Former Fatties who are happy with their physiques GTFIH

[nlite2000]

Okay--so I've been under the delusion, whether I've admitted to myself or not that single digit body is where I need to get to before I bulk. I started a PMSF yesterday. I was thinking--what the eff for? All I really need to do is build a chest, and I'll have a physique that I have some leeway with (will have an aesthetic look from single digits to high mid teens) I have full time visible bicep veins bla bla bla. I'm not going to look appreciably better in clothes if I lean down anymore. And I know how to lose fat, any fat I gain from bulking, I can lose.

My question is--How do you bulk without freaking the **** out over weight gain?


Anyway---thoughts on making that transition from cutting to bulking?


/emoblogpost

[TelusLob]

Clean bulk... If your fat gets out of hand, immediately cut back down. At least, that is my plan when I get finished with this epic cut.

[KingOfChaos]

Next time I bulk, I am keeping the surplus to only about 200 calories over EMR and using either IF or carb cycling (or both).

[BigD208]

This is what I call the "cutting mind games". It happens to me too when I cut.You start telling yourself that you already look good so why cut, or you tell yourself that you don't have enough muscle to look good cut. That is the pussy inside you ....we all have one,just learn to Ignore him! You just have to pick a goal and get there without any compromises. Ignore any distractions including yourself!

[PhiSig2298]

You either need to stop being a vagina and bulk and deal with a little fat gain or just deal with your current physique...

Everybody knows you add fat during a bulk.

If you have any willpower, you'll be able to cut back down to the BF% you want



*Edit*

Just keep imagining how much better you'll look on the next cut compared to the current or past cuts

[nlite2000]

You either need to stop being a vagina and bulk and deal with a little fat gain or just deal with your current physique...

Everybody knows you add fat during a bulk.

If you have any willpower, you'll be able to cut back down to the BF% you want



*Edit*

Just keep imagining how much better you'll look on the next cut compared to the current or past cuts

And keep reminding myself that I've leaned down enough that I'll look better with more muscle, even with some fat gains.

[PhiSig2298]

And keep reminding myself that I've leaned down enough that I'll look better with more muscle, even with some fat gains.

Exactly! Hate it when guys say "I'm worried about losing my 6-pack on my bulk"

If they are worried then don't bulk.. They don't see the bigger picture

[Serpentarius]

remember that if you bulk correctly, you are gaining muscle and not just fat, so that say pound a week is not entirely fat being added...keep that in the back of your mind.

[Mightymuff]

Okay--so I've been under the delusion, whether I've admitted to myself or not that single digit body is where I need to get to before I bulk. I started a PMSF yesterday. I was thinking--what the eff for? All I really need to do is build a chest, and I'll have a physique that I have some leeway with (will have an aesthetic look from single digits to high mid teens) I have full time visible bicep veins bla bla bla. I'm not going to look appreciably better in clothes if I lean down anymore. And I know how to lose fat, any fat I gain from bulking, I can lose.

My question is--How do you bulk without freaking the **** out over weight gain?


Anyway---thoughts on making that transition from cutting to bulking?


/emoblogpost

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...#post693754681

Someone needs to take their own advice and man up!!

[cyco85]

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...#post693754681

Someone needs to take their own advice and man up!!

lulz

[nlite2000]

lulz

Your 3 month mini bulk--How difficult was it to start eating at a surplus without feeling like you're just going to get fat again? Did you look better when bulk was over than before it began?

[teamgenetics]

my game plan is to get around 4-6%bf then start clean bulking, as in clean bulking eat only lean protein/ complex carbs/ green veggies for every meal, except my last meal, only green veggies. I will do cardio 3x a week in the morning on a empty stomach just for 30 mins. No alcohol, only 1 cheat meal per month. Drink plenty of water! that's my game plan., losing weight is hard, if you look at my before pics I've came a long way and NEVER want to be fat again!

[Mightymuff]

my game plan is to get around 4-6%bf then start clean bulking, as in clean bulking eat only lean protein/ complex carbs/ green veggies for every meal, except my last meal, only green veggies. I will do cardio 3x a week in the morning on a empty stomach just for 30 mins. No alcohol, only 1 cheat meal per month. Drink plenty of water! that's my game plan., losing weight is hard, if you look at my before pics I've came a long way and NEVER want to be fat again!

I don't think you realise how low 4% is.

[Serpentarius]

4% is IFBB pro bodybuilding lean.

[cyco85]

Your 3 month mini bulk--How difficult was it to start eating at a surplus without feeling like you're just going to get fat again? Did you look better when bulk was over than before it began?

Honestly, for 6 months I just focused on weight training and ate whatever I wanted (probably averaged ~3500 cals per day) without really caring part of it was like a FULK, the other recomp. I knew I was gonna put some fat on but I wanted to put on some muscle and I told myself that once it became noticeable I'd cut back. So that's what I'm doing now lol. Anyway, I started at ~177 lbs and in 6 months I was up to ~188. At 188 I had developed my traps more, my arms gained nearly an inch and my bicep had some actual curve to it and a few other things (plus I finally was able to bench more than 300 which was one of my summer goals). However, I did gain an inch on my waist. I can say that at 183 lbs right now I look better than I did at 177 6 months ago. I'm probably the same BF% but 6 lbs heavier (while on a PSMF diet, so there's some water weight that will be added once more carbs are introduced).

In short, if you're anything like me the only way you're gonna get fat again is if you lose sight of your diet and stop training. I know I won't....

[ddnguyen96]

Try to gain at a slower, acceptable rate...perhaps around 1 lb a week. Also you just gotta accept the fact that fat gain is necessary if you don't want to shortchange your mass gains.

If you've already cut down before, be secure in the fact that you know you can do it again. Also know that after you bulk, you will look even better once you cut back down.

[DSUP]

Okay--so I've been under the delusion, whether I've admitted to myself or not that single digit body is where I need to get to before I bulk. I started a PMSF yesterday. I was thinking--what the eff for? All I really need to do is build a chest, and I'll have a physique that I have some leeway with (will have an aesthetic look from single digits to high mid teens) I have full time visible bicep veins bla bla bla. I'm not going to look appreciably better in clothes if I lean down anymore. And I know how to lose fat, any fat I gain from bulking, I can lose.

My question is--How do you bulk without freaking the **** out over weight gain?


Anyway---thoughts on making that transition from cutting to bulking?


/emoblogpost

You bulk without freaking the **** out over weight gain by remembering that you know how to lose fat and that any fat you gain from bulking, you can lose. Set your goals long term and follow a plan.

I got to this last July:



Then, I ate excessively (lots of good stuff, heavy protein, vegetables) and lifted the heaviest weights I could and ended up almost 25 pounds heavier at the end of February:



On the way up, everything I had to wear got tight, I had to start wearing bigger pants, and I started feeling fat again. That was hard after losing a bunch and not feeling like a fat tub of sheet for once but, I kept the faith. I kept lifting as heavy as I could and I kept eating until March 1.

On March 1, I started to cut in preparation for a Hawaiian vacation at the end of May. I tried to time it so I could lose all but five pounds of the "bulk" that I added since last Summer. I was pretty close (off by two pounds). This is what I ended up with:



I enjoyed the bulk but hated feeling fat again. I know that I wouldn't have made the gains in strength that I was able to over the winter if I only ate enough to maintain last Summer's physique, no matter how hard I tried. So, and because this is supposed to be about bodyBUILDING, I ate big, lifted heavy, and sucked it up when my hard-won six pack faded and my belly returned.

I hated the cut (I like to eat) but I enjoyed putting on the small clothes again. I was almost able to do exactly what I planned to do; lose 20 of the 25 pounds that I gained during six months of bulking in ten weeks (it's much easier to lose fat than it is to build muscle). The best part of the experience is that the strength gains that I made over the Winter haven't diminished appreciably if at all and my physique is much better this Summer than it was last Summer (at least to me). That and looking like this on the beaches of Maui:



Edit: The OP directed this question to former fatties, so, this is from a previous trip to Hawaii in 2008 (@250 lbs):

[Cronie]

I abuse my over inflated testosterone levels because of my age and recomp without stressing :>

[cyco85]

dsup has some killer abs (swear no homo)

[teamgenetics]

I do realize how low it is... can't I aim high? or.. low? lol

[Electricheadd]

dsup has some killer abs (swear no homo)

Seriously.... I think he could have abbs at 15% bf.

[Electricheadd]

Okay--so I've been under the delusion, whether I've admitted to myself or not that single digit body is where I need to get to before I bulk. I started a PMSF yesterday. I was thinking--what the eff for? All I really need to do is build a chest, and I'll have a physique that I have some leeway with (will have an aesthetic look from single digits to high mid teens) I have full time visible bicep veins bla bla bla. I'm not going to look appreciably better in clothes if I lean down anymore. And I know how to lose fat, any fat I gain from bulking, I can lose.

My question is--How do you bulk without freaking the **** out over weight gain?


Anyway---thoughts on making that transition from cutting to bulking?


/emoblogpost

I do agree with you, it all really comes down to what your looking for. If you want the vaunted 6 pack you need to press on. If you are happy with a set of big arms and shoulders that's cool too. Your body is your canvas to paint how you see fit.

I have been cutting for a hell of a long time. (11 months damn near) and am about 60 lbs down from my heavy point. I am pretty happy with how I look now, I have 17.5 inch arms and a 32-34 inch waist. My goal is to have the 6 pack to go with it.... realistically I am 25-30 lbs from that. ugh!!

[vSphereGuy]

realistically I am 25-30 lbs from that. ugh!!

You are one of the best/motivational posters here man. You'll get it no probs!

[Electricheadd]

You are one of the best/motivational posters here man. You'll get it no probs!

Thanks man! That works both ways, I get a lot of inspiration from all the success stories and friends I have met here.

[Serpentarius]

semi bear mode looks good! (statistically insignificant homo)

[nlite2000]

I do agree with you, it all really comes down to what your looking for. If you want the vaunted 6 pack you need to press on. If you are happy with a set of big arms and shoulders that's cool too. Your body is your canvas to paint how you see fit.

I think I'm going to press on with the cut--I'm just going to cut slower, cut way down on cardio and add weighted decline pushups to my routine. I'm still in the noobie gain phase, so I might as well ride that out. Let's see if I can't build my chest up while getting a six pack. Worst case scenario is I get leaner and stronger.


I ended up eating like what I felt was a pig today, I added up the calories and it came out 3500ish with plenty of protein. BFD, refeed.

[stingray72]

I do agree with you, it all really comes down to what your looking for. If you want the vaunted 6 pack you need to press on. If you are happy with a set of big arms and shoulders that's cool too. Your body is your canvas to paint how you see fit.

I have been cutting for a hell of a long time. (11 months damn near) and am about 60 lbs down from my heavy point. I am pretty happy with how I look now, I have 17.5 inch arms and a 32-34 inch waist. My goal is to have the 6 pack to go with it.... realistically I am 25-30 lbs from that. ugh!!

Id give you reps to inspire you on but i have to spread them around first. I love the things you post too. Your an asset to bodybuilding.com.

[dannysc]

Yeah I was once 300 pds, I know exactly where ur coming from op, I'm quite nervous about bulking myself.

[StacksItRich]

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...#post693754681

Someone needs to take their own advice and man up!!

Rep'd lol...

[Electricheadd]

I think I'm going to press on with the cut--I'm just going to cut slower, cut way down on cardio and add weighted decline pushups to my routine. I'm still in the noobie gain phase, so I might as well ride that out. Let's see if I can't build my chest up while getting a six pack. Worst case scenario is I get leaner and stronger.


I ended up eating like what I felt was a pig today, I added up the calories and it came out 3500ish with plenty of protein. BFD, refeed.

Definitely nothing wrong with that plan. In my experience people who enjoy this lifestyle are never done working at it. It's always, a cut, bulk or recomp nobody ever says "oh I'm happy with that" and stops. So take your time and enjoy the ride.