Bulking body, or cut? (PIC)

[someguy1984]

I haven't been lifting long, (obviously) but i wanted to make sure i took the right route. I've been trying to bulk, because i think i need to put on some muscle, but when i look at myself i feel i need to cut...What do you think i should go for? I'm 5'7, 150lbs. Bench 185, squat 245. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/Camaro0wner/fghgh.jpg

My goal would be to look like this. http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/Camaro0wner/n500049412_65332_7686.jpg But, with my body type i know that won't happen and i also know it's bad to try and look like someone else. So, i suppose my goal would be to have a good size with about 9-10% body fat to see definition.

 

[T_man]

definately bulk first

Just bulk more for a couple of months then initiate a cut

 

[Ngordyn]

ya man i have almost the same stats as you im now 160 or so but i am going to work my way up to 170 then cut 15 pounds , then bulk another 30 i am also 5'7"

 

[xfile384]

What do you eat?

 

[someguy1984]

Currently, I've been trying to bulk, but really haven't put on much. I used to weigh 142lbs and looked worse in my opinion...Smaller chest and same weird stomach with unwanted bf.

Currently, i eat about 2500 calories a day, maybe less. On workout days I'll try to eat a little more to make up for calories burned. (around 150-200) This Friday I'll find out if i gained a pound from eating 2500 a day. Usually, i stick around 2000 calories, so i increased by 500 a day to roughly put on 1lb a week. Maybe it's possible i'm not eating enough, maybe too much?

My diet is fairly good, but i eat low on carbs. Breakfast is 1 cup of oatmeal, protein shake with 2 tbsp of natural PB. 620 calorie breakfast.

For a snack later I'll have some peanuts or almonds. Then, I'll some oatmeal before i workout, then when I'm done with my workout I'll have another protein shake with a medium banana added. 220 calories total 0g of fat, 25g protein. About 2 hours later I'll eat a chicken breast sandwich with maybe a little rice. (on pita) Then, for later at night I'll have a salad with chicken breast, or maybe a side of beef and vegetables.

In general, i think i have more fats than carbs in a day. I kept carbs low, because i thought that was better for fat loss...

I do full body workouts 3 days a week. A typical Monday would be: Squats, bench press, pull ups, triceps. Wed, Dips, lat pulldown bb row, traps. Friday: Squats, incline dumbbell press, pull ups, upright row, biceps. I do HIIT cardio on Tuesday and Thursday followed with abs. The weekend is my rest time.

I was thinking about doing crossfitt training on Tuesday and Thursday instead. What do you think about that?

 

[djk80]

If I was you......I would start cutting right now.....Im doing 1000 cals a day atm but I would go 1500 maybe? Do a hard cut now.....see how you look while doing that and lifting for a while....especially summer is coming up but your in cali so ? lol always summer...

Checkout the way you look after cutting and training for a while if you think you need to pack on more pounds then Bulk.........and cut again it'll take a WHILE for you to get like the second pic that one is cut hard and not everyone can get an 8 pack like that but you can get really close with a crazy cut

 

[Gazhole]

I would bulk. At 150 if you cut there will be nothing to look at when the fat is gone. Any clown can get abs, but why don't you get abs AND a balanced overall muscular physique?

Don't go low on carbs, you need carbs as a primary source of energy for your muscules, and your brain. They are incredibly important, especially on a bulk.

Looking at your diet though - Oatmeal, Banana, Pita Bread, Rice and Vegetables are all sources of carbohydrate

I suggest you get an account at fitday.com if you haven't already and start logging what you eat.

 

[someguy1984]

Yeah, they are sources, but not a lot of it...If i have rice, i won't be having a banana...I eat broccoli, which barely has any carbs and i wouldn't consider that anything...It's like 30 calories for a cup. A cup is about ow much i eat...The banana is just post work out with my whey. Oatmeal in the morning is about 50g. So, 50g carbs, plus 60g carbs in rice, plus 10 in veggies = 120g a day...This would be a high day...You would subtract that 60g of rice and replace it with 23 or so with a banana and maybe add pita. Although, the pita is only 14g of carbs... Not to mention, your supposed to subtract fiber from your carbs and i haven't done that...Trust me, i keep track.

 

[someguy1984]

I would bulk. At 150 if you cut there will be nothing to look at when the fat is gone. Any clown can get abs, but why don't you get abs AND a balanced overall muscular physique?

Don't go low on carbs, you need carbs as a primary source of energy for your muscules, and your brain. They are incredibly important, especially on a bulk.

Looking at your diet though - Oatmeal, Banana, Pita Bread, Rice and Vegetables are all sources of carbohydrate

I suggest you get an account at fitday.com if you haven't already and start logging what you eat.

In general, do you think my 2500 calories a day is too low for what i need? I just want to make sure i stay in shape as i bulk, because i'm joining the military. Which is why i run 1.5 miles on tuesday and thursday. This is just to make sure i'm within my PT time. (Which i am) I was a little paranoid about gaining weight and getting slower...But, so far this hasn't been the case, although i haven't gained much...

 

[Gazhole]

The only way you can tell is to log your intake over a few days, and if you're not gaining weight, put your calories up a little.

Everybody's activity levels and nutritional requirements are slightly different, so if you're not gaining on 2500, try 3000. Give it a week or two and see what happens, and repeat this process.

What are you doing for training, incidentally?

 

[someguy1984]

The only way you can tell is to log your intake over a few days, and if you're not gaining weight, put your calories up a little.

Everybody's activity levels and nutritional requirements are slightly different, so if you're not gaining on 2500, try 3000. Give it a week or two and see what happens, and repeat this process.

What are you doing for training, incidentally?

I like to do FBW's and keep it simple. I seem to be getting stronger.

3 days a week. A typical Monday would be: Squats, bench press, pull ups, triceps. Wed, Dips, Overhead shoulder press, bb row, traps. Friday: Squats, incline dumbbell press, chin ups, biceps. I do HIIT cardio on Tuesday and Thursday followed with abs. The weekend is my rest time.

 

[legendkiller713]

damn this could have been my thread. Same situation. Same height, weight and body look, and goal.

Im actually trying to cut, while carb cycling. I can let you know how it works.

 

[sendit08]

BULK!!! six packs are overrated... put on some serious muscle then lean out... after all youll put on some body fat while you bulk even if you cut first anyways...

If you do decide to cut...
Dont forget to count those calories from the second pic. Which is why I would bulk... its a lot more convenient especially in that type of atmosphere.

 

[xfile384]

after all youll put on some body fat while you bulk even if you cut first anyways...

If you do decide to cut...
Dont forget to count those calories from the second pic. Which is why I would bulk... its a lot more convenient especially in that type of atmosphere.

Huh?

 

[sendit08]

Huh?

i was referring to the beer in the second pic... kind of hard to cut and party.
Also, i feel that even if he cuts, when he starts bulking up there will be some body fat gain due to the increase in calories... (its tought to find that perfect amount where you only gain muscle, if that is even possible), he would be cutting again after he bulks up is what I am trying to say, so he might as well just bulk first.
this is just my opinion!

 

[Gazhole]

I like to do FBW's and keep it simple. I seem to be getting stronger.

3 days a week. A typical Monday would be: Squats, bench press, pull ups, triceps. Wed, Dips, Overhead shoulder press, bb row, traps. Friday: Squats, incline dumbbell press, chin ups, biceps. I do HIIT cardio on Tuesday and Thursday followed with abs. The weekend is my rest time.

I would swap squats on the friday for deadlifts to get some posterior chain work in there, and maybe throw some lunges and hyperextensions on wednesday.

Otherwise thats not bad. Fullbody workouts are great.

You might wanna take a look at the stickies in training or built's blog, or even my blog as a last resort, to get some info/examples of good program design.

Most of this will be down to your food intake, but training with a good balance will ensure optimal recovery and prevent against injury through muscular imbalances.

 

[Merkaba]

I agree. Your diet is not exactly metabolic. Lots of starch. You need to track it on FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal or something similar so you can actually see how bad it is! Eat some real food, and some real protein and some veggies.

Yes youre gonna gain some fat while bulking. Djk gave you great advice if you want to lose muscle. Noone should do 1000 calories a day unless youre on some religious vision mission or something. I'll burn 1000 calories watching tube 8.

 

[someguy1984]

I agree. Your diet is not exactly metabolic. Lots of starch. You need to track it on FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal or something similar so you can actually see how bad it is! Eat some real food, and some real protein and some veggies.

Yes youre gonna gain some fat while bulking. Djk gave you great advice if you want to lose muscle. Noone should do 1000 calories a day unless youre on some religious vision mission or something. I'll burn 1000 calories watching tube 8.

lol, nice.

I'll stick to my routine and maybe swap the squats on Friday for deadlifts. I do hypertensions on Tuesday with abs.

I'm timid about deadlifts, because my doctor told me about 4 months ago to not do them anymore...I was in a car accident in high school and messed up my back a bit. Sometimes even hyperextensions hurt, but i just use very light weight (If any) to get by...This is why i do squats, because I've heard it's a very powerful exercise and i didn't see a problem doing them two days a week.

Just giving you a little insight why my routine is the way it is...

 

[Malcom]

cut

 

[Ben dur]

did someone say tube 8?

 

[xfile384]

cut

Are you being serious? As big as you are, you think he should cut?

 

[someguy1984]

Here is a back pic i forgot to post...(Unflexed) Hard to flex and hold a phone...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a26/Camaro0wner/nonamef.jpg

 

[OuiSwim]

Cut.
I think what I'm hearing is you want abs like that kid(somewhat like mine?).

In my opinion cut now..keep working out just lower calorie/fat/carb intake but get your protein still!

 

[someguy1984]

Cut.
I think what I'm hearing is you want abs like that kid(somewhat like mine?).

In my opinion cut now..keep working out just lower calorie/fat/carb intake but get your protein still!

No, i don't really care about abs, i want to get bigger, but not get fat...So, i want to make sure a bulk is a good idea at my body fat right now...If i went on a cut, i would never look like that guy in the picture...Chances are, with my body type i wouldn't look like him anyway...

Also, i only weigh 150lbs and for me to get really showy abs, i would have to weigh somewhere in the 130's, but then i would look like i got out of pow camp...Bulking does seem like a better idea, this way i can cut and show abs at about 155-160lbs, rather than 130...See what i mean?

 

[Ben dur]

No, i don't really care about abs, i want to get bigger, but not get fat...So, i want to make sure a bulk is a good idea at my body fat right now...If i went on a cut, i would never look like that guy in the picture...Chances are, with my body type i wouldn't look like him anyway...

Also, i only weigh 150lbs and for me to get really showy abs, i would have to weigh somewhere in the 130's, but then i would look like i got out of pow camp...Bulking does seem like a better idea, this way i can cut and show abs at about 155-160lbs, rather than 130...See what i mean?

no he doesnt see what you mean
he DOES look like he just got out of POW camp

you got a pretty good base to start with
id bulk, but i would try to keep it as disciplined as possible

cutting is easy
and it happens so much more rapidly than bulking

do that part later
but make sure you keep your bodyfat in a healthy range in the meantime

as for quiswim or whatever your name is

BULK
...
and im still waiting to see those 20 or 30 pullups

 

[DiGiTaL]

I agree. Your diet is not exactly metabolic. Lots of starch. You need to track it on FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal or something similar so you can actually see how bad it is! Eat some real food, and some real protein and some veggies.

Yes youre gonna gain some fat while bulking. Djk gave you great advice if you want to lose muscle. Noone should do 1000 calories a day unless youre on some religious vision mission or something. I'll burn 1000 calories watching tube 8.

hilarious shit.

 

[OfficerFarva]

I'd go for a cut just because summer is around the corner and a small ripped guy looks a hell of a lot better than a big fat one IMO.

 

[OuiSwim]

Milton, Florida eh?
I live right off of Avalon...come to my house and I'll show you those 30 pull-ups..

 

[OuiSwim]

By the way jackass, not everyone wants to be 200lbs of straight muscle. I'm a swimmer so being lean works better for me.

 

[Hench]

Milton, Florida eh?
I live right off of Avalon...come to my house and I'll show you those 30 pull-ups..

Please Ben, it will be worth it.