Bulking: this is depressing...

[thx9000]

This is my first cycle, as I have stated in a dozen posts...

As best I can tell, I am on a traditional bulking cycle. I started out a little fat (about 11%) and had reservations about bulking with my bf higher than I was comfortable with. I gain fat EASILY. I busted my ass for years basically learning my metabolism and how to manipulate it. I got to and held 6-7% for two years. Then did this 1-test product this past spring. Bf went up along with strength increases. The strength increases convinced me to do my first real cycle, but I didn't cut between the 1-test and this cycle. So I started at 11% and have grown from there. I am in the 14-15% range now and damn it is just so depressing...

I try to reassure myself: I don’t have a "gut" or even a "belly" and I still look great compared to 90% of the people at the gym. I just have this sorta soft look all over my torso. Legs are still good, hard to pinch even a few millimeters. This isn’t making me feel better though. I think I look fking rotund. Oh well, I am trying to keep myself from hitting the clen/T3 I got on hand…

Not sure why I posted this. Oh well...

 

[WARBIRDWS6]

i agree, putting on fat even when your lower than "normal" fat levels (but still fat for our culture) sucks. i am going to try for the "lean mass" type diets from now on. so what if you don't gain 40 freakin lbs, at least the 15 or 20 you gain is muscle. maybe just drop the calories and lose some fat while gaining muscle if it is disturbing you enough.

 

[40butpumpin]

Hang in there, bro. Clean the diet up, stay disciplined with it and hit the cardio hard. Forget about short cuts like clen, in the long run you'll benefit more from doing it right. Just keep at it.

 

[thx9000]

This might seem like a pretty stupid thing that I have done, but I completely killed the cardio at the start of my cycle. I figured cardio+bulking was counter productive. Is this what most people do, or do you guys keep the cardio up even when on and bulking?

 

[THE BOUNCER]

i love bulking season!!!!!! sometimes you have to give a little to gain alot. just tell yourself that there will always be time to cut later. now go put on some fat!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[thx9000]

"now go put on some fat!!!!!!!!!!!"

lol. thanks. I got that covered.

 

[me2dammit]

I

agree with bouncer. To many people are afraid to lose that six pack. Thats simply why you don't see people putting on the size they should. You can always cut.

 

[40butpumpin]

This might seem like a pretty stupid thing that I have done, but I completely killed the cardio at the start of my cycle. I figured cardio+bulking was counter productive. Is this what most people do, or do you guys keep the cardio up even when on and bulking?

Bump for more opinions on this question. I interpreted your initial post as trying to lose excess fat, sorry if I misunderstood. However, I still feel that cardio should not be dropped. Bulking does/should not mean degrading your conditioning. But I have never, nor will I ever be on a "bulking" cycle so I could be talking out of my ass here. More help on the cardio issue for thx9000.

 

[Squirrel Masta]

I will NEVER do bulking cycles again! First of all it certainly isin't healthy, unless you bulk properly. I prefer now to keep a constant gain of lean body mass, as I feel healthier, look better, and dont have the mood swings associated from severely dieting after a bulking cycle. Although, if you are competeing or planning to compete bulking cycles are inevidable, but should be done properly with the right supplements and a bulking solid diet.

 

[rottweiler75]

I have the same problems, read my response under "cardio on gear"

 

[Stillgoing]

It all has to do with individual goals & objectives. For example, Bouncer is striving to be a pro bodybuilder. He needs to do whatever it takes to put mass on. That means bulking hard without regard to specific bodyfat levels. Others aren't competing and just striving for a certain look or feel. They are less likely to want to bulk huge. My problem when I competed was I bulked too much and had a bitch of a time losing the fat to prepare for a show. I was going from the 280s down to the 230s for a show and it was too tough mentally and physically. I ended up really burned out and not as hard as I could have been if I started out leaner. Now I'm just going for hard, lean muscular look, while still fitting into my suits without wanting to rip my friggin' tie off my neck from it being too tight!!!!

 

[Stillgoing]

By the way, on cardio, I'm now a big believer in doing it even when bulking. Keeps you slightly leaner and keeps your "wind" in tact for the heavy squating sets. Do 30min, 3-4x a week. I recall Bouncer being a believer in this as well.

 

[thx9000]

I have the same problems, read my response under "cardio on gear"

yeah, I just read that.

At 6-7% bf I was 190. Then I started bulking a couple of times. I got to 210 and 11%, then took a 6mo break and now am at 224 and 14.1%. All this is based on a some "body imaging" thing that my buddy has at his PT facility once each month. Dont know how accurate that is.

I drop fat like a rock when I go for 2000cal/day of mostlly protein/fat.

I maintain okay at 2400cal/day at 40% carbs, and the rest pro&fat.

I gained slowly but cleanly in the past at 2800cal/day at like 60% protein, 20-25% fat and 15% carbs. That wasn't easy, I was eating a LOT of protein.

I am WAY over any of those levels now. I worked up to 3600cal/day. With about 300g of total protein so I have tons of calories coming from fat/carbs. I think I will take it back down to around 3000 and bump the ratios in favor of protein...

 

[THE BOUNCER]

By the way, on cardio, I'm now a big believer in doing it even when bulking. Keeps you slightly leaner and keeps your "wind" in tact for the heavy squating sets. Do 30min, 3-4x a week. I recall Bouncer being a believer in this as well.

yes indeed i am bro.