Surplus

[Testdude63]

When trying to gain lean mass, what are your strategies? Do you try to stay super lean, relatively lean, or do you go all out and BULK? I know a lot of people will argue that AAS can help you gain muscle at a much faster rate, and therefore you can get away with a larger surplus if you were not enhanced. What are your thoughts?

I am currently at roughly a 500 calorie surplus, and when I was natural, I aimed for roughly 200-300.

Just curious what everyone's strategy is and why.

 

[TX TERROR]

I bulk or i cut. I dont do the middle ground thing. So when I bulk I am much more lenient. I truly feel it maximizes my potential. I put on ridiculous size and get super strong. When I cut down I look diffeent every time. The abbs can go away for a little bit. I know they are always really there

My bulking secrets... hmmm Well I feel platues and what not are found by those with a closed mind. I bet you dollars to donuts if you start eating a pumpkin pie after every workout or drink a half gallon of whole milk a day you will shatter any barrier.

Now before people sayh well bro I gotta stay lean and show my gains I dont want the extra weight if its not usable..... Thats dependent on how hard you bust you're ass. I get away with high carbs and eating shitty stuff a lot because I will leave nothing on the table at the gym. I will want to puke before I leave and it makes all those carbs and excess sugars that much more benificial in a bulk. Its not like Im becoming some fat fuck where I gain weight but my lifts and all stay the same. with every pound increase on my body there is a couple on the bar.

When I really try to put weight n I have to eat 6-7000 calories usually. Otherwise Il go no where.

I really like my system but its all been what I have custom made for me. Thats they key... There is all sorts of stradegies and what not but if it doesnt work for you hen it comes down to just pointless extra effort and heading in the wrong direction. Gotta seek out what makes you better and what gets you to your goal not what got someone else to thiers

Thats my take...

 

[RickRock]

When trying to gain lean mass, what are your strategies? Do you try to stay super lean, relatively lean, or do you go all out and BULK? I know a lot of people will argue that AAS can help you gain muscle at a much faster rate, and therefore you can get away with a larger surplus if you were not enhanced. What are your thoughts?

I am currently at roughly a 500 calorie surplus, and when I was natural, I aimed for roughly 200-300.

Just curious what everyone's strategy is and why.

I always keep my bulks lean. Usually my bodyfat will rise during the winter, but only by a small margin. I usually start around 8% and might end up 9%.

For instance I just started my "bulk" this week, even though I don't like that word. I'm eating at a 1000 calorie surplus on workout days, and around maintenance on non workout days. I workout Monday Wednesday and Friday so every other day basically I'm at a big surplus. I also keep up my cardio on all off days 30-45 minutes. Works very well for me

In my experience it pays absolutely no benefit whatsoever to go into a big surplus. No extra gains in actual muscle compared to lean bulking, and you end up with a,lot of extra unnecessary fat to clean up afterwards. Many like to just make the scale move, which is the wrong way of going about it. You'll gain fat at a much higher rate than any muscle

 

[Testdude63]

It's good to see two conflicting viewpoints on the matter .

 

[TX TERROR]

Well let me clairify I don't bulk and lift for isolation or anything. at least not primarily. Im busting my ass on 1 rep max, 5x5s, doubles, triples. Things like that. Tractor pull, yokes, sand bags, alas balls... I am also trying to reach 1750 in total lift here soon. Idk if I will ever get 2000...

When I cut down I go back to isolation.

 

[TX TERROR]

Lol actually I was scrolling through fb and saw the most ridiculous picture but if I could pick a goal I'd go for this lol.

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[Becool12]

Can't you make muscle gains with maintenance level of calories? I know the science and easiest way is to eat a surplus, but if one is progressing within the gym, recovering, eating enough protein, scheduled and tactic refeeds, intense training, etc, can't we gain legit tissue over time? And a surplus is only needed in small portions 200-500, depending on your goal and how conservative you want to keep it.

 

[RickRock]

Can't you make muscle gains with maintenance level of calories? I know the science and easiest way is to eat a surplus, but if one is progressing within the gym, recovering, eating enough protein, scheduled and tactic refeeds, intense training, etc, can't we gain legit tissue over time? And a surplus is only needed in small portions 200-500, depending on your goal and how conservative you want to keep it.

You can technically make muscle gains, even in a defecit. Just ask Dylan. Obviously with your caloric intake a little higher than maintenance is the most ideal for muscle gain, with the surplus of calories and nutrients for recovery and repair...but you absolutely can at maintenance and still make gains if you have your diet and training locked in at 100%.

 

[SpikedEggnog]

Can't you make muscle gains with maintenance level of calories? I know the science and easiest way is to eat a surplus, but if one is progressing within the gym, recovering, eating enough protein, scheduled and tactic refeeds, intense training, etc, can't we gain legit tissue over time? And a surplus is only needed in small portions 200-500, depending on your goal and how conservative you want to keep it.

yes definitely. there are no cut and dry numbers for anything, especially when it comes to diet. there are only general guidelines for reference.

 

[Testdude63]

Lol actually I was scrolling through fb and saw the most ridiculous picture but if I could pick a goal I'd go for this lol.

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Hahahahaha!

 

[Testdude63]

It's interesting to hear everyone's viewpoint. It's hard for me to get it through my head that one can build muscle without a caloric surplus. Being a natural for SOO many years has me stuck in this muscle cannot be build from nothing mindset. I've always been under the impression that your body needs "bricks" as they call it to build the building. Bricks being the food, so you need an excess. However, it does make sense that the use of AAS can help build muscle at a much faster rate, however, it's hard to grasp the concept that muscle can be gained without an excess of energy and amino acids to complete the task... I guess I'll see it for myself when I'm in a deficit during a cutting blast .