Advice on going from cutting to bulking

[munchausen]

1st: How long is too long to cut? I've been doing CKD for about 2 months now and got good results, but I think I've stalled. I'm approx 9 or 10% bf and I've been there for a couple of weeks. I would like to lose a couple more pounds but it doesn't look like it's going to happen unless I cut more calories and I don't think I can do that without losing muscle. Plus I would be too hungry to deal.

2nd: If I decide to start bulking, I was thinking of basically keeping my current diet with 2 changes: add oatmeal to my bacon and eggs in the morning, and switch my straight protein powder post workout for a gainer powder. That takes me from about 1900-1950 calories to around 2700, which is just above where I think my maintenance level should be. I end up with about 150 grams of carbs, give or take. If my current lbm is about 165, is that enough carbs for gaining? Too much?

 

[Lagrangian]

Whatever you decide to do, I suggest you take a good diet break before moving onto the bulking side. Eating at around maintenance and keeping the workout intensity the same, you might just drop a pound or two without even trying too much.

 

[suited]

Originally Posted by munchausen

1st: How long is too long to cut? I've been doing CKD for about 2 months now and got good results, but I think I've stalled. I'm approx 9 or 10% bf and I've been there for a couple of weeks. I would like to lose a couple more pounds but it doesn't look like it's going to happen unless I cut more calories and I don't think I can do that without losing muscle. Plus I would be too hungry to deal.

2nd: If I decide to start bulking, I was thinking of basically keeping my current diet with 2 changes: add oatmeal to my bacon and eggs in the morning, and switch my straight protein powder post workout for a gainer powder. That takes me from about 1900-1950 calories to around 2700, which is just above where I think my maintenance level should be. I end up with about 150 grams of carbs, give or take. If my current lbm is about 165, is that enough carbs for gaining? Too much?

I agree with Trh. As far as your carbs, when I started my last bulk I was 164lbs and I was eating a tad more than 150g of carbs - but I wasn't counting every day. In fact, I started to use the scale/mirror after a while and stopped counting all together. I think you should be fine with 150 to start with, and see how it goes from there. I would also take his advise and don't go immediately into a big surplus. Ease into it.

 

[Pennglock]

Just make sure you keep adding weight to the bar through your bulk. This is where I see people go wrong. If youre gaining weight but your lifts go nowhere, you're probably not adding quality pounds.

 

[Nicola]

Bulking on 2700 calories is like driving a whole F1 race in 1st gear. If it's your maintance it's more like being in neutral.

One of the benefits of bulking is you're eating more. So you're recovery is better. So you can work out harder. Which tends to lead to you burning more. Which requires you to eat more.

 

[munchausen]

Yeah I should have been clearer. I was thinking along the lines that TRH suggested, where I should ease into it instead of going from a deficit to a huge surplus immediately. I've been on a deficit for quite some time now and 1500 calorie swing might have some unintended consequences.