When bulking do you need to be at a constant surplus or just a daily surplus?

[LaserWolf]

When eating at a caloric surplus for bulking are you supposed to constantly be at a surplus through out the day, as in every time I eat or snack I should be putting myself ahead of the calories I've burned so far? Or are you just meant to be at a surplus by the day's end?

[air2fakie]

When eating at a caloric surplus for bulking are you supposed to constantly be at a surplus through out the day, as in every time I eat or snack I should be putting myself ahead of the calories I've burned so far? Or are you just meant to be at a surplus by the day's end?

How would you know how many calories you've burned through every specific feeding time of the day?

[LaserWolf]

How would you know how many calories you've burned through every specific feeding time of the day?

Fitness tracker. Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc...

[DougyF7]

Daily

[air2fakie]

Fitness tracker. Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc...

I don't think you'd find those exactly accurate, especially pinpointed at specific times of the day.

Regardless, you just need to be in a surplus in the sense that you have a trend of weight gain over time. Most people will calculate this on a daily basis out of convenience and consistency.

[AdamWW]

Fitness tracker. Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc...

not possible....

[desslok]

Doesn’t even really “need” to be daily but thats an easier timeframe for the average human mind to comprehend.

[xsquid99]

Fitness tracker. Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc...

Definitely not, those things are not accurate at all.

[TolerantLactose]

constantly be at a surplus through out the day

When you're not digesting food, you're in a deficit.

[EiFit91]

When eating at a caloric surplus for bulking are you supposed to constantly be at a surplus through out the day, as in every time I eat or snack I should be putting myself ahead of the calories I've burned so far? Or are you just meant to be at a surplus by the day's end?

The average calorie intake over time (weeks to months) is what ultimately drives things.

[LaserWolf]

The average calorie intake over time (weeks to months) is what ultimately drives things.

So does this mean that's it's also not a big deal if I have days here-and-there where I didn't get a surplus? So long as the trend is that I typically get 500 extra cals or whatever a day?

Edit: Thanks to everyone else for their responses too.

[faithbrah]

So does this mean that's it's also not a big deal if I have days here-and-there where I didn't get a surplus? So long as the trend is that I typically get 500 extra cals or whatever a day?

Edit: Thanks to everyone else for their responses too.

if your goal is to limit fat gain, 200-300 surplus is enough too

[EiFit91]

So does this mean that's it's also not a big deal if I have days here-and-there where I didn't get a surplus? So long as the trend is that I typically get 500 extra cals or whatever a day?

Edit: Thanks to everyone else for their responses too.

Yeah it doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things. It may matter for "optimizing" things wrt muscle building but obsessing about doing everything optimally is probably not good for your mental health in my opinion. Been there lol. Better to just be consistent and patient and not panic about small details. Exercise is supposed to be a positive factor in your life not another stress factor.

[Basiliskboy]

if your goal is to limit fat gain, 200-300 surplus is enough too

Second this. Been eating clean with just a 400 surplus for 6 months. Making lean gains not gaining any fat.

[AdamWW]

Second this. Been eating clean with just a 400 surplus for 6 months. Making lean gains not gaining any fat.

If you're in a 400 surplus, you're gunna gain some fat... but perhaps not too much if you're new to lifting.

[SuffolkPunch]

https://www.strongerbyscience.com/bulking/

[MG5]

I'd focus on a weekly surplus.