Just how much fat do you gain when bulking?

[bsc14]

Assuming you follow the guides posted on this board and eat clean? I'm asking because I was looking through FLEX magazine yesterday at the store and there was an advertisement in there that showed a pro ( I think it was Craig Titus) wile bulking and then wile cutting and damn was he a fat SOB when he was bulking. I mean I want to bulk when I get the fat off of me but damn that picture was just crazy. Now I know it was an advertisement and I'm not Craig Titus but I'm still curious.

 

[Nate]

i would consider a good bulk 70% muscle gain and 30% fat gain. you shouldn't gain too much fat if you keep your gains around .5 - 1lb. a week and you work hard in the gym.

 

[CowPimp]

If you do a lean bulk, then you might only gain about 10-15% fat if you do it really well. When I was bulking most recently I gained about 75% muscle and 25% fat, but I just ate like a crazy person.

 

[bsc14]

If you do a lean bulk, then you might only gain about 10-15% fat if you do it really well. When I was bulking most recently I gained about 75% muscle and 25% fat, but I just ate like a crazy person.

So if I'm down to say 10% fat and then I bulk I'll be around 25%....that's more fat than I want.

 

[Pepper]

So if I'm down to say 10% fat and then I bulk I'll be around 25%....that's more fat than I want.

I don't think he meant 10-15% of your total weight, 10-15% of your weight gained would be fat.

 

[bsc14]

I don't think he meant 10-15% of your total weight, 10-15% of your weight gained would be fat.

Oh....sorry, I'm kinda new to all this cutting / bulking stuff. So if I gain 20 lbs. (just for example because I have no idea how much is realistic) 10-15% of that could be fat?

 

[CowPimp]

Oh....sorry, I'm kinda new to all this cutting / bulking stuff. So if I gain 20 lbs. (just for example because I have no idea how much is realistic) 10-15% of that could be fat?

Correct. However, that is only if you manipulate your diet just right. It also depends on the person. I doubt I could ever make my weight gains only 10% fat because I tend to store fat somewhat easily.

One of the better ways to go about a clean bulk is to find what your maintenance level of caloric intake is. Increase your calories 5-10% until you start gaining weight. If weight gain stops, then increase once again.

 

[bsc14]

Correct. However, that is only if you manipulate your diet just right. It also depends on the person. I doubt I could ever make my weight gains only 10% fat because I tend to store fat somewhat easily.

One of the better ways to go about a clean bulk is to find what your maintenance level of caloric intake is. Increase your calories 5-10% until you start gaining weight. If weight gain stops, then increase once again.

Thanks guys!

 

[sentricyphen]

i would say it depends largely on how well your body is reponding to the current stimulus. for example when i started lifting i could gain something like 90% lean, where i put on 15 or so lbs of lbm in a single 3 month bulk.

but as i continued into my current intermdiate level, there were rough spots where i didnt gain any lean at all...and had to waste time cutting down back to where i started.

would like to see if there are others with the same experience.

 

[CowPimp]

i would say it depends largely on how well your body is reponding to the current stimulus. for example when i started lifting i could gain something like 90% lean, where i put on 15 or so lbs of lbm in a single 3 month bulk.

but as i continued into my current intermdiate level, there were rough spots where i didnt gain any lean at all...and had to waste time cutting down back to where i started.

would like to see if there are others with the same experience.

Everyone gains muscle like crazy when they first start. I don't really understand the magic behind beginner gains, but they are certainly there. The 10-15% fat in total mass that I spouted is really a best case scenario with absolutely perfect diet and the right body type. Something more realistic for a lean bulk is probably 20% fat.

 

[P-funk]

I would say don't worry about it. Some fat gain is going to ovccur when you are gaining weight. just be smart about what you are doing. I bulk and I eat clean and once I get all my protein in for the day I allow myself a small cheat, if I want one (usually I am so anal that I wont have it and save a day for a cheat meal, like sunday). I keep my calories high and allow myself to gain weight and when I seel I am softening up to much I then cut back my cals a bit, drop cheats, tighten up the diet and/or add a little more cardio to my program until I get things under control (about 3 weeks) and then I go back to gaining.

 

[Premo55]

I wish I could have newbie gains again. Those gains were amazing, almost steroid-ish considering how much I ate when I first started lifting. Gained close to no fat whatsoever. Nothing but dark meat, ice cream three times a day, 800+ calories in every meal, etc.

Peace.