Should I be losing weight or bulking?

deet91
deet91 Posts: 4 Member
edited February 21 in Health and Weight Loss
I took a few pics and I don't know right now if I should be continuing to lose weight or trying to bulk.

http://imgur.com/a/g0hm2

I'm 147 lbs and 5'7. I never been in shape my entire life and just recently dropped 47lbs in a year but I never really exercised while doing it and well now im really skinny but... fat in others (stomach, butt/thighs... see pics like its legit droopy saggy fat), if that makes sense?

So right now im not sure what to do.

Do I try to "bulk" I never did this before in my life.... or Do I try to shed off and lower my bmi further right now its 22.

Replies

  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    g0hm2

    FIFY

    Edit: or not.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    Bulk
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Just looked at your link and I agree bulk. Health and appearance would both benefit from eating at a surplus plus heavy lifting more than a diet.

    You're not overweight you are just flabby with little muscle (no offense intended just honest appraisal).
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I agree with bulking.

    Excellent job, by the way!
  • deet91
    deet91 Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks guys, what should I do about my diet then. Im confused on what I should be putting into my body and how much of it.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Thanks guys, what should I do about my diet then. Im confused on what I should be putting into my body and how much of it.

    Well ideally youd pick a lifting routinue, determine your maintenance calories and eat slightly more than that by a couple hundred calories making sure to include plenty of protein in your diet.
  • AJ_G
    AJ_G Posts: 4,158 Member
    Thanks guys, what should I do about my diet then. Im confused on what I should be putting into my body and how much of it.

    Set a calorie goal to gain weight. Ideally for a bulk you should do TDEE + 10%. For your macros, set your protein goal to 0.82g per lb of body weight. For fat set your goal to 0.4g per lb of body weight. Fill your remaining calories with carbs. Eat whatever you'd like as long as you hit your calorie goal and at least hit your fat and protein goals by the end of the day. It's also a good idea to try and hit a minimum of 30g of fiber a day and also hit the recommended micronutrient goals(100%RDA Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium). Eat whatever you'd like as long as you're hitting these goals and you're good to go.
  • yopeeps025
    yopeeps025 Posts: 8,680 Member
    Umm honestly I would say yes time to gain muscle mass.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    And yes congratulations on dropping 47 pounds you don't look overweight and I'm assuming you once did.
  • prattiger65
    prattiger65 Posts: 1,657 Member
    Do you know what your bf% is? I would be curious because I am very similar to you in shape. I am heavier, but I'm taller too. I have been debating continuing the cut or begin a bulk.
  • Soccermavrick
    Soccermavrick Posts: 405 Member
    My thoughts. Eat at a small surplus, and try to workout to build muscle. Protien should probably be between .8 to 1 gram per lbs of ideal weight. It does not sound like you are a true bulker, as some people mention on here, so I do not think you want a tremendious surplus, then again you are young, and your motabolism might making gaining harder. (Hence part of why you dropped like you did.) Also from the sounds of it you are not trying to be the next Jay Culter. But bodybuilding to that level takes years, so just general training is not going to blow you up over night. And as you get into it, you will probably figure out what you are really going for. Plus as you lift, I imagine you will tighten up, and probably drop another few percentages, so in a sense you might get both. Again just my thoughts.
  • deet91
    deet91 Posts: 4 Member
    Do you know what your bf% is? I would be curious because I am very similar to you in shape. I am heavier, but I'm taller too. I have been debating continuing the cut or begin a bulk.

    I really dont know my bf%, if there is a way to calculate it I would be more than happy to tell you.
  • Mr_Excitement
    Mr_Excitement Posts: 833 Member
    Put muscle on your frame first. You don't have to get fat, just eat at a modest surplus and put in the work.
  • stephe1987
    stephe1987 Posts: 406 Member
    I think bulking. Eat to gain weight, change your macros to those of someone who's building muscle, and lift weights -- the weight lifters here would know more about this than I do (I myself am still in weight loss mode). Your body shape isn't that of an overweight person but you do have a little bit of extra flab on your body (muscles are not yet visible). Once that little bit of fat turns into muscle, you're going to look great! :smile:
  • deet91
    deet91 Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks everyone, I am definitely feeling more confident that I can take the next step. Hopefully in a few months I can turn back up with a success story.
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