How long do you bulk?

For those of you who bulk and cut, how long are your cycles?

I don't really 'bulk' and pig out. I try for a clean bulk, but even in a clean bulk you're going to add body fat. I didn't cut before I started this program because I was so eager to get back into the gym and I'm starting to get too big for my clothes. I'd like to lose some fat, but I'm just not ready to stop building muscle yet. I think at the 6 month mark, I will have to go into a cutting cycle or completely get rid of my wardrobe.

I'm just curious though, how do you guys cycle when you are lifting long term?

go with the seasons man. warm weather = outdoors = cardio = cut. opposite for cold weather.

currently im kinda mixed in between feelings on what I want to do. generally i just 'cut' (do more cardio) in the spring/summer and bulk in the winter, however after reading lots of the stuff on here, Im not going to be bulking the same way as usual. I still want to add about 10 pounds though, and i gotta figure out how to do that :O

Im just finishing up my cut, getting shredded... Then I will do a super clean, slight bulk til the day I die...

Ill put on muscle and fat obviously, but hopefully Ill put on more muscle than fat thus effectively keeping me at a low BF%... and if that doesnt work, then it wont be a long cutting cycle to get rid of the extra fat.

I've never cut before, but I wouldn't base my cycles off of a period of time. Once I have put on too much fat, I'll cut back down to a low (6-8%) percentage of bf. Then, I'll just start bulking again. Rinse and repeat until I'm at a size I'm happy with.

When you're cutting, do you just do the same workout + cardio but without increasing the weight? I've never cut before, I will need to eventually. I am really reluctant to stop seeing strength gains. I'm going to weight until I'm at a size I don't like, then work my ass off.

Best way I've always heard to cut is to just keep working out like you did before (keep adding weight as your strength increases), add some extra cardio, and just cut your calories. The best healthy way, that is.

When you're sick and tired of girls not running their fingers through the canyons of your abs, start your cut cycle.

When I begin bulking, Ill probably cut down on the cardio quite a bit... I do HIIT for 30 min right now... I am going to bring it down to 15 minutes.

As far as lifting, I am going to up the amount of exercises per muscle group by 1 or 2, on this cut, I dont like lifting too hard, because Im just lifting to let my body know "you need these muscles" ... know what im sayinn?

I do both at the same time, dont tell me its impossible, it can be done.

^at a very inefficient rate

I dont bulk, im far too active for it, I do boxing, judo, and grappling...plus ultime frisbee, mountain climbing, and baseball in the summer. Intense cardio sevenb days a week easy. Not that I dont mind being lean and mean, but i hate it when ppl laugh at me when i tell them i work out all the time. I look like your average skinny guy with a shirt on lol.

For those of you who bulk and cut, how long are your cycles?

I don't really 'bulk' and pig out. I try for a clean bulk, but even in a clean bulk you're going to add body fat. I didn't cut before I started this program because I was so eager to get back into the gym and I'm starting to get too big for my clothes. I'd like to lose some fat, but I'm just not ready to stop building muscle yet. I think at the 6 month mark, I will have to go into a cutting cycle or completely get rid of my wardrobe.

I'm just curious though, how do you guys cycle when you are lifting long term?

12 weeks, take a week off and analyze your physique. If you keep your calories slightly above maintenance (200-500) you can pretty much bulk indefinitely.

It's good to have a body fat target to end your bulk at. I don't like to be at higher than 15% so I usually shut 'er down then. As long as you're comfortable it's fine, but after 16-17% it gets harder to put on mass than it does when you're leaner. Somethin' about insulin sensitivity being reduced at higher levels of adiposity.

Being lean is cool, but bulking rocks. As long as you're getting stronger, why fret? It's a lot easier to lose fat than it is to gain muscle.

When you're cutting, do you just do the same workout + cardio but without increasing the weight? I've never cut before, I will need to eventually. I am really reluctant to stop seeing strength gains. I'm going to weight until I'm at a size I don't like, then work my ass off.

Best thing to do when you cut is to reduce your carb intake to 80-100g/day. Count your post-workout drink in this and keep your calories at maintenance for a week 'till you adjust.

I leave my calories at maintenance when I cut but cut my carbs down to 80g/day. Drop your reps and go heavy, it's the best way to keep your strength without taxing your glycogen stores much. Cardio's not necessary on a cutting diet unless your carb intake's high.

^at a very inefficient rate

Technically Ive lost weight and body fat, and replaced with muscle and strength.

Always been very hard for me to gain size at 6"4 185lbs, Ive dropped 5lbs in the past month, and I see a fair reduction in stomach fat.

Ive also increased my strength, french curls are @ 110lbs now.

So im fairly happy, I will take strength gains over mass anyday. I like being under-estimated.

I go for mass more than strength. Usually when one of my friends goes to the gym with me he is suprised at the low weight I do compared to my mass.

basically I am a huge pussy

I am not going to get into any neat fights or kumates so there is no reason for me to want to be underestimated.

If you're losing weight, most of your strength gain will be due to innervations, and not muscle gain.

If you're losing weight, most of your strength gain will be due to innervations, and not muscle gain.

'newb gains'

there is culking but in general besides newb gains your body cannot do both at the same time

I just take my supps every day and work out really hard 5 days a week. I'll go where my body takes me

pocahontas of weightlifting