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  • Bulking and Cutting

    ok, so after 4 months of eating at a deficit, I have finally achieved my cholesterol goal. I am continuing towards my goal of getting down to single digit body fat percentage....still have some work to do there, obviously.

    I lift, but obviously since I am eating at a deficit, I am not really packing on lots of muscle. I am toning, but not really bulking to any great extent (although I can definitely notice a difference).

    I wouldn't mind adding some mass on my frame, but I would like to do it the right way. In reading up a bit, it seems that there are various schools of thought on bulking. Any bulking I would attempt would be "clean," meaning I don't want to load up on junk food and anything else that packs calories. I would simply increase my intake of clean protein sources...more meats, more oatmeal, more dairy, for example. I still want to maintain my cholesterol.

    My question is this: almost all the online regimens call for months of bulking. Guys packing on 20-30 more pounds while lifting vigorously over the course of 3-5 months.

    Is there such a thing as "mini-bulking" or "short-term bulking?" I don't want to load back everything I just worked to lose, but I also have no desire to grow to look like a meathead, either. Bodybuilding is not my goal.

    Can I "bulk" for a few weeks, maybe pack on 5-10 pounds while lifting vigorously, and achieve any moderate results? Or would that likely be a futile effort?

    Also, during the bulking phase, I guess it is counter-productive to be doing a lot of cardio, if any, since all that does is burn previous calories needed to bulk?

    Any tips or experiences would be appreciated.
    Fitter. Happier. More Productive.

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  • #2
    Originally posted by TripletDaddy View Post
    My question is this: almost all the online regimens call for months of bulking. Guys packing on 20-30 more pounds while lifting vigorously over the course of 3-5 months.
    Natural guys do not pack on 20-30 pounds of muscle from a bulk. In your first year of lifting you can have some impressive gains but after that you are not going to get anywhere close to 20-30 pounds. Also, I would not call 3-5 months a long bulk anyways.

    Originally posted by TripletDaddy View Post
    Is there such a thing as "mini-bulking" or "short-term bulking?" I don't want to load back everything I just worked to lose, but I also have no desire to grow to look like a meathead, either. Bodybuilding is not my goal.

    Can I "bulk" for a few weeks, maybe pack on 5-10 pounds while lifting vigorously, and achieve any moderate results? Or would that likely be a futile effort?
    Mini-bulks are pretty common among some well known natural bodybuilders; something like a 6 week bulk followed by a 3-4 week cut. A "trained lifter" (beyond the first year of easy gains) should feel very good about their progress if they clear a couple pounds of increased muscle mass during a bulk/cut cycle like that.
    Last edited by pelagius; 07-15-2009, 01:05 PM.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by pelagius View Post
      Natural guys do not pack on 20-30 pounds of muscle from a bulk. In your first year of lifting you can have some impressive gains but after that you are not going to get anywhere close to 20-30 pounds. Also, I would not call 3-5 months a long bulk anyways.
      I should clarify. They packed on 20-30 pounds from eating 4000 calories or somesuch a day, not 20-30 pounds of muscle from lifting or juicing.

      Originally posted by pelagius View Post
      Mini-bulks are pretty common among some well known natural bodybuilders; something like a 6 week bulk followed by a 3-4 week cut. A "trained lifter" (beyond the first year of easy gains) should feel very good about their progress if they clear a couple pounds of increased muscle mass during a bulk/cut cycle like that.
      NOt clear on what you are saying here. I am not a trained lifter. Are you answering yes to my hypo of bulking up 5-10 pounds through increased caloric intake/lifting over 4 or so weeks, then cutting back down to desired weight?

      What do you classify as being "impressive?" I remember awhile back you posted a Fight Club pic and a gay porn pic. I stated that the Fight Club look was plenty for me. The gay porn looked like a meathead. I have zero desire to look like that. So if my goal is simply to add enough muscle to be in the former category, would my plan to mini bulk be appropriate?
      Fitter. Happier. More Productive.

      sigpic

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      • #4
        NOt clear on what you are saying here. I am not a trained lifter.
        Let's go with,

        Trained: lifting more than 1 year consistently using a moderate to intense lifting regime (as in you you have been weight training for a year and hence are trained as opposed to someone trained you in the art of lifting).

        Are you answering yes to my hypo of bulking up 5-10 pounds through increased caloric intake/lifting over 4 or so weeks, then cutting back down to desired weight?
        Yes, I like mini bulks; 4 weeks is fine in my opinion (shorter than most mini bulks but I see nothing wrong with it). I would aim for no more than 1-2 pounds a week in weight gain and then you do a mini cut. If you have the discipline I think you're better off keeping the gain closer to 1 pound per week.
        Last edited by pelagius; 07-15-2009, 01:37 PM.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by pelagius View Post
          Let's go with,

          Trained: lifting more than 1 year consistently using a moderate to intense lifting regime (as in you you have been weight training for a year and hence are trained as opposed to someone trained you in the art of lifting).



          Yes, I like mini bulks; 4 weeks is fine in my opinion (shorter than most mini bulks but I see nothing wrong with it). I would aim for no more than 1-2 pounds a week in weight gain and then you do a mini cut. If you have the discipline I think your better off keeping the gain closer to 1 pound per week.
          sweet. thanks pelagiu$.

          this makes me feel better about putting it back on. I read online and some of these guys are bulking dirty with cartons of ice cream and pizzas and stuff....while it sounds like a fun time, my cholesterol would shoot back through the roof eating that way every day for months.
          Fitter. Happier. More Productive.

          sigpic

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          • #6
            Originally posted by TripletDaddy View Post
            sweet. thanks pelagiu$.

            this makes me feel better about putting it back on. I read online and some of these guys are bulking dirty with cartons of ice cream and pizzas and stuff....while it sounds like a fun time, my cholesterol would shoot back through the roof eating that way every day for months.
            A bulk done right should primarily be pretty similar to your normal diet except either more meals or larger portions. Ice cream and pizza bulks should be left to teenagers with Napoleon complexes. Of course, it is not much fun if bulking doesn't lead to some indulgence.

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