Bulking and cutting length

[youngBuilder]

How long do you guys typically bulk? Cut?

Last year i bulked for 7 months, cut for 3 and maintained for about 2 during july and august.

I think theis year i will extend my bulk period, which has been more aggressive as well, and only diet for 3 months and go right back to bulking by september.

What do you guys do?

 

[AnimalMass]

It doesn't matter how long you do it - just do it until you reach your goals.

If you need to be 280 and you are 175, then you're gonna need to bulk for a few years. If you are 280 and fat and need to be 220 and lean, it's gonna take longer than 3 months as well.

The problem I think most guys have is:

a) They are too damn small and go nuts if they lose ab definition when bulking so they go right back to cutting. OR

b) They are too damn fat but they start to cut and either get depressed at the loss in size or they just love food too much and so they go back to bulking.

Figure out where you need to be based on your body type, height, and goals, and stay with it until you are close to where you shoudl be before dialing it in. i.e. - build the foundation and house before you decide to paint the trim.

 

[Girth]

Something else to keep in mind is that the body likes homestasis. Bulking for 6-7 months, then suddenly trying to cut doesn't convince your body to keep that newly added mass. If you really are committed, and really want to get to an astonishing physique, you are going to have to sacrifice a few summers. That may mean that you avoid the beach/pool a few years.

If you are 180 now, and want to be 230 and lean. You are going to have to get to 260-270 and stay there for AT LEAST 6 months, and then cut. So that means that you'll need 2 years of CONSTANT "smart" bulking, then 6 months of additional stabilizing, and then 3-4 months of cutting.

So truth be told, 3 years from now, the above guys will have what he wants. If you want something similar to the above, you can suck it up and do it. Or you can find yourself 20lbs. heavier 10 years from now, looking "decently frustrated" the whole time.

 

[elgaringo]

This is great advice, wicked

 

[elgaringo]

I get everything apart from the additional stabilising can someone tell me what that consists of?

 

[Girth]

By stabalizing, I simply meant that once you get to that higher bodyweight...in the example above, it would be 260-270, you would need to maintain that high weight for about 6 months to convince your body that you are going to be that big.

Think of those guys you've known that have always been big. Or even those that did the continual bulk thing, and just got larger and larger. Then think of the ones that finally started eating right, or actually dieted. They always look large and lean. They took the time to convince their bodies that the muscle was there to stay.

 

[DaneGer]

well put AnimalMass