Used to be obese. Went from 206 to 149.8lbs. First time lean bulking (purposely). Very resistant at first but been hiring PRs weekly. Fairly meticulous about it. Think my future self will be happy I've took the leap of faith and decided to gain. Thanks for this great talk gents! I genuinely appreciate you sharing all your wisdom.
Almost embarrassed to admit, but I'm that guy who loves to get lean, but never really gain a lot of muscle because I have so much trouble accepting fat gain in a bulk. I'm finally doing a bulk and I'm about 3 weeks in, but looking good still. This podcast was incredibly helpful and motivating at this time!!
I think two real reasons people are scared to enter a surplus even though they're kind of the same reason are 1. They started off fat and are too scared to ever return to that state 2. They recomped in the first couple months lifting and are now scared of undoing the progress they've made with a surplus. Both of these effect people who started at a higher bodyfat% initially, more in my opinion but that's coming from someone who struggled with both. The people I've noticed who perma bulk/over bulk or are more confident gaining weight are usually those who started underweight or very lean and are obsessed with never being small again. both sides can learn from each other. The previous larger folk need to understand that out of the first year if they really want to make good progress they'll need some degree of a surplus, that doesn't mean they need to get fat and it usually takes a slow lean bulk over a couple months for them to understand that bulking is fine and you're in control now. The leaner folks need to remember that patience is key and they'll be in a much better position if they take their time with a couple bulk and cut cycles instead of setting a crazy high goal like 200+lbs at 5'6 on the first bulk in 4 months lol. Pretty much the same issue, different sides to the coin.
I ate at a Maintenance and/or slight surplus for a few years and I've put on a good amount of muscle. I train hard and I was discouraged at first, but ultimately my body made some adaptations.
Question: about the rule of thumb given by Brian about the top end BW for a gaining phase of a competitor being 20% above stage weight, is it not going above 1,2x comp BW or not having to lose more than 20% from your top massing BW to get to stage weight? Because those would be quite different numbers.
It’s a very rough guideline with plenty of exceptions, but it’s 1.2 x stage weight that I was referring to. So a 160 lb competitor in stage shape may push up to low 190s in an extended off-season before it may be time to clean things up a bit.
The way my body is structured, I have very wide hips (and at one point I was obese at 270, 5'11"). I cut all the way down to 145, but I carry a majority of my fat in my lower back/upper glute area and some in my belly. So whether I cut or mass, eventually it just goes there. I do put on good size on my chest, back, arms, legs, hammies, etc., but the bodyfat that appears at that spot is completely frustrating. I recently massed up to 181 and have been cutting for about 5 weeks and I'm down around 168-170 and holding right now. I am wanting to put on more size, so I will mass again, I'm just unsure when I should. Like I said, cutting just gets me skinny except for the lower back/hips area...
For a 58 year old male who’s been lifting for 40 years, what body fat percentage would you recommend to start a clean bulk at? Put another way, it was mentioned that if you have enough body fat, you can use the energy from that fat to fuel the muscle building process. So at what body fat percentage, would you say that ends, and you should do a lean bulk? Thanks!
Would the size of the surplus, and the absolute weight during this phase, would be lower if one is focusing on building smaller muscle groups-arms, shoulders, abdominals?
Enhanced guy's performance doesn't decrease much when dieting and when lean. That makes me think when Natty's experience decreasd strength when they get leaner it isn't due to changes in leverage. Sounds more like muscle loss
Used to be obese. Went from 206 to 149.8lbs. First time lean bulking (purposely). Very resistant at first but been hiring PRs weekly. Fairly meticulous about it. Think my future self will be happy I've took the leap of faith and decided to gain. Thanks for this great talk gents! I genuinely appreciate you sharing all your wisdom.
Almost embarrassed to admit, but I'm that guy who loves to get lean, but never really gain a lot of muscle because I have so much trouble accepting fat gain in a bulk. I'm finally doing a bulk and I'm about 3 weeks in, but looking good still. This podcast was incredibly helpful and motivating at this time!!
More frequent uploads pls as the content is 🔥
I think two real reasons people are scared to enter a surplus even though they're kind of the same reason are
1. They started off fat and are too scared to ever return to that state
2. They recomped in the first couple months lifting and are now scared of undoing the progress they've made with a surplus.
Both of these effect people who started at a higher bodyfat% initially, more in my opinion but that's coming from someone who struggled with both.
The people I've noticed who perma bulk/over bulk or are more confident gaining weight are usually those who started underweight or very lean and are obsessed with never being small again.
both sides can learn from each other.
The previous larger folk need to understand that out of the first year if they really want to make good progress they'll need some degree of a surplus, that doesn't mean they need to get fat and it usually takes a slow lean bulk over a couple months for them to understand that bulking is fine and you're in control now.
The leaner folks need to remember that patience is key and they'll be in a much better position if they take their time with a couple bulk and cut cycles instead of setting a crazy high goal like 200+lbs at 5'6 on the first bulk in 4 months lol.
Pretty much the same issue, different sides to the coin.
Quality of sound has improved, I like it 👍
Endangered species here. 5'9", 149 pound male. 2 year bulk incoming, lol. Holla at me berto!
I ate at a Maintenance and/or slight surplus for a few years and I've put on a good amount of muscle. I train hard and I was discouraged at first, but ultimately my body made some adaptations.
Question: about the rule of thumb given by Brian about the top end BW for a gaining phase of a competitor being 20% above stage weight, is it not going above 1,2x comp BW or not having to lose more than 20% from your top massing BW to get to stage weight? Because those would be quite different numbers.
It’s a very rough guideline with plenty of exceptions, but it’s 1.2 x stage weight that I was referring to. So a 160 lb competitor in stage shape may push up to low 190s in an extended off-season before it may be time to clean things up a bit.
The way my body is structured, I have very wide hips (and at one point I was obese at 270, 5'11"). I cut all the way down to 145, but I carry a majority of my fat in my lower back/upper glute area and some in my belly. So whether I cut or mass, eventually it just goes there. I do put on good size on my chest, back, arms, legs, hammies, etc., but the bodyfat that appears at that spot is completely frustrating. I recently massed up to 181 and have been cutting for about 5 weeks and I'm down around 168-170 and holding right now. I am wanting to put on more size, so I will mass again, I'm just unsure when I should. Like I said, cutting just gets me skinny except for the lower back/hips area...
Still watching in 2023 💪
For a 58 year old male who’s been lifting for 40 years, what body fat percentage would you recommend to start a clean bulk at? Put another way, it was mentioned that if you have enough body fat, you can use the energy from that fat to fuel the muscle building process. So at what body fat percentage, would you say that ends, and you should do a lean bulk? Thanks!
Would the size of the surplus, and the absolute weight during this phase, would be lower if one is focusing on building smaller muscle groups-arms, shoulders, abdominals?
Enhanced guy's performance doesn't decrease much when dieting and when lean. That makes me think when Natty's experience decreasd strength when they get leaner it isn't due to changes in leverage. Sounds more like muscle loss
PATIENCE its the male superpower