Thread: Bulk and cut weekly

It isnt possible. Sorry.
Best to cut first to about 9-10% and then do a bulk, adding gradual calories. You'll partition calories more effectively and not gain as much fat. One thing you need to understand is that you will gain some fat. It's up to your diet and training to dictate just how much you'll put on.
For starters, post the daily diet in which you bulked. Track the calories you took in with FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal and give the protein, fat and carbs you used as well as your overall calorie intake.
What's your present bodyweight now, and if possible, give me a fat percentage.

Righto, thanks for the clarification. You may have missed it in the initial post presently about 17% BF at around 127lb. Will have to start getting on track better with the diet, it was pretty good while I did the initial cut, but got a bit sloppy when I was putting the weight back on, along with being busy with work so wasn't training hard enough either. Really, at my height anyway, I don't have a huge change that I need to go through - total of about 12lb of muscle I am wanting to gain, with a total fat loss of about 10lb. (At a guess, usually deal in KG).

How long have you been training (and I did see the %, but didnt pay attention-sorry about that), and how did you bulk? You'll need to detail what you took in to make me see where the fault lies.

It wasn't really a bulk as such, more I was just getting too light so eased up on the cutting, added back in the pasta/rice etc, that type of thing, and then got a bit sloppy as I was pretty busy working, just didn't really notice that the weight was going on too much and just wasn't training nearly enough. Maybe 'bulk' wasn't the best term really - it started out as one but the diet just went out the window pretty quick when things didn't go well. I was training ok for a time initially, and muscle was going on, but fat was going on faster. But really, at my size to get from the 17% to 10% right now, is only about 9lb anyway. Only been training for about a year now, and wasn't really serious the first 4 months.

Tighten up your diet, cut, and train intelligently. Let me know if you'd like help.

No problems thanks, the initial question was answered, now just need that motivation to actually get into things right again.

Originally Posted by phaedo

It wasn't really a bulk as such, more I was just getting too light so eased up on the cutting, added back in the pasta/rice etc, that type of thing, and then got a bit sloppy as I was pretty busy working, just didn't really notice that the weight was going on too much and just wasn't training nearly enough. Maybe 'bulk' wasn't the best term really - it started out as one but the diet just went out the window pretty quick when things didn't go well. I was training ok for a time initially, and muscle was going on, but fat was going on faster. But really, at my size to get from the 17% to 10% right now, is only about 9lb anyway. Only been training for about a year now, and wasn't really serious the first 4 months.

You just answered your own question. If you don't know what your average intake was in calories, carbs, protein and fat, then you're not tracking and you're just guessing and "kinda eating..." blah blah.

And as we discussed in another thread last week. Those 9lbs "only" is considering that you won't lose any lean mass, which you probably will.

Originally Posted by Merkaba

And as we discussed in another thread last week. Those 9lbs "only" is considering that you won't lose any lean mass, which you probably will.

That was actually the main reason I started to eat more in the first place - talking in KG I dropped from 66 down to 51 in about 3 months or so, but at that stage only two thirds was fat, and BMI was starting to get close to being too low. At that point I was still aiming for another 2kg of fat loss, but needed to try to build up some muscle before cutting again. Lack of discipline etc hasn't helped with that really...

Originally Posted by Merkaba

You just answered your own question. If you don't know what your average intake was in calories, carbs, protein and fat, then you're not tracking and you're just guessing and "kinda eating..." blah blah.

And as we discussed in another thread last week. Those 9lbs "only" is considering that you won't lose any lean mass, which you probably will.

Amazing how many people think the same way.

Originally Posted by phaedo

That was actually the main reason I started to eat more in the first place - talking in KG I dropped from 66 down to 51 in about 3 months or so, but at that stage only two thirds was fat, and BMI was starting to get close to being too low. At that point I was still aiming for another 2kg of fat loss, but needed to try to build up some muscle before cutting again. Lack of discipline etc hasn't helped with that really...

People have the wrong notion of bulking/cutting. When you cut, it's like offering your body a clean canvas on which to work your continual painting, so to speak. If too much paint goes on...maybe 2-3%, you can afford the opportunity to start over with a stronger canvas.

Does this make any sense? You should cut before bulking-better calorie partitioning, less estrogen buildup, and besides all this, the fat made you look bigger, not the muscle. I speak from experience.

And when you bulk, some may be able to eat anything. You may not. It all depends on how you approach it. Gradual increases over a slow period of time.

Ok, been doing some thinking the last few days - should I be looking at cutting or bulking at present realistically? Although BF% is around 17, with my size it is only about 4kg to drop down to 10%. So just wondering, would it be advantageous to try a clean bulk until I hit say 20% then cut? Yes, I did read the last reply about cutting first then bulking, and understand the whole idea behind it - but in this case at 20%BF I should still only be at about 6kg more than I want to be fat wise; but is it really just going to be too high with regards the previous points about estrogen buildup etc?
And I know, I really should have posted the initial topic somewhere else...