What signs do you look for before ending a "bulking" phase?

[powerof2]

Here is a local guy im helping compete this year (Classic Physique), its his first year to compete but has 7 years use with AAS and 16 years training.

He has always done "bulking cycles" and "cutting cycles"

In November he wanted to run a "big" bulking cycle , had an elaborate list of gear some wack ass diet that would make him fat as fuck. He asked me to look at it and we had a long discussion. Well I talked him into the protocol above and he added some size (his legs lag badly)



The first pic is where we started his "cutting cycle" , he was running 300mg test 400mg EQ then we switched to 250mg Test , 200mg Mast , 200mg Primo 100mg Tren a week



Second pic is 8 weeks later , 8 weeks out from a show currently running 500mg Test , 400mg Mast , 300mg tren a week as well as 1 Serostim HGH 2x a day.

At 4 weeks out we'll probably ad 100mg to each and 50mg winstrol a day through the show.



He has had ZERO calorie reduction since he started his prep , getting 300g Protein , 120g fat , 100g carbs per day and is doing ZERO cardio so far because he does a lot of physical activity at work.





16 weeks out





8 weeks out





Don't get caught up and Bulking and Cutting , look at it like growing then seeing what you built.

That's awesome!


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[alvinstrong]

i end up it when i feel my mass has increased.

 

[MightyMouse215]

Obviously looking fat and not having abs would probably be the first and most straightforward sign...

I've been "bulking" for a few months now... 224lbs @ 5'7" after weighing 190 on stage. I've got calories up just over 5k and can't gain weight for the life of me. I've been throwing more crap food in and even simple sugars to get in more calories on some days but my appetite is just going to crap. I still have some abs and feel like I could go up another 5-8 pounds before looking like it's time for a cut... shut it down and back off or keep pushing?

Are you doing mostly compound exercises?, cutting back on reps and volume and focusing on the basics could give you those sparred calories you need to gain those extra pounds.

 

[jpkoepse]

Are you doing mostly compound exercises?, cutting back on reps and volume and focusing on the basics could give you those sparred calories you need to gain those extra pounds.

I'm doing a lot of compound movements for every muscle group but there is always "accessory stuff" thrown in there.

I also think my protein probably needed to be reduced.. I was around 365 grams a day...

 

[MightyMouse215]

I agree, no need for hi protein while bulking...focus on getting good carbs from complex sources and fruit and play with your healthy fats, and your calories I believe you said was around 4 or 5 thousand a day so your protein will be a 200 which is more enough, keep a pizza or something around to munch on in between and if that does not work make sure you do not have a tape worm...LOL! Good luck!

 

[XstarchildX]

Nice work with that local guy, GunSmith. Some very solid progress in 8 weeks.