Need some advice..

[NaturalUN]

Guys I've been working out now taking it seriously since June last year. Not a long time I understand, I weighed myself whilst away in Dubai in October and I weighed a mere 154lbs now I started bulking around November & I'm now weighing 169lbs. A lot of people comment on how I look bigger and my arms/shoulders looking bigger. Feels awesome having people comment. Only thing that's a quite concern is body fat % I honestly don't think I've put much fat on really as I don't look much fatter, however I was on the high end of body fat when I was 154lbs I was 19% bf, I got that checked by a scan whilst in Dubai. I have no such means in Portsmouth and I'm scared that even though I look like I haven't put too much fat on (noticed a bit on my belly) ill suddenly wake up and be like 25% and have absolutely failed... I want to get to about 180-185lbs then start cutting, just wondering if that's too much to bulk on as I was 154lbs before. Btw I'm 5ft9 so not that tall really, my goals are to get around 10-12% body fat look going on without appearing skinny, like I obviously would of if I cut down to 10% from 19% when I was 154lbs.
If anything put my mind to rest about getting fat! I eat fairly clean, as in I eat home cooked food high in nutrients lots of veg etc. I know my macros and am gaining weight well not unhealthily IMO.. I take creatine/protein/multi vits/fish oils.

So the question is... Should I just keep eating clean and bulking??

Any more Info needed just ask!

Cheers guys!!

[Cody95]

Well you could keep bulking but you do know you put on some fat when you bulk because of the extra calories so your bf% might keep going up. What is your kcal intake?

[NaturalUN]

Well I was doing 3000 a day but for two weeks I didn't put on anything just maintained so I've upped it to 3300 and gained 1.5lb this week, weighed myself this morning. Gonna see how it goes next week and then drop it by a little bit don't really want to gain 1.5lb a week, is as gaining 1lb a week I'd like to get back to that. 1.5lbs seems too much??

[Back In Black]

It's up to you and what you feel comfortable with mate. Most people don't want to bulk at 15% because 20% is unacceptable to them. But you might not be bothered.

Is your avi pic recent?

[NaturalUN]

Avi pic was about three week ago at 167lbs. Well I've always been around this body fat I guess even when I was 16 and like 140lbs bag of bones... Still too light as I am I reckon, I want to be bigger but not bigger as in just pure fat.. I do understand some will be fat gains & how much of that is down to nutrition and training I guess. Might take me a few bulks & cuts to get to low fat with decent muscle distribution I'm under no illusion i will be where I want to be overnight and if I am I'm sure my goals will change & I'd want to be bigger and better.

[Back In Black]

Well, my current strategy is a slooooow bulk. I'm about 15% bf and am not happy this high but I feel the need to gain still. I'm happy at a gain of 1lb or so per MONTH. This way there is more chance of the majority of my weight gain being muscle. That means I'm only about 150cals above my maintenance calories at any one time. Yes it's slow but, like you sound, I want quality over quantity.

Maybe have your lifting regime looked at in our lifting section and maybe post your diet plan up here?

[NaturalUN]

My diet plan is basic at home, complex at work. I'm in the military on a ship in the middle of the ocean at times. Hard to eat right when there are very little options, so I eat the best I possibly can. I've noticed gains just like kind of scared I guess of becoming fat! Especially seen as at a mere 169lbs I'm the heaviest I've ever been except when I was 19 and had discovered alcohol, I got to like 175lbs but was actually looking round and fat then. I suppose I just need to be patient and stick with it to achieve my goals. You must have some patience putting on 1lb a month, I'd wanna be putting on 1lb a week to start me off til I've got a decent foundation then putting on 1lb a month I'd be happy with that's 12lbs a year which is a lot really especially if it's muscle. I know my 1lb a week won't be all muscle at all... But as I am in my first year I'm hoping a decent amount is, if only I knew somewhere near by for a BF/Lbm scan that's be ideal get one every month to track my gains would definitely put my mind at ease and see what I'm doing and adjust accordingly.

[Back In Black]

Google bodpod for your area. It'll be at least 30 quid a pop though mate. My closest one is at a uni so you could try you local ones too.

[NaturalUN]

I looked before, closest is London which is hardly close to Portsmouth, closest open to the public that I could find anyway.

[Back In Black]

Try your local uni's mate. Personally I can't justify paying what they charge it's about what the mirror says. Oh, and this helps too

[NaturalUN]

Cheers for the help bro.