Just took some pics, can you take a look?

[schultzie_4]

OK so I finally took some pics of myself. I am not really sure what to do as far as bulking/cutting and was hoping you guys could help me out. Sorry the pics suck, I had to take them with my cell phone because I don't have a digital camera.

http://s663.photobucket.com/albums/uu352/schultzie_4/

I hope this link works. I'm not really sure how to post pics here. Thanks again guys.

[bouncingpuka]

You should only start cutting when you're sure you've got a good amount of muscle underneath the layer of fat....how do you feel? You might wanna do a bulk first to get a solid muscle structure, and then lean out. Do you know your BF%?

[schultzie_4]

Sorry, I forgot to include my bodyfat. It is around 20%-21% according to the school's bioelectrical impendence scale. I'm thinking I would like to bulk first and put a little more muscle on and then cut towards the end of the summer. How long do you usually bulk for? Do you think this is what I should do?

[camau]

i can tell you been putting a lot of hard work and dedication into your body.
continue treating your body properly and i will be looking to see updates .
good job! proud of you

[schultzie_4]

Camau - thanks for the encouragement

[freebirdmac]

What's your sport season schedule? It'd probably be better to be doing a slow lean during that time. Bulking might be hard during the season.

[bouncingpuka]

Going on a bulk is a wise decision, that way when you cut you KNOW that you'll have a beatifully defined body afterwards. I have been bulking for around 2 months now, but I can't answer your question about how long to bulk for...I posted that same question earlier this evening, because I am also looking to get a general answer. The time you bulk for is always individual, as almost everything is, but I think it has a lot to do with how you FEEL as well. I think I will be bulking for another 6 months or so.....actually, I take that back, I have noooo idea how long I'll be bulking for. I think I'll start cutting when my muscle mass has increased by quite a bit. You want to be putting on about 2 pounds a month, not too much more to ensure that you're putting on lean mass and not too much fat, which will automatically come on with a bulk. DON'T freak out when you start gaining weight.....I put on almost 10 pounds in a month and a half, but a lot of it is muscle, I can feel it, and I am also lifting much heavier than when I first started out. Also, a lot is water weight due to the sharp increase in carb intake (my diet before was terribly low in carbs....) I suggest a 40 40 20 macro breakdown, to give you an adequate amount of carbs to start filling out those growing muscles :D But it will be a matter of tweaking your cals, monitoring your progress etc to find out what's best for you. But I don't want to say too much more because I am FAR from being as well-informed as some ladies on these forums who have a lot more experience than I do. What I CAN say is keep us posted and hooray to you!

[schultzie_4]

freebirdmac - I am currently in season and will be until the first of May. Our season starts in the beginning of February every year. We have a short season in the fall, but it's only about 10 play dates so it's not that big of a deal. The problem with bulking during the school year is that we practice every day whether we are in season or not. Right now I'm shooting for 2000 cals with a 40/40/20 macro. Do I need to increase cals to bulk?

bouncingpuka - thanks for your input, it really helps to hear this from someone who is currently doing it.

[BuffedWildCat]

What have you been doing so far diet-wise and for how long? Also, what kind of results/progress have you been getting?

Without knowing the answers to those questions and just looking at your pics, if I were you, I'd eat right at to slightly above maintenance, using sound nutrition. Eat when you're hungry, small meals, every few hours, don't sweat it too much, then once your season is over, do a slow cut, as in only subtract about 200-250 calories from your maintenance, so you can keep that muscle you've earned. Cut over the summer while you're not in season. I think you have a good muscle base already. Again, this is without knowing the answers to the above questions, I may change my answer depending on the answers you give me. But that's what I would do.

[schultzie_4]

I've just jumped into this about 2 weeks ago, so not long at all. Right now I'm working on cleaning up my diet and cutting out the typical college food crap. One of the main things I've been focusing on is getting my protein intake up. Before I started keeping track I was probably getting between 50-75g of protein a day, no where near what it needs to be. I'm also trying to watch how many carbs I'm eating because this is what the majority of my diet was for a long time. I've switched to eating the small meals throughout the day and have been happy with that so far. I haven't noticed any fat loss/gain, but I have noticed that I feel a lot better throughout the day.

[BuffedWildCat]

I've just jumped into this about 2 weeks ago, so not long at all. Right now I'm working on cleaning up my diet and cutting out the typical college food crap. One of the main things I've been focusing on is getting my protein intake up. Before I started keeping track I was probably getting between 50-75g of protein a day, no where near what it needs to be. I'm also trying to watch how many carbs I'm eating because this is what the majority of my diet was for a long time. I've switched to eating the small meals throughout the day and have been happy with that so far. I haven't noticed any fat loss/gain, but I have noticed that I feel a lot better throughout the day.

Sounds great, you're doing just what I did when I first started learning about proper nutrition for fat loss. You're going about it the right way. And trying to eat around 2000 calories everyday sounds fine also for now, especially since you just started. You have to start SOMEWHERE and I think that is an excellent starting amount of calories for you, someone of your size. Starting at 2000 calories gives you plenty of room for when you get to the point at which you need to start dropping calories in order to see more fat loss. I think you will continue to see changes in your body just by making the changes you have been making thus far. Don't be in a hurry, as long as you are seeing positive changes then don't change things. The longer you can have a diet and training work for you the better. There's no sense in changing a diet, especially dropping calories, as long as you're making progress/getting results. The challenge can often be in figuring out if you are indeed making progress, that is what I'm going thru right now. I don't want to have to drop calories if I don't need to so I'm currently trying to figure out if indeed I am still making progress. I don't change things up until I absolutely have to that way I don't run out of options before I reach my goal. Make sense? Good luck, you're doing great already, good diet strategy and already a good muscle base! Just keep doing what you're doing.

[schultzie_4]

BuffedWildCat - Thanks for all your input! It's great to know that I'm headed in the right direction. I can't wait until this summer when I can focus more on my diet and lifting. I think thats when I will truely start to see some results. I'm at that point where I'm slowly learning what foods to stay away from and trying to wean myself from some of my unhealthy favorites (pizza, ice cream, etc.). I've actually noticed the less I eat them, the less I crave them.

When you get a minute could you take a look at my thread in the supps forum? http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=115682681

Also, would you recommend a fat burner for when I start my cut this summer?

I truely appreciate all of the advice that everyone on these boards has given me. You have all been so much help.

[BuffedWildCat]

BuffedWildCat - Thanks for all your input! It's great to know that I'm headed in the right direction. I can't wait until this summer when I can focus more on my diet and lifting. I think thats when I will truely start to see some results. I'm at that point where I'm slowly learning what foods to stay away from and trying to wean myself from some of my unhealthy favorites (pizza, ice cream, etc.). I've actually noticed the less I eat them, the less I crave them.

When you get a minute could you take a look at my thread in the supps forum? http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=115682681

Also, would you recommend a fat burner for when I start my cut this summer?

I truely appreciate all of the advice that everyone on these boards has given me. You have all been so much help.

Eh, I don't do supplements. The only supplement I use is whey protein powder, other than that I take vitamins and sometimes fish oil tablets. I sometimes add flaxseed oil to my protein shakes for fat and I usually add psyllium husk to my shakes to increase my fiber intake.

Back in the day I tried out some fat burners. What I learned was that my body would adapt to them in about 2 weeks so then there was no point in taking them, increasing the dosage made my heart palpitate too much and when I went off the fat burner tablets my weight would go back to where it was eventually anyway, diet & activity level the same. So I came to the conclusion that they're a waste of money. I was looking for permanent results, not a quick fix. I don't know, perhaps others have had better results, I found they really didn't do anything for me other than to give me a temporary weight loss.

[bouncingpuka]

glad to be of help :)

[schultzie_4]

So I have another question. Since I've switched to the six meals a day I've also increased my cals. At the end of the day I feel fairly bloated, but when I wake up the next morning the bloating is gone and I feel fine. Is this a good indication that I'm eating the right amount of calories?

[schultzie_4]

Bump...

[dvsness]

So I have another question. Since I've switched to the six meals a day I've also increased my cals. At the end of the day I feel fairly bloated, but when I wake up the next morning the bloating is gone and I feel fine. Is this a good indication that I'm eating the right amount of calories?

Bloated as in holding subcutaneous water, or as in having food in your gut?

[schultzie_4]

I'm not totally sure but I think it's probably the food in the gut. Although I guess it could be water, I sure am going to the restroom a lot.

[dvsness]

That's not bloat, just fullness. You'll get acclimated to the amount of cals soon enough and won't even notice it anymore.

[schultzie_4]

dvsness - thanks for the reply. You saved me from another major meltdown tonight.