I have A problem, I just started getting back into bodybuilding again. I weigh 151 but I have the frame of 175 lb guy, I’m about anywhere from 9 percent to 11 percent bodyfat. I would like to maximize my gains to the most extreme case, of course. Well I’m faced with the decision of bulking early for next year but I want to stay lean for the summer. My workout partner is pretty knowldegable but I feel my opinions are far superioir because I used to be a powerlifter and have more intellectual knowledge on the sport and experience with “MY” body.
Anyways I’m currently eating in a carb cycled manner, I cheat one day that usually consists of a soda or two maybe a couple beers or a small mcdonalds meal a week not all the options though just the soda and a cheat meal for one day… I have been eating super clean, my step dad diets but he trains wrong so he hasn’t really seen too much improvement as he is older and cheats more occasionally than me but he is still a bigger guy… that being said to give you a better understanding of my eating habits… I’m more controlled but I’m faced with the fact I need more size faster but I don’t want to get fast. What should I do? By the way don’t be immature and suggest steroids please.
I’m not going to give bodybuilding advice as it’s not really my thing, but there are many confusing things about your post. I’m only trying to clarify so others may help you. What I personally find confusing is the following:
You say you are getting back into bodybuilding. Did you used to follow a bodybuilding diet and training routine and if so, did you achieve your physique goals?
You are 151lbs on a 175lbs frame? How do you know? Is what you used to weigh?
How do you know your bodyfat?
You want to maximize your gains to the extreme, but you don’t want to get fat. I’m not saying to do a dirty bulk, but if you are afriad to “blur” your abs it may hold you back.
You said you used to be a powerlifter, were you competitive, or did you just follow a powerlifting program?
How is it that your step-dad trains wrong? You say he is a bigger guy. Does he look like a bodybuilder? Is it obvious to everyonw he lifts weights? If the answer is yes to either one then how is he training wrong?
Finally, you talk about being more knowledgable than your training partner, but you are asking advice from strangers on a website. That’s not an insult, just an observation.
Anyway, if you are a little more specific, you might get the answers you want.
Im guessing you want people to tell you how to eat/train to “maximize muscle gains” and “not get fat”? That’s exactly what every single person asks.
“Used to be a powerlifter” yet you have no idea how to get bigger without getting fatter? Lift weights, progress, eat enough to gain some weight. Shoot for about a pound a week, maybe less since you’re so freaked out about fat.
Im guessing you’re completely clueless just based off your “Don’t be immature and suggest steroids” line. Seriously, the only people dumb enough to think that’s the only way are people who have 0 knowledge of muscle development.
If your workout partner, who’s “very knowledgeable” is more developed then you, it really doesn’t matter if you have “more intellectual knowledge” because at the end of the day, nobody gives a damn what you think you know if you don’t have the results to back it up.
[quote]Determinator wrote:
I don’t want to get fat*[/quote]
Ah… I see you’ve found your problem!
Look, you can either ditch this mentality for a while, get swole, and then get lean again or you could keep beating your head against a wall doing the same shit while expecting different results.
If you really were a powerlifter (you know, one that trains with other powerlifters and goes to meets and stuff), somebody undoubtedly told you somewhere along the way that you need to eat more. That person was undoubtedly bigger and stronger than you. You undoubtedly told him that line about not wanting to get fat. And then he undoubtedly thought to himself “well, fuck you, then”. Or maybe he wasn’t so nice about and said it out loud.
There are no magic supps, there is no magic program, and even if you were juicing, you wouldn’t be getting any bigger. That would be like trying to pour a 20’x20’ slab with two bags of qwikrete.
Maybe I’m not as experienced as who you’re looking to get advice from, but I’ve been where you are. I graduated high school at 145lbs. I spun my wheels entirely too long because nobody cared enough to kick my ass and tell me what I needed to do.
Eat. BWx1.5=225g Protein. BWx16=2416Cal. That’s your starting point. If the scale isn’t going up at least a half a pound per week, add 200. Repeat.
Ok I used to compete in powerlifting for high school… then I went to National Guard Academy… lost a lot of fat… built what they call an “endurance body”. 2. No I have never reached my all time long term goal of bodybuilding otherwise I wouldn’t be asking for advice… I’m getting very visible abs but I still have that bellyfat at the bottom of my bellybutton which won’t go away until I do a competition… Now I was asking since everbody I seem to ask either thinks it’s clearly impossible to gain muscle and burn fat, when other seasoned bodybuilders say her thats possible just eat very clean but they have not told me the specifics because it’s just gym talk. I’m asking for advice because that’s how you learn… and what a good place to learn from a bucnh of people… did somebody step on your toes today or what? I’m asking would it be better to sloppy bulk for the next few years so I can maximize my gains for the long term? or should I just eat real lean for the next few years and keep less bodyweight… which strategy have you tried and if you tried both what has worked for you?
What finally worked for me was to eat so much that my friends and family were starting to worry about my health. I gained 60lbs in three years, and about 40-45 of it was muscle. If you are seriously lifting, and not eating a bunch of garbage, you’re not going to turn into a lardass overnight.
Thank you Jay. The rest of these people on here just like to poke fun and criticize questions that answer themselves if they use their brain longer than one second… I’m already frowing I actually have lats now and biceps compared to a month ago… I’m just really impatieint and wonder if I should stop carb cycling and bulk from now until march and see if it has better benefits in muscle expansion compared to limiting everything like I’m trying to lose weight… I feel like I’m holding my muscles back by feeding them just what they need instead of merely overfeeding them… is what I mean… this is all I have ever tried I never tried bulking but I’m scared to try it cuz WHEN I WAS POWERLIFTING I guess I kinda did bulk but I was just being a hungry high school teenager and there was not a bulking diet plan laid out like my diet plan I have now.
and i got a little chubby I used to over eat… I never really was interested in bulking until now and I just don’t know if its the way to go aka way to grow FASTER… and if it’s worth it.
No one’s being mean to you for fun. They’re being blunt because your posts scream of lack of knowledge yet you were saying how you knew more then your friend even though your 151 lbs, “with a little belly fat that won’t go away until I do a competition” (false), and you speak in terms of someone who is clueless (“I don’t want to get fat”, “endurance body”, “175 lb frame”, “my dad diets and trains wrong but is bigger then me”, “my opinions are superior because I have more intellectual knowledge”, “eat real lean”).
You’re 151 lbs, eat to gain some bodyweight, lift hard, do some cardio 3-4x a week, and see improvement. “Sloppy bulk” is a dumb term, eating ice cream, cake, candy bars just because your “sloppy bulking” isn’t a good idea yet when people have that mindset that’s what happens. A good mindset to have is “if it’s considered bad to the average uneducated person, it’s probably not something I should be eating often”. Meat and eggs are the only exception I know of to that.
Just eat smart. By that I mean eat 1-1.5x your BW in protein, the rest in carbs/fats. Try to gain about a pound a week or so. It really is that simple. Of the two options you gave, how about a third one: Eat enough to gain weight each week, and after a year you’ll have made good progress?
[quote]Determinator wrote:
I’m asking would it be better to sloppy bulk for the next few years so I can maximize my gains for the long term? or should I just eat real lean for the next few years and keep less bodyweight… [/quote]
[quote]Determinator wrote:
I’m getting very visible abs but I still have that bellyfat at the bottom of my bellybutton which won’t go away until I do a competition… [/quote]
[quote]Determinator wrote:
…never tried bulking but I’m scared to try it cuz WHEN I WAS POWERLIFTING I guess I kinda did bulk but I was just being a hungry high school teenager…[/quote]
[quote]Determinator wrote:
and i got a little chubby I used to over eat… I never really was interested in bulking until now and I just don’t know… if it’s worth it.[/quote]
You realize you answered your own question?
Your obviously not committed to bulking so don’t do it. I can only imagine you posting again in 4 weeks about your “Dirty Bulk making you too fat.”
LMFAO you got a point JLone and I got to say it’s respectable and good use of an example… I’ll just wait until winter… I guess I’m good with just having muscle memory for now put on 8 lbs this month of clean muscle. I’m just impatient, thats all man. Finally somebody who is not fat or my age that gave a suggestion… Thanks Jlone!
Don’t be afraid of fat. It is easier to burn fat than it is to build muscle.
I weighed 152 in January of 2011 I weighed 197.5 today. Not afraid to lose my abs.
Eat everything you can. If you gain weight and your lifts go up then you are gaining muscle. If your lifts aren’t going up and you are gaining weight then push harder in the gym.
[quote]Determinator wrote:
LMFAO you got a point JLone and I got to say it’s respectable and good use of an example… I’ll just wait until winter… I guess I’m good with just having muscle memory for now put on 8 lbs this month of clean muscle. I’m just impatient, thats all man. Finally somebody who is not fat or my age that gave a suggestion… Thanks Jlone![/quote]
This guy’s clearly a troll. If not he’s too stupid to help, I don’t think you could teach this guy how to make a cup of coffee.
