Look, I lack the street credibility to call anyone out on anything, so perceive this as you will.
But, you write,
And I wonder, how many hours did you spend in the kitchen?
I get wanting to be lean, and staying lean, but at least in my case I feel that wanting to stay near/at an abs-showing level of lean is a hindrance to long-term quality mass gains.
You are 5’7"? Did you ever go to 175 lbs while natural?
@flipcollar, any thoughts on this? How lean is it feasible to stay, while gaining weight?
I agree, I have a fast metabolism. I need to eat 4000+ calories to bulk up… At my height that’s considered pretty damn high.
Been eating 3000-3200 calories pretty much always but not eating 4000 until now.
Depends on the individual. Some people, like me, can gain considerable muscle mass without EVER really putting on fat. Especially if you really nail your diet. Some people prefer to get a little fluffy when they’re putting on muscle, and that’s ok too. But I don’t think there’s like a single rule to follow here, or a single expectation.
But that being said, if we’re strictly talking about what is POSSIBLE, gaining muscle while staying in the 10% bodyfat range is absolutely possible.