[digink]

Hey guys I had a quick question.

A while back I was eating likt 5000 calories a day and like 350g of protein and like 450g of carbs a day w/ about 100g of fat and at that time I went from 167 to 180lbs in like 2 weeks. After I got to the 180 I took someone advice and I started to eat more of my BWx15-20 calories and I dropped down to about 173ish which I am at now. I have continued to eat the same amount of calories and I really do not see myself gaining any weight at all. I do see results but I seem to always be stuck around 173-175.

My question was, should I go back to eating like 5000kcals a day until I can reach my bulk goal of like 200lbs THEN go back to eating like 3000kcal like im doing now and just let it take the fat off and hopefully ill be at like 185-190?

I just dont know if at 3000-3200kcals im eating now isnt giving me anything because I'm gaining ONLY muscle off of it and like someone here said you can only gain 1-2lb a month, or its just not working. I heard from people if you do not gain any weight in a WEEK eat more.

[digink]

Actually I'm sorry I think I answered my own question, its not about the calories but the amount of protein and carbs etc which I already knew.

Let me change my question, if I currently weigh 173lbs right now at about 12-13% bodyfat on a natural bulk diet how long do you guys think it will take me to get to my goal of 200lbs?

[Jwillbc55]

I personally don't think you should be bulking at 12% bodyfat

[digink]

Originally Posted by Jwillbc55

I personally don't think you should be bulking at 12% bodyfat

why is that? I am just giving an estimate of my body fat but I've read if you can see your 6 pack its a good indication of a good BF level to bulk and I can see my 6 pack.

[Banshee20]

Originally Posted by Jwillbc55

I personally don't think you should be bulking at 12% bodyfat

If I may ask Jwill, why dont you think he should be bulking? How do you expect him to gain muscle without increasing calories (or bulking)? 11-19% bodyfat is the "recommended" range for men..meaning digink is surely not at any health risk. He is near the "low" range and Ive seen pics of him, he is quite lean.

EDIT: Hey digink...I just took a Resting metabolic rate test were you breathe into a machine that analyzes your body composition and carbon dioxide to oxygen exchange ratio to tell you how many calories you burn at rest. I am about 5'7", 137 pounds and have about 15% bodyfat and my body burns 1720 calories completely at rest. Then you have to factor in your daily activity(minus exercise)...so what type of job you have determines that, then you decide whether you want to gain muscle or lose weight. Long story short, I chose to gain 1/2 pound of muscle per week and my calorie needs turned out to be 3002 calories. SO...I highly doubt you are going to gain muscle on only a 3000 cal diet considering you are a good deal bigger than me and a man(with lower body fat etc). Hope this helped!!!!!!

[digink]

Originally Posted by Banshee20

If I may ask Jwill, why dont you think he should be bulking? How do you expect him to gain muscle without increasing calories (or bulking)? 11-19% bodyfat is the "recommended" range for men..meaning digink is surely not at any health risk. He is near the "low" range and Ive seen pics of him, he is quite lean.

EDIT: Hey digink...I just took a Resting metabolic rate test were you breathe into a machine that analyzes your body composition and carbon dioxide to oxygen exchange ratio to tell you how many calories you burn at rest. I am about 5'7", 137 pounds and have about 15% bodyfat and my body burns 1720 calories completely at rest. Then you have to factor in your daily activity(minus exercise)...so what type of job you have determines that, then you decide whether you want to gain muscle or lose weight. Long story short, I chose to gain 1/2 pound of muscle per week and my calorie needs turned out to be 3002 calories. SO...I highly doubt you are going to gain muscle on only a 3000 cal diet considering you are a good deal bigger than me and a man(with lower body fat etc). Hope this helped!!!!!!

Thanks Banshee that did help. I just remember when i was taking in like 5000cals a day I got up to 180 pretty quick and I could still see atleast a 4 pack so my body fat must not have gone up ALOT, I mean im sure I gained some fat because when I went back to eating 3000 I only made a gain of like 5lbs.

[Diesel]

Bump up your calorie intake to 4000 calores or so per day. I get anywhere from 4000-4300 calores per day in. Just my opinion, I wouldn't go that high (100g) of fat per day. Stay around the 60-80 range. I am normally around 50g but I will go up to 80g for a day or two from time to time. As far as the body fat thing I think you are fine. Like Banshee said, 11-19% is good. I say try not to get over 15% body fat or so. A lot of that depends on your build, however. Someone can have a 15% body fat and still look really good (6 pack and what not). Don't be afraid to do some cardio. I tend to stay away from high intensity cardio when bulking just b/c cardio sucks. But, I will walk about 3-5 days per week and walking is very good when it comes to burning fat.

[digink]

Ya ill start slow w/ about 4k a day and see how that goes. I stay away from cardio and even abs, yet I stay pretty lean and my abs still show. I am naturally pretty lean so the only time I do cardio is when I am cutting which wont be for another 30ishlbs.