What body fat percent do you guys usually go to until you stop bulking? I finally had my first successful one and don't want to stop yet, but I'm starting to get a gut. Dirty bulk got the better of me. I went from around 160 to 195 in about 5 months. Body fat calipers say about 20-22%. I'd like to see 200 but man, I don't want to get to a bad spot fat wise. Feel like I'd loose all the muscle I put on. I know I'm not the first one to have this predicament, when do you guys usually cut weight, around 25%?
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Thread: When do you guys stop bulking?
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12-15-2019, 05:49 PM #1
When do you guys stop bulking?
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12-15-2019, 06:05 PM #2
Have you ever cut before?
Personally I hate being in a deficit, so I don't let myself get too fat. Also I hate fat. I cut when I had 14 lbs to lose. That took 9 weeks. Depends on how long you feel like cutting. Those 9 weeks felt like forever. I plan on cutting again when I hit 190.
I would never get over 20%2022 -- Just maintaining and doing the van life
April 2021.................16 week cut.................168 lbs
2020......................375 / 285 / 505..............186 lbs
Pre-COVID..............335 / 295 / 499..............185 lbs
July 1, 2019................9 week cut.................164 lbs
Late April 2019.........285 / 275 / 440.............178 lbs
Oct, 2018..............175x6 / 145x6 / 275x5......163 lbs
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12-15-2019, 06:48 PM #3
Why do you need to see 200? That number is meaningless, BF% is what matters.
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12-15-2019, 07:46 PM #4
- Join Date: Mar 2015
- Location: Nevada, United States
- Posts: 10,024
- Rep Power: 98130
I go by how tight my pants feel.
“Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.”
-Voltaire
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12-15-2019, 11:35 PM #5
I have done dirty bulking in the past as well and will never repeat that again. Got to 225 lbs at 6'1 and was around 20-25 % BF and felt terrible.
A month ago I finished a long cut (16 weeks and 25 + lbs lost) and now I am planning on maintaining that weight, perhaps adding an extra 100 kcal above maintenance.
I would advise you if you are already over 20 %, to stop bulking, as you are already at a point of diminishing returns. Start reducing your calories weekly, to not jump right away into a huge deficit.Powerlifting 2020
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12-15-2019, 11:47 PM #6
Over 20 is when health can decline. 35 lbs in 5 months is insane. Definitely start cutting to around 15 percent.
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12-16-2019, 12:30 AM #7
I knew I had finished bulking when I burst out of my jeans at the cinema and had to walk through the busiest street in my city with my frozen butt cheek in plain view.
Was going to bulk for 15 months, but ended up stopping at 12 months.
I put on 30lbs.
All the best.
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12-16-2019, 03:57 AM #8
If you bulk smart then it's not that bad. Just cut a few months a year to line up with vacations or summer. But you have a massive cut ahead of you where you will lose most your gains. Or spend the next 3 years recomping and doughy.
Current max
325 bb bench
295 incl bb bench
275 push press.
Married w/ 2 kids crew
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12-16-2019, 04:27 AM #9
I can't see a problem with that if I am honest :-) Depends on what city I guess if it's down south certainly no problem.
We like unique clothing choices down here by the sea.
One of my bulks I knew it was time to cut when at work we had to have a meeting to discuss legal weight limits on vehicles and driver licences legality. Bad times....
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12-16-2019, 05:02 AM #10
If you've been doing everything right, you will have put on about 10lb muscle and 25lb fat in this bulk.
Personally, my limit is around 17-18% body fat, which is generally when my pants start getting too tight.https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=181179323&p=1658333353#post1658333353
Age: 38
Height: 185cm (6'1")
Weight: 79.3kg (175lb)
Personal best lifts
Bench - 6 x 65kg (143lb), 8 x 62.5kg (138lb)
Bent Over Row - 10 x 70kg (154lb)
Front squat - 5 x 67.5kg (149lb)
Back squat - 1 x 95kg (209lb), 8 x 77.5kg (171lb)
RDL - 9 x 87.5kg (193lb)
Deadlift - 6 x 107.5kg (237lb)
Overhead Press - 6 x 40kg (88lb)
Chin Ups - 7 x bodyweight + 12.5kg (27.5lb), 14 x b.weight
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12-16-2019, 05:53 AM #11
Your bodyfat is way too much, anything over or under %10 means lesser testosterone, less testosterone means less muscle, you should cut down asap. Aim for %10 and don't start bulk until at least %12.
Edit: And regarding when the stop bulk. I personally wouldn't go beyond %15 but if you're more okayish with fat don't go beyond %18. Anything over %19 is considered overweight and over %25 is considered obese.Last edited by Kasim7; 12-16-2019 at 08:46 AM.
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12-16-2019, 07:31 AM #12
Usually I stop bulking when I look at the price tag of new pants and I'm not willing to pay for new pants so rather than continue my bulk i go into a cut so that I don't need to buy pants in size 36
Recent best lifts
Bench - 225x13, 235x9, 250x5, 280x1
Squat - 295x10, 340x5, 375x1
Deadlift - 430x12, 450x9, 485x5, 515x1
OHP - 150x11, 170x6, 185x2, 190x1
3 mile run: 21:59 @ 170 bw.
BW - 195 Getting fat mode
531 Log: https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=177172201&page=6
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12-16-2019, 09:06 AM #13
Thanks everyone for the feedback and insight, trying to rep everyone I can. Looks like I'll start to cut then. I'm worried that I will loose all the muscle I put on and go back to being skinny, but don't want to be unhealthy either. I'll stay lifting heavy and keep doing an hour of boxing a day for the cardio.
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12-16-2019, 09:19 AM #14
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12-16-2019, 09:20 AM #15
- Join Date: Oct 2013
- Location: United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Posts: 1,302
- Rep Power: 3312
When I have to start wiping from the front
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12-16-2019, 10:05 AM #16bench press 167.5 kgx1, 125 kgx13, 100 kgх24
standing press 100 kgx1, 82,5 kg 4 sets х 5 reps
deadlift 230 kgx1, 200 kgx4, 190 kg 3 sets x 5 reps
raw squat 180 kgx1, 150 kg 5x5
chin-ups +25 kg x10 reps
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12-16-2019, 10:08 AM #17
Haha. #lifegoals
OP ignore that 10% stuff most little guys think they are sub 10% because they can see their abs but they are no where near it . True sub 10% is toxic to longterm health. Aim for a weight you like a go a few lbs below it. Then bulk till you aren't happy and repeat. Some guys that's a small difference, others can tolerate 20-30lb swings. But never gain more than 4 lbs a month again.Current max
325 bb bench
295 incl bb bench
275 push press.
Married w/ 2 kids crew
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12-16-2019, 03:02 PM #18
You right, mistakes were made. Oddly enough I don't think I want to dip below 18-20% though, I kind of enjoy having some flub right now. I'll need to trim back before bulking again though or I'll be the Pillsbury dough boy in no time. I've been trying to bulk up and do MMA at the same time, and I can't seem to keep weight on because of all that cardio. I think I'll keep lifting to maintain and just not eat as much. Loose some of the fat then keep bulking. You guys are the best, thank you.
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12-16-2019, 03:30 PM #19
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12-17-2019, 10:31 PM #20
There is a difference between being fat and muscular and lean and muscular. Both aestethics and health wise. You could be fit and %20 and look "big" or be fit %10 and look much more appealing and much more better health wise.
A %10 person with the same amount of muscle as a %20 person can also lift much heavier due to not having to carry around the useless fat tissue and will have a much higher testosterone. Will be able to run much better as well and have a better blood sugar level and better cardiovascular health.Last edited by Kasim7; 12-17-2019 at 10:53 PM.
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12-18-2019, 12:04 AM #21
- Join Date: Jan 2007
- Location: Suffolk, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Posts: 54,512
- Rep Power: 1338185
Not so sure about that. I don't think 20% is going to have much of an impact on someone healthwise if they are active. It isn't that fat for an adult male.
Also, strength althletes tend to have higher BF% than bodybuilders and of course they are stronger. This is because there is a cost associated with staying that lean - less time spent in a calorie surplus. It's uncommon for strength athletes to be very lean unless they are squeezing into a weight class.
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12-18-2019, 12:20 AM #22
Doctors say over %18 is overweight for men and over %25 is obese.
When you say more body fat means lifting heavier, I suggest you link a science based link to that, because logic wise it makes absolute no sense. The fat tissue will add no strength at all and weaken your strength due to additional weight, and lesser testosterone. More fat than %10 means testosterone being converted to estrogen.
Healthwise, being overweight is not as bad as being obese, yet it's definitely a deteriorating factor for your health. Whether it be diabetes and heart health.
medscape.com/answers/123702-11456/what-is-the-definition-of-obesity-based-on-body-fat-percentage
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12-18-2019, 12:43 AM #23
- Join Date: Jan 2007
- Location: Suffolk, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Posts: 54,512
- Rep Power: 1338185
You are conflating someones weight with their conditioning. It's perfectly possible to be 20% and very fit and active. Broad population statistics do not capture that because there is an inherent bias - fatter people are less active.
Simply estimate the BF% of a broad range of strength athletes. You will find very few top Olympic lifters and powerlifters and strongmen have the good ab definition you would have at 10%. American football players for example probably average in the high teens or more. Rubgy players too.
Nobody is saying that fat itself makes you stronger - but it is a better anabolic environment than being very lean. This is why fat people can often recomp successfully whereas lean people can't. Remember we are talking about active individuals here, not those who have neglected their bodies for extended periods and may be suffering from insulin resistance and other metabolic disorders.
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12-18-2019, 12:52 AM #24
What a terrible and baseless advice right here. This is not even bro science, it's just misleading people into a terrible place health wise. Do you know your own bodyfat?
American Football players absolutely do not have %20 BF, otherwise they would have large bellies juping around. Also you did not link anything to this claim, which proves that it is what you believe rather than a research.
And this word "better anabolic environment than being very lean" is just outright denial of biology. You will have a much higher testosterone at %10 than what you will at %20. Making you able to build less muscle. I suppose you believe that the fat on top of your muscles also makes you "big".
Ronnie colemans arms are 22 inches for example. You can have the same arms at about %30 BF, do you think you will look as appealing as him? No. Why not? Because you will have a belly wider than your shoulders, much less vascularity and terrible performance which will make you walk less than 10 minutes.
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12-18-2019, 01:00 AM #25
- Join Date: Jan 2007
- Location: Suffolk, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Posts: 54,512
- Rep Power: 1338185
Yes I do know it, 13% measured by underwater weighing and 7 point caliper. What's the relevance of that?
I put it to YOU that you don't know what 20% really looks like. On a built guy it barely looks different to 15%. Do you really think that a 250lb football player is only 10%? Compare that level of lean mass to top bodybuilders... just unrealistic.
Show me your evidence that active people with 20% bodyfat have less test than those at 10%. I would actually expect the opposite to be true. 10% is just a lot lower than you think it is - and not sustainable for most people.
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12-18-2019, 01:09 AM #26bench press 167.5 kgx1, 125 kgx13, 100 kgх24
standing press 100 kgx1, 82,5 kg 4 sets х 5 reps
deadlift 230 kgx1, 200 kgx4, 190 kg 3 sets x 5 reps
raw squat 180 kgx1, 150 kg 5x5
chin-ups +25 kg x10 reps
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12-18-2019, 01:13 AM #27
quora.com/What-is-an-ideal-body-fat-percentage-for-optimal-testosterone-health-for-men
Body fat starts to interfere with testosterone levels at less than 10%, and over 15%
And yes, I do believe a 6,7 person can weight 250lb at %10. Also, top lean mass bodybuilders are juicing to get that huge mass. And if you believe the top bodybuilders are anything over 8%, you have likely never read about bodybuilders.
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12-18-2019, 01:14 AM #28
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12-18-2019, 01:23 AM #29
Dude, the doctors are going to agree with what I'm writing now, not the heresy you're babbling about. By medical standards, an adult man up to 18-19% is called lean, over 23% will be diagnosed with "pre-obesity" (because this condition is not dangerous to health in itself, but there is a risk of moving to fat people), and only over 25% will be diagnosed with the 1st (ie, the most initial degree of obesity)
bench press 167.5 kgx1, 125 kgx13, 100 kgх24
standing press 100 kgx1, 82,5 kg 4 sets х 5 reps
deadlift 230 kgx1, 200 kgx4, 190 kg 3 sets x 5 reps
raw squat 180 kgx1, 150 kg 5x5
chin-ups +25 kg x10 reps
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12-18-2019, 01:25 AM #30
- Join Date: Jan 2007
- Location: Suffolk, United Kingdom (Great Britain)
- Posts: 54,512
- Rep Power: 1338185
link doesn't work.
Also, quora is for opinions. Post the original source
Have you actually done the sums for LBM of athletes? How come most of them don't have sharply cut abs? - you haven't managed to answer this question so far.
As I have already mentioned, health and bodyweight are based on statistics - and heavier people are that way partly because they are less active. You will find no evidence that people who are 20% and ACTIVE are less healthy than those at 10%.
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