The Downside of Bulking

[IRONBULL05]

There's a down side to bulking????

In all seriousness,you do have to keep a hold of what you eat.Yes,you do want to consume LARGE of food,stuff that you normally wouldn't eat,but you still have to keep it in check.Still keep the majority of you food clean(somewhat) and throw in the "Bad" foods too.This doesn't mean cake and ice cream though.LOL

[Sexybeast777]

There's absolutely no point in bulking up, but that's just my opinion

[Colossus]

Originally Posted by liftsiron

If you want to add a little bulk weight for christ sake just up the calories with mostly clean food, it's dumb to eat pure shit other than once in awhile for a treat.

I have been getting carried away.....and quite frankly im turning into a fat ass.

[Wingnut32]

I always liked Charles Poliquin's articles

I try to stay on the lean side, but I definately drift up above 10% every now and then

[IRONBULL05]

Originally Posted by Sexybeast777

There's absolutely no point in bulking up, but that's just my opinion

Thats an interesting statement.Would you like to go further into detail as to why you think that?

Not knocking it,just curious as to why you came to that conclusion.

The whole point of BB imo is to bulk up and then cut.Always making improvements and trying to get to the next level.Not saying that becoming a lard as is good,but thats not bulking up IMO.I stay lean most of the yr anyway,but do run bulker's and cutter's.My bulkers are mainly clean as wel so I never get fat,just heavier.I love bulking!Nothing better than adding extra weight in winter and then bringing it all together for summer and each year trying to make that new cut weight at a slightly heavier mark.I could just stay lean all year and never try to make any change,but whats the point to that?Where's the challenge?To get stronger,you must gain muscle,which in turn means adding wt.You can never get stronger without adding muscle.So even if you are trying to lose weight,you are still aiming at adding LBM(i.e.,more muscle)

But this could be an interesting topic.I would like to know why you think bulking is a waste.

[Sexybeast777]

Well, I think those bodybuilders on steroids and other powerful drugs should bulk up and then prepare for a contest later, where they concentrate on burning the fat, however, I feel like the natural athlete has a much harder time trying to burn the fat off and achieve an incredible level of condidtioning, because of this, I think it's better to gain weight slowly, but surely, without gaining any fat at all, if I can gain 5-10lbs of muscle, without gaining an ounce of fat, I'm happy..:)

[jsonbrent]

Originally Posted by IRONBULL05

The whole point of BB imo is to bulk up and then cut..

bulking then cutting is a waste of time, energy and muscle....why eat and train all year to gain weight...only to lower you caloric intake/up cardio to lose weight later......why not eat like a horse and do enough cardio to be at a bf% you are satidsfied with.....then you dont have to waste all the time and energy with the cutting.......

	energy

[GuiYoM]

Take care of youre magnesium intake, zinc sulfate intake, rotate you're protein on 3 days, if you're taking fat, take more protein, less carb.

	protein

[IRONBULL05]

Originally Posted by Sexybeast777

Well, I think those bodybuilders on steroids and other powerful drugs should bulk up and then prepare for a contest later, where they concentrate on burning the fat, however, I feel like the natural athlete has a much harder time trying to burn the fat off and achieve an incredible level of condidtioning, because of this, I think it's better to gain weight slowly, but surely, without gaining any fat at all, if I can gain 5-10lbs of muscle, without gaining an ounce of fat, I'm happy..:)

Well to me,whether or not you are on aas or not is irrelevant. Its is all in your metabolism,how you eat,how you train,etc.

I have a very fast metabolism and cut up very easily,so its not hard for me to gain weight and then cut it up.

I agree that gaining weight is and should be a slow process.It takes time and dedication in the gym.But again,that is the goal,gain weight,gain muscle.

[IRONBULL05]

Originally Posted by jsonbrent

bulking then cutting is a waste of time, energy and muscle....why eat and train all year to gain weight...only to lower you caloric intake/up cardio to lose weight later......why not eat like a horse and do enough cardio to be at a bf% you are satidsfied with.....then you dont have to waste all the time and energy with the cutting.......

Ok,you are confusing gaining LBM with just getting fat.

It is in no way a waste of time running bulking and cutting cycles.It is in fact beneficial to your progress.Its no different with your training.You always want to switch things up,make changes to shock your muscles.The same thing with your diet.Its always good to change things up.When I am training with heavy weights and low reps,I change my diet accordingly.I am in my bulking phase and will consume more calories that I do when I train for cutting up where my training is lighter weights and more reps.

What you are suggesting is that one would get fat and then try to cut it up later.Like Lee Priest.No,I would never get fat like that to only cut it up later,but then again,I am not a national level BB either.To get past that genetic limit,you sometimes have to make these drastic changes.For him,at his level of maturity,he could never get any bigger unless he gained weight like that.

But again,for the average guy that bulks,it is just to add that extra strength and muscle.To get stronger,you MUST add muscle,which in turn means adding weight.So once you get to a point where you cannot make any further muscle or strength gains at your current weight,you will have no choice but to add that extra bodyweight.When you are beginning in the game,you make great gains,but as your body starts to reach its limit,those gains slow down and eventually stop.You HAVE to make changes to move forward.

So a waste of time,energy and muscle??? Not at all.

The whole point is to gain LEAN BODY MASS.You will always gain some amount of fat,but by keeping it to a minimum,you will make quality gains and be happy.

	energy