Oh no! Gaining a slight pudge! - JP Fitness Forums

HailMary · 07-08-2006, 12:41 AM

I know that, when bulking, extra fat is to be expected. I accept it.

But recently (two times, in fact, over the last few days) family members have casually mentioned a bit of extra fat that they see on my midsection. This has never happened to me before. I used to be quite skinny. Now, having bulked up to a nice 190 lbs, when I look in the mirror, I can see it as well. It's nothing major, but is still slightly noticeable.

I want to be able to keep bulking and making hypertrophy gains, but I would also like to see this extra pudge on the waist go away! This sounds contradictory, I know.

I am currently doing Waterbury's high-frequency program, however, and I am wondering if I could just eat below maintenance for the next few weeks. I wonder if this might result in more modest gains but also a reduction of overall body fat.

What do you guys think? Do I have to either "cut" or "bulk"? Or can I just eat under maintenace while doing Waterbury's program?

Any thoughts and suggestions would be great. Ideally, I'd like to keep making hypertrophy gains this summer but I don't want to have any visible gut once college starts again in late August.

Thanks -

HM

EdChap · 07-08-2006, 12:59 AM

As you've already attested to, this routine is pretty tough. Eating below maintenance in Phase 5 is a sure fire way to burn out, make no gains and be forced to take a week off earlier than you may have wanted to.

Keep the calories high until the end of the program, take a week off from lifting and then do something along the lines of Phase 1 of HGM or Waterbury's Summer Programme to get rid of the pudge in conjunction with a slight calorie restriction.

Alcoholiday · 07-08-2006, 02:02 AM

i never really understood why people were concerned about a little fat.

The majority of people would get more gains eating a lot, and gaining some fat, then eating like a bird, and focusing on a 6 pack. More hypertrophy, more strength and heavier weights lifted. The more lean mass you put on, the easier it is to drop fat.

BFG · 07-08-2006, 02:58 AM

whats your calorie intake at present? You dont have to go to below maintenance to cut some of the fat back. If you reduce the calories gradualy over the next couple of weeks you are likely to pull some back but gains will slow in that process

But as said bulking up like this is a means to an end if you aint happy whith where you are then cut now and then do a second phase bulk. Also reassess your diet all this talk of eating masive to get massive is not true at all. If you eat adequate excess ie by gradualy stepping up to the necesary level you can find that optimum equilibrium.

Alot of people just jump in at a hugely inflated level and there is no maths science or thought behind it and they are not in control of it and thats where the eat massive gets ya the best results justification comes from.

Im still only on 3300 calories per day and still adding muscle, next week its up to 3500

gobbla · 07-08-2006, 05:51 AM

you'd be well served to try to maintain weight for a month or two to stabalize your gains. once you've held your current weight then see where you're at and if you want to try to trim off some of the extra.

if you yo yo between bulking and cutting then you're more likely to kill what gains you've made.

so...adjust your calories to maintain your current BW and press on.

Frank.S · 07-08-2006, 06:37 AM

Im sort of in your shoes right now. But ive pretty much dealth that im going to be fat for the next 6 months. Oh well.

Im eating a hell of a lot of food though. Yesterday was about 6000cals and today will be at least that. That number sounds stupid high I know, but I wasnt even eating all that clean so it was more attainable. My gains are better then ever, I just wish it wasnt the summertime so I could hide it better!

Im found cutting down pretty easy, just lower the calories until you loose 1-2lbs per week. Its not even too hard as there are so many low-calorie foods out there which are filling to me.

The program your on is really hard. To hard for me. I tried it a while back and after the first 2 weeks I was more tired then ever before. Looking back I dont think I was eating enough, so on that suggestion try not to eat to little on the program.

Frank.S · 07-08-2006, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFG

Im still only on 3300 calories per day and still adding muscle, next week its up to 3500

If its over your required cals, you will add muscle. Is it the most possible amount per period of time? Likely not. But if your goal is not that, this is a good approach.

BFG · 07-08-2006, 02:08 PM

more cals doesnt mean more muscle growth tho :-) Just more fat if you aint careful

Frank.S · 07-08-2006, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFG

more cals doesnt mean more muscle growth tho :-) Just more fat if you aint careful

your right.

But I think that most people trying to gain serious muscle undereat though. Guess it depends on the person. For me I lose 2lbs a week on 3000 cals a day. Maintain on around 3700-3800. Bulk add at least another thousand to that.

See it all the time in the gym though, kids comming in and doing a decent workout.. Could have all the training knowledge in the world but if your not eating enough your not going to get very much from it.

HailMary · 07-08-2006, 10:48 PM

Good thoughts, gents.

Ed- Good call on doing a small cutting phase before college starts up again. I will have 2.5 weeks to do one so it will not be so long. That being said, given that it's only a few weeks, do you think I could lower my bf in that time?

BFG - I completely agree about "massive eating" being something of a myth. I've been eating only 3500-4000 calories per day and have seen rapid weight increase.

Gobbla - Real good point, man. I am currently 190 lbs and I think I will try to maintain this weight through the rest of Waterbury's program. Do you think that'll help?

Frank - Good call, man. Points well taken.

gobbla · 07-09-2006, 01:58 AM

I dunno how long you still have on the program but waiting it out will deffinately help. If you're maintaining this weight, you're taking in enough to maintain that body weight and working out hard enough to gain muscle. You've got extra fat right now....it'll even out a little bit and your new gains will gel. Like I said before wait it out 1-2 months before you start trying to lose and you'll be golden.

Just keep in the back of your mind that it's only a month or two and you're still "gaining" now even if the scale may not reflect it.

EdChap · 07-09-2006, 02:09 AM

Don't jump straight into a cutting phase, once you are satisfied with the weight that you have got, wait at least a month at maintenance before you start to cut.

twinsavsvikingsfan · 07-09-2006, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank.S

your right.

But I think that most people trying to gain serious muscle undereat though. Guess it depends on the person. For me I lose 2lbs a week on 3000 cals a day. Maintain on around 3700-3800. Bulk add at least another thousand to that.

See it all the time in the gym though, kids comming in and doing a decent workout.. Could have all the training knowledge in the world but if your not eating enough your not going to get very much from it.

There's where my question arises. You maintain around 3700 and gain at 1000 more. What about all that in-between? Would (or could) you gain less fat and as much muscle at say only +500? As a FFB I'm appalled at the thought of gaining fat even to the extent I'll forgo muscle gain. Of course with running being my main focus now this is a moot point- just a question that has always nagged at me.

Frank.S · 07-09-2006, 08:33 AM

From me experience, No.

Actually if I step it up another 500 or so I gain even more muscle.

In my opinion (many are going to disagree with this) if you are going for the muscular look, there will be a stage where many would consider you to be a little fat. Im not talking a big gut. But hitting 15-20%bf, no visable abs, etc. I used to be about 210 30%+bf at one time. I know what its like to be fat. But dieting is not near as hard as gaining muscle IMO. You can loose 10lbs in around 2months with smart diet and training. But in order to gain 10lbs of LBM naturally, it would be near impossible. So eat the food in a bulk! Im still waiting to see the person who got big and strong while doing a lean bulk! Even if you could, the whole process would take much longer.

Alcoholiday · 07-09-2006, 04:43 PM

tony has gotten big and strong on a lean bulk. but he's extremely anal about his diet. He gained about 30lbs in a year, with almost no fat gain.

It can be done, but it's so much trouble, i think it's easier to bulk and cut, IMO. Not sure which would take longer though.

Frank.S · 07-09-2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcoholiday

tony has gotten big and strong on a lean bulk. but he's extremely anal about his diet. He gained about 30lbs in a year, with almost no fat gain.

It can be done, but it's so much trouble, i think it's easier to bulk and cut, IMO. Not sure which would take longer though.

Thats pretty impressive. No way I could do that for a year. I like drinkin beer and eating pizza way to much.

BFG · 07-10-2006, 01:05 AM

so what you are saying is Frank is that yes you can actualy do it. You just chose not too which is fare enough but fact is you can bulk at much lower calories and achieve the same result

Frank.S · 07-10-2006, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFG

so what you are saying is Frank is that yes you can actualy do it. You just chose not too which is fare enough but fact is you can bulk at much lower calories and achieve the same result

Nah not exactly. I bet if tony G had eaten like a mad man he would have gained a few extra pounds of muscle.

Guess is depends on your goals and how patient you are. Probally the skinnier you are the harder that lean bulk is going to be IMO. You need to shock your system.

Im not sure why all people dont do this though, its great! You eat sooo much and workout like mad for a few months, easily my favortite time. When everyone is bringing there tuna wraps to work you got a backpack full of steaks, porkchops and trailmix. haha.

I guess it down ultimatley come down to a time frame. If you have a year to look your best, I think for most people a bulk cycle then a maintenence cycle then cut down would work best.

But I guess this would be more of a bodybuilding point of veiw. For general health and fitness, no this is not the healthiest option for sure. Thing is, bodybuilders arnt usually very healthy.