Cutting Bulking Questions! Help!!!

beautifulwarrior18
beautifulwarrior18 Posts: 914 Member
edited February 27 in Fitness and Exercise
I am following IIFYM (if you dont agree with that I don't care takeyour comments somewhere else ) and to be honest i am new to heavy lifting so this bulking cutting thing makes sense to me I just always thought of bulking as something you do once you get to desired thinness, but anyway a conversation I had and some thought made me change my mind.

So anyway, I started NROLFW and despite the advice of the author who recommends eating at maintainence, I am currently cutting because I am at 50% body fat and to be honest, the book wasn't really written nutritionally for obese individuals. I realize that while I am trying to lose weight, bulking would be beneficial at some points to rev up my metabolism. I know that bulking generally lasts 6-9 months and I can approximately expect a 2 lb gain per month but my questions are
Would it be beneficial for a newbie (ie first year of lifting) to be doing a bulk dince I am not up to my optimum strenth at tjis point and I am making strength gains quickly?
Could I do a shorter bulk (say 3 months) and it be effective?
How long should my cuts be?

I know I have a long way to go, but I dont want to lose too quickly because i have a fear of extra skin. So mixing cutting and bulking seems like the best fit for me.

Replies

  • GradatimFerociter
    GradatimFerociter Posts: 296 Member
    Just focus on eating enough to increase your lifts, the rest will take care of itself in the wash as a newbie.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Wait. Full stop.
    I am currently cutting because I am at 50% body fat and to be honest, the book wasn't really written nutritionally for obese individuals

    You're at a deficit currently. Yes.
    . I realize that while I am trying to lose weight, bulking would be beneficial at some points to rev up my metabolism

    you cannot cut and bulk at the same time.

    If I am reading this correctly at 50% body fat- keep lifting- eat at a moderate deficit you'll continue to make tremendous strength gains- you may seem some size gains since youre a new lifter and over weight (those are the two exceptions to building muscle on a deficit)- but it'll be minimal. You'll continue to lose- optimizing fat loss and minimzing muscle loss.

    I really wouldn't be bulking at this point- BF is too high and honestly you have a lot of gains to be had without ever bulking.
  • May_Rose
    May_Rose Posts: 119 Member
    If you are overweight, you do not need to do a bulk cycle. Your body has extra fat stores to burn. Strenght training while at a deficit will help preserve your existing muscle. People who are overweight tend to have a pretty good amount of muscle on them already.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    at 50% BF you have zero need to bulk. keep lifting while eating in a deficit
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