Epic dirty bulk?

youcantflexcardio wrote: »

Ok, so I used to be a fit 205lbs (ish), then I quit lifting and eating proper and got fat to about 300lbs over the course of 2 years. I've been lifting again for 7 months, and eating a properly balanced deficit for around 3 - currently sitting in the low 260s, and cutting.

The thing is, I am now as strong, if not stronger, sometimes by quite a bit (my squat for instance) than I ever was at 205 - my question is: was some of that 95lb gain muscle even though I was inactive? Did I essentially dirty bulk without meaning to, and now that I am properly training my muscles and regaining my CNS adaptations, will I be a few lbs heavier at roughly the same body fat I was at 205?

Probably yes. Of course too much body fat 8s not a good thing. But if you can be patient and not lose too quickly but on a slow steady pace you will keep much of the muscle you've gained.

I think I already mentioned to you in another thread. There is no way you put on 95lbs of pure fat. Thats not how this works. Your bigger now, and therefore your strength potential is higher. This is also helped by past experience being a lifter. As to your current predicament, we are all different. Some people can cut hard and still gain strength, others don't have the fortitude. All I can say make sure you keep pushing to add strength on your cut to limit your muscle loss. IMO, unless you're trying out for the NFL if you're at 260 going from 300 to 205 you have a ways to go before you need to worry lowering your cut. You're going to lose some muscle. But to me your plan sounds solid. However, if you start losing strength I would reconsider. Also keep in mind building strength on cut, can get confusing as hell once you get to the 15% bf range. You're weight becomes dominated by water retention and it goes up and down and all around, so you have stay on point with cals, and monitor more with the mirror and less with the scale.

As you get physically larger your leverages change for some lifts in a benficial manner. Being bigger doesn't necessarily make you stronger, being in a better mechanical position will let you move heavier weights though.

The easiest lift to imagine would likely be the bench press, if you have a larger gut or pecs (regardless of composition of said parts) the weakest point of the lift would be closer to lockout making you able to lift more.

Alternatively, think of quarter squatting vs a full depth squat (which depends on individual ability and sport demands). Being bigger you probably can't squat quite as deep, which also makes the lift easier.


*Mini-rant warning because I hear this all the time*

The common misconception is that the lift is easier because the range of motion is shorter, but in actuality the lift is easier because the most difficult part of the lift is in a more mechanically advantageous position.
The physical distance the bar moves is largely irrelevant until you're doing sets that last longer than 25ish seconds (likely about 8ish reps), at which point you start to become limited by energy systems and not by the ability to exert enough force to move the weight.

*End rant*

Tldr; being bigger gives you better leverages and therefore the ability to move more weight. Some weight might have been muscle too. Keep on keeping on!