I need motivation to keep bulking

[FatherOfThree]

Rambling thoughts if anyone feels like commenting:

I have lately been feeling pretty fat.

I have been working out hard in the gym, eating fairly clean, really trying hard to clean bulk for almost 6 months now, my goal was to get huge and to bulk all through this summer, fall, and winter and cut next spring. but I have been feeling fat lately.

My percentage of body fat hasn't changed all that much from when I started clean bulking, so I am unsure why I feel fat right now but I think it is because we are in the hottest of the summer so I see lots of guys outside with no shirt on, and right now with my percentage high enough that I have to flex to see my abs outline (ALL my fat is on my abs and mainly love handles) I am not comfortable taking my shirt off. I have no clue how big my waist is (it's big) and how much I weight (alot) right now.

I'm just now finally starting to get to hit my chest hard again and have been looking anxiously to work on that, and I will not be able to gain even close to as quick when cutting as I can now.

I feel if I can hang on through summer I will be ok bulking through fall and winter again and then I can cut next spring... but I feel fat...

... unsure what to do... think I just need motivation to keep bulking over the remainder of summer

No pics right now - still bulking.

[Fomber]

buy 1 bodybuilding magazine..look through the pics of all the jacked up guys... that usually gets me motivated (no homo).. or read through the Arnold Encyclopedia.. .. defff

[murphto]

5' 11" 237 I would start to cut now and then bulk again in the winter and cut in the spring.Stay with deadlifts and squats,rows you will keep alot of mass this way,mass not fat.Hit them abs the way your built you should have no trouble keeping on solid mass.

[Rhinoclan]

Eyes on the prize. Perhaps it's time to take a week off away from the gym and just do some physical activity outside, whether it be taking a hike, going for a bike ride, or just playing with the three kids. I did that last week, threw batting practice for about an hour to my four kids(man did my shoulder hurt the next day, played football, went for a long bike ride (all on different days mind you), and got back into the gym on Tuesday refreshed, energized, and ready to grow.

[Fomber]

buy 1 bodybuilding magazine..look through the pics of all the jacked up guys... that usually gets me motivated (no homo).. or read through the Arnold Encyclopedia.. .. defff

[-Leonidas-]

I have been working out hard in the gym, eating fairly clean, really trying hard to clean bulk for almost 6 months now, my goal was to get huge and to bulk all through this summer, fall, and winter and cut next spring. but I have been feeling fat lately.

There is a good article about Bulking and Cutting and how it may not be the best approach for overall gain. I'm by no means an expert but it made sense to me when I read it. If you think about it probably at least half of the time you will be carrying too much body fat to 'look good'. I've posted the link below.

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1268956

[murphto]

Best motivation is when you see a old friend and they say damn dude your getting huge.Makes me wanna run to the gym again.Best of luck to ya and keep us posted.

[oldsuperman]

Originally Posted by FatherOfThree

Rambling thoughts if anyone feels like commenting:

I have lately been feeling pretty fat.

I have been working out hard in the gym, eating fairly clean, really trying hard to clean bulk for almost 6 months now, my goal was to get huge and to bulk all through this summer, fall, and winter and cut next spring. but I have been feeling fat lately.

My percentage of body fat hasn't changed all that much from when I started clean bulking, so I am unsure why I feel fat right now but I think it is because we are in the hottest of the summer so I see lots of guys outside with no shirt on, and right now with my percentage high enough that I have to flex to see my abs outline (ALL my fat is on my abs and mainly love handles) I am not comfortable taking my shirt off. I have no clue how big my waist is (it's big) and how much I weight (alot) right now.

I'm just now finally starting to get to hit my chest hard again and have been looking anxiously to work on that, and I will not be able to gain even close to as quick when cutting as I can now.

I feel if I can hang on through summer I will be ok bulking through fall and winter again and then I can cut next spring... but I feel fat...

... unsure what to do... think I just need motivation to keep bulking over the remainder of summer

No pics right now - still bulking.

Well, not to sure if you really understand "bulking"? Even if you have a little chub, you can have a great shape. No reason in my opinion to get more than 10% BF while adding muscle. I added more than 10 lbs of muscle last hear and never was more than 10% BF. The year before I was more like 12 or more % BF and gained about 5 lbs of mass.

There are different trains of thought on this, for example Ronnie Colman gains a lot of fat while bulking. I saw him guest posing April of 2006 and he was in my opinion, grossly fat! He was huge and looked awful. Jay Cutler was at the same event and looked great! Probably about 10% BF I would guess.

I have a friend who an an RN getting his MD in anaesthesia and preparing for Nationals this November. Sean is 5' 8" and 238 lbs and 8% BF and is planning to be 240 and 3% for show time. He will do it too! He looks unbelievable now.

Just had my BF checked and it is 8% and I'm eating about 4000 cals now putting on muscle getting ready for National in July 2008.

I ballooned to almost 230 lbs from 208 lbs a week after my last comp, yet by this week have stabilized at 220 and going to push up to 240 and get no more than 10% BF again this year.

So, maybe you can increase your intencity or watch your carbs a little closer. Yet, maybe you look great and it's all mental! LOL! Hard to tell without some pic's! Best to ya. ed

[newmexico123]

Originally Posted by oldsuperman

Well, not to sure if you really understand "bulking"? Even if you have a little chub, you can have a great shape. No reason in my opinion to get more than 10% BF while adding muscle. I added more than 10 lbs last hear and never was more than 10% BF. The year before I was more like 12 or more % BF and gained about 5 lbs of mass.

There are different trains of thought on this, for example Ronnie Colman gains a lot of fat while bulking. I saw him guest posing April of 2006 and he was in my opinion, grossly fat! He was huge and looked awful. Jay Cutler was at the same event and looked great! Probably about 10% BF I would guess.

I have a friend who an an RN getting his MD in anaesthesia and preparing for Nationals this November. Sean is 5' 8" and 238 lbs and 8% BF and is planning to be 240 and 3% for show time. He will do it too! He looks unbelievable now.

Just had my BF checked and it is 8% and I'm eating about 4000 cals now putting on muscle getting ready for National in July 2008.

I ballooned to almost 230 lbs from 208 lbs a week after my last comp, yet by this week have stabilized at 220 and going to push up to 240 and get no more than 10% BF again this year.

So, maybe you can increase your intensity or watch your carbs a little closer. Yet, maybe you look great and it's all mental! LOL! Hard to tell without some pic's! Best to ya. ed

I agree - bulking - for want of a better term - doesn't necessarily lead to greater gains than just good old fashioned training hard and growing - for me personally the bulking - which for me means eating everything is sight - makes it all that much harder to get lean again -

If you look at some of the elite weightlifters in the world - like the Bulgarians - they no longer carry extra weight - and they are kicking everyone elses asses.

The last thing is at our ages do we want the added health risks associated with higher bodyfat, cholesteral etc. My 2 cents.

[oldsuperman]

Originally Posted by newmexico123

I agree - bulking - for want of a better term - doesn't necessarily lead to greater gains than just good old fashioned training hard and growing - for me personally the bulking - which for me means eating everything is sight - makes it all that much harder to get lean again -

If you look at some of the elite weightlifters in the world - like the Bulgarians - they no longer carry extra weight - and they are kicking everyone elses asses.

The last thing is at our ages do we want the added health risks associated with higher bodyfat, cholesteral etc. My 2 cents.

I haven't seen the Bulgarians, yet I do know more and more Pro's are staying leaner while gaining muscle mass. My trainer has also changed to that kind of bulking as well. Not only does he look better, yet her feels better physically and mostly mentally which is making him train better as well.

[FatherOfThree]

All you guys have convinced me... that nagging voice from the back of my head is correct.. I need to cut some fat.

I started lifting again (after dieting and vaguely cutting) at 215lbs and about 15% I do not know my weight right now but it is a lot more than 215, might be around 250 and I would guess I am at about 16-18% body fat...

So my goal was to get as big as possible and then cut down to 10% and see if I could maintain there but I think I will revise that to this:

Get to 10% now and then see if I can grow mass (still supplement free) at that percentage - if I need to I will slip back up to 12% but I will give my self a solid 3 months after I get down to 10%...

Alright - let my cut begin, I promise pictures when I get to 10%.

Thanks all, and I will give reps to all who helped till I run out, then tomorrow.

[newmexico123]

Originally Posted by oldsuperman

I haven't seen the Bulgarians, yet I do know more and more Pro's are staying leaner while gaining muscle mass. My trainer has also changed to that kind of bulking as well. Not only does he look better, yet her feels better physically and mostly mentally which is making him train better as well.

Most olympic weightlifters followed the Russian model - i.e. Serg alexiav(sp?) until the early 90s - i.e. 350+ lb. lifters - then the Bulgarians came in at 285 and beat the Russians consistently - just some general info for your own edification.

[GreenWave1]

Good luck achieving your goals. You can do this.

[lukamar]

It may not be that you are fat but feeling heavy. I'm bulking at the moment and I feel heavy. My weight is going up but my BF% has overall gone down a bit since I started. I check my weight and BF% once a week and if the BF% has climbed I really get back on my diet for a week or until it is going the way I want. My upper limit is 15% BF at that I'll stop bulking and go into a cut mode until my BF% gets down again. So far it's never been close to 15%.

[FatherOfThree]

Originally Posted by Kevin Miller

Good luck achieving your goals. You can do this.

Thanks man.

Originally Posted by lukamar

It may not be that you are fat but feeling heavy. I'm bulking at the moment and I feel heavy. My weight is going up but my BF% has overall gone down a bit since I started. I check my weight and BF% once a week and if the BF% has climbed I really get back on my diet for a week or until it is going the way I want. My upper limit is 15% BF at that I'll stop bulking and go into a cut mode until my BF% gets down again. So far it's never been close to 15%.

Thanks. I am over 15% right now, I'm sure on that, I'm convinced I need to cut at this point. So I will just postpone my old goals for a few months while I get some fat off me. (heh, that made it sound easy, lol)

[misstransformer]

Originally Posted by FatherOfThree

Rambling thoughts if anyone feels like commenting:

I have lately been feeling pretty fat.

I have been working out hard in the gym, eating fairly clean, really trying hard to clean bulk for almost 6 months now, my goal was to get huge and to bulk all through this summer, fall, and winter and cut next spring. but I have been feeling fat lately.

My percentage of body fat hasn't changed all that much from when I started clean bulking, so I am unsure why I feel fat right now but I think it is because we are in the hottest of the summer so I see lots of guys outside with no shirt on, and right now with my percentage high enough that I have to flex to see my abs outline (ALL my fat is on my abs and mainly love handles) I am not comfortable taking my shirt off. I have no clue how big my waist is (it's big) and how much I weight (alot) right now.

I'm just now finally starting to get to hit my chest hard again and have been looking anxiously to work on that, and I will not be able to gain even close to as quick when cutting as I can now.

I feel if I can hang on through summer I will be ok bulking through fall and winter again and then I can cut next spring... but I feel fat...

... unsure what to do... think I just need motivation to keep bulking over the remainder of summer

No pics right now - still bulking.

Hang in there!! Step back, regroup, and recharge!! If you continue doing what needs to be done, the visible results will come. Don't let a temporary stall or plateau discourage you. Although it's intimidating, I would take your measurements and starting fat percentage so you'll know how much you've accomplished over the next few weeks. Your mind is a lot tougher than fat. You can do it!!!

[Mr. Someday]

FOT - I'm with Ed and NM on this....I have continued to gain size the past couple of years while always eating at a surplus and have dropped bf while doing so. I just keep cardio in year around and up it at times if I feel I'm adding any fat. The cleaner I kept my diet the less I had to rely on bumping up cardio. I'm done with "bulking"....I'd like to actually look the part year around instead of 2 months out of the year.

[FatherOfThree]

Originally Posted by misstransformer

Hang in there!! Step back, regroup, and recharge!! If you continue doing what needs to be done, the visible results will come. Don't let a temporary stall or plateau discourage you. Although it's intimidating, I would take your measurements and starting fat percentage so you'll know how much you've accomplished over the next few weeks. Your mind is a lot tougher than fat. You can do it!!!

Thanks I just moved, my scale, tape, etc is in a box somewhere in this house, I will find it eventually.

Originally Posted by Mr. Someday

FOT - I'm with Ed and NM on this....I have continued to gain size the past couple of years while always eating at a surplus and have dropped bf while doing so. I just keep cardio in year around and up it at times if I feel I'm adding any fat. The cleaner I kept my diet the less I had to rely on bumping up cardio. I'm done with "bulking"....I'd like to actually look the part year around instead of 2 months out of the year.

Thanks much, I was hoping to hear from you too - I definetly have a new plan moving fwd. Thanks all.

[do1more]

Maybe you have caught PMS from the wife?

And its bloat?

doh, sorry could not help myself!

[Islandtroll]

Originally Posted by oldsuperman

Well, not to sure if you really understand "bulking"? Even if you have a little chub, you can have a great shape. No reason in my opinion to get more than 10% BF while adding muscle. I added more than 10 lbs of muscle last hear and never was more than 10% BF. The year before I was more like 12 or more % BF and gained about 5 lbs of mass.

There are different trains of thought on this, for example Ronnie Colman gains a lot of fat while bulking. I saw him guest posing April of 2006 and he was in my opinion, grossly fat! He was huge and looked awful. Jay Cutler was at the same event and looked great! Probably about 10% BF I would guess.

I have a friend who an an RN getting his MD in anaesthesia and preparing for Nationals this November. Sean is 5' 8" and 238 lbs and 8% BF and is planning to be 240 and 3% for show time. He will do it too! He looks unbelievable now.

Just had my BF checked and it is 8% and I'm eating about 4000 cals now putting on muscle getting ready for National in July 2008.

I ballooned to almost 230 lbs from 208 lbs a week after my last comp, yet by this week have stabilized at 220 and going to push up to 240 and get no more than 10% BF again this year.

So, maybe you can increase your intencity or watch your carbs a little closer. Yet, maybe you look great and it's all mental! LOL! Hard to tell without some pic's! Best to ya. ed

Anyone who didn't read Oldsuperman's post, read it! If you read it, then read it again!

Originally Posted by enigma60

There is a good article about Bulking and Cutting and how it may not be the best approach for overall gain. I'm by no means an expert but it made sense to me when I read it. If you think about it probably at least half of the time you will be carrying too much body fat to 'look good'. I've posted the link below.

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1268956

Now anyone that didn't read the t-nation article, go read it!

I'm not even a big fan of t-nation, but that article is great! Even if you don't agree, read the whole thing, so at least you can see another side. Bulking and cutting has been pushed so much, that many people think that is the best and ONLY way

[oldsuperman]

Originally Posted by Islandtroll

Now anyone that didn't read the t-nation article, go read it!
Even if you don't agree, read the whole thing, so at least you can see another side. Bulking and cutting has been pushed so much, that many people think that is the best and ONLY way

Well..... I must admit, that was VERY interesting! I was suprised by the caloric intake at my weight. I've been eating just over 4000 cals and according to the chart in this article, I will do better to eat about 500 more. It does support what Someday and I were saying bout bulking. Good comparison pic's as well. Glad I read it. THX ed

[trib2]

Originally Posted by enigma60

There is a good article about Bulking and Cutting and how it may not be the best approach for overall gain. I'm by no means an expert but it made sense to me when I read it. If you think about it probably at least half of the time you will be carrying too much body fat to 'look good'. I've posted the link below.

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1268956

I've had that link bookmarked for a while now and I agree with what's been said about bulking and cutting having been taken to extremes. I think my problem is that in the past I've really underestimated my bodyfat and have never been as lean as I imagine myself to be when I'm looking in the mirror. Hence my last "bulk", although it was very clean, resulted in gaining too much fat around the waist. Why? Because there was too much there to begin with.

I'm committed to getting as lean as possible this summer before I even think about starting to bump my calories up over maintenance. Thanks for the reinforcement.

[Islandtroll]

Originally Posted by oldsuperman

Well..... I must admit, that was VERY interesting! I was suprised by the caloric intake at my weight. I've been eating just over 4000 cals and according to the chart in this article, I will do better to eat about 500 more. It does support what Someday and I were saying bout bulking. Good comparison pic's as well. Glad I read it. THX ed

Hehe, you are one of the few that didn't need to read it

[FatherOfThree]

Originally Posted by Islandtroll

Hehe, you are one of the few that didn't need to read it

I'm not sure who you are referring to but please keep in mind that my percentage of bodyfat is not all that high. With no disrespect meant: based on your avatar I would say it is currently only a percentage or two, max, over yours, but I carry quite a bit more muscle mass, this has been by design until this point.

I agree that a big bulk and big cut is not the way to go for natural people like me, and it is a good article but let's keep things in perspective and realize that for most of, well at least me, the OP, we are fine tuning here not trying to prevent obesity

[Wayne Evans]

Howdy....

Interesting thread.
There's a couple of guys at work, in their early thirties, who talk about the bulking/cutting thing and buy the wt gainer supps.

In my infinite ignorance, the bulking/cutting process just seemed unnecessary....like two steps forward and one backward to ultimately achieve the same thing.
Of course, peoples' goals are different and come from different shools of thought.
Learning, learning...that's why I'm here.

FOT....have you found the elusive 'tape and scale' yet. <grin>

A great workout to all.

[FatherOfThree]

Originally Posted by Wayne Evans

FOT....have you found the elusive 'tape and scale' yet. <grin>

No, because I haven't bothered to look yet to be honest with you, the mirror and how I feel is all that really matters to me and I still have a good 40 boxes to unpack. I honestly am unsure what the grin is for, but if my measurements and weight are really important to you I will look harder to find them?

Edit to ad: Sorry if I misunderstand

[Islandtroll]

I was talking to Oldsuperman, that is why I quoted him. Sorry if it seemed like backhand attack toward you, I really don't post that way.

My problem is how many people push cutting and bulking as the only way. Was just really cool for me to read Oldsupermans post. When someone that is at his level says, "No reason in my opinion to get more than 10% BF while adding muscle" it really makes me happy, because in my heart I already knew the truth of it

Now lets talk about you FatherOfThree, I think you are right on the money wanting to lower your BF% if you feel fat (your words not mine). However, I also think that you don't have ever "bulk" again. In other words, you can keep your BF% at a consistent level and still add muscle mass.

Originally Posted by FatherOfThree

I'm not sure who you are referring to but please keep in mind that my percentage of bodyfat is not all that high. With no disrespect meant: based on your avatar I would say it is currently only a percentage or two, max, over yours, but I carry quite a bit more muscle mass, this has been by design until this point.

For the record, I'm not even close to being happy with the way I look. Being able to even post a pic of myself was a HUGE step.

[FatherOfThree]

Originally Posted by Islandtroll

I was talking to Oldsuperman, that is why I quoted him. Sorry if it seemed like backhand attack toward you, I really don't post that way.

No problem, my bad.

Originally Posted by Islandtroll

Now lets talk about you FatherOfThree, I think you are right on the money wanting to lower your BF% if you feel fat (your words not mine). However, I also think that you don't have ever "bulk" again. In other words, you can keep your BF% at a consistent level and still add muscle mass.

I mostly agree, I think maybe working within a 2% margin is good, in otherwords if you start at 10% then letting yourself play within 8%-12% is fine - now bear in mind I am just speculating here I am not that lean, yet.

My problem is I started at 15% and now here I am at 16-18% and I feel fat because I am fat - so new goal is to get down to 10% and start building from there - so basically I agree with you, but will give myself 2% come the Holidays

Originally Posted by Islandtroll

For the record, I'm not even close to being happy with the way I look. Being able to even post a pic of myself was a HUGE step.

I congratulate you on that step, I am NOT there right now, I hope to cut down to 10% like we said and when I get there I will proudly post like you have.

Thanks for clarifying this stuff!

[Islandtroll]

Originally Posted by FatherOfThree

I mostly agree, I think maybe working within a 2% margin is good, in otherwords if you start at 10% then letting yourself play within 8%-12% is fine - now bear in mind I am just speculating here I am not that lean, yet.

8%-12% sounds great to me I just don't think I have to go up to 18%-25% to add muscle. Hell! I know I don't

[namtrag]

I am at 200lb, and look like s*it!. I look really good everywhere but my midsection. I probably have a different motivation than most, but I want to be 175, just to see myself that thin (I have been overweight my entire adult life). I want to have the last 25 I lose to be the fat around my middle.

Call me crazy, I just want to be ripped, then maybe I will try to add back 25lbs of muscle!