with the good foods so I get a well balanced diet of protein, carbs, fat etc, but then I'll probably not get enough calories.

I'm eating 2800 net calories at the moment so I usually end up around 3100-3400. Sometimes it's easy to make that up with decent enough foods, sometimes it's a real struggle. I'm gaining fine on this, but not so much where I know the majority will be fat and I'll be spending a really long time getting it off.
I only want a small deficit when I'm cutting to maintain as much muscle as possible so I don't really want it to take a whole year getting the excess fat off.

If it works for you to stop counting though that sounds great, enjoy!

rachmaree

I think it's a good idea... but can you really stop counting calories...?

Sidesteal

please explain fulking...I wanna say it's a "bulk with too much fat and not enough muscle"? "Fatty-Bulking"?

But I never heard the term before and it literally made me LOL and it just sounds dirty.......

That's basically it.

Ebbykins

I'm bulking at the moment, but personally choose to count calories, I don't want to put on too much fat really and I know if I stop it's going to go one of 2 ways.
1) I'll eat everything I feel like with the excuse that i'm bulking, and end up over 4000 most days, but not getting as much protein as I would ideally like for that amount of food.
2) I'll try and stick with the good foods so I get a well balanced diet of protein, carbs, fat etc, but then I'll probably not get enough calories.

I'm eating 2800 net calories at the moment so I usually end up around 3100-3400. Sometimes it's easy to make that up with decent enough foods, sometimes it's a real struggle. I'm gaining fine on this, but not so much where I know the majority will be fat and I'll be spending a really long time getting it off.
I only want a small deficit when I'm cutting to maintain as much muscle as possible so I don't really want it to take a whole year getting the excess fat off.

If it works for you to stop counting though that sounds great, enjoy!

Technically if you gain 15lbs during a bulk, say 10 fat, 5 LM (Which is really good as a female btw during one bulk 4-5 months in length) to lose 10 lbs of fat, depending on your activity level, it should only take you 12 weeks to cut. If your gaining more fat than that during a bulk, clearly one is doing something very wrong within training/diet. I really don't think it's worth the worry as a woman, to over stress about 10 lbs fat trying to put on that muscle mass, because it's hormonally harder for us to do so in the first place. So don't try to micromanage your bulk, because you could just end up wasting time. Fat is easier to lose than it is for us to gain muscle, enjoy your bulk, your calories sound about right, but just wanted to mention not to sweat the fat gain, I know its hard to wrap your head around but really, it's small fish in the pond after the reward of seeing what hard work and the yummy caloric surplus you got to enjoy for those few months.

HeidiMightyRawr

I'm bulking at the moment, but personally choose to count calories, I don't want to put on too much fat really and I know if I stop it's going to go one of 2 ways.
1) I'll eat everything I feel like with the excuse that i'm bulking, and end up over 4000 most days, but not getting as much protein as I would ideally like for that amount of food.
2) I'll try and stick with the good foods so I get a well balanced diet of protein, carbs, fat etc, but then I'll probably not get enough calories.

I'm eating 2800 net calories at the moment so I usually end up around 3100-3400. Sometimes it's easy to make that up with decent enough foods, sometimes it's a real struggle. I'm gaining fine on this, but not so much where I know the majority will be fat and I'll be spending a really long time getting it off.
I only want a small deficit when I'm cutting to maintain as much muscle as possible so I don't really want it to take a whole year getting the excess fat off.

If it works for you to stop counting though that sounds great, enjoy!

Technically if you gain 15lbs during a bulk, say 10 fat, 5 LM (Which is really good as a female btw during one bulk 4-5 months in length) to lose 10 lbs of fat, depending on your activity level, it should only take you 12 weeks to cut. If your gaining more fat than that during a bulk, clearly one is doing something very wrong within training/diet. I really don't think it's worth the worry as a woman, to over stress about 10 lbs fat trying to put on that muscle mass, because it's hormonally harder for us to do so in the first place. So don't try to micromanage your bulk, because you could just end up wasting time. Fat is easier to lose than it is for us to gain muscle, enjoy your bulk, your calories sound about right, but just wanted to mention not to sweat the fat gain, I know its hard to wrap your head around but really, it's small fish in the pond after the reward of seeing what hard work and the yummy caloric surplus you got to enjoy for those few months.

I've been bulking since early/mid july so just over 4 months, and measuring my body fat as I go (although I know this won't be 100% accurate)
Since then I've gained 11.5lbs, it says it's 6lbs fat, 5.5lbs lean mass (I'm also assuming some "lean mass" is going to be extra water weight from extra food)

I know it's easier to lose fat than gain muscle but I was just planning on having a 2-300 cal deficit. I really hate calorie deficits, and want to maintain as much muscle as I can / keep my strength up. That itself would be around 2000 net calories and if I've gained 8/9lbs fat by the time I finish I thought a 250 cal deficit is 1/2lb a week so up to 18 weeks? Maybe slightly less if I lose quicker in the beginning.
If I ate whatever I liked (probably around 4000 cals) I think it'd end up double that for the fat gain even with the same training It's just what I think will work best for me, not going to be the same for everyone

ilovedeadlifts

I think it's fine on a bulk. But it doesn't hurt to have a general idea of what youre eating.
I try to at least keep up with protein.

But overall my macros are, lots, lots, and lots.

Acg67

i started on a cleanish bulk and when i weighed in on sun i lost .5lbs, so i'm being considerably more lenient with eating this week. mostly concerned about protein and fats not cals

joejccva71

As long as you don't mind putting on the fat and burn it off during your cut cycle then no problem. I am about to run my 5 month bulk and I'll count it all, but it's because my plan is to put on about 20-25lbs (10 of which should be muscle), get up to about 18-19% bodyfat, and then cut down to about 9-10%.

It's all subjective though.

Ebbykins

I'm bulking at the moment, but personally choose to count calories, I don't want to put on too much fat really and I know if I stop it's going to go one of 2 ways.
1) I'll eat everything I feel like with the excuse that i'm bulking, and end up over 4000 most days, but not getting as much protein as I would ideally like for that amount of food.
2) I'll try and stick with the good foods so I get a well balanced diet of protein, carbs, fat etc, but then I'll probably not get enough calories.

I'm eating 2800 net calories at the moment so I usually end up around 3100-3400. Sometimes it's easy to make that up with decent enough foods, sometimes it's a real struggle. I'm gaining fine on this, but not so much where I know the majority will be fat and I'll be spending a really long time getting it off.
I only want a small deficit when I'm cutting to maintain as much muscle as possible so I don't really want it to take a whole year getting the excess fat off.

If it works for you to stop counting though that sounds great, enjoy!

Technically if you gain 15lbs during a bulk, say 10 fat, 5 LM (Which is really good as a female btw during one bulk 4-5 months in length) to lose 10 lbs of fat, depending on your activity level, it should only take you 12 weeks to cut. If your gaining more fat than that during a bulk, clearly one is doing something very wrong within training/diet. I really don't think it's worth the worry as a woman, to over stress about 10 lbs fat trying to put on that muscle mass, because it's hormonally harder for us to do so in the first place. So don't try to micromanage your bulk, because you could just end up wasting time. Fat is easier to lose than it is for us to gain muscle, enjoy your bulk, your calories sound about right, but just wanted to mention not to sweat the fat gain, I know its hard to wrap your head around but really, it's small fish in the pond after the reward of seeing what hard work and the yummy caloric surplus you got to enjoy for those few months.

I've been bulking since early/mid july so just over 4 months, and measuring my body fat as I go (although I know this won't be 100% accurate)
Since then I've gained 11.5lbs, it says it's 6lbs fat, 5.5lbs lean mass (I'm also assuming some "lean mass" is going to be extra water weight from extra food)

I know it's easier to lose fat than gain muscle but I was just planning on having a 2-300 cal deficit. I really hate calorie deficits, and want to maintain as much muscle as I can / keep my strength up. That itself would be around 2000 net calories and if I've gained 8/9lbs fat by the time I finish I thought a 250 cal deficit is 1/2lb a week so up to 18 weeks? Maybe slightly less if I lose quicker in the beginning.
If I ate whatever I liked (probably around 4000 cals) I think it'd end up double that for the fat gain even with the same training It's just what I think will work best for me, not going to be the same for everyone

Very true it isn't the same for everyone. If you've been at weight lifting a few years, you can easily do 400 deficit safely with the right macros and still retain a lot of the lean mass but if the muscle is just maturing and fresh, then yeah it is smarter to do a slower cut. Is this your first bulk? Best wishes and so happy to hear about your progress! When do you think you'll end your bulk?

tgh1914

That's basically what I'm doing. I'll log once in a while just to kinda check in & make sure I'm still in the right ballpark. But after spending so much time on here you kinda get good at knowing how many & what kind of cals you're putting down anyway, without logging.

HeidiMightyRawr

Very true it isn't the same for everyone. If you've been at weight lifting a few years, you can easily do 400 deficit safely with the right macros and still retain a lot of the lean mass but if the muscle is just maturing and fresh, then yeah it is smarter to do a slower cut. Is this your first bulk? Best wishes and so happy to hear about your progress! When do you think you'll end your bulk?

I've been weight lifting solidly since May 2010. I also had lifted before that from around sept 08-09 but took the 8 month break when I had my first year at uni. I never started squats or deadlifts though until around April this year (apart from the odd couple of times)

This is my first bulk, Since I joined MFP I just focused on losing weight mainly while on a 500 deficit. I reached my goal weight in April, maintained for a few months before I decided to start bulking/cutting. I plan on finishing this bulk once the year is over, spend a few weeks finding my true maintenance and then cutting

4theking

I think it just depends on how easily you gain bodyfat. For me, I could easily hit 4500 calories a day and have a fat to muscle gain ratio that would not be pretty.