Slow bulk calories

[fery321]

Hi Ladies,
After reaching 16% bf i decided to go for another bulk but this time i want to take it slow to keep the fat gains to a minimum. I started NROL 2 weeks ago and have been lifting 4 days a week. I calculated my maintenance to be at 1750 and started eating at 1850/day to slow bulk. The first week i went from 106lbs to 107lbs but the second week (this past week) i went back down to 106. Does this mean i'm maintaining?? I'm confused. Thanks in advance for your input

[fitlover]

Hi Ladies,
After reaching 16% bf i decided to go for another bulk but this time i want to take it slow to keep the fat gains to a minimum. I started NROL 2 weeks ago and have been lifting 4 days a week. I calculated my maintenance to be at 1750 and started eating at 1850/day to slow bulk. The first week i went from 106lbs to 107lbs but the second week (this past week) i went back down to 106. Does this mean i'm maintaining?? I'm confused. Thanks in advance for your input

Yes, you are most likely maintaining.

Bump the calories by another 100 and see if it makes a difference. If you keep going back down, bump it by another 100 until you reach your "sweet spot"

[robmad]

it's only been two weeks so it's tough to make any conclusion at this point. i would stick with your plan for a bit longer and dont use the scale, use your clothes for determining fat gain. at only 100 cals above perceived maintainance, you should only be gaining about a 1/2 pound a week anyway, so unless your scale measures in 1/2 pound increments, it would be tough to measure what you actually gained anyway.
I have said a lot in my posts on how i dont like the scale. it is the most useless tool out there---the only thing it successfully does is screw with your head. if you are going to do a "slow" bulk, accept it for what it is--SLOW. You are not going to see things in 2 weeks.

[fery321]

Thanks for the replies I understand the gains won't come quickly but i want to make sure i'm not just maintaining...

[robmad]

Thanks for the replies I understand the gains won't come quickly but i want to make sure i'm not just maintaining...

only time will tell...

[fery321]

only time will tell...

yeah... i guess you're right I just hate how i get a different number for my maintenance calories when i use different calculators :P

[freebirdmac]

Since I know my maintenance is 1750 - 1800 no doubt yours is higher. I'd shoot for at least 1900. When you don't see steady gains over several weeks, go up more.

[fery321]

Since I know my maintenance is 1750 - 1800 no doubt yours is higher. I'd shoot for at least 1900. When you don't see steady gains over several weeks, go up more.

Yeah it seems that way. I will bump up to 1925 and keep an eye out O_O Thanks Freebird!