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Time to Gain! Anyone running a bulk?
Hi everyone! It's time for me to transition into yet another bulk cycle. B) Anyone else bulking now or soon? Feel free to discuss your goals, methods used, share your progress, or even if you aren't bulking but have any questions or want to share your past results, you can do it here As for me, this will be bulk #4. I did…
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Anyone cutting after a bulk?
Hey all, I am about to start cutting in a few weeks, just wondering if anyone else is in the same boat.. either currently cutting or about to start. Would love to talk about different techniques (calorie cycling, refeeds, diet breaks), macros, calories, program modifications (if any) that you go with while you lean down. I…
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Bodybuilding and body image issues
I am wondering how common it is for people who bodybuild (recreationally or competively) to experience some type of body image issues (I don't know if classified as serious as body dysmorphia but maybe in some cases). Before I got into lifting and bulk/cut cycles, I always figured things were not possible and accepted how…
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Slow cutting
I know there can be negatives to long periods in a deficit, wondering when that starts to take a toll, how long is too long? Am I doing myself a disservice by cutting too slow when it comes to muscle loss and metabolism? I just feel like i have been cutting forever (it's been about 4 months now, and will probably go to 5).…
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Question for the past and present nursing mamas
Just out of curiosity, while still nursing, how long was it until your period returned? With my first it was exactly 14 months on the dot. My second is 11 months, no period yet...but I keep feeling like it is on it's way. Was it sooner for your second vs first? I wonder if it is based on frequency of nursing, hormones, or…
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Home gym vs. public gym
This is an interesting topic I thought we could discuss, in particular for those bodybuilding (either competitive or recreational). How many of you lift only at home and have found success that way? Do you think your results would be better if you joined a public gym? What kind of equipment do you have? For those that have…
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Mini-Cuts
Just wondering if anyone has experience or opinions on running a mini-cut during a longer bulk cycle. I kind of have a general idea of how it goes, but would love to hear more about what you have heard and what you do. I would like to run one after next month. This will be after about 4.5 months of bulking, total gain will…
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Muscle maintenance without exercise?
A question in the main forums got me thinking. Just out of curiosity...can you maintain muscle in maintenance without exercise/resistance training? I would imagine, over enough time...you lose muscle and gain fat, the opposite of a recomp? For example.. if someone finds they are unable to workout for a few months but wants…
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Bulking and Cutting Progress
I think it would be awesome to share progress photos here, and it would be interesting to see everyone's pre-bulk, post-bulk, post-cut, whatever progress you are comfortable with sharing. It would also give people new to bulking/cutting an idea of where people start off and the results. If you want to share your height,…
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Hiring a coach (body/muscle building)
Looking for some input and advice. What kind of benefit would I gain from hiring a coach or trainer? So some background: -I have been lifting for a few years now. I have run two successful bulk/cut cycles, I have built a physique I am very happy with. But just wondering if I could take it to the next level with my next…
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Women- How do you know when to stop cutting?
Men can chime in too of course, but I am asking more for women’s perspective and experience especially since for some our bodyfat can vary widely from top to bottom. I will start by saying I don’t have a goal BF%, I don’t have a show to prep for, I am not planning on leaning out for another bulk at the moment. My upper…
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When to take things to the next level?
I feel like there is so much information out there on bodybuilding, muscle and strength building, leaning out etc. Now I am aware of Helm's pyramids and what is most important .. but I feel like everytime I think I know what I’m doing, something new comes out and I think “shoot I’m not doing that, should I?” even though…
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Bulking gain vs. Cutting loss
Just out of curiosity, how much did you gain on your bulk and how much did you have to then lose on your cut to get to your goal physique? My first bulk I gained about 10lbs, and lost 3-4lbs to get to my goal. I was pretty comfortable with that (40% of what I gained). My second bulk I gained 12lbs and I am now down 3lbs…
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Goals and Motivation
I have been doing a lot of thinking lately and I am having a hard time with defining my fitness goals. When I am bulking/cutting it is easy.. there is my goal.. to gain, to lose..I feel like I have a purpose and go after it and just focus on what I am doing. But at times I feel like I ignore the “bigger picture” because I…
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Transition from Bulk to Cut
I have asked this question before, but I still keep seeing conflicting info on the matter so I figure we can discuss it here. I am currently bulking for another 6 weeks. In the past I was told to hang out at maintenance for at least 2 weeks and adjust training to transition into a cut. I have also been told that I go…
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How do you know when you are doing enough?
I see this question arise quite often, particularly here in the gaining section. How do you know when you are lifting enough to create adequate muscle building? I know there should be progressive overload over time.. but I find that answer doesn't really satisfy. Is it hitting PRs? Increasing volume? How often should these…
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Keep cutting or recomp for stubborn fat
I am confused and wondering what direction I should take at this point. Right now I am currently cutting. I’m sure many other women are in the same boat as me, I have some really stubborn fat pockets on my upper legs/just below the glutes.. everything else is looking great and I am seeing some positive changes (in my upper…
