Ok, So i know the whole, If ya gotta ask if you’re lean enough to build mass, you’re not ready thing. But whats a good bodyfat% to shoot for before bulking?
I’m thinking 10% but i basically pulled that number out of my ass.
I’ve lost over 120 pounds since march of last year. Im currently about 18% bodyfat at a carb depleted 180 lbs.
thanks!
I am a FFB and I was just over 10% when I started a 6 week mass gaining phase. I gained about 9lbs and more than my liking was fat, but I did gain a little bit of muscle. Now I am shooting for shredded.
Good job on the weight loss.
Have you taken a week or two where you have increased calories? If not, I would highly recommend a week of increased calories before continuing to drop the fat. It will help to bring your metabolism back up and stimulate further fat loss.
I would say that 18% is a little high to start a true mass gaining phase, but you could attempt to eat clean at a maintenance level for calories or a very small surplus for a month or two.
I’m a FFB, and I tried to get to 10%, then realized I didn’t have the muscle mass for it to matter–I’d be a cut up…170lbs at 6’2". I’m still around 15% I would guess (who knows? or cares for that matter), but I eat like I want to get bigger. And I am–in fact, I’m seeing some positive body comp shifts and I eat around 3500-4k cals a day.
My larger point is that you should probably forget about the numbers and focus on lifting heavy shit (beat your log book) and eating clean. pick a goal you’re passionate about and stick with it. I was not passionate about being lean, but I am passionate about lifting heavier and heavier stuff. When I pursue that goal, I train harder and my body comp seems to follow along.
Good luck!
PS: great job on the weight loss! Any before/after pics?
[quote]Zagman wrote:
I am a FFB and I was just over 10% when I started a 6 week mass gaining phase. I gained about 9lbs and more than my liking was fat, but I did gain a little bit of muscle. Now I am shooting for shredded.
Good job on the weight loss.
Have you taken a week or two where you have increased calories? If not, I would highly recommend a week of increased calories before continuing to drop the fat. It will help to bring your metabolism back up and stimulate further fat loss.
I would say that 18% is a little high to start a true mass gaining phase, but you could attempt to eat clean at a maintenance level for calories or a very small surplus for a month or two.[/quote]
The last week break i took was at the beginning of may. Since then I kinda just been eating a little more liberally on the weekends. I’m still losing on average .5 lbs a week
I’m gonna ride out the fat loss a little longer. I’ve gone this far and this long. I think i can wait a few more months.
10-15%.
Really, it doesn’t matter.
I would suggest riding the fat loss out a little longer; take it while it is still easy going.
Otep is wise, 10-15% is a pretty liberal and applicable goal, but the main point is to watch food choices and caloric consumption when you transition into a mass gaining phase.
Good luck, and keep up the good work.
Here is what you are going to need to do:
Forget about calling yourself a FFB or whatever and just eat big and lift.
I dont understand why everyone is so obessed with what they looked like before they got serious…it doesnt matter.
[quote]Stronghold wrote:
Here is what you are going to need to do:
Forget about calling yourself a FFB or whatever and just eat big and lift.
I dont understand why everyone is so obessed with what they looked like before they got serious…it doesnt matter.[/quote]
From what I’ve read. the more fat you have, or have had makes you more likely to gain a higher ratio of fat to muscle. albeit this may vary from person to person and i wont know how my body will react until i get there, getting insight from others that have been down this road is what I’m looking for. This is pretty much uncharted waters for me. Collective research, determination and dedication have gotten me this far.
[quote]DeterminedAZGuy wrote:
From what I’ve read. the more fat you have, or have had makes you more likely to gain a higher ratio of fat to muscle.
albeit this may vary from person to person and i wont know how my body will react until i get there, getting insight from others that have been down this road is what I’m looking for. This is pretty much uncharted waters for me. Collective research, determination and dedication have gotten me this far.
[/quote]
I will soon be experimenting with this.
From what I’ve read, adipose tissues get smaller, but they don’t die off. As a result, they balloon up when you reintroduce calories.
I think this isn’t exactly right. It is my belief that you can re-set your body’s default BF% setting. I mean, adipose cells aren’t multi-nucleated like muscle cells are. They gotta die out sometime to maintain homeostasis.
I should be doing research instead of posting.
In the same vain, if you’re extremely muscular and you have to take a few months off, you gain the muscle back quickly.
If you’re still getting results from what you’re doing, I see no reason to rock the boat. Just keep up the good work.
I suppose bf% and pictures and keeping records of measurements and maxes and stuff doesn’t really matter, but it makes you feel good being able to look back and see how far you’ve come. Confidence and Commitment mean a lot when it comes to training, and KNOWING that you’re making progress reinforces them both.
Again, keep up the great work. Can’t wait to see where you are in another six months.
PS Right around 15% bf is where you can start seeing the first row of abs, and right under 10% will show the whole six pack… I think. You guys correct me if I’m wrong.
Just throwing this in there to possibly help refine your goal.
[quote]Otep wrote:
DeterminedAZGuy wrote:
From what I’ve read. the more fat you have, or have had makes you more likely to gain a higher ratio of fat to muscle.
albeit this may vary from person to person and i wont know how my body will react until i get there, getting insight from others that have been down this road is what I’m looking for. This is pretty much uncharted waters for me. Collective research, determination and dedication have gotten me this far.
I will soon be experimenting with this.
From what I’ve read, adipose tissues get smaller, but they don’t die off. As a result, they balloon up when you reintroduce calories.
I think this isn’t exactly right. It is my belief that you can re-set your body’s default BF% setting. I mean, adipose cells aren’t multi-nucleated like muscle cells are. They gotta die out sometime to maintain homeostasis.
I should be doing research instead of posting.
[/quote]
i hope so!