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Body Fat % & Bulking

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Posted by: Exordus

While reading through some of the posts in ref. to body fat and bulking, I began to realize that maybe I shouldn't be on a bulking diet. Although I haven't had my body fat count done in a long time (probably over a year), the last time I had it checked I was at 21%. But at that time I was neither eating right nor lifting. It's funny how a thin guy can have such a high percentage of body fat.
I'm planning on having my body fat checked here within the next week and depending on the results, want to know if I should stop my bulking diet. I'm assuming (and yes, I know what that means) that since I've been eating right and gaining muscle, that my fat % would naturally lower. At what point in time should I stop trying to gain mass and just lose some freakin body fat? If my percentage comes back at around 20% I'm going to be bummed out!

Of course this is really something I should have thought of before I started my diet, but hey, it's still all new to me and i'm learning.


Posted by: Exordus

Ok, checked today and I'm at 18.3%. Since I haven't had it checked in so long I can only assume that number is a few percentage points down. But who knows for sure. I'm going to look at the positive of this and see that it's lower then it used to be and I'm on a bulking diet so it may actually be a little high since i'm eating more cals. lol


Posted by: BulkMeUp

Quote:
Originally Posted by Exordus
It's funny how a thin guy can have such a high percentage of body fat.
Tell me about that.

It is suggested to get your bf down to ~10% and then bulk. The less fat you have the less fat you are likely to put on during your bulk. If i am wrong, hope some more experienced members can correct me.


Posted by: Emma-Leigh

Quote:
Originally Posted by BulkMeUp
It is suggested to get your bf down to ~10% and then bulk. The less fat you have the less fat you are likely to put on during your bulk. If i am wrong, hope some more experienced members can correct me.
Agreed.

That does not mean you have to 'cut' - it just means you eat sensibly (maintainence), train hard, do some cardio (3 to 4 days/week) and let your body 'recompose' until your BF decreases to a more 'bulk friendly' level.


Posted by: BulkMeUp

Quote:
Originally Posted by Emma-Leigh
Agreed.

That does not mean you have to 'cut' - it just means you eat sensibly (maintainence), train hard, do some cardio (3 to 4 days/week) and let your body 'recompose' until your BF decreases to a more 'bulk friendly' level.
So for this specific example, the intention would be to try hold on to the same total weight but let the bf% fall?


Posted by: Emma-Leigh

Quote:
Originally Posted by BulkMeUp
So for this specific example, the intention would be to try hold on to the same total weight but let the bf% fall?
Well, it would depend on his age/total weight etc... But yes - if his weight is at a healthy range for his height and age then he is best of keeping the same weight and decreasing fat while adding muscle.


Posted by: Exordus

Quote:
Originally Posted by Emma-Leigh
Well, it would depend on his age/total weight etc... But yes - if his weight is at a healthy range for his height and age then he is best of keeping the same weight and decreasing fat while adding muscle.
That sounds about right. 35 YOA, 6'3", 190 lbs. w/ 18% body fat. The absolute last thing I want to do is lose ANY weight at all. So, I need to start doing more cardio? I was keeping it limited not to burn many calories. Also, I should back off on some of my calories and just mantain a good diet?

Thanks Emma


Posted by: Emma-Leigh

Quote:
Originally Posted by Exordus
That sounds about right. 35 YOA, 6'3", 190 lbs. w/ 18% body fat. The absolute last thing I want to do is lose ANY weight at all. So, I need to start doing more cardio?
Depends on how much you are doing at the moment... But anything about 3 to 4 times a week should be good. A few sessions of short stuff and a few sessions of longer stuff.

Quote:
Also, I should back off on some of my calories and just mantain a good diet?
Well - this also depends on how much you are taking in. If you are gaining weight on what you are eating then backing off a little (in combination with adding a little cardio) will help you in stabilising your weight at where you are and then your body can get down to the business of re-composing.

Quote:
Thanks Emma
You are welcome.


Posted by: DeadBolt

First....what do you want out of this? Do you want to end up a little bulky or simply keep a healthy fit life style?

Honestly you look pretty skinny in your pictures I'd suggest keeping your cals at maintnence or higher and add some LBM...just keep the cals nice and clean. Do some cardio as well and let the lbm grow while the fat decreases and you even out. Looks to me like you could use some more size but if its not your goal then do what suits you best.


Posted by: Exordus

Quote:
Originally Posted by DeadBolt
First....what do you want out of this? Do you want to end up a little bulky or simply keep a healthy fit life style?

Honestly you look pretty skinny in your pictures I'd suggest keeping your cals at maintnence or higher and add some LBM...just keep the cals nice and clean. Do some cardio as well and let the lbm grow while the fat decreases and you even out. Looks to me like you could use some more size but if its not your goal then do what suits you best.
Yeah, I am skinny, hence me trying to bulking diet. But I didn't know my bady fat % at the time I started. Like I said earlier, it's hard to tell that my BF % would be so high by looking at me. I'm starting to show definition a lot compaired to what I used to be...but although I want some definition, I would like to be larger as well. So, you are correct that I could use some more size.

Like I said, I think by me just working out/exercising and having a healthy diet in the first place is naturally lowering my BF. I have already visibly gained muscle and definition (not hard to tell when you started with none) so I think I'm heading in the right direction regardless. I just wanted some input on how I should be proceeding. I think I'll try what you said Deadbolt....keeping just above maintnance cals (clean) and adding some cardio. Right now I want more size then definition. Thanks!

PS: Thanks for noticing my skinny ass.


Posted by: DeadBolt

Quote:
Originally Posted by Exordus
Like I said, I think by me just working out/exercising and having a healthy diet in the first place is naturally lowering my BF. I have already visibly gained muscle and definition (not hard to tell when you started with none) so I think I'm heading in the right direction regardless. I just wanted some input on how I should be proceeding. I think I'll try what you said Deadbolt....keeping just above maintnance cals (clean) and adding some cardio. Right now I want more size then definition. Thanks!

PS: Thanks for noticing my skinny ass.
Sounds like a plan!!

Nothin wrong with skinny you just gotta add some size now Better then being Fat...I can vouge for that.







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