To continue my bulk......or not.
karenboy29687
Posts: 61 Member
When I began this journey in August, my plan was to cut after the holidays allowing myself to cut SLOWLY as to spare my newly gained muscle. A funny thing happened along the way, I began to like my body MORE carrying a few extra lbs and I have now decided that I don't even WANT to lose all of the weight I've gained during my bulk! I've made lots of progress on all of my lifts, and I love feeling and being strong ( skinny is so overrated). I don't know if I should begin my cut as planned around the first of the year, or continue as I have been. At this point I really would only like to lose 6 or 7 lbs of the weight I've gained. My goal is to look really good at the start of bathing suit season. This was my first bulk and has lasted 4 months so far.
0
Replies
-
I'm sort of in the same boat, only at a shorter time frame so far.
How do you feel about your body composition?? If you are happy with the way you look now….keep on what you are doing or go down to maintenance.
If you feel "fat" or like you have too much fluff, cut a bit and then go to maintenance when you reach your 'ideal'.0 -
I'm with Sarah and kind of in the same boat. I've moved maintenance for a while, until I figure out what I want to do.0
-
i just decided today, for no reason to do a 28 day cut after a 5 month bulk. I'm totally happy with my strength gains and my weight etc, but i'm doing it just to see what will happen. Remember this is a loooooooooooong term process we are in , bulking can take years. You can continue to bulk or try a cut , if you aren't happy reverse the process , make tweaks here and there. I'm really doing this cut just to see how my body reacts, after the 28 days i'm gonna go back to bulking some more. I'm anxious to find out just how much control i have over my body with bulking and cutting, not just physically but mentally as well. The whole thing is a fun learning process , with really cool results.
Good luck with your decision of what to do!!0 -
Maybe continue on for a while longer, since you don't have much to lose anyway on this bulk so far? At what rate did you put weight on? I'm trying to time my first bulk soon, so I can cut in plenty of time, to be in good shape by summer. I still want to cut a bit more before I start bulking, though, so timing is important. Since bulking is new to me, it's a bit scary. (LOL) You are doing great, btw!0
-
Thanks for the info & ideas! I gained about a lb a week steady then for the last month or so ...nothin' . My only issue is a flap of skin leftover from a c-section a loooong time ago and some cellulite ( which by the way I still had when I was 111 lbs) that maintenance idea sounds great.0
-
I'm also for the maintenance phase; you don't have to cut after bulking and actually should slowly step down. I don't neccessarily agree with bulking for years; but if you're happy there's no reason to cut. You can change your body comp with maintenance it just will be a slower process and there's nothing wrong with that!0
-
My plan was a 3-4 month bulk, but 9 weeks in I decided to extend it to a 5-6 month bulk. For me, muscle gains are still more important than fat loss. I'm sure in a few months I'll definitely be ready to get rid of the fluff!0
-
I'm in the same boat too! I've been bulking since the beginning of September and I put on about 14 lbs. I've been fluctuating between 132-135lbs. My lifts have made tremendous progress but I know a lot of the weight I put on is water/fat. I feel fluffy all the time and my quads can't fit into any of my work pants or jeans anymore. I think I'm going to eat at maintenance and add in some HIIT and see what happens.0
-
I had a similar result- but it was short lived- I went from OH NICE- to ew- nope.
It's only January- I vote go maintenance or press on for at least another month- muscle is so hard to generate.0
