Cutting question

Phineas · 09-06-2009, 04:00 PM

I'm currently bulking, so this has nothing to do with info I need. Also, I follow conventional bulking/cutting methods. This is just something I've always been curious about.

Why is it that, after bulking, you can't just use a maintenance diet and grow into the fat? What I mean is -- if you eat the proper nutrients and the sufficient amount of protein to trigger healing and growth, wouldn't the excess fat act as incoming calories to create new tissue, in turn gradually reducing body fat? If we bulk to create a caloric surplus and store extra fat for creating new tissue, why can't we just deplete what's left of the excess fat to create the last bit of muscle as oppose to just ridding of it?

I by no means have ever or will ever try this. Again, I'm just looking for someone to educate me on this.

Thanks in advance.

m11 · 09-06-2009, 04:09 PM

Your body is always mobilizing and storing, but for practical purposes, it's easier to think that your body keeps stored fat in storage until you go into deficit and require your body to tap into those stores.

Additionally, your body prefers holding onto the stored fat rather than mobilizing it. It also takes fewer resources to use your daily food intake for energy in comparison to mobilizing the stored fats.

Therefore, you need to be in deficit to have a net decrease in fat stores. Your body will not decrease its fat stores unless you make it. Your physiology does not have the same goals as you do.

**CowPimp** · 09-07-2009, 08:42 AM

Because all the insulin production, and probably a variety of other hormonal factors, come into play when you eat more than maintenance calories. It puts your body in a more anabolic state compared to a situation where all else is equivalent except for maintenance calorie levels.

Unless you are a beginner, you need everything in the right place to build muscle, and it still takes a long time. This isn't to suggest what you are saying is impossible. Assuming you provide sufficient stimulus for growth through other means, it should be very possible. It just becomes more and more difficult for a natural lifter to accomplish this as their training status matures.

TrojanMan60563 · 09-07-2009, 11:48 AM

Fat is stored energy that can be burned in place of calories you are not eating...I don't think you can build muscle from fat, or we'd have fat shakes and not protein shakes. If you eat too much protein and it stores as fat it is now fat...not stored protein. This is my opinion why your idea would not work.

09-06-2009, 04:00 PM	#1
Phineas Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 121	Cutting question I'm currently bulking, so this has nothing to do with info I need. Also, I follow conventional bulking/cutting methods. This is just something I've always been curious about. Why is it that, after bulking, you can't just use a maintenance diet and grow into the fat? What I mean is -- if you eat the proper nutrients and the sufficient amount of protein to trigger healing and growth, wouldn't the excess fat act as incoming calories to create new tissue, in turn gradually reducing body fat? If we bulk to create a caloric surplus and store extra fat for creating new tissue, why can't we just deplete what's left of the excess fat to create the last bit of muscle as oppose to just ridding of it? I by no means have ever or will ever try this. Again, I'm just looking for someone to educate me on this. Thanks in advance.

09-06-2009, 04:09 PM	#2
m11 www.liftstrong.com Elite Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: FL Posts: 857	Your body is always mobilizing and storing, but for practical purposes, it's easier to think that your body keeps stored fat in storage until you go into deficit and require your body to tap into those stores. Additionally, your body prefers holding onto the stored fat rather than mobilizing it. It also takes fewer resources to use your daily food intake for energy in comparison to mobilizing the stored fats. Therefore, you need to be in deficit to have a net decrease in fat stores. Your body will not decrease its fat stores unless you make it. Your physiology does not have the same goals as you do. Getting Started by Built LG Sciences Board Representative These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, do not constitute medical advice, and are not official or authorized comments by LG Sciences, LLC.

09-07-2009, 08:42 AM	#3
CowPimp Fueled by Testosterone Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 15,615	Because all the insulin production, and probably a variety of other hormonal factors, come into play when you eat more than maintenance calories. It puts your body in a more anabolic state compared to a situation where all else is equivalent except for maintenance calorie levels. Unless you are a beginner, you need everything in the right place to build muscle, and it still takes a long time. This isn't to suggest what you are saying is impossible. Assuming you provide sufficient stimulus for growth through other means, it should be very possible. It just becomes more and more difficult for a natural lifter to accomplish this as their training status matures. The only time it's bad to feel the burn is when you're peeing... Belligerent Bovine badass YouTube Videos

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09-07-2009, 11:48 AM	#4
TrojanMan60563 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The U-S of A Posts: 3,391 Photos: 1	Fat is stored energy that can be burned in place of calories you are not eating...I don't think you can build muscle from fat, or we'd have fat shakes and not protein shakes. If you eat too much protein and it stores as fat it is now fat...not stored protein. This is my opinion why your idea would not work.