Are you a bodybuilder?

[iron addict]

A very large percentage of trainees that guide their efforts towards and profess to be bodybuilders have a little secret they try to keep to their selves. WITH THEIR SHIRT OFF, NO ONE WOULD EVER BELEIVE THEY WERE BODYBUILDING!!!

Why is this so? Because they carry way too much bodyfat! Why do they do this? Because they know they are not big enough yet. Why do they feel the need to walk around fat to build muscle? Hell if I know??

There are plenty of "little guys" that weigh 180-200 that are very lean that look great compared to the 230 lb guys that don't have any abs showing. While it is easier to build muscle when taking is massive calories and macronutrients there is no need to do this to the extreme that you are adding massive bodyfat while doing so.

Would you rather be 210 and lean with a body that looks good with your shirt off, or a "big guy" at 230 that looks big in a shirt, and like a pig without one? Well of course the right answer for many is 240 and lean, but.......until you have the muscle to be there, it will probably make you much happier along the way staying relatively lean while getting there.

Iron Addict

[xcelbeyond]

That's what I believe also. Last couple months I've slipped and look better with shirt on

It doesn't take a lot for me to gain fat. I eat relatively strict all the time. It's when I have a piece of cake (can't eat just one), donuts or cookies on top of my "ideal" meals that just kills me. Just means I'm not staying focused! :grumpy:

xcel

[ski]

It`s great to be cut but to keep making inroads to progress,I think it`s fine to add a bit of fat to increase overall size.

The winter is an ideal time to do this as no one sees you with your shirt off unless you live in Florida or somewhere.

I do agree that the term "bulking up"is used by many as just an excuse to eat like a pig and get sloppy.These guy`s lack discipline and usually never lean out anyway thinking that they will once they reach 270 pounds bodyweight.

Good luck to them as most are wannabees!!

I used to do mega-contests every year and only allowed myself a 3-4 month off-season.This year I took off a whole year in an effort to add size and while I have put on some fat,I`m 30 pounds heavier than I was at my last contest and I know I will be better for it when I hit the stage next year.

Just keep it sane and don`t let yourself get too sloppy just for the sake of increasing the numbers on the scale.

[FRKNHUGE]

well im a powerlifter, who has been fat since he can remember, so now im leaning out till i get to where u fuckers call off season, haha
my goal is to cut to where i see my upper ab outline, thats all
then well go frum there
frk

[Shawn "Future" Bellon]

A 210 lean guy is pretty damn big though. So comparing 230 isn't a good comparison.

Because someone says they are a bodybuilder doesnt mean they compete either nor does it mean they must adhere to a certain person's tape measure, scale or calipers. Who cares. Why worry about it.

The posing trunks along would keep me from being a competitive bb'er no matter what I looked like. So what? To each their own.

If someone wants to call themselves a bodybuilder fine. Technically if we are all lifting and following a sound system we will BUILD our BODIES.

Sure there are some goofs but they are the minority and not worth mentioning.

[Shawn "Future" Bellon]

FRK, it's ok. WE know you eat bodybuilders for breakfast.

[xcelbeyond]

frknhuge is a bodybuilder. As future stated, he builds his body for strength, not show :smooch:

xcel

[BigWilly]

My bodyfat doesn't get that high...I always see some abs...especially in the morning. No matter how much I eat, and I don't do cardio in the off season either.

It would be nice to be on GH all the time to help me stay more lean...but I don't have that luxury.

If you are a bodybuilder, what does it matter how you look off season? they only judge you on stage.

So whatever I have to do to build maxium muscle mass in the offseason...I do it.

BUT, if I had the bodytype that gained fat easily...I would probably have a different approach...b/c I wouldn't want to have to diet 24 weeks to get into shape for a show. 12 weeks is long enough! LOL

[Ken Skip Hill]

Would you call Lee Preist a bodybuilder in the offseason?

He is fat as hell but still a bodybuilder. If you want to look good with your shirt off in the offseason, go right ahead. I am married with 4 children and won't have my shirt off in the offseason to impress anyone so this doesn't matter to me.

Skip

[FRKNHUGE]

thanx xcel and future
lol
ive seen some strong mufffugin bodybuilders in my gym, lol
one kid just did junior nats, took 2nd i believe, i trained with him for abt 6 months, well he trained power with me i should say.
i can recall him goin 405 on inclines for 8s, squatting 585for 5
not tooo shabby for a BBr.
hes one thick sumnabitch too
frk

[iron addict]

Guys, anyone will admit Lee is a bodybuilder. He caries enough mass the muscle always shines through. I am always amused when this subject comes up and Lee is USUALLY who is mentioned as the poster boy for the "bulking" proponenets. How many here are as talented as Lee is at dopping bodyfat and retaining muscle? Are you spening what Lee does on gear/accesorires? Not Likely. And how many people here are carrying that much muscle?

There is nothing wrong with adding some fat when "muscling up" (bulking up is just a bad word for getting fat) but if you are not about 8%or below when starting whats the point? I train 50-80 people at a time and people come to me CONTSTANTLY that are 15-25% bodyfat and have NEVER seen their abs since they started BB. Is this a sane approach? If you are a PL OK. But if you profess to be a BB I belieive it is way off base.

The difference of mass added while being total pig, and eating well but not a BUNCH over basal metabolic rate is not that much, and what is saved in time adding muscle is surely lost when it comes to take off the layer of blubber. And this hold even more true for those training clean as it is MUCH easier o be aggressive with fat loss and retain mass when on gear.

So many mortgage today for the future. They just KNOW that if they keep eating like a pig and whatching the scale go up "one day" they will be big enough to cut and look good. So to that end they spend years looking like shit instead of looking good the whole time on their journey to getting bigger.

Iron Addict

[In-Human]

IA, Do you really think that a guy could make gains and I mean good gains eating 3500 kcals a day and training his ass off, you have to push your kclas to that next level, if you are 200 and you want to be 225 you need to eat like a 250 lb guy, plain and simple...

[Tyson23]

this is a interesting subject... becuase i always wondering if it was possible to put on some good size while watching kcal to not put on fat. I seems impossible wtihout really eating

[In-Human]

this is a interesting subject... becuase i always wondering if it was possible to put on some good size while watching kcal to not put on fat. I seems impossible wtihout really eating

No you do not have to put on tons of fat but I little will not hurt you as long as you do not let it get out of control, DC's trainees are just that way, they gain muscle and lose BF at the same time and eat constantly..

[iron addict]

IA, Do you really think that a guy could make gains and I mean good gains eating 3500 kcals a day and training his ass off, you have to push your kclas to that next level, if you are 200 and you want to be 225 you need to eat like a 250 lb guy, plain and simple...

Absolutely agreed! But a 200 lb guy that eats like will NOT get fat at a fast pace doing so especially if we are mainly talking about the 250 lb guys protein needs.

As far as making a blanket statement about 3500 or whatever the caloric numbers, that type of statement never works. Yes, some guys can and do add LOTS of mass on 3500, many need more like 5500 and of course some above. EVERYONES metabolism is different.

Iron Addict