Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
Hi everyone,
This is my first post, I just found this site and am excited to have access to this kind of resource on bodybuilding issues. I am 5' 10" tall, 180 lbs with about 9% BF and have been lifting weights consistantly for about 10 years now. When I started I was about 165 at 10% BF so I really haven't made a lot of progress and I am hoping to figureout what I am doing wrong.
My first question involves Bulk and Cut Cycles that are so popular in bodybuilding. I wonder if these really work for Natural Bodybuilders. I have tried this (and many other) approaches and was underwhelmed by the results. The first bulk cycle I did took about 3 months. I stepped my calories from 2700 up to 4500 calories by increasing my food intake by 300 calories every week until I hit 4500/day. I ate a clean low fat diet (no alcohol). My weight went up from 184 to eventually 196 lbs. My arms and chest were huge and definitely had good success on putting on the muscle mass. I did no aerobics during this period and worked out 3X per week in one hour intense sessions. My BF was measured at 14% at the end of the bulk cycle and was 11% at the beginning. I felt like I had put WAY too much fat. I then spent about 6 weeks cutting down. I gradually dropped my calories down to 2000. I also took body measurements during the whole cycle. By the end of the cut cycle I was back at 184 lbs. My BF was measured at 11% and my measurements were only slightly improved (waist was ½ inch smaller, chest and shoulders and calves were slightly bigger but less than 1/2" difference). I found this cycling to be fairly miserable and I noticed very little improvement but I did notice a little so I figured I would try again in 6 months.
The second time I did the cycle I went from 184 up to 200 lbs in the period of 3 months. This time I had to increase my calories up to 5000. It was a little easier this time than last time. I did some aerobic exercise this time (3x a week for 15 minute sessions). I felt noticeably leaner at 195 this time but by the time I hit 200 lbs I felt really fat again. I didn't get my BF measured this time but I figure it was around 14-15%. I cut down again over the next 6 weeks and ended up at 184 again. Took my body measurements and they were actually no different than when I started. I came to the conclusion that this was a whole lot of work for nothing. My cutting diet was 5 meals a day high protein low fat . I figure I must be doing something wrong in the cutting phase because I am losing all my muscle gains.
I also tried a diet Bill Phillips promoted that involved cycling your diet every two weeks between high calorie and low calorie. I did this for twelve weeks and saw the same results. I got big and increased my BF for two weeks and then I would get lean decrease my BF for two weeks and after 12 weeks, very little change in my overall body measurements. Is there some sort of trick to cutting off the fat and not losing the muscle? I take in plenty of protein at all times, around 240+ grams a day.
Any advice is appreciated.
This is my first post, I just found this site and am excited to have access to this kind of resource on bodybuilding issues. I am 5' 10" tall, 180 lbs with about 9% BF and have been lifting weights consistantly for about 10 years now. When I started I was about 165 at 10% BF so I really haven't made a lot of progress and I am hoping to figureout what I am doing wrong.
My first question involves Bulk and Cut Cycles that are so popular in bodybuilding. I wonder if these really work for Natural Bodybuilders. I have tried this (and many other) approaches and was underwhelmed by the results. The first bulk cycle I did took about 3 months. I stepped my calories from 2700 up to 4500 calories by increasing my food intake by 300 calories every week until I hit 4500/day. I ate a clean low fat diet (no alcohol). My weight went up from 184 to eventually 196 lbs. My arms and chest were huge and definitely had good success on putting on the muscle mass. I did no aerobics during this period and worked out 3X per week in one hour intense sessions. My BF was measured at 14% at the end of the bulk cycle and was 11% at the beginning. I felt like I had put WAY too much fat. I then spent about 6 weeks cutting down. I gradually dropped my calories down to 2000. I also took body measurements during the whole cycle. By the end of the cut cycle I was back at 184 lbs. My BF was measured at 11% and my measurements were only slightly improved (waist was ½ inch smaller, chest and shoulders and calves were slightly bigger but less than 1/2" difference). I found this cycling to be fairly miserable and I noticed very little improvement but I did notice a little so I figured I would try again in 6 months.
The second time I did the cycle I went from 184 up to 200 lbs in the period of 3 months. This time I had to increase my calories up to 5000. It was a little easier this time than last time. I did some aerobic exercise this time (3x a week for 15 minute sessions). I felt noticeably leaner at 195 this time but by the time I hit 200 lbs I felt really fat again. I didn't get my BF measured this time but I figure it was around 14-15%. I cut down again over the next 6 weeks and ended up at 184 again. Took my body measurements and they were actually no different than when I started. I came to the conclusion that this was a whole lot of work for nothing. My cutting diet was 5 meals a day high protein low fat . I figure I must be doing something wrong in the cutting phase because I am losing all my muscle gains.
I also tried a diet Bill Phillips promoted that involved cycling your diet every two weeks between high calorie and low calorie. I did this for twelve weeks and saw the same results. I got big and increased my BF for two weeks and then I would get lean decrease my BF for two weeks and after 12 weeks, very little change in my overall body measurements. Is there some sort of trick to cutting off the fat and not losing the muscle? I take in plenty of protein at all times, around 240+ grams a day.
Any advice is appreciated.
