Barbell Girl's Bulking Journal
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I think your stats are perfect and well balanced! You got this!0
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Doing great! Nice job on delt growth. Can't wait for mine!0
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Here are the pics taken yesterday. I can definitely see the shoulder growth in my delts and my legs seem bigger, waist is staying the same if not smaller according to the measurements. All good signs. I wish I would have gained more weight though. I'm increasing my daily calories from 2000 to 2200 since I'm not gaining at the desired weight, and I stopped taking creatine.
I had a really hard time getting a back picture, so all you can really see is one half of my back flexed. I'm just not that coordinated I guess. :laugh:
Delts! WooHoo!
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I wouldn't panic just yet. It's very common to put on a few lbs in the first few weeks while our bodies adjust. In fact....that weight is most likely a combo of water/glycogen stores. It will level out.
I agree with this. I remember when I started my bulk last year I had 4 pounds find me over night then things settled down. The mind**** is the hardest part of a bulk cycle.
I think that's what I'm seeing in myself as well.0 -
Here are the pics taken yesterday. I can definitely see the shoulder growth in my delts and my legs seem bigger, waist is staying the same if not smaller according to the measurements. All good signs. I wish I would have gained more weight though. I'm increasing my daily calories from 2000 to 2200 since I'm not gaining at the desired weight, and I stopped taking creatine.
I had a really hard time getting a back picture, so all you can really see is one half of my back flexed. I'm just not that coordinated I guess. :laugh:
Delts! WooHoo!
Wow, your muscles are looking amazing! In to follow your bulk.0 -
You look amazing and your measurement increases are perfect!0
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Thank you ladies, I'm really pleased with everything with the exception of my weight gain. My trainer wants me to bump up to 2100 calories and have two cheat meals (go over by about 300 calories) two days a week. So hopefully that will help me gain more. :drinker: :flowerforyou:0
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wow you are looking great, i can really see the definition in your shouders and back! it sounds like everything is going perfectly.0
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Great progress. Thanks for sharing the pics. Definitely see it in arms and back:drinker:0
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I've been doing a couple of higher cal days...not on purpose :grumble: and gained "only" .8 lbs in one week, so it's all good. Let me know how it goes for you!0
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You're looking fantastic! Keep up the good work!0
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I'm going to cry. I got on the scale today and it said 113 pounds. I have a second scale that is always within 1/2 pound and it said 113.5. I started October 1 at 112.5. I even bumped my calories up to 2100 last week. I had 6 ounces of red meat yesterday, and woke up losing a pound. This is so frustrating. I have an email into my trainer. I'm starting to wonder if I'm one of those 'hard gainers'?
I know our bodies like homeostasis, and my weight has been consistently at 112.5 lbs since I started in May, but all these extra calories and weight lifting and I'm not gaining like I should be. I didn't do any cardio this week either. I don't want to start taking creatine again because frankly, I think that just helps you retain water in your muscles. :noway:0 -
I really don't know anything- but I'm wondering if there is any possibility that you've done some unintential recomping? Meaning, is it possibile that you have gained a bit of muscle, but have lost some fat? Or..as you say..you're just a hard gainer and have to shovel in some more food :0.
Sorry you are frustrated...0 -
I really don't know anything- but I'm wondering if there is any possibility that you've done some unintential recomping? Meaning, is it possibile that you have gained a bit of muscle, but have lost some fat? Or..as you say..you're just a hard gainer and have to shovel in some more food :0.
Sorry you are frustrated...
Well my trainer just emailed me back and we are going to do a few things different with my training but leave my calories alone. He thinks I might indeed be a hard gainer, but also reminded me building takes a lot longer than tearing down, and he also told me to stop weighing myself and just focus on getting stronger.0 -
Hmm. Well, I don't have an answer for you cuz I'm new to bulking myself, but your pictures look great! I can really see an increase in your shoulder definition. You're looking awesome, keep up the good work
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I'm going to cry. I got on the scale today and it said 113 pounds. I have a second scale that is always within 1/2 pound and it said 113.5. I started October 1 at 112.5. I even bumped my calories up to 2100 last week. I had 6 ounces of red meat yesterday, and woke up losing a pound. This is so frustrating. I have an email into my trainer. I'm starting to wonder if I'm one of those 'hard gainers'?
I know our bodies like homeostasis, and my weight has been consistently at 112.5 lbs since I started in May, but all these extra calories and weight lifting and I'm not gaining like I should be. I didn't do any cardio this week either. I don't want to start taking creatine again because frankly, I think that just helps you retain water in your muscles. :noway:
Don't cry- this process is the same as loss- it has ups and downs. That's why it takes so long- and why you go with a slow steady gain.
I would up to 500 calories- and if you haven't already cut out the cardio. Seriously- unless you MUST do it for your mental health- cut it out- or just do it once or twice a week bare minimum- and pick up your favorite ben and jerries (I'm personally addicted to Turkey Hill Moosetracks)- and go to town.
Creatine isn't the devil- don't take it if you don't want to but it might help. (I'm a firm believer working harder and dialing diet in rather than supplementing- but it's studied at nauseum and it might help.)
Hugs. Keep at it- it's a slow process- you know it- so don't fret. It'll come!0 -
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Well my trainer just emailed me back and we are going to do a few things different with my training but leave my calories alone. He thinks I might indeed be a hard gainer, but also reminded me building takes a lot longer than tearing down, and he also told me to stop weighing myself and just focus on getting stronger.
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I agree with your trainer. Have your lifts gone up? I think the fact that all your measurements went up except waist is also a really good sign.0 -
My lifts have been okay, not progressing as much as I'd like though. So here's what I'm going to do, I'm increasing my daily calories to 2400 and my cheat meal days will be around 2800. I'm taking this month off from creatine and not doing any cardio at all, I'm going to show these muscles and my body who the boss is and I will gain and they will grow.
My trainer I think is hoping I'll so a clean bulk but at some point I still have to bulk and that's not happening. So I'm going to try this, if I can't gain with this approach then I'm definitely going to cry. I am going to indulge a little more, time for some paleo friendly treats! ????????????0 -
November has been spent staying off the scale trying to hit calorie goals better. I was pretty devastated when I got on the scale on November 3rd weighing 113 pounds when I weighed 114 on October 28. My pre-bulking weight was 112.5 pounds.
I reviewed my calories intake for October and I averaged 2007 calories a day, my goal was 2000. Because I didn't gain at the 2 pounds a month rate, I increased my calorie goal to 2100 on October 28. So far this month my daily average is 2188. I've been staying off the scale but this Tuesday I will weigh myself as well as get my body fat measured by a trainer using the seven point caliper method. I'll also take pictures and measurements. I'll take measurements again after Thanksgiving. I'm hoping that I've gained weight without my body fat percentage increasing too much. I didn't do the caliper test before I started bulking so I don't know exactly where I was but I'm guessing I was around 18-19% body fat.
My lifts have been going great this month as well. I'm doing zero cardio, none at all. I sort of miss it and I feel a little fluffier without it, but that's okay.0 -
Sounds like all is going well, looking forward to the update! 0
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Sounds wonderful! Looking forward to hearing your results!0
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Congrats on your lifts! Great feeling!0
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November 30, 2013 Update
I averaged 2170 calories a day and did no cardio after November 3rd. On 11/27/13 I weighed 114.5 (an increase of only ½ pound) but on November 30, 2013 I weighed 115 pounds for an increase of one pound for the month.
My measurements are essentially the same, and I had my body fat tested again using the seven point caliper method and it yielded 19.25% which is very close to the 19.4% my handheld Omron read that same day.
I’ve decided not to track my calories for a few weeks to see if I can gain some weight although I fear I’ll under eat rather than over eat so I’ll be monitoring my weight daily. Here are the pictures taken at the end of the month.
For December, I’m going to add back in a little cardio in the hopes that it stimulates my appetite in the absence of tracking, and I’m also adding creatine back in.
Arms
Traps
Booty
With clothes on
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You look gorgeous! Progress is great!0
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Great job! Looking wonderful!0
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Sounds, and looks, like it's going great!0
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Thank you ladies, I wish I could make better progress with the weight gain. I don't know if it's being an ectomorph, my age, are the combination of the two that's making it so difficult, but I'm in this for the long haul. I've come to realize that I may be eating at a surplus for the next 12-18 months to get where I need to be, and that's okay. :drinker: :flowerforyou:0
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You're looking great! 1 lb per month is a perfect gain, IMO.0
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I hear that. I'm going to start a new program on Saturday and will probably use that to bulk another 4-6 months. Initial plan was 3-4 months, so this puts me at 6-8 total (at least)!0
