Question -> IFBB Pro's/Judges Please resp.

[gfactor]

Okay I am an all natural. I started up training about 6 months ago. I currently weigh 195 and bulking Here are some pics

My question is...... Should I cut before I gain again???

Or just put on more mass then cut when spring arrives???


Thanks.

Any other tips/hints are appreciated

 

[Zuke]

Yoyo = Bad

You look great for only 6 months training. Congrats!! Now just keep trying to bulk (throwing on lean mass). Do not worry about going down, then up, then down again. It is not good for the body to yoyo like that and It can be hard on your immune system .

Just keep adding mass (as long as BF does not get above 15%). Then cut down from there.Keep up the good work.

 

[gfactor]

You look great for only 6 months training. Congrats!! Now just keep trying to bulk (throwing on lean mass). Do not worry about going down, then up, then down again. It is not good for the body to yoyo like that and It can be hard on your immune system .

Just keep adding mass (as long as BF does not get above 15%). Then cut down from there.Keep up the good work.

How much BF do you think I am??? Like 23%ish? I don't wanna gain and loose more definition then I already have. It sorta brings your mental approach down.
I don't wanna stick myself in a position where Ill be spending half a year trying to cut down to an acceptable bf %

 

[Jwillbc55]

If you feel comfortable with your current bf% then keep bulking up, but if not then start to cut down a bit. There is no exact answer it's about what weight you feel comfortable living with. personally I hate ever getting too far out of shape.

 

[gfactor]

If you feel comfortable with your current bf% then keep bulking up, but if not then start to cut down a bit. There is no exact answer it's about what weight you feel comfortable living with. personally I hate ever getting too far out of shape.

Thats what I'm trying to ask for advice. I don't want to do something that will bring me back a couple of months.

 

[PHIL HERNON]

PLEASE

Thats what I'm trying to ask for advice. I don't want to do something that will bring me back a couple of months.

NEVER BULK UP IF YOU ARE OVER 9-10% BODYFAT.

 

[gfactor]

NEVER BULK UP IF YOU ARE OVER 9-10% BODYFAT.

Alright thank you.

Thats what I heard in other places.

Should I lower calorie intake, maintain protein, and lift gradually heavier weight???

Possibly throw in cardio 2-3 times a week??

 

[littlemack]

Alright thank you.

Thats what I heard in other places.

Should I lower calorie intake, maintain protein, and lift gradually heavier weight???

Possibly throw in cardio 2-3 times a week??

Yes. And hire a trainer like Phil or someone to help suggest the most important exercises that your physique needs. There are a few areas on you that need to be balanced out. Nothing major, but best to address them now. You look great though for only training 6 months!

 

[bulldog21]

Yes. And hire a trainer like Phil or someone to help suggest the most important exercises that your physique needs. There are a few areas on you that need to be balanced out. Nothing major, but best to address them now. You look great though for only training 6 months!

That is a great idea actually....He would be able to teach you things that would take years to figure out on your own....How to each properly in the proper ratio's would be one of the biggest ones...

You have all the pieces of the puzzle in front of you....My suggestion would be to hire somebody to help you put them together and to teach you how to as well...

 

[doug1]

NEVER BULK UP IF YOU ARE OVER 9-10% BODYFAT.

what's this based upon, his psyche and self image or your professional opinion on him reaching his long term goals which i assume is to compete at some level?

 

[LATS]

bulking up has come and gone and back again depending on who ya ask and when.. i personally wish i never did it.. it is alright to "bulk" within reason.. but, do not use it as a excuse to get fat and mistake it for muscle gain.. it will be hard getting it off and may sacrifice hard earned muscle in the process.. after all.. how many excessive calories does one neded to add muscle?.. any and above that is going to not be pretty..

 

[street]

This is getting interesting.Wouldn't it depend on ones definition of bulking up.That is one person may lose site of top abs a nother lose site of all of them.Now say we set the bodyfat limit at 10%.What does one do when they hit that level.If youre six month out from a competition you cannot drop calories as you may lose size .Do you add some cardio?Or do you say I can reach 12-13 % safely and increase calories and add cardio.

 

[doug1]

bulking up has come and gone and back again depending on who ya ask and when.. i personally wish i never did it.. it is alright to "bulk" within reason.. but, do not use it as a excuse to get fat and mistake it for muscle gain.. it will be hard getting it off and may sacrifice hard earned muscle in the process.. after all.. how many excessive calories does one neded to add muscle?.. any and above that is going to not be pretty..

wow, what party pooper, your absolutely no fun

 

[LATS]

YEAH.. I KNOW.. trust me.. i have done my share of bulking .. and it was fun.. but, it was not pretty..lol

 

[oldfella]

Now I'm not going to re-invent the wheel here but I have trained a couple of nattys to their first comp. All I will say is if you need to cut down then whatever you do keep jacking up your protein. You MUST spare as much of your lean mass as possible. You nattys have to be very careful when dieting. You Will lose muscle if you lose sight of your protein intake. I think the best advice so far is to get with someone like phil and follow his advice. Remember the gear only allows you to go hard on your diet while maintaining positive nitrogen balance. High protein will do almost the same thing. Good luck!

 

[Big Lee]

I agree 100% with Phil on this one. 10% then adjust carbs to increase or decrease bodyweight depending on goals. For most people getting fatter than 12-14% is not worth it and quite often a big mistake. I speak from experience of buliking up too much.

 

[Ethan James]

after all.. how many excessive calories does one neded to add muscle?..

I've been wondering that very same thing. I know 3500 kcal equals 1lb of fat, but how many calories equal 1lb of muscle? And how do you ensure that the excess calories are being used to repair/build muscle and not being stored as fat?

 

[oldfella]

I've been wondering that very same thing. I know 3500 kcal equals 1lb of fat, but how many calories equal 1lb of muscle? And how do you ensure that the excess calories are being used to repair/build muscle and not being stored as fat?

The key to the locked door is PROTEIN. I still do not think the scientific community knows everything about protein synthesis in humans. We're real damn close but the key is protein. It is the building block of so many functions in us it's frightening. This is why when I get ready for a show I push my protein through the roof. It spares/builds muscle when dieting, carbs replace the energy (glycogen) in the body after we burn it up. fats (good ones) help to maintian hormone levels and also provide a longer lasting source of energy for endurance. So as the above posts mention. You want to add lean mass up your protein and play with your carbs. Watch your waistline and do not worry bout the scales. Try to keep sight of at least your top row of abs. blurry six pack ok. As for how many calories = 1lb of muscle Don't know. Prolly a lot more than we think!! But 1lb is that 1lb. so 3500 cals = 1lb, sort of!

 

[Zuke]

1lbs muscle = 3500 cal

 

[Big Danny]

I agree with some of the above oppinions. Imo, you are around 20 % bf. If you will be succesfull in loosing 10% of fat while not loosing to much weight you'll do an excelent job and from there on just try to add lean muscle over the time.