Too early to bulk?

Silkysausage
Silkysausage Posts: 502 Member
in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
I've read that very new weightlifters, like myself, should wait a few months before bulking due to newbie gains.

I have seen a change in muscle tone but I've lost 2 pounds and weigh 117 currently by just using machines and a few free weights.

I am currently using a few new routines where I'm squatting, lunging etc using Smith Machine so very new to free weights entirely.

Should I go back to maintaining weight and keep going until...what exactly?

Replies

  • Silkysausage
    Silkysausage Posts: 502 Member
    Just found this amazing article, explains it all really.

    https://www.ironbuiltfitness.com/bulk-or-cut-first
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    Do you know your current bodyfat %? Unless you are fairly lean (20% or under) or underweight, then I would spend some time maintaining or cutting (depending on your height of course as 117lbs could be very low if you are taller). Up to you of course, but starting a bulk at a higher bodyfat is typically not as optimal (physically or mentally).
  • UncelDolan09
    UncelDolan09 Posts: 22 Member
    edited November 2017
    Piggybacking off of that: I have to take a break from working out due to injury currently, and reduced my calorie intake to a deficit. While I was doing Stronglifts 5x5 before (with a clean bulk), I am now actually wondering if I should follow the article and go into a different routine and cut more before doing Stronglifts 5x5 again. Any thoughts?

    Stats: 6ft, 181lbs, I'd say roughly around 20-22% bodyfat.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    UncelDolan09 wrote: »
    Piggybacking off of that: I have to take a break from working out due to injury currently, and reduced my calorie intake to a deficit. While I was doing Stronglifts 5x5 before (with a clean bulk), I am now actually wondering if I should follow the article and go into a different routine and cut more before doing Stronglifts 5x5 again. Any thoughts?

    Stats: 6ft, 181lbs, I'd say roughly around 20-22% bodyfat.

    I wouldn't cut while off from training.
    I also wouldn't use SL in conjunction with a bulk. A higher rep/hypertrophy program would be a better option.
  • UncelDolan09
    UncelDolan09 Posts: 22 Member
    not_a_runner wrote: »
    UncelDolan09 wrote: »
    Piggybacking off of that: I have to take a break from working out due to injury currently, and reduced my calorie intake to a deficit. While I was doing Stronglifts 5x5 before (with a clean bulk), I am now actually wondering if I should follow the article and go into a different routine and cut more before doing Stronglifts 5x5 again. Any thoughts?

    Stats: 6ft, 181lbs, I'd say roughly around 20-22% bodyfat.

    I wouldn't cut while off from training.
    I also wouldn't use SL in conjunction with a bulk. A higher rep/hypertrophy program would be a better option.

    Huh, why not bulk with SL? I'd assume in order to add on muscle with that program would require a lean bulk.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    UncelDolan09 wrote: »
    not_a_runner wrote: »
    UncelDolan09 wrote: »
    Piggybacking off of that: I have to take a break from working out due to injury currently, and reduced my calorie intake to a deficit. While I was doing Stronglifts 5x5 before (with a clean bulk), I am now actually wondering if I should follow the article and go into a different routine and cut more before doing Stronglifts 5x5 again. Any thoughts?

    Stats: 6ft, 181lbs, I'd say roughly around 20-22% bodyfat.

    I wouldn't cut while off from training.
    I also wouldn't use SL in conjunction with a bulk. A higher rep/hypertrophy program would be a better option.

    Huh, why not bulk with SL? I'd assume in order to add on muscle with that program would require a lean bulk.

    I mean yeah you could bulk while doing SL and would gain some muscle.. I just don't consider SL the most optimal program for muscle gains... You'd likely see much better results with a hypertrophy program.


    Lifters who cycle between strength/hypertrophy/maintenance phases will typically maintain their body weight during strength phases as it's not as effective as hypertrophy training is for building mass.
    Why would you put on body fat for sub optimal gains, when you could just use the more appropriate training method and obtain better results.... Does that make sense?
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited December 2017
    Silkysausage wrote: »
    I've read that very new weightlifters, like myself, should wait a few months before bulking due to newbie gains.

    I have seen a change in muscle tone but I've lost 2 pounds and weigh 117 currently by just using machines and a few free weights.

    I am currently using a few new routines where I'm squatting, lunging etc using Smith Machine so very new to free weights entirely.

    Should I go back to maintaining weight and keep going until...what exactly?

    I saw your post on the 'Gaining muscle in a Deficit' thread and thought I would just comment on this thread in stead.

    Is 117 pounds at a lean enough body fat%? Optimally (and of course this individual) you want to be around 20%, not to say 22ish% would not be lean enough for your body type. If you feel you want to or need to lean out a little more, keep cutting.

    This is individual as well but as females, are you mentally ready to gain fat as you gain weight? Are you doing an established progressive overload training program?

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

    If you answer yes to these, you ready to 'clean' bulk. For your calories, you can slow reverse till your reach maintenance, or if you already know your maintenance you can add surplus to that. How you handle your calories is completely individual as well. Having done several bulk/cut cycles myself my preference is reverse diet and add surplus in a slower approach but i am also almost 50 yrs old this year. :smile:

    Eta: new weight lifters do not have to wait before bulking due to any newbie gains etc. You will usually taper down gains in a deficit (at least I did my self) and I was left to just maintain my muscle until I finished cutting and move to recomp than I chose to move to bulk/cut cycles (recomp is a fairly slow process).

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