Changes to Make to My Diet for Gains?

Yeah , i think i am still in a deficit but not a lot

Umm no , literally 0 cardio as of now , will start to add it from the next workout
I am not keen on the SL 5x5 but after 9 months of training and no progress , i felt gaining some strength and mass would be the way to go , and also started the program just 4 weeks back as you saw
So i think i ll just add about 20 mins of stead state cardio (or should i do HIIT) ? And see where my weight goes

I am not eating the same meals everyday but i track all the macros on myfitnesspal

Again, you are not in a deficit because you are putting on weight.

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I prefer to do it on off days, but YMMV

I’d probably use steady-state for your baseline - get your conditioning up and then start making some decisions. It really doesn’t matter that much until your calories are low and you’re lean, though; then HIIT gets hard.

Umm so i am 84kgs now and even if i approximately calculate it as 84x2.2(to convert into lbs)x14cals , it is still around 2600 calories but i only eat 2400
So i am not understanding the equation here

Okay so steady state for 20 mins post workout
The guy who wrote SL suggests no cardio on off days to not interfere with recovery , i can break that rule ?

I can’t really comment on that. I’m not that familiar with the program.

That said, I think we have bigger issues than our bench press if we can’t take a 20-minute walk without fear.

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Please don’t rely on a formula so much that you forget the concept behind it.

If you are consistently gaining weight (which you are), then you are absolutely averaging a caloric surplus.

There’s a big difference between going for a 20mins walk with a weight vest and doing all out Crossfit metcons or going all Hershell Walker on some hill sprints. One will interfere with recovery, one will aid recovery and improve your cardiovascular base.

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The guy who wrote SL also suggests a caloric surplus, but you were okay breaking that rule :man_shrugging:

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He is in a caloric surplus, see his weight gain above.

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I am in a surplus , my main aim is to make the maximum gains with the least amount of fat

Sure i ll start doing a 20 min walk x 3 times a week

So now i still eat 2400 calories but just have to add cardio right ?

Probably. That’s a good starting point, but you won’t actually know until you actually do it and measure your results. By increasing activity, all other things being equal, you will reduce your calorie surplus.

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I thought you wanted to lose fat?

Yeah , but now i have realised , for recovery calories are needed and with that i am going to get fat
Lower calories and losing fat only means i am going to lose strength and may not gain any mass

So when i have to make a choice , i would rather gain muscle with a little fat than lose strength and fat

Okay , will add it in and post back with the results

You do understand you can be in a caloric surplus a few times a week, and create a deficit the other days and net a slight negative fat balance…

One of my easiest recomps was when i was lifting EOD, 2 way DC style. On lifting days id eat 2900-3000 calories and off days id cut carbs and eat around 2200-2300 calories.

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Were the results good for you that way ?

Anybody else recommend this way of dieting ?