:: preparing to add mass ::

[muskles]

okay, i'm trying to study up on how to bulk successfully so i can give it a go in a few months after cutting is finished and my bodyweight stops fluctuating.

question 1 :: what was your bodyfat % at the first time you bulked?

question 2 :: how much was your bf when you stopped bulking?

question 3 :: what were your protein/carb/fat ratios like?

thanx

 

[diamonddiceclay]

for ? # 3, 60%pro 35%carb-you really need alot of protein if taking steroids!otherwise, you could do 50 pro 45 carb

 

[muskles]

thanks DDC - i think i will start out at 55% protein. that will be a little over 2x's my bodyweight.

i'm super curious what bodyfat any of you ladies were at when you decided to try bulking for the first time - anyone? i'm at about 18 - 20% bf right now after cutting for awhile (was around 26% at christmas time). i'd like to get down to 15% before i attempt bulking, but would like to hear what others have done.

 

[SheHuLK]

just out of curiousity Muskles, how come you're cutting first, and then bulking?? Most people do the opposite, first bulk up, then cut down... any reason why your doing it the other way around? Anyhow... Hope it all goes great

 

[MS]

I think the research in this area is pretty compelling......if you're over ~15%bf (for women) and NOT taking AAS, then "bulking" will lead to a significant gain in fat mass compared to LBM. I have never intentionally "bulked", but I have gained significant LBM during post competition refeeds. I also go from~7-8%bf to 16-17% bf by eating a diet which is around 60% carbs (all low GI starches and veggies), 20% protein and 20% fat. If your calories are adequate and carb intake is good, I see no reason to eat more than 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per pound bodyweight. Save the high protein for when you have to cut IMHO. But whatever your protein intake, I would not recommend bulking just yet. However at 18-20% bf you should still be able to gain muscle by training really hard and eating maintenance calories with higher protein. Remember, if you gain LBM but your weight stays the same, then your %bf drops. It's all good!

 

[hardbdygrl]

I had my b/f done with the callipers before i started AS. I was 125 lbs and
12 % b/f I decieded to do AS b/c i wanted to add a good amount of muscle, But i also wanted to stay lean.
I gained 15lbs of muscle and dropped b/f. I am now 5'8, 145lbs and 11% b/f.

So to bulk u really do not have to get ur bodyfat high, TO gain muscle all u need to really do is add more protien and lift heavy. Atleast thats what worked for me
.

 

[Torchy]

Bulking

I was 5'9", 153(competition weight), and 7.25%bf. Then i decided to eat. Threw up most of it after the show, but I still kept eating. Couldn't get enough CHOs. Anyway, I went up to 198 and kept going. I dropped back to 164, but went back after that show to a whopping 228. I guess I'll never see 153 again, but my arms, back, quads are huge. Gotta get rid of the belly. Watch out ab work and cardio- I'm in it to win



Torchy

 

[wilson6]

"I had my b/f done with the callipers before i started AS. I was 125 lbs and
12 % b/f I decieded to do AS b/c i wanted to add a good amount of muscle, But i also wanted to stay lean.
I gained 15lbs of muscle and dropped b/f. I am now 5'8, 145lbs and 11% b/f. So to bulk u really do not have to get ur bodyfat high, TO gain muscle all u need to really do is add more protien and lift heavy. Atleast thats what worked for me"


This is the way to do it. BTW, HBG, you never really bulked, only added muscle. Going from 15% BF to 30% BF is bulking, with or without adding muscle.

Also agree with NYM, the only difference between bulking and cutting is diet, not what you take.

W6

 

[muskles]

just out of curiousity Muskles, how come you're cutting first, and then bulking?? Most people do the opposite, first bulk up, then cut down... any reason why your doing it the other way around? Anyhow... Hope it all goes great

i've been training for 2 years.. and i think maybe 8 months seriously.. soo FINALLY i'm seeing results, and shedding fat.. went from a sz 8/10 to a 2/4.. WOOHOO i just needed to feel better about my body before i attempted to bulk.. and learn the discipline of sticking to a predefined diet. also am finally at the point where getting my a$$ to the gym is a much needed pleasure instead of a chore. now i'm super focused on dropping a bit more, and stabilizing so i can then add some LBM in a few months.

i'm currently 114lbs.. i think i will need to get to about 105lbs (am thinking that's about what i'll weigh if i go down to 12-13% bf) before i start changing up my diet for bulking. seems like 12 - 13% is probably a decent bf to start out at w/ bulking.

i will be on when i start bulking, and am thinking of dieting w/ a 55%p - 35%c - 10%f breakdown. i may try the carb rotation if the whole concept ever sinks in 4 me i'm curious about MS' approach of not needing as much protein to put on muscle as when shedding fat.. anyone else of the same opinion?

whatever the diet mix i decide to go with, i'm going to raise cals slowly and adjust them so that i put on about 2lbs per week.