Cutting to Bulking

[iK0n]

I was 150 5'7 around August and decided to cut and ended up around 138. I started bulking on October 29th and at 138 I was averaging around 1,800 calories a day up to that point. I immediately started eating around 3,000 calories (as I search through the forums I realized that I should have taken it slower but I actually felt so much better after upping the calories and never felt bloated. I have an insane appetite and could easily have eaten more if I wanted to but decided to stay around 3,000).

As of today I weigh in at 141.4, and I'm wondering if my body is just retaining water weight and getting glycogen in my muscles as it's getting used to my new diet or did I really rush it way too fast and am starting to gain fat.

Here's my Fitday info starting from the 26th to now:
http://www.fitday.com/webfit/publicj...Month=10&Day=5

Thanks for any input

[MrSinister]

ive done 3 cuts now and after every one the first week or two of bulking ill put on heaps in that time.. i dunno the science behind it buts its definitely just water. and yeah ideally, dont just go from 1500-3000 or whatever you did, go up 400-500 a week till you reach your goal intake.

[iK0n]

Thanks for the reassurance, I was getting kind of nervous because of the huge jump I did in calories.

Do you think it would be wise if just my caloric intake back down to say 2,500 from now and then move back up to 3,000 or should I just stick with 3,000 now that I've pretty much gone about 4 days at that range?

[weave383]

I did the same thing you did from going from a 2500 calorie cut to a 3500 calorie bulk. I put on a about 4-6 pounds pretty fast but it has since slowed to a normal gaining level. Cutting your diet now isn't really necessary. Keep eating.

[stylezz2k]

just come over my house and ill feed you and make you look like amy vue

[iK0n]

Originally Posted by weave383

I did the same thing you did from going from a 2500 calorie cut to a 3500 calorie bulk. I put on a about 4-6 pounds pretty fast but it has since slowed to a normal gaining level. Cutting your diet now isn't really necessary. Keep eating.

Alright, I'll just try to stay around 3,000 and then start "worrying about calories" when I actually stop seeing any movement on the scales. I can already see loss in definition around my abdominals but I kind of expected it. I'm trying to do this as "clean" as possible both in terms of food quality and in how much fat I can avoid gaining (even with a "bad" start).

Thanks for the input guys, definitely puts me at ease. I don't know what to expect considering this is my first time purposely trying to gain some mass.

[rott69]

you guys have a meal plan handy? I am 5'5" 220 and I need to drop some weight by March, I'm looking at maybe around 185-190 range to make it look good...... help please!!!

[iK0n]

I'd recommend reading some of the Fat Loss Diet articles on the main page to get some ideas on what to eat. Just make sure you're eating a bit below your maintenance and try to eat nutrient dense foods to meet your needs (carbohydrate, protein, good fats).