Continue bulking?

[meloncap78]

6’2 182. Starting to get very jiggly/watery back handles. Was much leaner at 187 before Covid struck. Not sure what happened, most likely a loss of LBM. Just curious where I will end up if I try to add another 10-15 pounds over the next 6 months. BF estimate would also be appreciated.

[xsquid99]

IMO there is no point trying to add more than 1lb per month if you're an intermediate lifter who is already over 40 years old. I'm in the same boat (at 46), it all just starts to collect on your belly and love handles. That whole "bulking" thing doesn't really work out at advanced ages for those who have already progressed past their NOOB gains.

[ezra76]

I'd say about 13-14%? Also I'd be cautious about really "bulking". Do you have any pictures before you stopped? Did you just totally stop training alltogether?

[meloncap78]

I'd say about 13-14%? Also I'd be cautious about really "bulking". Do you have any pictures before you stopped? Did you just totally stop training alltogether?

this is roughly 8 months ago. I’m just wondering if there is anyway for me to get proper size to be a big dude at this age being 6’2. 180’s is very light for my height in the BB world. I want some 17” arms and 26” quads. Did starting to lift at 34 have anything to do with missing out on any real noob gains? I was about 170 and skinny fat when I started. I figure I need a good 20 pounds of lean mass to properly fill out.

[xsquid99]

tI want some 17” arms and 26” quads. Did starting to lift at 34 have anything to do with missing out on any real noob gains? I was about 170 and skinny fat when I started. I figure I need a good 20 pounds of lean mass to properly fill out.

What you're talking about is not achievable as a natural, especially at your age and given your current size. Sure you might be able to add another 8-10 lbs of muscle, but it will likely take you 5-10 years to do it.

[kyle38]

this is roughly 8 months ago. I’m just wondering if there is anyway for me to get proper size to be a big dude at this age being 6’2. 180’s is very light for my height in the BB world. I want some 17” arms and 26” quads. Did starting to lift at 34 have anything to do with missing out on any real noob gains? I was about 170 and skinny fat when I started. I figure I need a good 20 pounds of lean mass to properly fill out.

If your bench is 265 and you want size, I'd suggest you need to train powerlifting. I've got 19 inch arms, but definitely have love handles. There is something to be said for having your definition and frame though. I've found what works for me, but I couldn't say how you should start. The issue is that you are going to have to lift heavy and eat if you want size.

[meloncap78]

If your bench is 265 and you want size, I'd suggest you need to train powerlifting. I've got 19 inch arms, but definitely have love handles. There is something to be said for having your definition and frame though. I've found what works for me, but I couldn't say how you should start. The issue is that you are going to have to lift heavy and eat if you want size.

i want to remain as lean as possible. I weighed 220 at one point but looked terrible. I have narrow shoulders and hold most of my fat around my midsection. I have an interest in powerlifting from an adaptation point of view but it’s not a personal goal. I pulled 455 on dead at 182lbs a couple of months back. I feel that is a decent lift but nothing to write home about. My bench has always been weak. Pretty sure at this point my max is 250. My working sets are 215 x 6-8. Just bad luck to have this frame and want to be big without having a ton of adipose tissue.

[ElrondHubbard]

this is roughly 8 months ago. I’m just wondering if there is anyway for me to get proper size to be a big dude at this age being 6’2. 180’s is very light for my height in the BB world. I want some 17” arms and 26” quads. Did starting to lift at 34 have anything to do with missing out on any real noob gains? I was about 170 and skinny fat when I started. I figure I need a good 20 pounds of lean mass to properly fill out.

Starting at 34 had nothing to do with anything. You more recent picture looks softer partly because of poorer lighting, posing and posture, and partly because you've added a little fat in the lower abdomen. Your physique from 8 months ago was one I'd kill for at any age. But you're not really that far way from it now. I'm not sure if what you're talking about now is getting back to that shape, or going beyond it to get positively huge. If the latter, you've got a real challenge ahead of you. You're going to have to obsess on diet and training for a long time to get to that level.

To get to where you were -- you know what to do because you've done it already.

[brit-iron]

this is roughly 8 months ago. I’m just wondering if there is anyway for me to get proper size to be a big dude at this age being 6’2. 180’s is very light for my height in the BB world. I want some 17” arms and 26” quads. Did starting to lift at 34 have anything to do with missing out on any real noob gains? I was about 170 and skinny fat when I started. I figure I need a good 20 pounds of lean mass to properly fill out.

Holy chit you look great at 180! I'm not qualified to offer any advise, but from what I've read, everything being good, at this stage maybe 2 to 3 lbs per year is possible naturally, unless genetic limits have been achieved.

[kyle38]

i want to remain as lean as possible. I weighed 220 at one point but looked terrible. I have narrow shoulders and hold most of my fat around my midsection. I have an interest in powerlifting from an adaptation point of view but it’s not a personal goal. I pulled 455 on dead at 182lbs a couple of months back. I feel that is a decent lift but nothing to write home about. My bench has always been weak. Pretty sure at this point my max is 250. My working sets are 215 x 6-8. Just bad luck to have this frame and want to be big without having a ton of adipose tissue.

I don't want to be the guy that always tells people to use dumbbells, but since you are talking about your shoulders like that and talking about struggling with bench, I would say dumbbell work would probably help. I'd focus on incline bench, sitting military press, and sitting hammer grip shoulder fly press. I'd do 3 sets each with weight you can do for 15 reps. It will build a better foundation by building up the stabilizer muscles. I'd bet if you add that at least once a week, you start to see an increase in your barbell bench in 5 weeks.