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Need help, unsure on what to do next (bulking or cutting)

Been bulking for the last 3 months and I feel I gained weight too fast

Espino_0
Espino_0 g Juan Espino
5 Post(s)
5 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: January 1, 2018
Posted

I have been bulking since January 2018 up until now. When I started the bulk I was at 185 lbs. Currently (April 2018) I am about 201 lbs. I feel like I have gained some muscle but it also feels like ive gained alot of fat. I eat clean throughout the week but on the weekends I tend to have alot of cheat meals. I workout 5 times a week for about an hour focusing only on weights. I rarely do cardio. I have been lifting constantly for about 2 years but feel like I am constantly shifting back and forth between cutting and bulking. Once I feel I am getting too fat i cut and once I feel like im getting too thin I bulk. I know this has limited my progress since my main goal is to build muscle so I would greatly appreciate your advice on what to do moving forward. Should I cut or continue bulking? Thanks.

 

Info:

6 Feet

201 lbs

 

MACROS

210g Protein

73g Fat

250g Carbs

 

* I do have some loose skin because I used to be overweight

* Most of 2017 I spent cutting consuming a small amount of carbs (120 grams)

 

These first 2 pictures are from before I started the bulk back in December 2017

 

These next 2 are how I currently look while bulking (April 2018)

Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
Posted By: Espino_0

I have been bulking since January 2018 up until now. When I started the bulk I was at 185 lbs. Currently (April 2018) I am about 201 lbs. I feel like I have gained some muscle but it also feels like ive gained alot of fat. I eat clean throughout the week but on the weekends I tend to have alot of cheat meals. I workout 5 times a week for about an hour focusing only on weights. I rarely do cardio. I have been lifting constantly for about 2 years but feel like I am constantly shifting back and forth between cutting and bulking. Once I feel I am getting too fat i cut and once I feel like im getting too thin I bulk. I know this has limited my progress since my main goal is to build muscle so I would greatly appreciate your advice on what to do moving forward. Should I cut or continue bulking? Thanks.

 

Info:

6 Feet

201 lbs

 

MACROS

210g Protein

73g Fat

250g Carbs

 

* I do have some loose skin because I used to be overweight

* Most of 2017 I spent cutting consuming a small amount of carbs (120 grams)

 

These first 2 pictures are from before I started the bulk back in December 2017

 

These next 2 are how I currently look while bulking (April 2018)

Hey man. It's probably going to do you some good to cut down a bit from here. Sounds like you aren't a newbie anymore? I think if you take the bodyfat % down to the mid teens, and then get back into a lean bulk, that would be good for you.

 

It's OK to let loose on the weekends a little bit.. but if you are having "alot of cheat meals", that could be pretty bad. You could derail an entire week's worth of good work just by not caring about your diet at the weekend.

 

I would say maybe a cheat meal each day would be OK.. but if you are basically having two cheat days and not tracking macros, that could be a problem. If you are going to have some cheat meals, I suggest you still track and make sure you are getting at least close to your macros, rather than going like 500-1000 calories over what you should be having (which could happen if you're not tracking).

 

I'd also say cutting back the carbs on your off days would help with keeping things lean, and I suggest you do some cardio even when bulking.. 2-3 times per week is enough normally.

 

So it sounds like you are getting about 2500 calories at the moment on your bulk? Is that right? The macros you posted are what you've been using to bulk?

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Espino_0
Espino_0 g Juan Espino
5 Post(s)
5 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: January 1, 2018
Posted

Thanks for the quick response,

 

And yes, Strangely enough 2500 calories sounds about right. I personally think its a low amount to be bulking since the normal is in ranges above 3000. I am sedentary most of the day at my job with the only physical activity is my hour at the gym. Its either that or I am going completely out of control on weekends. Ill follow ur advice and cut down a bit and incorporate cardio. Do you have a guestimate of my current body fat just by looking at the pics? Also would you suggest just to lower my carbs and keep proteins and fats the same?

 

Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
Posted By: Espino_0

Thanks for the quick response,

 

And yes, Strangely enough 2500 calories sounds about right. I personally think its a low amount to be bulking since the normal is in ranges above 3000. I am sedentary most of the day at my job with the only physical activity is my hour at the gym. Its either that or I am going completely out of control on weekends. Ill follow ur advice and cut down a bit and incorporate cardio. Do you have a guestimate of my current body fat just by looking at the pics? Also would you suggest just to lower my carbs and keep proteins and fats the same?

 

As a guesstimate I would say around 23-25% for your body fat.

 

I think lowering your carbs would be a good idea. Try taking them down to more like 150g while cutting. If you need to, increase the fats to more like 80g-90g and maybe the protein to like 220g. Just make sure that you are still staying in a deficit overall in order to lose weight.

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Espino_0
Espino_0 g Juan Espino
5 Post(s)
5 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: January 1, 2018
Posted

Thank you so much for the advice, I really do appreciate it. I love your videos keep em coming :)

Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
Posted By: Espino_0

Thank you so much for the advice, I really do appreciate it. I love your videos keep em coming :)

You are very welcome @Espino_0 😊 More videos on the way!

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Espino_0
Espino_0 g Juan Espino
5 Post(s)
5 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: January 1, 2018
Posted
Hello Scott I’m back. I’ll just reply on the same post from earlier in the year.
 
I took the advice you gave me above and have cut down from 201lbs to 169lbs. I’ve been putting a lot more effort in my diet plan and am very consistent going to the gym.
 
My question now is should I continue cutting (Abs not too visible) or gradually start increasing calories to go into a lean gain phase? I’ve been cuttin since April. Based on pics below what would you recommend and what is your guesstimate of my current body fat percentage?

 

AlphaDestiny
AlphaDestiny p Alexander Leonidas
101 Post(s)
101 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: February 2, 2017
Posted

You look good bro! The side pose is especially strong. In regards to bodyfat %, that can be difficult to judge but weighing in at 169lbs is solid so that in itself is to be respected. My advice would be to objectively look at physique and ask if this is what you truly want. If you're content with this level of leanness, feel free to enter a maintenance phase. If you wish to cut a bit longer and possibly get that super chisled midsection, that works too. It really depends what your goals are, and only you can choose that. At any rate, I congratulate you for losing 32lbs! That's an amazing accomplishment and it shows where your work ethic stands. Keep up the good work.

Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
Posted By: Espino_0
Hello Scott I’m back. I’ll just reply on the same post from earlier in the year.
 
I took the advice you gave me above and have cut down from 201lbs to 169lbs. I’ve been putting a lot more effort in my diet plan and am very consistent going to the gym.
 
My question now is should I continue cutting (Abs not too visible) or gradually start increasing calories to go into a lean gain phase? I’ve been cuttin since April. Based on pics below what would you recommend and what is your guesstimate of my current body fat percentage?

 

@Espino_0 You look great man! So proud of you! The last 6 + months of hard work paid off big time, your physique has come a long way already.

 

I think Alex has covered everything - it's really up to you and your goals now. If getting those abs visible is a real priority, maybe keep cutting until the end of this year, and then focus on a lean bulking phase after that?

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Espino_0
Espino_0 g Juan Espino
5 Post(s)
5 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: January 1, 2018
Posted

Thank you both so much for your encouraging words. They really mean alot coming from you guys. I will stay in a cut the rest of the year and aim to get abs visible becuase it would be a major accomplishment I never though possible for me.

 

Scott keep doing what you do man. You have such great knowledge and are a big inspiration to me in my fitness journey!!

Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
Posted By: Espino_0

Thank you both so much for your encouraging words. They really mean alot coming from you guys. I will stay in a cut the rest of the year and aim to get abs visible becuase it would be a major accomplishment I never though possible for me.

 

Scott keep doing what you do man. You have such great knowledge and are a big inspiration to me in my fitness journey!!

@Espino_0 They are starting to show through a bit already man! I can't wait to see how you're looking at the end of the year!

 

Thanks for the kind words, and keep going strong with the cut! 💪 

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