Bulking, then cutting, vs just training

**The Question** · Posted On: 3/18/2007 10:34pm

I got into an argument with a friend of mine over taining methods. He is widely read in areas of health and fitness, I usually don't read. Not that I can't, I just don't wanna. His methods are: eating a lot, maintainig a strict diet (he weighs his food and such), and sticking to a strict workout plan. He has gained muscle as well as fat, but plans to cut the fat soon. I think his method will work great.
My method inovlves going to the gym for a couple hours , lifting some weights (3 days per week), having a shake, and then going to train for a couple hours. On days I don't lift, I still train for 1 or 2 hours. I've managed to gain muscle, but not fat (or at least not too much fat). According to my widely read friend, bulking and the cutting would maximize by muscle gains. Is this true? Is it better to eat more, gain, then cut later. Is this feasible while training for 7 hours per week?

**Liffguard** · Posted On: 3/19/2007 5:05am

First things first, what are you training for? Maximising muscle gains is all well and good, but it might not be in the best interest of your goals.

**new2bjj** · Posted On: 3/19/2007 9:42pm

Who can kick ass better, pound for pound? Unless you guys are body building Romo's, that is all that matters.

**TheCount** · Posted On: 3/20/2007 1:21pm

The classic Bodybuilding method is excessive volume and overfeeding aiming to try and force your muscles to get bigger. Powerlifting is similar but with lower reps.

Basically I would say maintaining a plain rounded diet may limit you from getting your optimum growth, but it is a heck of a lot easier. Overall it is much more convenient and I'd say from the point of view of a dynamic training regime (cardio, lifting, fighting etc) it is superior to bulk/cut periods.

**Teh El Macho** · Posted On: 3/20/2007 1:52pm

Good Lord. This **** just gave me a headache.

Originally Posted by The Question

I got into an argument with a friend of mine over taining methods. He is widely read in areas of health and fitness

Good for him. Well, it's not a guarantee he knows his stuff, but that's the way to go.

Originally Posted by The Question

I usually don't read. Not that I can't, I just don't wanna.

:eusa_doh:

You are not going to get anywhere like that, be it in bodybuilding, martial arts, or anything more complex than flipping a burguer for that matter. Now think about it. Who would be the one getting his **** right? Your friend who's well read in health and fitness... or you? You may want to rethink your aversion to reading on a subject in which you are devoting a lot of time and effort (in this case fitness.)

Originally Posted by The Question

His methods are: eating a lot, maintainig a strict diet (he weighs his food and such), and sticking to a strict workout plan. He has gained muscle as well as fat, but plans to cut the fat soon. I think his method will work great.
My method inovlves going to the gym for a couple hours , lifting some weights (3 days per week), having a shake, and then going to train for a couple hours. On days I don't lift, I still train for 1 or 2 hours. I've managed to gain muscle, but not fat (or at least not too much fat). According to my widely read friend, bulking and the cutting would maximize by muscle gains. Is this true? Is it better to eat more, gain, then cut later. Is this feasible while training for 7 hours per week?

Your friend is most likely correct for what he's trying to do, to bulk up. But the question is (which has been asked already by other members), what are you training for?

- are you training to gain weight and size?
- are you training for strenght/power?
- are you training to be a bodybuilder?
- are you training to be explosive?
- are you training for endurance?

Those are goals which are a bit conflicting, but people have been known to train with several, seemingly conflicting goals with success. They did their reading :icon_thum

Anyways, what are you trying to accomplish?

**The Question** · Posted On: 3/20/2007 10:29pm

Thanks for your replies. I'm training for strength, speed and explosive power i.e. things that will make me more successful in Martial Arts. I may have exaggerated regarding my aversion to reading, I'm finishing college now, and I read too much crap as it is, didn't wanma have to read more.

**Teh El Macho** · Posted On: 3/21/2007 6:59am

If those are your targets then bulking up and cutting should not be at the top of your agenda UNLESS you feel you need to gain weight (in which case, your friend has the better approach.)

I'd suggest you take a look at Ross Enamait's site (http://www.rosstraining.com/), see the free clips and perhaps purchase his training material. You cannot go wrong with that if those are your goals.

Also, take a look at the stuff in http://www.bodyweightculture.com, and get familiar with basic compounds exercises such as full squats, front squats, chin ups/barbell rows, push ups/bench presses, deadlifts, overhead presses and clean/jerks.

**Donkey_Fizzle** · Posted On: 3/21/2007 9:28am

Sounds like you and your friend are arguing two differnt topic completely. Seem like he is in it for muscle gains and mass and he is on the right track. Bodybuilders make the majority of thier muscle gains in the off/bulking season when they are not doing shows. It's extremely difficult to make gains (on the level they want) and maintain the ripped look needed for competition. It's like asking your car to do a 500 mile race when it only has gas for 1.

What you say your looking for is achieved simply by maintaining a diet that feed the body the fuel it needs to sustain your workouts/lifestyle w/o over feeding. If you take a gander at most combat athletes you'll notice that the "ripped" guys are usually droping wieght to compete (or on roids al la Kimo). The normal looking guys are fighting around thier natural weight.

You two are arguing apples and oranges. Although they are fruit. They just don't relate to one another.