Welcome to the group Steph! :flowerforyou:

Hi, just jumping in here to introduce myself as I lurk here everyday and will *someday* be doing a bulk. I'm currently still trying to get to 22% BF but am hoping to be there by Fall. I started NROL4W and eating at a small deficit in June of 2012. I've lost 42lbs and and 6 sizes eating 1900-2200 cals/day and lifting. Definitely not a quick process, but I've learned a lot, have never felt deprived, and my body has changed more than I dreamed it could. Last year I started to realize that to get the *look* and strength I want, I will have to bulk.
I'm 5'5" and currently 144lbs and BF% is in the upper 20s maybe 30ish. I'm doing NROL Supercharged- no extra cardio other than leisurely walking and an occasional bike ride with the kids.
I love reading your posts as it prepares me for for the crazy mental process that I know I will experience trying to gain weight. :flowerforyou:

Hello! I am wanting to start a bulk here in June (worst month to pick since it's summer, but oh well). My motivational quote right now is, "Get Fit for Life. Not For Summer." Anyways! I am 5"1 1/2. My starting weight was 119 pounds, with a 30 inch waist and a 36 inch hips. I am now 100-101, with a 24 1/2 inch waist and a 29 inch hips. My maintenance calories right now is around 1600-1800, but since I'm wanting to bulk, that will eventually go up to about 2000 or so. I want to bulk and gain muscle because I thought it was just all about losing weight. I thought I would finally have the body I want by being a cardio bunny and running, running, running. I never took weight training seriously until I heard from people about bodybuilding.com, which introduced me that fit and strength is much more important than looking thin!
I believe my body fat % is around 15%. I'm wanting it to stay there, or at least in the healthy range!

Not entirely sure what program I'm doing to be doing. All I know is that I need to incorporate heavy deadlifts, squats, lunges, military presses, rows, bench presses, and wanting to work on push-ups and chin-ups. I don't like doing cardio that much, but if I do and it's not FORCED, I love swimming, tennis, walks, and roller blading!

My duration for a bulking period would be as long as it takes to gain about 6 pounds of muscle, and to still have most of that left when I cut.... I'm a little new to this all! :P

But I definitely need help fighting through the mentality of having to see a bunch of weight come back on again... That's what I'm struggling with right now. So, any suggestions or advice would be extremely helpful!

Hi authoress and raindawg. Good luck with the first bulk - you're going to love it

Quick question, raindawg. What height are you? Just your maintainence cals seem a bit low for a guy, you'll probably need a bit more than you think for a bulk.

Ohai. I'm Lynx. This is ma first bulk. Started in February of this year. Had a bad two weeks but other than that, been steady with calories. I slowly reversed from cutting to bulk, so its been a fun experience thus far.

1. Starting weight for bulk: 119 lbs
2. Goal weight: no more than 130 lbs
3. Maintenance calories: around 2200
4. Bulk calories 2300
5. Bulk duration: October on if possible
6. Lifting program: All Pro

Just really want a place to ask questions without bs. ;P Thanks for dealing wif me

Hi Sinful Moon and Lynx! So the only thing I would point out is your bulk calories. When I joined this lovely group, my goal was to eat 200 over maintenance. A few people suggested that I should increase that amount if I wanted to see real gains. The reason is calorie counting is not an exact science, so it's always better the err on the side of more calories when bulking. You can always cut the fat later. In my case they were right. My TDEE is 2200, and I bulked eating 2400 for the first 6 weeks and didn't see much progress. So I bumped it up to 2600 and finally saw some gains. Just a thought. Lynx, I know you said in the forums the other day that you've gained 4 pounds so you are making progress, it just might be slow going.

Well, no one's posted on the introductions in a while, but here i go. This will be my first bulk.

1. Starting weight: 148
2. Bulk goal weight: 160
3. Maintenance calories: 2300
4. Bulk calories: 2550
5. Bulk goal duration: 3 months, then I'll reevaluate
6. Lifting program: Nerd Fitness Academy

Hi, I'm Steph. This is my first bulk.

1. Starting weight-I got down to 128 on the scale before I started reversing. I basically never saw anything on the scale between 128-133 though. I am honestly a little unsure of starting weight because it was never steady. I'll go with 130
2. Bulk goal weight- 140 if I'm scared, 145 if I'm not.
3. Maintenance calories -1800
4. Bulk calories -2050
5. Bulk goal duration -5 months
6. Lifting program - PHUL with added glute work

I'm about 8-10 weeks in and weighing around 136. I feel fluffy but strong. I've gained over an inch back on my hips, inch to the waist, in on the thighs. Arm measurement is holding strong. Mentally I'm having my ups and downs. Downs when my jeans are tight and I look at my thighs, ups when I am making PRs in the gym.

Hi! I figure it's finally time to introduce myself although I have been lurking for a while. My name is Erica. I've been spinning my wheels a bit for the last year or so in terms of body composition, but I'm finally ready to get a bit more serious. Through the process I think I have actually made some muscle gains, just perhaps not as good as they could have been. Currently I am slowly cutting/recomping through summer, then look to bulk seriously through autumn/winter. Although I had been doing bodyweight strength work and some dumbbell stuff, previously I've only just got into the big compound lifts since October, doing the Stronglifts program.