Calorie surplus or not?

[Shauny01]

If you're an absolute beginner to weight training, doing a 3day full body schedule combined with some HIIT, looking to build muscle, should you eat in a calorie surplus?

I feel like I probably should, cause I'm not going to build muscle on a calorie deficit. But I'm scared I'll just put on a lot of fat and be even further from my goals.

Anyone who wants to share their experience?

[OT2000]

Yes you should eat in a surplus. If you want to limit as much as possible the fat gain, keep your calories 10-20% max over your TDEE. Keep in mind, you will gain some regardless so be prepared to live with that while bulking.

[Marshall28]

What is your current height, weight and BF% ? I would tend to say yes in a surplus unless you are extremely overweight to begin with.

[Misctake7]

Slight surplus

[ryanhitsthegym]

You should aim for a surplus. But, you want to make sure this surplus is through healthy foods, not just fried and fatty foods. That's the difference.

[SkyFlight23]

Slight surplus

The standard.
Do people actually go on full dreamer bulks?

[LaserCop1988]

EDIT: Also, this is totally in the wrong forum.

I've been going back and forth on this as well. I know that it's necessary to have a slight caloric surplus to build muscle with maximum efficiency, but from what I've been reading, it doesn't seem to be mandatory for those of us who are complete beginners - i.e. someone who has had a sedentary lifestyle (desk job and absolutely no exercise for years, like me) and just started a good full-body routine (1 month into Greyskull LP) - to make progress in terms of strength gains.

I'm lifting 3x/week with slow and steady progress, and doing cardio (switching it up between steady state and HIIT) 2x/week in between. I am probably around 25% bodyfat - slight build but with the despised puffy hipster beer belly. I look pretty ridiculous with my shirt off because of how thin/small I look all around, yet the protruding stomach and slightly sagging man boob area. First noticing that last part is actually what made me say "Hell. No." and get back at it after years of doing nothing.

So - I want to end up muscular and lean. I'm currently neither. I would hate to be any fatter than I am now.

Since from what I understand beginners tend to make progress easily for the first few months, is it wiser to continue my beginner stage (which is primarily adapting to lifting heavy things and not necessarily hypertrophy, right?) with a 20% deficit until I've leaned out some before having to inevitably add some fat back for muscle growth, or would you just pack on the man boobs with the plan of an intense fat-shedding stage later?

Trying to not look gross by summertime, guys.

[Heizz]

100% calorie surplus OP.

Sit back and watch the gains come!