Feeling Fat
TriLifter
Posts: 1,283 Member
I knew it would happen eventually. Bulking is like running--90% mental. Unfortunately I'm starting to break down mentally and just feel like a squishy weakling. I'm feeling like I've gained nothing but 5lbs of fat over the last 5 weeks (I know that's not true because I retained water due to starting creatine and it's TOM). I need to push through this feeling, but sometimes it's so hard!
How do you deal with feeling fat?
How do you deal with feeling fat?
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Replies
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i feel the same way! i think i've put on 10 pounds in the last 7 weeks or so. that includes the creatine weight, and my measurements are all up , And yeah i am all bloated from being a female. and i feel gross. I am trying to just focus on my goal of being a massive powerhouse and i have to get fat to get there, its just part of the process. But its tough, i'm up a pant size! and my shirts are getting tight. I keeping telling myself its winter, its ok , summer is 9 months away and i can easily blast off 10 pounds a month if i have to.
I ordered a power lifting weight belt and i wasn't sure if i should get one size larger just incase , argh. When i feel fat i just tell myself i may be fat but i'm probably the strongest person in the room. It helps a litte. and i think it will be worth it in the end when we cut and our muscles pop out0 -
I'm dealing with the same issue, feeling too fluffy in the middle. I'm not dealing it with it very well so I can't offer any advice, just know you aren't alone. I knew we would be here too, I just wasn't expecting it so soon. We've got to hang in there though. Should we have a new motto? No fat, no gain? :laugh: :sad:0
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This is CRAZY, I came across this post just as I was about to post the same thing! This week has been tough. I think I could deal with it if my belly didn't look so big. The mental part of this thing is really getting to me, andI've been thinking a lot lately about just calling it quits. It helps to know that I'm not the only one, but I'm stuck right now.0
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Yeah. I'm REALLY bloated right now. My body is not liking the extra food after being on such a strict diet for so long. I have no advice other than to try to trust the process. That's what I keep telling myself, anyways....LOL0
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I don't feel necessarily fat yet as I still look pretty good in the mornings (only started 4 weeks ago though, so I'm guessing this will soon end) but the second I start eating, and of course my breakfast is massive, the food baby bloating kicks in. As long as try really hard to suck in that *kitten* I make it through the day, but the second I get home it pops out in all its glory and it's ginormous!!
So I'm afraid I can't give you any advice... and only hope that not doing creatine will keep me from the worst of it...0 -
No fat, no gain? :laugh: :sad:
I like it--definitely going to be the new motto!
I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in this. We're all strong, beautiful women, and we will get through this! I am even more thankful that I started this group when I did because otherwise I might have quit!0 -
Yep been there many times and was definitely feeling it lately. There's good days and there's bad days but I try to look at it the same way when I'm cutting. You just have to keep pushing forward and realize you're doing something so good for your body. One thing I've done lately is write a PR or a lifting goal on a post it or as my phone lock screen or even hang a pic of someone I look up to bulking right now as a reminder of the how far I've come and what I accomplished or where I want to be. May sound corny but with all the lean, ripped photos being shoved in your face it's hard to step back and realize that many do what we are doing to get there.0
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I'm definitely struggling with this lately as well...I've started wearing looser workout clothes but all my work clothes are getting tight... I'm finding that what's working best for me to just not thinking about it at all. I log my workouts on Fitocracy and whenever I see a new PR pop up that reinforces why I'm doing this. In the end it'll all be worth it!0
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Let's all lock arms and push through this together! :flowerforyou: :drinker:
P.s. You'll notice I haven't updated my log for awhile. First I was depressed because I wasn't gaining, now I've stayed off the scale and I'm feeling fat. I can't win for losing, but it helps to know I'm not alone in this.
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I am feeling pretty good right now about my weight gain, but I know that will change as I creep closer to TOM bloat.
I love this...One thing I've done lately is write a PR or a lifting goal on a post it or as my phone lock screen or even hang a pic of someone I look up to bulking right now as a reminder of the how far I've come and what I accomplished or where I want to be. May sound corny but with all the lean, ripped photos being shoved in your face it's hard to step back and realize that many do what we are doing to get there.
Great idea!
We've got this, ladies!!0 -
I can totally relate to the feeling fat issue. Especially the re-appearance of some belly rolls are discouraging. On the upside, my bra's are becoming a bit more "filled" as well :laugh:
Guess I can stand bulking as long as I like what I see in the mirror in the morning!0 -
I'm only in week 2 so haven't gotten there quite yet but there are definitely body areas that are a bit more round than they were before due to my prior "non deficit" eating. I just consider it my jump start on bulking.
But to add an illustration to Holly's point of the lean pics we see are likely women who have also "bulked" at some point ... I present Andrea Brazier in her off season (if you haven't already seen this). I love this picture!
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I saw this pic a few days ago and freaking yelled out loud! It was such a relief and so motivating bc it's hard to forget the crap you see on the internet/IG is people highlights and hardly most are real and show the down days. Many simply don't walk around looking like they present themselves day in and day out.0
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I wouldn't mind looking like her in the off season ALL THE TIME hahahahahaha0
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^^^^ Ditto to that! Even when down to 52 kg I had no abs showing, only my obliques a bit on the sides. Let's hope that with this bulk I get enough extra mass to get down in BF enough to get them to show, without getting as scrawny.0
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I'm feeling a bit panicky already and I'm only a week in! I keep thinking how much perkier my butt will be. I had a new feeling today. Calves straining against jeans. Felt good.
I have a question for you all, why can't we do short bulk and cycles of a couple of weeks to take the fat down in steps before it gets miserable.
When I did Lyle macdonalds UD2, the cut and bulk cycle was one week, so 3.5 days cutting, 3.5 days bulking. It really worked for me but it was an extreme *****, 1200 cals and hours of glycogen depleting weight training on cut, and mad carb feeding a power lifting on bulk!
I'm thinking of being a couple of weeks in bulk, a couple in cut so I don't go crazy getting fat.
Let me know your thoughts please!0 -
2-3 weeks in a cut then 2-3 wks in a bulk seems like F'ing torture to me. But in reality what's the point? You can't make significant gains in such short bulk cycles and unless your drastically cutting in those short cycles your progress will lack. I think this is designed for people who are afraid of the reality of bulking; face it you will gain fat. Your level of fat gain is going to depend on how much of a surplus you're in and if your lifting is up to par; also if you throw in cardio here and there. Sorry, I rather do it the tried and tested way then to take that approach and possibly never reach my goals.0
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Yep...I've also been feeling a bit puffier in the mid section.
But Holly and Kim are spot on....we, as women, can be really really hard on ourselves. And the internet and pictures of people in show leanness is not realistic.
Like Holly said, I'm focusing on the end goal. I know without a doubt that I want more muscle...and to get that, I must bulk. I will be much more disapointed in myself if, in a year from now, I'm in the exact same position I was 4-6 months ago with the very same LBM. Where as I know, for me, the best way to make the progress I'm after is to bulk. With that will come some extra fat. I've accepted it. The good thing is, it's going into winter....long pants, bigger sweaters, etc.
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I dint think a, two week bulk would work, it takes more than two weeks just to get a, lift program going. I plan on bulking for at least six months maybe more, I'm already three months in and feel I'm just starting to get into a groove with eating enough and lifting enough. it took the first six weeks just to get a, base muscle going that I could start building on. and I'm on a roll with my lifting, I'm pushing hard and really making the most I can of this time. I'm trying hard to get in my mind that this will only work is if I eat and I will be wasting my time If I'm busting my *kitten* lifting and skimping on food. likewise if I overeat and not lifting enough that's a, waste too. I hope all this works, trust in the process. and if not it's easy enough to diet a few months and get back to square one.0
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So I guess I'll just have to keep experimenting. I must admit, when it got down to 124lb I was the same jean size as when I was 126. This is not good. I've had issues finding out my bf. All my triathlon training has screwed with my LBM, it's my fault, trial and error means I'm only now in the last couple of months of logging on MFP realising how I've been under fuelling my hard cardio w/o. Thankfully I lift too and happen to love my food and have periods of overeating. Granted that meant fat gain, but I have a handle on this.
What freaks me out is how easy to go over 5-10% over maintenance it is. I mean, if I get it right, I can gain .5-1lb LBM per month and not gain fat. Isn't that like 1500-3000 cals over PER MONTH? 50-100 cals per day. ONLY!
Has anyone experienced more than 1lb muscle gain per month? Surely there's a way of doing this without the fat gain and cut afterwards. I think Barbellgirl is pretty close, barely gaining any weight but getting that muscle on!0 -
Feeling fatty mc'fatpants over here, too. Too tight pants have to be one of my least favorite things EVER. But, man it really helps to be in it together! And to be reminded of the end goal. Somewhere, deep under the fluff, some muscles are doing their best to grow, and I certainly want to help them out.
And as a bonus, the holidays are coming, and I for one am looking forward to capitalizing on all that holiday goodness without feeling like I'm 'ruining' all my hard work. This year, it will be helping!!!! Yeah!!!
Hang in there ladies!! Keep the end in mind (and remind me I said that in a few more weeks when Im crying over too small fat pants).
anna0 -
2-3 weeks in a cut then 2-3 wks in a bulk seems like F'ing torture to me. But in reality what's the point? You can't make significant gains in such short bulk cycles and unless your drastically cutting in those short cycles your progress will lack. I think this is designed for people who are afraid of the reality of bulking; face it you will gain fat. Your level of fat gain is going to depend on how much of a surplus you're in and if your lifting is up to par; also if you throw in cardio here and there. Sorry, I rather do it the tried and tested way then to take that approach and possibly never reach my goals.
Lol the whole thing is pretty hard though! I just want to stuff my face most of the time. Are you saying that it's the accumulative effect of the bulk cycle that gets the muscle on, like as you get towards the end of a bulk and are lifting really heavy, that's when the most LBM goes on? Otherwise, what's the difference in the time periods? Is it the mind set? I prefer knowing I'm soon coming out of cut and giving my lepton levels a kick up the butt. I find my appetite and mr slows down quickly in a cut, even when I'm only going under 300 cals below maintenance. The idea of being in another cut makes me feel weepy!0 -
Feeling fatty mc'fatpants over here, too. Too tight pants have to be one of my least favorite things EVER. But, man it really helps to be in it together! And to be reminded of the end goal. Somewhere, deep under the fluff, some muscles are doing their best to grow, and I certainly want to help them out.
And as a bonus, the holidays are coming, and I for one am looking forward to capitalizing on all that holiday goodness without feeling like I'm 'ruining' all my hard work. This year, it will be helping!!!! Yeah!!!
Hang in there ladies!! Keep the end in mind (and remind me I said that in a few more weeks when Im crying over too small fat pants).
anna
Haha Fatty McFatPants! Ps I'm an Anna too!0 -
Like Holly said, I'm focusing on the end goal. I know without a doubt that I want more muscle...and to get that, I must bulk. I will be much more disapointed in myself if, in a year from now, I'm in the exact same position I was 4-6 months ago with the very same LBM. Where as I know, for me, the best way to make the progress I'm after is to bulk. With that will come some extra fat. I've accepted it. The good thing is, it's going into winter....long pants, bigger sweaters, etc.
Ditto! Although I'm weeks behind you, this is how I feel. I 100% want to get stronger and a bit bigger so my only option is bulking. Unfortunately there are down sides to that and that's the weight gain. I'm hoping if I can keep the end game in mind and continue to see progress in the weight room, I can get through it.0 -
This thread really helped me. I'm actually looking forward to filling out my "fat" pants (size 2--how pathetic does that sound?!) and hoping that at the end of all of this I won't ever be in a size 0 again and that a 2 will be my "skinny" pants because of the extra muscle. End goal. I've got this. I can do this. We can all do this!0
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Holding on to my big skirts/dresses is helping me tremendously.
Putting on my thin fitting size 6's didn't. I definitely had a fatty day the other day.
Stretchy pants.
Dresses (Wrap and sweater dresses)
Skirts
jeggings/wooley tights
play up winter folks!!!
and press on- keep looking to your lifts for affirmation that you ARE making progress!!!
you 'kin do it!0 -
2-3 weeks in a cut then 2-3 wks in a bulk seems like F'ing torture to me. But in reality what's the point? You can't make significant gains in such short bulk cycles and unless your drastically cutting in those short cycles your progress will lack. I think this is designed for people who are afraid of the reality of bulking; face it you will gain fat. Your level of fat gain is going to depend on how much of a surplus you're in and if your lifting is up to par; also if you throw in cardio here and there. Sorry, I rather do it the tried and tested way then to take that approach and possibly never reach my goals.
Lol the whole thing is pretty hard though! I just want to stuff my face most of the time. Are you saying that it's the accumulative effect of the bulk cycle that gets the muscle on, like as you get towards the end of a bulk and are lifting really heavy, that's when the most LBM goes on? Otherwise, what's the difference in the time periods? Is it the mind set? I prefer knowing I'm soon coming out of cut and giving my lepton levels a kick up the butt. I find my appetite and mr slows down quickly in a cut, even when I'm only going under 300 cals below maintenance. The idea of being in another cut makes me feel weepy!
I'm better rested and not agitated to answer this appropriately. Bad night.
Anyways, what you're describing is more of body recomp. You can make minimal muscle gain with minimal fat gain but the process is long, tedious and most don't have the patience for it bc it can take months even years. You're also jumping the gun thinking any gain in a bulk is pure LBM which couldn't be farther from the truth. Unless you have help from extra testosterone you are not going to put on lbs of pure muscle each month and it doesn't happen in a week, 2 weeks etc. It happens over time. Bulking with the intention of fat gain is the fastest way to put on new muscle mass. Either simply remove the fear of gaining weight or don't bulk until you're ready to do so.0 -
2-3 weeks in a cut then 2-3 wks in a bulk seems like F'ing torture to me. But in reality what's the point? You can't make significant gains in such short bulk cycles and unless your drastically cutting in those short cycles your progress will lack. I think this is designed for people who are afraid of the reality of bulking; face it you will gain fat. Your level of fat gain is going to depend on how much of a surplus you're in and if your lifting is up to par; also if you throw in cardio here and there. Sorry, I rather do it the tried and tested way then to take that approach and possibly never reach my goals.
Lol the whole thing is pretty hard though! I just want to stuff my face most of the time. Are you saying that it's the accumulative effect of the bulk cycle that gets the muscle on, like as you get towards the end of a bulk and are lifting really heavy, that's when the most LBM goes on? Otherwise, what's the difference in the time periods? Is it the mind set? I prefer knowing I'm soon coming out of cut and giving my lepton levels a kick up the butt. I find my appetite and mr slows down quickly in a cut, even when I'm only going under 300 cals below maintenance. The idea of being in another cut makes me feel weepy!
I'm better rested and not agitated to answer this appropriately. Bad night.
Anyways, what you're describing is more of body recomp. You can make minimal muscle gain with minimal fat gain but the process is long, tedious and most don't have the patience for it bc it can take months even years. You're also jumping the gun thinking any gain in a bulk is pure LBM which couldn't be farther from the truth. Unless you have help from extra testosterone you are not going to put on lbs of pure muscle each month and it doesn't happen in a week, 2 weeks etc. It happens over time. Bulking with the intention of fat gain is the fastest way to put in new muscle mass. Either simply remove the fear of gaining weight or don't bulk until you're ready to do so.
LULZ- eat more ice cream =D
Agreed- 2 weeks isn't reasonable. I'm trying to go for 10-15 lbs- and I"m looking at several long months of building. My goal is 5-6 months.. it's a long time. But being fabulous doesn't happen over night- neither does bulking.
Stay the course. Have fat clothes on hand and keep looking at the lift numbers going up!
Remember weight tends to plunge- it's usually nothing nothing nothing- then 2-4 lbs. Then nothing nothing nothing- then another 3-4 lbs.
it's not linear- far from it actually: which is why we go for longer periods- and we look at the general trend line.0 -
Holding on to my big skirts/dresses is helping me tremendously.
Putting on my thin fitting size 6's didn't. I definitely had a fatty day the other day.
Stretchy pants.
Dresses (Wrap and sweater dresses)
Skirts
jeggings/wooley tights
play up winter folks!!!
and press on- keep looking to your lifts for affirmation that you ARE making progress!!!
you 'kin do it!
lol!! fortunately i live up in boston so i can hide all winter long unfortunately i have to wear niceish clothes to work daily. while i can layer and layer my pants not closing is going to be a problem! ill eventually have to guy bigger pants.. ive got 5 pairs of size 0 pants (7 actually, NYC just had a BOGO sale.. i should have bought a size bigger now that I think of it!!), and 2 pairs of size 2 pants...
what do you ladies do for jeans in general??? i have an incredibly tough time finding pants that fit. I have a tiny waist (24.5 prebulk) and big hips/butt (36.5 pre bulk).0 -
I work in headquarters and our unit that I just transferred to reports directly to the the big cheese... who reports directly to the Governor.
Needless to say wear nice-ish cloths to. dresses and skirts are my go to.
seriously- all the time.
I am wearing Old Navy Jeans right now- they do pretty well- I have a fairly substantial butt to waist difference- they seem to fit the bill pretty well- although they are getting snug- LOL thank god I held on to a 'big pair' LOL0
