My lady bulking memoir (pic heavy)

Great work!

And, I love the Phoenix shirt.

i know that you said that you've gained some fat during your bulk, but to be honest, you look really good and have done a great job of keeping fat gain to a minimum.
i think you actually look slimmer in your waist in the bottom photo, because your legs looking thicker is creating a slimming effect in your midsection. keep up the great work! u look amazing

I only read the first 2 pages, so this may be addressed already BUT If you don't mind me asking... What is bulking and cutting? Also, is this something you do once you reach your goal weight? I'm still somewhat new to the site.

You look amazing btw!

OP will probably be able to give a better description as she has actually done it buy ill try anyway! Bulking and cutting are two different phases that you cycle because it's very difficult to cut fat and make decent muscle gains at the same time. Why? Because to cut fat you need to eat at a calorie deficit and to make muscle gains you need to eat at a calorie surplus. (note that beginners can make some muscle gains while lifting on a calorie deficit known as "newbie gains" but then it stops and it's not a huge amount)

For most of us, when you lift on a deficit (still important to do) you are only preserving muscle that's already there and not gaining. So the idea is to cut first to get down to an ideal BF %, and then go through a bulking phase by increasing your calories to a surplus to add on muscle size. Small fat gain is inevitable in this stage which is why you then go back to a cutting phase to get rid of any extra fat gain and still preserve the new muscle that was gained.

Each cycle can be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months; it depends on the individual and their goals. You keep alternating these cycles to get to where you want to be and then you can maintain!