VSG Maintenance Group
I LOVE my BodyMedia Fit!!!
Ok well I could talk about bodybuilding allllllllllllllll day long (and do LOL), so this might seem like too much info but let me start by explaining the reasoning for bulking/cutting:
One can build muscle and lose bodyfat at the same time, but this person would need to be new to lifting or returning to lifting to after a hiatus. It is not nearly as efficient as doing bulk/cut cycles.
That said, the general rule is that you need to be in a caloric surplus to grow any appreciable amount of muscle. Your body needs the extra energy. If you keep your surplus within 10-20% of your maintenance calories, you will grow muscle while keeping fat gains minimal. Fat gain will always happen in a surplus, which is why you then cut once your bulk is over.
I lifted for 4 months in a deficit and didn't build much muscle. It wasn't until I bulked that I had a very noticible gain in size. I put on very little fat in the 4 months (jeans size remained the same), and I'd say I gained around 3 lbs. of muscle which is GREAT for a female. Females can expect a 1 lb gain in muscle per month if all conditions are perfect (diet, training, recovery).
I'll have to find the chart, but females can only gain roughly half of what males can in a month due to lack of testosterone. So when I bulk, .5 lbs gain a week is my goal. That's a 2 lb gain per month, with (hopefully) 1/2 of that being muscle.
After 4 months I am up ~6 lbs (I was scared to eat too much! my next bulk I'll do better), so I'm cutting now for two months to lose whatever fat I gained - which is not even visible to the eye. I actually looked BETTER on my bulk. :p
I can show you before and after pic of my bulk if you want when I get time. To me, it was an amazing process. It built my confidence and helped me see that I have total control over my weight, my body, and what I put in my mouth. I was VERY scared that cutting would be hard, but once I went back to mostly protein, it's WAY easier than I expected.
The length of bulk/cut cycles is up to the individual. I do loooong cycles because humans can gain the most muscle the first two years of lifting, growth potential decreases each year after that. I am still in my first two years and I want to maximize muscle gain. My hope is to eventually be lean with good muscle definition. I don't have nearly enough muscle or definition right now for my tastes.
Oh! But anyway, some people do 3 week bulk/1 week cut. It's just up to the person.
(proper macros are KEY to building muscle - I can provide more info about diet if you like =) )
sorry for any typos! my typing sucks! i think faster than my fingers work lol
One can build muscle and lose bodyfat at the same time, but this person would need to be new to lifting or returning to lifting to after a hiatus. It is not nearly as efficient as doing bulk/cut cycles.
That said, the general rule is that you need to be in a caloric surplus to grow any appreciable amount of muscle. Your body needs the extra energy. If you keep your surplus within 10-20% of your maintenance calories, you will grow muscle while keeping fat gains minimal. Fat gain will always happen in a surplus, which is why you then cut once your bulk is over.
I lifted for 4 months in a deficit and didn't build much muscle. It wasn't until I bulked that I had a very noticible gain in size. I put on very little fat in the 4 months (jeans size remained the same), and I'd say I gained around 3 lbs. of muscle which is GREAT for a female. Females can expect a 1 lb gain in muscle per month if all conditions are perfect (diet, training, recovery).
I'll have to find the chart, but females can only gain roughly half of what males can in a month due to lack of testosterone. So when I bulk, .5 lbs gain a week is my goal. That's a 2 lb gain per month, with (hopefully) 1/2 of that being muscle.
After 4 months I am up ~6 lbs (I was scared to eat too much! my next bulk I'll do better), so I'm cutting now for two months to lose whatever fat I gained - which is not even visible to the eye. I actually looked BETTER on my bulk. :p
I can show you before and after pic of my bulk if you want when I get time. To me, it was an amazing process. It built my confidence and helped me see that I have total control over my weight, my body, and what I put in my mouth. I was VERY scared that cutting would be hard, but once I went back to mostly protein, it's WAY easier than I expected.
The length of bulk/cut cycles is up to the individual. I do loooong cycles because humans can gain the most muscle the first two years of lifting, growth potential decreases each year after that. I am still in my first two years and I want to maximize muscle gain. My hope is to eventually be lean with good muscle definition. I don't have nearly enough muscle or definition right now for my tastes.
Oh! But anyway, some people do 3 week bulk/1 week cut. It's just up to the person.
(proper macros are KEY to building muscle - I can provide more info about diet if you like =) )
sorry for any typos! my typing sucks! i think faster than my fingers work lol
5'8" - 40 years old
I'd love to see the pics and the diet info. Can you pm them? Right now I do cario and lift. I know I'm not increasing my muscle as efficiently as I could be. I've heard of the cutting and bulking and know what it is. I just haven't gotten THAT into the weight lifting. I'm still a little intimidated by it. I do a class at work that is like a boot camp and we use free weights, but the instructor is right there telling me what to do. When I'm at the gym by myself I feel like I'm just wandering around. I need a plan!
I also need a new obsession
. Now that I'm "done" with my weight loss phase I need something new to focus on, otherwise I'll go back to my old eating habits. I'm already seeing them trying to sneak in when I'm bored.
I also need a new obsession
. Now that I'm "done" with my weight loss phase I need something new to focus on, otherwise I'll go back to my old eating habits. I'm already seeing them trying to sneak in when I'm bored. 
Most people in the bodybuilding world call this "spinning your wheels"...when you try to put on size without eating in a surplus.
I'll try to pm you this afternoon with some links. Off to the gym for me now! Ugh I hate lifting while cutting calories. Sux big time. You would be completely amazed at how your lifts improve when you are eating more. I feel like Hercules when I bulk. lol Now I feel like Olive Oil. :p
There are different ways to construct your diet, but key is calories and protein. I know Brandilynn gets really good results with keto, and Laura eats carbs. I prefer carbs when I bulk, and low-carb when I cut. Just preference. I'll pm you some links.
See? I can talk all day about it! It's so fascinating.
I'll try to pm you this afternoon with some links. Off to the gym for me now! Ugh I hate lifting while cutting calories. Sux big time. You would be completely amazed at how your lifts improve when you are eating more. I feel like Hercules when I bulk. lol Now I feel like Olive Oil. :p
There are different ways to construct your diet, but key is calories and protein. I know Brandilynn gets really good results with keto, and Laura eats carbs. I prefer carbs when I bulk, and low-carb when I cut. Just preference. I'll pm you some links.
See? I can talk all day about it! It's so fascinating.
5'8" - 40 years old
On June 2, 2011 at 7:42 AM Pacific Time, Mandyplus2 .. wrote:
Most people in the bodybuilding world call this "spinning your wheels"...when you try to put on size without eating in a surplus.I'll try to pm you this afternoon with some links. Off to the gym for me now! Ugh I hate lifting while cutting calories. Sux big time. You would be completely amazed at how your lifts improve when you are eating more. I feel like Hercules when I bulk. lol Now I feel like Olive Oil. :p
There are different ways to construct your diet, but key is calories and protein. I know Brandilynn gets really good results with keto, and Laura eats carbs. I prefer carbs when I bulk, and low-carb when I cut. Just preference. I'll pm you some links.
See? I can talk all day about it! It's so fascinating.
Wanda
Some people might not support my WLS decision.
Those people remind me of slinkys. Not good for much but it would would bring a smile to my face if someone pushed them down the stairs.
Ticker includes Pre-op weight loss 24 lb.
Some people might not support my WLS decision.
Those people remind me of slinkys. Not good for much but it would would bring a smile to my face if someone pushed them down the stairs.
Ticker includes Pre-op weight loss 24 lb.
I would be very interested in learning more about the dietary aspect. I work with a trainer 2 days/week and she has me in lifting in cycles i.e using body weight, light weights, and heavy weights. I just started doing a TRX class one day/week for additional resistance training. I have seen good results in the past 6 months, and now that I am at goal, I want to concentrate on building more lean body mass. How much cardio do you do?
Gail
Gail
" 
:} I think you will find that MandyNme are what are referred to sometimes as "meat patties" :} We dont cardio as heavy as some other folks do if/when we cardio at all.
I only cardio officially cuz I go to Zumba (which is more for my good attitude than for cardio) and hiking the dogs up and down hills, otherwise, I think she will answer the same (we will see) we arent much of the all cardio all the time gals.
I only cardio officially cuz I go to Zumba (which is more for my good attitude than for cardio) and hiking the dogs up and down hills, otherwise, I think she will answer the same (we will see) we arent much of the all cardio all the time gals.
Meat patties!! That is so funny!!
Yep, I am totally not a cardio girl. I do it sporadically, often based on my mood and how fat I'm "feeling." On this cut I am going to do three 20 minute sessions of jogging a week just to see if it makes any difference regarding my body composition. Based on what I know, I don't think it will, but it can't hurt. It's good for the ol' ticker anyway.
Personally I never in my life want to rely on cardio for weight management. I prefer to rely on my diet for that. No sense in killing myself with cardio when all I have to do is eat a couple spoons less of peanut butter. :)
Yep, I am totally not a cardio girl. I do it sporadically, often based on my mood and how fat I'm "feeling." On this cut I am going to do three 20 minute sessions of jogging a week just to see if it makes any difference regarding my body composition. Based on what I know, I don't think it will, but it can't hurt. It's good for the ol' ticker anyway.
Personally I never in my life want to rely on cardio for weight management. I prefer to rely on my diet for that. No sense in killing myself with cardio when all I have to do is eat a couple spoons less of peanut butter. :)
5'8" - 40 years old
