Calories for upcoming cycle

[Macros]

I'm trying to figure out my plan for my upcoming cycle. I'm 31 yo, 5'9", 170 lbs and about 15-18% bf. My end goal is 180lbs at or under 10% bf. I'm currently eating at maintenance calories (2,300) on training days (5 days/week) and at 2,000 cals on non-training days where I don't do too much. I'm going to start my third cycle in a couple weeks and here is my problem: I'd like to gain weight/size (and I know I need a calorie surplus to do so) but I don't want to gain more body fat (which is impossible not to do). I don't really want to cut first because I don't want to be much lighter than 170lbs. In your opionion what should I do from a nutrition standpoint for my upcoming cycle?

[1moreset024]

4k calories on cycle
With 200g protein, 50g fat 300g carbs

[GearHeaded]

to gain 10 pounds and drop up to 8% bf at the same time is going to require you to put on essentially 24 pounds of pure muscle. I would plan on that being a goal for the whole year, NOT one cycle.

think of your stored body fat as stored calories. with higher bf % you don't need to go into a super high calorie surplus when starting a bulk.

[Clove1234]

https://www.precisionnutrition.com/w...oss-calculator

Use this, super accurate

[Macros]

Thank you all for the advice. I will eat slightly over maintenance (200-300 calories over) for this cycle and see where I'm at before the next cycle. My plan is to run 2 cycles per year and do a proper pct after both. I'm 31 and have a script for TRT so I may go to a TRT dose in between my two annual cycles. I'm thinking I will do "lean bulk" cycles until I get to 185lbs (and stick to that plan even though I will add a bit more body fat) then run a "cut" cycle or two. Of course I know that the "lean bulk" or "cut" cycle depends on your caloric intake and not the gear. Thanks for all of your input!

[Clove1234]

Anytime

[GearHeaded]

if you can afford it , adding in HGH for that entire year of lean bulking will help you stay lean and grow