What's your bulking philosophy?

[illiniStrive]

Lisa V's comment in another thread got me curious

What is everyone's bulking philosophy?


Imho, when it comes to "wheel spinning" I feel like this is most likely to happen under the guise of a bulk than anything else. On a cut it's pretty hard to fool yourself (unless you're getting into very lean ranges), if you're losing fat, you're losing fat, if you're not, you're not. Whereas on a bulk, you're gaining water+fat+muscle+glycogen, so the scale might jump up 5lbs and a person is convinced they've gained mostly muscle and are done gaining weight for the rest of the month.

That's not really a philosophy, but just something I've noticed purely from my 'observation' (aka lurking journals for the past couple years) . Especially with women (when in actuality, we need a longer bulking season then men because of our tiny testosterone production).

[Ondemand]

From what I've noticed, my TDEE is extremely predictable. If I believe I'm eating in a 500 surplus, I'll pretty much exactly gain 0.5kg.

Basically for my next bulk my philosophy is to gain slowly at around +250, not too worried about wheel spinning seeing as I always gain as expected with little variance. Can imagine it being different for others though.

[FenderElectrics]

I eat more, get as strong as possible and don't worry about gaining fat. It's easy for me tho because I didn't look good to start I can see how someone who is cut up could have a lot tougher mental barrier gaining fat that myself but I still think people need to look more long term.

[psychodiver9]

Dreamer

[BunkMoreland]

A lot of food and ice cream tech

[PhiSig2298]

Although I've never properly bulked, I've seen more people (especially in the nutmisc) hold themselves back..

When I finally bulk again, I'll do exactly what I'm doing now, except be in a surplus.

- weigh once a week & even then use it as a check point

- use the mirror as my true compass

- estimate lean meat portions, fibrous veggies. weigh/measure fatty meats, starches, etc.

- don't stress out over **** I can't control

- realize that I'll never step on a stage so don't pretend that I will

- enjoy being a dad/husband first & a "bodybuilder" second

[Geoloop]

Currently on my first official bulking period but still taking it slowly at 5000 kcal a day, the days i dont count my calories or make my meals i usually go full potato with food and alcohol...

[ko300zx]

Eat as much and as fast as possible until the neck and the chin become one. Then cut.

[miacanesfan25]

My first bulk was a dreamer indeed. I ended up right back where I started before I began lifting, however, I do notice I have a lot more muscle underneath the fat to cut to than I did when I started.

Next bulk will be a lot slower.

Personally, wheel spinning is still a myth because even though my bulk didn't go exactly as I had planned I still made a ton of progress in the way of muscle gains.

[illiniStrive]

My first bulk was a dreamer indeed. I ended up right back where I started before I began lifting, however, I do notice I have a lot more muscle underneath the fat to cut to than I did when I started.

Next bulk will be a lot slower.

Personally, wheel spinning is still a myth because even though my bulk didn't go exactly as I had planned I still made a ton of progress in the way of muscle gains.

How does that make wheel spinning a myth? You gained a lot of weight, some of which was obvious muscle. That's not wheel spinning...

Wheel spinning is spending a significant portion of time making no progress under the guise of making progress.

[BunkMoreland]

How does that make wheel spinning a myth? You gained a lot of weight, some of which was obvious muscle. That's not wheel spinning...

Wheel spinning is spending a significant portion of time making no progress under the guise of making progress.

you're so argumentative

[illiniStrive]

you're so argumentative

ikr?!

[Vitek92]

My bulking philosophy is to eat enough to gain weight and recover well from my workouts. Under-eating bothers me a lot more then over-eating does so basically if I "fulk" for a few day I don't really care but if due to some circumstances I am unable to get in enough calories for 2-3 days I will try to force down anything I can to make up for it.

[miacanesfan25]

How does that make wheel spinning a myth? You gained a lot of weight, some of which was obvious muscle. That's not wheel spinning...

Wheel spinning is spending a significant portion of time making no progress under the guise of making progress.

That would be exactly why I said "Personally, it's still a myth". No matter what I've done, I've made progress. I've gone with the advice of others, and against it. Didn't matter. Wheel spinning not even once.

[Milone79]

Vitek made some good points...I just finished reverse dieting after my las show and guess you can say have moved into the bulking phase of the year....still taking things slowly...but have the occasional 1-2-3 day FULK where zero fawks are given...eg. mom's B-day party on Sunday night...woke up yesterday at 198 lbs...back on diet last night and this morning was 193 lbs....so I don't stress over the numbers anymore....recovering from my previous w.o. and getting stronger every week are my main priorities now...on the other hand getting too fat is not going to help me when I want to cut the next time either....I think bulking is far less stressful than cutting especially if you are prepping for a competition but I also read many threads in here where peeps are really stressed about gaining a bit of fat in the "offseason"...

[illiniStrive]

That would be exactly why I said "Personally, it's still a myth". No matter what I've done, I've made progress. I've gone with the advice of others, and against it. Didn't matter. Wheel spinning not even once.

You phased it like "personally, [I think] it's still a myth"

Meh

[mike201011]

gotta get fat to get jacked

[cldillmann1]

Take weekly averages of weight

Get BF% tested every 6 weeks

Compare Week to Week/6 week to 6 week changes in numbers

[Leprechauns1021]

I think trying to eat only >300cal surplus is going to end in wheel spinning most of the time. Activity levels fluctuate for most people, and a 200cal surplus is most likely too small for people to consistently make progress.

You don't have to fulk, but trying to bulk at tiny surpluses so you don't gain any fat will almost always just put you in maintenance mode. You usually have to have been at it for a long time and really know what you're doing for such small surpluses to work.

[MITCHAPAL00ZA]

very similar to Michael, but I'd say I shoot for at 1.5-2 lbs per month tho.

0:50-2:10

[TigerBulk]

My bulk is wrapping up, but here was/is my plan:

First get lean (9% in my case @ 158 lbs)

Start bulk at a rate of gaining 1 lb per week and continue until I hit 185 lbs, or Feb 22nd arrives, or lifts stop increasing, or bf% hits 19%.

I'm currently at 184 lbs, so my bulk is almost over.

Did it go well? I guess so. I'll know once I've leaned out for July.

Good luck

[koolskool]

Always been skinny. Started to lift serious and bulk. Gained pretty well.
Now I think I'm getting fat. FML.
Waist is 35" at the belly-button. Only place on my body that stores fat. fuk.

[TigerBulk]

Always been skinny. Started to lift serious and bulk. Gained pretty well.
Now I think I'm getting fat. FML.
Waist is 35" at the belly-button. Only place on my body that stores fat. fuk.

I can confirm, you are fat with a 35" waist @ 5'8". Mine is 35.5"

Are you going to start your cut soon?

[AdamWW]

I don't even bother with aiming for a weekly gain in weight number because my water weight changes so much. I just make sure i'm not getting fat and call it good.

[psychodiver9]

I don't even bother with aiming for a weekly gain in weight number because my water weight changes so much. I just make sure i'm not getting fat and call it good.

that's why you are a perpetual wheel spinner

[BunkMoreland]

that's why you are a perpetual wheel spinner

[TigerBulk]

that's why you are a perpetual wheel spinner

You usually seem to have knowledge to share. If you don't mind me asking.

What's your personal target weekly weigh gain on a bulk?
What's your personal high end and low end bf% cutoffs?

[miacanesfan25]

You usually seem to have knowledge to share. If you don't mind me asking.

What's your personal target weekly weigh gain on a bulk?
What's your personal high end and low end bf% cutoffs?

It's hard t0 get an accurate reading because psycho weighs himself every 17 minutes.

[psychodiver9]

You usually seem to have knowledge to share. If you don't mind me asking.

What's your personal target weekly weigh gain on a bulk?
What's your personal high end and low end bf% cutoffs?

sorry I would have got to this sooner but I was weighing. I weigh 6-7 times a day immediately after each meal to make sure I have a perfect linear weight gain. I try to gain exactly 0.73 lbs a week as that will make for maximal lbm gained with the absolute minimum bf. If I get above 9.99% bf I start my cut immediately. If I can't see my abs even for a minute I know I've bulked too long

[midcoastking33]

Mass gainers