When to start ... Bodyfat levels?

[gonelifting]

I sort of decided already, but would just like to know other people`s opinions on this. I`m 35 yo, 6ft 3, about 230 pounds, 15 -20% bodyfat. I want to bulk up to 250+ theen see what I look like from there.

My plan is to lose the fat first (that`s what I decided on) and then Bulk with my first cycle. I`m hoping to get at least 10% then start.

I hate going backwards just to go back up to 250+, but it will definately be less fat. What do you guys think?

PS I got 2 (not so good) pics in my gallery. but better than nothing.

 

[2Thick]

You might not want to lose too much BF before the mass cycle.

The reason is that experience and some old research has shown that having low bodyfat (<10%) might hinder some gains.

Cutting to 13% and then bulking would be your best bet. By that time you should have more than enough LBM to burn off the extra fat.

 

[v shape]

I wouldnt go lower than 12%

 

[gonelifting]

Wow, That`s not what I was expecting. I thought the opposite was true.

Maybe what I understood was to a certain extent. So, the 12-13% could have been what I was told, but I just assumed I had to be lower.

Thank You, That`s more bulking time for me then. lol As I should get down to 12+ pretty easily.

 

[StRoNg_WoN]

What did you have in mind to use?

I like your pics... I already told you too shave that bear rug off in the pics forum... so I won't here... Oops... I guess I already did...

By the Way... I like the home gym, and you have a sweet little girl there well... I have to get some updated pics of my little one...

Let us know what you're plans are!

S.

 

[gonelifting]

What did you have in mind to use?

Let us know what you're plans are!

S.

Still researching my first... My ultimate goal is 250+ pounds at a decent bodyfat. I was 250 last year (the pics are 230) and was 20+% but I still looked like I could be bigger. My frame holds a lot of weight I guess.

Being 35 yo I`m not the same person I used to be. lol So I`m gonna start something... Just simple Test and whatever or If I could get away with Test only. I REALLY have no idea now.

I have a little more time to research/read around ask questions untill I start bulking.

btw I shaved a smileyface on my chest. My family loved it.

 

[StRoNg_WoN]

Did you really?!?!

That's funny as hell!

Does the wife know about your upcoming cycle?

Test sounds like a good plan...

Welcome to the other side of the board!

S.

 

[gonelifting]

Did you really?!?!

That's funny as hell!

Does the wife know about your upcoming cycle?

Test sounds like a good plan...

Welcome to the other side of the board!

S.

Wife knows, Does`nt like it... but she knows I want/need to. She knows I love this stuff. (lifting) and my gains are screeching to a halt.

It`s been 3 days and I still have the face on my chest. I hope I don`t need an Emergency room visit. lol

 

[StRoNg_WoN]

And you thought clean underwear was the worst of your fears...

 

[nuclear1]

Everyone is always trying to bulk up then cut down. It’s a perpetual cycle all of us bodybuilders will continue to fall into. However in my opinion and based on your situation why diet down to then start bulking up sounds a little backass wards to me. I think you should keep the extra 8% or so of extra you are carrying and start bulkin now!!! If you weigh 220 now and at 15% or so, lets say you are able to pack on 20 lbs of quality mass you now weigh 240 and the cool thing will be your body fat% will have went down. Not necessarily because you burnt fat (which you probably will do when on the gas because you will be increasing your test levels) but because that 15% of fat formerly spread out over a body that was previously 220 lbs. Now that same fat will be spread over a body that is now 240 so just by plain physics your body fat % will go down just by getting bigger. Kind of sounds euphoric.

So basically don't f**k around w/ dieting to lose weight now. Get on the gas and diet to grow!!!!!

Nuclear1

 

[StRoNg_WoN]

Wow dude... that was the hardest thing to read... but I get what you're saying... make sense...

 

[slugfast6868]

I dont know if I totally agree with Nuclear as almost all of my friends always put on bodyfat when they go on cycle and I gained about 2% on my last cycle. I would assume if you are 20% bodyfat in the first place that you gain fat pretty easy to be up that high ( I am like this and have to workout alot to try to keep mine down), and if you are like this, you would more than likely add fat pretty easy. If you are consuming 3500 cal a day. Im not saying you aren't gonna put on a shitload of muscle, just probably some fat on there too.

 

[gonelifting]

Thanks for all the replies.

The ball is rolling with the diet thing, So I`m gonna go ahead with it. As stated by 2thick and others I could go to 12-13% and go from there.

I`m starting Monday with the dieting stuff. There`s not enough time to plan/buy/learn about a bulking cycle by then. I can`t go too wrong with getting down to 10-15% area. from 20+. Especially if most of it is fat loss.

 

[Stillgoing]

Its all about what you want to achieve to me. At 37 now, I don't care what my weight is, I just want to look good. Once you've got a base of muscle, looking good is all about being lean. I used to bulk up to 290 then down to 230 for a show and anywhere in between, looking back now, it was ridiculous. I thought I was huge at 290, and, I was, but, I looked like shit, I just didn't know that. Now I'm 258 and 8-9%bf, and trying to get down to 7% or so. So, for you, 250 and fat or 225 and lean, I'd take the latter all day long, and, I bet your wife would too.

 

[gonelifting]

Thanks stillgoing, It`s good to hear from someone the same age. Nice pic in your gallery.

I don`t have to be ripped, Not yet. I really need size on myself first. I really don`t care about the scale it`s just another way of saying I want 19 inch arms, or xx inch chest, That everyone can relate to.

 

[Stillgoing]

Thanks stillgoing, It`s good to hear from someone the same age. Nice pic in your gallery.

I don`t have to be ripped, Not yet. I really need size on myself first. I really don`t care about the scale it`s just another way of saying I want 19 inch arms, or xx inch chest, That everyone can relate to.

Yup...

 

[obiwan9962]

i am just cutting
but then again i started as a lard ass
maybe when i get where i want i might bulk up
but i doubt it

 

[Slyder190]

Me personally...

I wouldn't put a magic number on it, but I'd say around 10%. I'm thinkin around 10% your abs would be visible, but you wouldn't be superlean. You could build off that comfortably. That's what I would try, although it goes against what some of the other boys are sayin.

 

[swb1126]

Definitely lose the fat first. Too many people rely on gear to get the results they want. If you are 15-20% bodyfat, that means you aren't eating the right foods up to this point. If you want to add muscle, you'll need to lose some bodyfat first.

Reason being, when you're bodyfat is too high, it absorbs all the nutrients you are getting from your food. Once your bodyfat goes down, your muscle takes over and absorbs all the nutrients.

Finally, someone who is 225lbs. at 8% looks better, and believe it or not, bigger than someone who weighs 250lbs. at 15%. Presently I weigh 170lb. at 8%, but when the average Joe guesses my weight, they usually think I'm about 190lbs.

More muscle, less fat. That should be the goal.

 

[Anakin]

Yep being leaner makes you look much bigger *when you're not wearing a shirt*, though you might look bigger when dressed if you're fatter.

I'm sick of carrying fat on me, ever since I started lifting I've been trying to put on muscle by eating plenty of food and I haven't been under 13-14% in a while. I used to be a skinny motherfucker with a high metabolism.

I'm going down to 10% before I start any more mass gaining, and from now on it will all be lean.