Tara's Journal

[tara19]

Well I'm bored at uni and decided, hey.. why not start a log of my 6 week bulk.

Background Information
Long story short, I was overweight and crashed dieted a lot. I used to do cardio twice a day (lol).
About 8 months ago I got into weightlifting and loved every second of it. I've been pretty much on a slow cut for the whole period until I realised that I have no underlying muscle. (listen to the ladies in here when they say bulk from the start).
I've been lucky enough to make some noob gains along the way.

Nutrition
At the moment I'm sitting on;
2060 calories
180 P
200 C
60 F
But it will increase as my body adjust to not being in a deficit for so long.

Workout Schedule:
Monday - Legs
Tuesday - Chest/Tris
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - Back/Bis
Friday - Shoulder/Abs
Saturday - Rest
Sunday - Rest

PR's
I would really like to improve my lifts over the next few weeks.
Squat - 60kg (132lb)
Bench - 35kg (77lb)
Deadlift - 70kg (155lb)

Extra information:
I'm a uni student (pre-med), I live out of home, I work 20 hours a week and I have a pet bunny.
Oh, and I NEVER food prep.

And there will be progress pictures shown.
Here's to hoping I won't put on too much fat

[Jayz133]

I would add more time to rest imo

[tara19]

I would add more time to rest imo

I've tried the whole resting thing. I don't like it haha.
The gym saves me from my head exploding at Uni, so I need it everyday.

Thanks but

[ms_mac]

Why only bulk for 6 weeks?

[tara19]

Why only bulk for 6 weeks?

I put 6 weeks just because I've never done it before.
I don't know how my body will react or how long it will take me to get to what I want to see in the mirror.

No real time frame, just thought six was a good start

[LHarwood]

Tara-have a bit more rest. Your body needs to recover.


Good luck on your bulk. If you freak out over anything have a rant about it and we'll sort you out. Thought you were doing 2200 cals? What are your stats again? What programme is it that your following?

[sindibee]

If you never food prep, how do you find the time to maintain your correct macros?

[tara19]

Tara-have a bit more rest. Your body needs to recover.


Good luck on your bulk. If you freak out over anything have a rant about it and we'll sort you out. Thought you were doing 2200 cals? What are your stats again? What programme is it that your following?

I'll consider the rest :P

Just coming off a cut, I thought I would hang at maintenance for a little bit before upping calories. I've never attempted at putting on weight so I thought I would just see how my body reacted.
My stats:
5'5, 130lb.
I'm following a program a local contestant prep trainer made for me.

[tara19]

If you never food prep, how do you find the time to maintain your correct macros?

I always change what I feel like lol.
I have an excel page set up where I enter what I'm cooking and it subtracts it from my daily calories/macros so I keep on track

[LHarwood]

I'll consider the rest :P

Just coming off a cut, I thought I would hang at maintenance for a little bit before upping calories. I've never attempted at putting on weight so I thought I would just see how my body reacted.
My stats:
5'5, 130lb.
I'm following a program a local contestant prep trainer made for me.

You will be more successful resting a couple of days..fully resting not hammering cardio. Don't make me go all mother on you lol .

I did that too..then my appetite went through the roof and next thing I know im eating 2200...I want more as well. Didn't realise how much I love food.

[tara19]

You will be more successful resting a couple of days..fully resting not hammering cardio. Don't make me go all mother on you lol .

I did that too..then my appetite went through the roof and next thing I know im eating 2200...I want more as well. Didn't realise how much I love food.

Okay Mum! I'll include two WHOLE rest days. :P

I'm quite enjoying eating more to be honest. I'm going to weigh/measure myself tomorrow and go from there.
How are you coping with the scale going up?

[LHarwood]

Okay Mum! I'll include two WHOLE rest days. :P

I'm quite enjoying eating more to be honest. I'm going to weigh/measure myself tomorrow and go from there.
How are you coping with the scale going up?

Paha.

Ermm at first I didn't like it and I almost decided to cut cus I felt so flabby. I even considered living in the sea with the other whales haha but once my lifts improved and I focused on my muscles rather than fat Im dealing with it better. Infact im dreading a cut but ill only drop to maintenance this year then bulk again in September-march..then maintain march to April then cut april to August then maintain to September then bulk again til march and so on

[tara19]

Paha.

Ermm at first I didn't like it and I almost decided to cut cus I felt so flabby. I even considered living in the sea with the other whales haha but once my lifts improved and I focused on my muscles rather than fat Im dealing with it better. Infact im dreading a cut but ill only drop to maintenance this year then bulk again in September-march..then maintain march to April then cut april to August then maintain to September then bulk again til march and so on

Awe man, it's okay we can be whales together soon
I'm planning on a short bulk to see how I cope, than maintenance and thennnn bulkkk again but it depends when I start to feel disgusting/unattractive.

[LHarwood]

Awe man, it's okay we can be whales together soon
I'm planning on a short bulk to see how I cope, than maintenance and thennnn bulkkk again but it depends when I start to feel disgusting/unattractive.

I would give it more than 6weeks tho. You wont get far in 6weeks in terms of muscle growth. I can guarantee you'll go through lots of feeling mingin (for future reference this is a British word for disgusting) stages but ya gotta push through them..get your stubborn side out for this bulk. My stubbornness has helped a lot.

[tara19]

I would give it more than 6weeks tho. You wont get far in 6weeks in terms of muscle growth. I can guarantee you'll go through lots of feeling mingin (for future reference this is a British word for disgusting) stages but ya gotta push through them..get your stubborn side out for this bulk. My stubbornness has helped a lot.

That's the thing, I have no idea how I'll even go with gaining muscle (and fat ;P) so I'll definitely be learning along the way. Haha, love it "mingin". Can I ask what weight/look you're aiming towards?

[tara19]

I've decided that once I weigh/measure/take photos of myself tomorrow that I'm getting rid of my scale.
I don't want/need to know what I'm weighing.
Maybe this will remove the fear of "getting fat"

[LHarwood]

That's the thing, I have no idea how I'll even go with gaining muscle (and fat ;P) so I'll definitely be learning along the way. Haha, love it "mingin". Can I ask what weight/look you're aiming towards?

I'm aiming for an athletic physique so not quiet body builder but pretty lean. Probs wanna get to about 16-18% bf when cutting and maintain at 20% my bf is so wrong compared to the stats I thought I was but I havent changed them on my bodyspace.

What are you aiming for?

You should start using the word mingin..posh people in Britain dont say it tho. I can imagine your sayin the word in ya head using the typical posh brittish voice lol.

[tara19]

I'm aiming for an athletic physique so not quiet body builder but pretty lean. Probs wanna get to about 16-18% bf when cutting and maintain at 20% my bf is so wrong compared to the stats I thought I was but I havent changed them on my bodyspace.

What are you aiming for?

You should start using the word mingin..posh people in Britain dont say it tho. I can imagine your sayin the word in ya head using the typical posh brittish voice lol.

I have no idea what BF% I am. I think I would be about high 20's.
I would love to get down to about 18% too. But if this goes well, I would look at competing at the end of next year and just continue to slowly bulk until I'm happy with my size.

Haha, I'll make a video and say it 10000000000 of times in my Australian accent ;P

[LHarwood]

I have no idea what BF% I am. I think I would be about high 20's.
I would love to get down to about 18% too. But if this goes well, I would look at competing at the end of next year and just continue to slowly bulk until I'm happy with my size.

Haha, I'll make a video and say it 10000000000 of times in my Australian accent ;P

We're about the same stats I reckon


Haha yeah... Australian version would be funny-you guys tend to go higher pitched towards the end of each word/sentence..

I cant bare the posh British accent. .could you imagine the queen saying 'oh darling, one will be bulking for tje duration'.

Btw I dont have a posh British accent.

[tara19]

We're about the same stats I reckon


Haha yeah... Australian version would be funny-you guys tend to go higher pitched towards the end of each word/sentence..

I cant bare the posh British accent. .could you imagine the queen saying 'oh darling, one will be bulking for tje duration'.

Btw I dont have a posh British accent.

Hahahaha. If the Queen said bulking I would die of laughter!

Oh, we are around the same stats. How cool!

[tara19]

Weighed myself this morning
62.5kg (137lb)
I'm putting my scale away and not getting it out for another two weeks.
I've taken some photos and measurements and I'll do these weekly.

Also busted out my slow cooker and slow cooked some chicken breast in diced tomato's. Can't wait to have meal #4 today

You'll all be proud of me, today is going to be a REST day.
I am not going to the gym, I'm going to rest & grow.

[LHarwood]

Weighed myself this morning
62.5kg (137lb)
I'm putting my scale away and not getting it out for another two weeks.
I've taken some photos and measurements and I'll do these weekly.

Also busted out my slow cooker and slow cooked some chicken breast in diced tomato's. Can't wait to have meal #4 today

You'll all be proud of me, today is going to be a REST day.
I am not going to the gym, I'm going to rest & grow.

Yep, same stats .

Oh......my.......goodness. your resting. Im lost for words haha...slow cookers are da shiz.

Anyways its bed time over here. Enjoy ya rest day

[tara19]

Yep, same stats .

Oh......my.......goodness. your resting. Im lost for words haha...slow cookers are da shiz.

Anyways its bed time over here. Enjoy ya rest day

Have a lovely night!

[tara19]

So, even though all I wanted to do was go to the gym. I stayed at home and "rested" and did some yoga + stretching.

Okay, I feel amazing this morning (thanks guys).
Working till 3 today, uni till 6 and then it's time to hit the gym.
Back day!

Hoping to PR on my deadlift (65kg! And to get an unassisted pull up.

My food hasn't been the best, been a bit slack but it happens!

[LHarwood]

See, resting is good.

I reckon you'll nail this deadlift.

Why have you been slacking with food? I made some homeade protein bars. .nommy. you should make some. .then it's an easy snack with plenty of protein.

[tara19]

See, resting is good.

I reckon you'll nail this deadlift.

Why have you been slacking with food? I made some homeade protein bars. .nommy. you should make some. .then it's an easy snack with plenty of protein.

Hit 65kg for four. Pretty darn happy with this.

I've just had extra shifts at work and been unprepared. (my own fault but its all good).
Prepping tonight, should be good!

[LHarwood]

Hit 65kg for four. Pretty darn happy with this.

I've just had extra shifts at work and been unprepared. (my own fault but its all good).
Prepping tonight, should be good!

n'aww i'm very proud of ya . Ughh I hate prepping, but it's good to get it done and outta the way.

[tara19]

n'aww i'm very proud of ya . Ughh I hate prepping, but it's good to get it done and outta the way.

I really don't like prepping because I change what I feel like eating all the time lol. But I need to start being more organised

[tara19]

Woke up feeling dead from deadlifts (ironic right ).
I've prepped for a few days with food. So no excuses not to eat well.
I'm feeling a lot more energetic and better in the gym, so all is going well.

[LHarwood]

Woke up feeling dead from deadlifts (ironic right ).
I've prepped for a few days with food. So no excuses not to eat well.
I'm feeling a lot more energetic and better in the gym, so all is going well.

I bet your sick of me now lol. Ha DL doms are laaarvelly. .aka lovely. glad ya feelin more energetic amd better in the gym. Im having a week off next week as I feel effed so ill be keepin an eye on your progress in that time but ill koan a lot about feeling mingin for not goin to the gym. Tbh ive had a feelin mingin day all fay :'( Whats the time difference between you n here? x