Whats up family!

For years there have been many theories in regards to bulking. Usually done in the off season, Bulking is where an individual would increase their amount of calories, and gain weight in hopes of attaining more muscle mass.

Personally I disagree with this concept. In my opinion over dosing on calories, does not equal to increased muslce mass. My equation for mass breaks down like this:

MM=S+HW (Muscle Mass = Strength + Heavy Weight)

Its my theory that in order to gain more muslce mass, one needs to gain strength. The way you get stronger is by lifting heavier than normal weight. No where in that equation does extra calories come into play. Now I'm not saying that you can consume the same calories you would when your in a "cutting" phase as you would in the off season. But for one to go from 220 - 275 to me is not really increasing his muscle mass as much as previously thought. He'll be bigger, but how much of that is fat vs muscle? Secondly, how much longer will it take that person to lose that extra weight before he steps on stage? for the last 9 months I've maintained a weight of 240. I've never been below that. But during that time i've not only grown stronger, but i've also improved my muscle content. When i step on stage in the spring, I plan to compete around 230. I am not one that has a high metabolism, so i am very careful of the things i eat. But for me I know that if i were to try and bulk up to 250, 260, not only will i be uncomfortable, but it would take me forever to get my body to a level of conditioning that i'd be happy presenting on stage.

What are your thoughs? I'm qurious to know.

Lex,

Thanks for kicking off the discussion and sharing your insights. Yeah, the "T-Muscle" site has published a popular piece on this issue called, "The Truth About Bulking" at:

www (dot) tmuscle (dot) com/free_online_article/sports_body_training_performance/the_truth_about_bulking

They more or less share your view about the misguided attempt to consume massive amounts of calories in an attempt to gain muscle mass. As you point out, this is even more of an issue for folks with a "slow metabolism" or who already carry a high degree of body fat. Alan Aragon has stated that lean body mass gains can occur from even a modest 250 cal surplus (although this would be higher for folks with a faster metabolism). And again, for those with a high level of body fat, I would argue that lean body mass gains can occur on a modest caloric deficit. Even in my own comeback efforts, I lost 50 lbs of fat and gained about 20 lbs of muscle in 11 months eating around 2000 to 2200 cals per day.

As far as the equation goes, I think that there's something to it, but the devil is in the details. There is a definite relationship between muscle size and strength, but it's an imperfect relationship. After all, Olympic lifters that have to stay in their weight class get progressively stronger while maintaining the same body weight. And we also have the examples of huge bodybuilders that "train just for the pump", like Vince Taylor used to do, and folks that raise all sorts of hell in the gym like Branch Warren. I agree that strength is probably the most important component of getting huge, but that training volume, intensity, frequency, recovery, and even rep speed are important contributors as well. I guess that all of those factors are what keep weight training interesting: tons of strategies to achieve a singular goal...

Peace, MHL

The problem is not with the bulking in and of itself. It is with the individual who doesn't bulk correctly. Just eating massive amounts of calories isn't really bulking. Its just pigging out. But if done correctly strength gains can be attained. It is a proven fact that if an individual lifts heavy weights the body has to respond to the load by building itself up to adapt to that load. In that building up process one has to put in calories to add in that building phase. There have been countless people who have succesfully bulked up without getting way too fat. Its a fine line. No different than cutting weight, which is a fine line. If you are truly lifting heavy, taxing the muscle to failure, eating enough calories to support growth you will gain muscle and your bf% will rise but it won't be pot belly fat big. As long as you eat clean food as a primary source and get enough protein. One only has to look at pictures of Dorion Yates on his Blood & Guts video to see what bulking will do for you. Oh he couldn't walk on stage looking like that during that phase. But he sure and hell could move some heavy weight, grow massively, and when it came down to widdling away for a show, he didn't sacrifice a lot of muscle in the process. Bulking is no myth, it works, it is valuable means of gaining size as you strength train. Just look at powerlifter, strongmen competitors. But having said all of this. Bulking isn't for everyone. You have to know your body in my estimation. What works for "A" may not work for "B". But logically you cannot say it doesn't work at all.

I believe that there are a small percentage of guys who put on 55 pounds in the off season. The ones that do who put on that much and come in their shows dry, grainy, and cut. Know their bodies. They workout, take what they take supplement wise, rather that me legal or not, and they have calendar time table that allows for sufficent time to get down in weight. I was just reading an article and one pro said that he put on way too much weight and just felt uncomfortable. So he only goes up 10-20lbs from his contest weight. But look at Ronnie Coleman (when he competed), Branch Warren, Victor Martinez, and Kai Greene. These guys in the off season look very fat. Oh my goodness and still guess pose. Money baby, take a look at my gutt hanging down by possing trunks! LOL. But come show time they are peeled. Heck I saw Kevin English fat prior to kicking David Henry's ass at the O. By time you see these guys in the mag's they are either peeling down or peeled already. Just look at their faces! Can you say skelator? Pro's can do it because they have been through trail and error. Can you gain muscle size without bulking? Heck yeah! Can you gain size by bulking? Heck yeah! But you cannot just eat and don't lift heavy and expect to gain size. You will be just like that Super size me guy. But if one wants to grow, you have to train heavy, fuel the body with sufficent calories, and sleep. TES...Train eat and sleep!