Bulking at +400, Muscle to Fat Ratio

Everyone is different, but we are on a similiar calorie plan. I'm sure it depends on the workout routines and macros also; I take 40p:30c:30f. I used the Navy BF estimating method. I find it interesting to track my trends, I'm not a fitness guru by any means.

With all those disclaimers I'll share my data:

My first bulk cycle (60 days) I gained 0.12 pounds LBM/day and 0.05 lbs fat. For a 2.4:1 ratio.

My second cycle (30 days) I averaged 0.16 pounds LBM/day and 0.05 lbs fat. For a 3:1 ratio.

I'm not sure where I'll finish up. It seems as though I am not adding fat to my midsection while bulking and not losing fat in my midsection while cutting. The Navy Method isn't very friendly to LBM if the waist doesn't reduce with the weight. I'd love a more reliable LBM estimating method; that is quick and inexpensive.

I'm aiming for a finished 180 lbs at 10% BF. I found in the first cycle the Navy method was overestimating my LBM. My estimate was high at the end of Bulking but came down 2 pounds during my cut. So this round I tried to go 2+ over my goal so I wouldn't be disappointed after my cut.

I think you'll do better than what you have estimated.

So I'm bulking at +400 calories over maintenance, and I was wondering what I should expect in terms of the muscle to fat gain ratio...

I have been expecting .5 lbs of muscle per month, and a 1:1 ratio of muscle and fat gain.

Any insight?

First, +400 cals daily = 2800 cals weekly = .8lbs weekly. So you're gaining roughly .8lbs per week.

Your expectation of .5lbs of muscle per month, and a 1:1 ratio means you're only gaining 1lb per month... cals are way to high for that (based on generally accepted math). My guess is you'd see a gain of something like .5lb of muscle and 2-3lbs of fat per month.

But really it's impossible to say. Sooo many variables - macros, workout intensity, workout type, genetics, etc etc etc.

So I'm bulking at +400 calories over maintenance, and I was wondering what I should expect in terms of the muscle to fat gain ratio...

I have been expecting .5 lbs of muscle per month, and a 1:1 ratio of muscle and fat gain.

Any insight?

First, +400 cals daily = 2800 cals weekly = .8lbs weekly. So you're gaining roughly .8lbs per week.

Your expectation of .5lbs of muscle per month, and a 1:1 ratio means you're only gaining 1lb per month... cals are way to high for that (based on generally accepted math). My guess is you'd see a gain of something like .5lb of muscle and 2-3lbs of fat per month.

But really it's impossible to say. Sooo many variables - macros, workout intensity, workout type, genetics, etc etc etc.

it's not an exact science anyway. eating 400 over does NOT mean someone is going to gain exactly .8 per week. The bodies metabolism can chance to adapt to it's food intake. See the doc why skinny people are skinny. they feed a bunch of people something like 3k calories more than they normally eat a day. they did NOT gain anywhere close to what 3k extra calories should equal in terms of fat gain, and they all had drastic BMR increases with zero other changes to their lifestyle other than diet. But yes, they all gained a poopton of fat for obvious reasons.

I know it's not exact, but generally speaking it's close enough for conversations like these. For 90% of people on this site, 400 cals above maintenance will lead to a gain of more than 1lb per month. That was my first point.