Point of bulking up?

renwicker

So I have a question, and perhaps it is a really stupid one. I recenly started lifting and I personally am not looking to be really big so I am still eating at a defecit, but I keep reading about everyone "bulking and cutting". Now, I do understand the process behind it, but I dont understand how it works. If its one thing I've learned from numerous articles is that fat does not turn into muscle nor muscle into fat. I've also learned that you do not have to eat more than maintenence calories to build muscle. So how does bulking up help build muscle? You are essencially putting on extra fat, right?

Also frequent changes in body weight is rather unhealthy.

renwicker

really? no one out there has any opinions on this? Its just a question....am I over or under thinking this?

kdiamond

During a bulk, you are putting on some fat, but you are gaining muscle as well (if you're doing it correctly and on a proper heavy lifting routine). Generally speaking you would want to bulk when you're already at goal weight.

The goal is to increase muscle (and strength) that you cannot do during a deficit, then cut to lose the fat while maintaining the muscle. You'll end up "cut", when the fat is lost and the muscle is revealed.

If you look on bodybuilding.com you can see real examples of bulk and cut cycles.

I did a mini bulk (only ate at maintenance on most days and 200-ish calories more on lifting days) and I gained 5 pounds, then lost 3 of it, but lost ~3% body fat in the process. I was small to begin with though. Most women during bulks gain 10-15 then cut down.

I understand the point, as I cannot build good muscle in a deficit. I made some good gains doing my mini bulk.

Edited: To answer your question, this isn't something done a lot. People do a bulk and cut cycle like once a year. Most unhealthy people probably gain 5-10 pounds a year, and never take it off.