At what percent bodyfat did you start your bulk?

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Replies

  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    I was envisioning I had about 90 or so days to go for my goal (based on current trend) so to keep it fresh I switched my workout routine to P90X to have a varied routine that was already planned out for me to keep me interested and involved.

    I do realize that P90X is not a hypertrophy routine but I figured for the purpose of a cut and muscle maintenance it would keep me active and help with my flexibility and overall fitness and so far, in week 4, I've rather enjoyed it.

    When I do finally transition I hope to move first to maintenance for a bit while switching to a heavy lifting or hypertrophy program (haven't picked one yet, advice there would be good too). After settling into that I'd look at ramping up to a 400 cal surplus or so and then yeah as suggested bulk/cut cycle as needed.

    My weightloss has been fairly plateau free. I did have a little mini-plateau of about 2 weeks when I switched my workout routine to P90X in mid-May but I was expecting that as I've found changing your routinue seems to come along with water retention.
  • jwdieter
    jwdieter Posts: 2,582 Member
    Should be able to cut to 10-12% pretty easy given the consistency and solid approach so far. It's nice to look good while bulking.
  • Cortelli
    Cortelli Posts: 1,369 Member
    I got down to about 11 - 12% before my first bulk. That was after about 8 - 9 months of cutting with a month or so of conscious maintenance mixed in in two separate stretches. I lifted reasonably heavy all through the cut. I am back up to somewhere just north of 15% I think after my bulk (but look considerably better, IMHO, than I did at the same weight on the way down) and have moved to maintenance / very slight deficit to enjoy a long vacation. I'll cut in earnest again back down to 10 - 11% in late summer (North America) before bulking again.
  • Cortelli
    Cortelli Posts: 1,369 Member
    When I do finally transition I hope to move first to maintenance for a bit while switching to a heavy lifting or hypertrophy program (haven't picked one yet, advice there would be good too).

    I am probably going to switch to Ice Cream Fitness for a bit in late summer during my cut to focus a little more on strength. But during my bulk and while slipping into the bulk through a leisurely maintenance acclimatization period, I have been doing this: http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/the-muscle-building-workout-routine/ I liked this program a lot - thought it was a good mix of compound lifts, some lighter accessories, consistent push / pull mix, and appropriate rest on the four-day split. There are plenty of decent programs though - suggest you cruise bb.com.
  • random_user75
    random_user75 Posts: 157 Member
    Bump
  • chrisdavey
    chrisdavey Posts: 9,834 Member
    Very similar to my history.

    I cut with cardio only (running/boxing) and lost a lot of LBM. Then started P90x and did that. Was down to 70kg and pretty fit by this stage (about a year). I then started stronglifts and continued with other cardio that I enjoyed (mma). I'd recommend the Icecream fitness 5x5 for a good all round routine.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    Very similar to my history.

    I cut with cardio only (running/boxing) and lost a lot of LBM. Then started P90x and did that. Was down to 70kg and pretty fit by this stage (about a year). I then started stronglifts and continued with other cardio that I enjoyed (mma). I'd recommend the Icecream fitness 5x5 for a good all round routine.

    Yeah I was looking into that. My home equipment wouldn't do it justice so I'd have to join a gym but I'm okay with making that transition.

    At home I have a smith machine a bench and some olympic plates (enough for 240 pounds) along with an olympic curl bar and some adjustable dumbbells. All I could need and more for your basic stuff but if I want to do squats and deadlifts proper justice it will be lacking in the long term.

    Plus its not like I want to be dropping a deadlift weight onto the floor if i need to in my house.

    Until then though I figure P90X is a good routinue for me to follow to keep the muscles warm and work on some flexibility while I cut.
  • mRoss27
    mRoss27 Posts: 33 Member
    You want to get around 10% to begin a bulk, and end at around 15-16%. You will look good at 10% and will be in a position to slowly put on some lean mass, rather than adding more fluff while you still have plenty to lose.
  • macchiatto
    macchiatto Posts: 2,890 Member
    I got tired of cutting and decided to recomp instead. But really ... I was already down to 131 lbs at 5'7" and while my BF was higher than I'd like, I have low LBM and was already getting too thin in the parts of my body where I don't carry weight. I am new to lifting so for now I'm going to focus more on building my strength, eating at maintenance and see where I'm at after several months. If I want to go back to cutting then, I can.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    If your primary goal is strength, then you would probably want to eat at maintenance or bulk no matter what your current BF% is. However, it seems like your primary goal is appearance. Like a couple have mentioned, I would definitely get below 15% before thinking about it. Maybe start reversing around 12%. You should still drop a bit more fat while reversing up.

    I have only reversed/bulked for a couple of months out of my 2+ years of getting in shape. It was pretty glorious.

    Yup...appearance. Functional strength in my current occupation serves little purpose unless perhaps a big bookcase fell on me and I had to push it off. If I did a sport it would be long distance hiking and to be honest the lighter I am the better for that. No, pretty safe assumption there that my goal is aesthetic.

    I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how functional strength actually is. Like distance running, a fundamental level of strength has manifold benefits in terms of endurance and injury prevention for hiking.
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  • jason_adams
    jason_adams Posts: 187 Member
    If you're in need of a change! Then start doing something different now. Don't underestimate the importance of staying mentally fresh. Just make sure you also remember your ultimate goal. There's no reason you can't start recomping now, and come back to cutting later on.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    After 18 months at a deficit, 33%-25% BF, I said screw it and now I'm bulking. Looking for some strength gains and a well stoked metabolism. Hopefully a cut will be easier afterwards. So far I haven't even any weight, but bf has reduced slightly.

    This is me, too. Almost exactly, though I'm not sure what my starting %BF was.

    I've finished my first bulk and just started cutting 2 weeks ago. Started C25K training last week on 'off' days to help with my deficit. I dropped a lb of what I assume is water/glycogen in the first 2 days. I've lost another lb since and more slowly over two weeks, so more likely to actually be fat (possibly up to 2 lbs, but I need to see if my low this morning stays or is just a fluctuation). So far, I'd say cutting is much easier now than it was at the end of my first long cut. I was down to losing 1/4 lb / mo at the same calories I'm at now.
  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    If you're in need of a change! Then start doing something different now. Don't underestimate the importance of staying mentally fresh. Just make sure you also remember your ultimate goal. There's no reason you can't start recomping now, and come back to cutting later on.

    Oh I agree. That is why I started P90X. Not because I think P90X is the be-all-end-all of routines or anything but I wanted to do something new to do exactly that, keep it fresh. I would LIKE to cut down further before I start a bulk but if I find myself getting listless or washed out then yeah I will switch for the purpose of keeping it new and interesting.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    I really liked this article: http://www.mensjournal.com/magazine/everything-you-know-about-fitness-is-a-lie-20120504
  • raindawg
    raindawg Posts: 348 Member
    After 18 months at a deficit, 33%-25% BF, I said screw it and now I'm bulking. Looking for some strength gains and a well stoked metabolism. Hopefully a cut will be easier afterwards. So far I haven't even any weight, but bf has reduced slightly.

    This is me, too. Almost exactly, though I'm not sure what my starting %BF was.

    I've finished my first bulk and just started cutting 2 weeks ago. Started C25K training last week on 'off' days to help with my deficit. I dropped a lb of what I assume is water/glycogen in the first 2 days. I've lost another lb since and more slowly over two weeks, so more likely to actually be fat (possibly up to 2 lbs, but I need to see if my low this morning stays or is just a fluctuation). So far, I'd say cutting is much easier now than it was at the end of my first long cut. I was down to losing 1/4 lb / mo at the same calories I'm at now.

    Similar situation here. I consider myself an experiment to see what gains if any can be had doing a bulk higher than 15% bf. I got down to 160lbs (with approximately 20% bf) and just didn't want to go any lower weight than that. This, combined with I was really itching for a new goal, so I kicked off a bulk. I'm about 6 weeks in and am planning to go 15 weeks before cutting. If I improve 3% or so I'd consider it a success and look to do it again.

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