sarahstrezo Member

At home work out DVDs. Some more expensive than others...but they are all pretty much the same thing.

Yep. I started this whole "fitness thing" with DVD's at home. I thought the ones with "ripped" and "shred" and "tone" in the title would mean that I would eventually look like the people on the video. What they don't tell you is that those people also weight train. But, a weight training video wouldn't work and therefor…

Well, abs are muscles just like biceps. They are built just like any other muscle would be. They are shown by having a low body fat percentage. Looking at your profile picture, my guess would be that you have a relatively low total lean mass...meaning you need more muscle. If you are lacking in total lean mass (which would…

It actually differs each week depending on where I'm at in my cycle. But, most weeks, it was average of a .5 lb per week loss or a tad less. I don't like doing big/fast cuts because then my strength tanks big time. And my primary goal is to lift/push/pull big weight.

Yes...sorry, that is actually what I meant ;)

Yep...agree with this ^^^ You probably just don't have enough lean mass for any of your muscles to show no matter how little fat you have. As for programing...if you are newer to lifting, I think you need to WAY simplify your routine. Find a beginner strength program and follow that. 3-4 days total of 50-60 minutes is all…

You don't get nutritional bonus points for eating above and beyond what your body needs for micronutrients. Anything over what your body needs just gets peed/pooped/exhaled out (or stored in your fatty tissue). And, if you truly want to be miserable...by all means....keep your diet "clean" while you try to bulk. Have fun…

Yep.... ^^^ this. Eat more calorie dense foods.

I think that is for everyone. But I guess I should clarify with the "minimizing fat gains" statement. I think in my bulk, I minimized fat gains...but I did gain new fat. It's just how the human body works...man or woman. When most people say they want to "minimize fat gains", it means they are hoping for NO fat gains and…

While that sounds IDEAL, it's not realistic. Your TDEE (maintenance) is not a static number. The more you eat, the more energy you have and the higher your maintenance becomes, even if it's unintentional. When I started my bulk, I was maintaining at 2300. By the end of 20 weeks of eating at a surplus, my new maintenance…

My first bulk lasted 20 weeks. I started at 126 lbs and initially had a gaol of hitting 140 lbs, but I just got so sick and tired of eating so much damn food...lol. So, I stopped after 20 weeks and about 11 lb gain. I don't really remember how long I cut for. I cut for a handful of weeks and then took a break and ate at…

Ummm....eat more than you burn and lift weigts. Honestly, it's not much different for a woman than it is for a man. I'm in the middle of my second bulk. I eat about 300-400 cals over maintenance and lift 4 days a week. I follow 531 (because my primary focus is strength increases) and do my own thing for accessories.

Well, I'm going to be the odd chick out and say, I think 1650 is too low. I would definitely give it a few more weeks to see if you feel better as you adjust. But....I;m 5'5" and currently 135 lbs and about 19% body fat and I would be MISERABLE on 1650. I actually cut weight at about 1900-2000. I lift 4 days/week, no…

And...to add: You can totally strength train (meaning actually getting stronger) and change the shape and appearance of your muscles while on a deficit to cut body fat.

Personally, I would not bulk if I was 27% body fat. You do know that a bulk will add fat as well and muscle, right? And that there is no way around that. You can expect about 1/2 of your total gains to be lean mass (if you are lucky and train right). I'm 5'5"...I started my first bulk at 126lbs and about 19% body fat. Over…

This is super simple. But first you are going to have to let go of the idea of Good/Bad or Healthy/Unhealthy with food. You gain weight (any kind of weight) by eating more than you burn. It's really that simple. Second (and because I'm in the middle of round 2 of trying to gain) even if you ""try" to gain some new muscle,…

I agree with all the others who are telling you to EAT and LIFT. Seriously....forget about your belly fat. If you continue to cut until you lose every last ounce of belly fat, you are going to be SKINNY. Plus, the more muscle you build, the easier it is to cut later.

Yep.... ^^^ This is my experience too. I know I'm not a dude, so my experience will likely be half of what a guy should expect. But, I'm in the middle of my second bulk. The first time, I bulked for 20 weeks and put on about 11 lbs total. I just finished week 10 of my second bulk and I'm up about 5.5-6 lbs. I know I'm set…

100-150 over what you think maintenance is isn't really that much. I think you'll be surprised at how much you will need to eat to consistently gain weight.

Yes exactly this ^^^. I started out gaining at 2500 cals. Then I'd hold consistent weight there and I'd have to up again to 2700. Then, after about 16-18 weeks, I'd maintain my new current weight at 2700 and have to up again. Thus, eventually getting to 2900 to continue to gain at the end of 20 weeks. If I wanted to have…

I don't really KNOW what my new maintenance was. I just know, by tracking my intake, what I had to eat to continue to gain. You also have to remember, with extra food, comes extra energy. So, while I did zero cardio, I had extra energy to hit a few more exercises at the gym or maybe up my activity level throughout the day.…

I'm in the middle of my second bulk. What you think your maintenance is will likely be different than what it is in another 8-10 weeks of eating at a surplus. Last fall, I started with a maintenance calorie amount of about 2100. After 20 weeks, I put on 11 lbs and had to continue to up my calorie amount to continue to gain…

Most women who have "more" muscle mass with a master metabolism do not have that very thin/boney look you are after. You can't have the benefit of the faster metabolism that comes with having more muscle mass without actually HAVING more muscle mass. Yes, the definition comes with lowering of body fat, but if you are after…

Not necessarily true. Lean protein vs fatty protein doesn't matter. It's just that a fattier cut of protein will also add to your fat macros. Just eat. Period. And while yes...you need protein to build new muscle, you also need carbs. Lots and lots of carbs to build muscle as well. When I was at a stall with my gaining,…

A little bit of cardio is fine if it's something you enjoy doing. Just know that it will mean you have to eat that much more food at the end of the day/week to maintain a surplus. For me, about 8 weeks into my bulk...I was so sick and tired of shoving food in my face, I wasn't about to do anything to intentionally bring my…

I bulked last fall/winter and I had to eat close to 3000 cals a day to continue to see a 1/2 lb gain each week. I'm 33 years old, 5'5" and started at 125-126 at about 19% body fat. I do zero cardio and lift heavy 4 days a week for about an hour each session. I can maintain my current weight at 2300 cals, cut at 2100.

I bulked last fall/winter for 20 weeks and gained between 11-12 lbs. I ended up keeping about 5-6 lbs of new muscle. Will be doing it again this fall/winter.

Probably because IIFYM is just eating like a normal person might while happening to hit your macro goals. It's not really a diet style in my mind. I just eat what I want.

My gym (small local) has a power cage and one squat rack. But there are 5 flat benches, one incline and one decline. So…if one of the flat benches are available, I'll take the bar from there and deadlift so as not to take up 1/2 squat racks. But, like today…they were all taken so I grabbed the open power cage.

I use circumferential measurements. It's not 100% accurate, but i've used the same method the entire time so it's a good way to gauge trends. I will definitely take post cut pictures, but I have to wait until my period is over…because I'm hella bloated right now ;)