Could be tough one but we'll try...

[Undecided09]

So heres the scoop....

I did my first show in October at 175-180 lbs or so...I Bulked after the show and got up to 195, the heaviest I have ever been, but pretty solid mass!

I was pulling 435 on the deadlift and squating 375 for reps when I went on study abroad for two months in which i stopped working out, didnt eat particularly well, and definately didnt get the protein i am used to...

Below are some pictures of myself from before my show, they are the most recent ones that I have...SOOO, based on where I left off, I am debating whether I should bulk immediately when I get back, or cut a little bit, for two weeks or so, before I start to bulk again...

I appear to have lost some size, not sure of my weight right now, some muslce loss, and I feel super soft obviously, probably some fat gain, obviously, but relative to others Im still relatively lean persay, but not lean for me...

So below are the pics, and based on how I described what I bulked to afterwards, along with having to stop and being in Italy for the last two months, Should I bulk immediately or cut some when I return from Rome?

[takedownII]

it probably depends on your personal goals....are you big enough???? you seem like you're naturally lean so a cutting probably isn't neccessary, and if you answered "no" to the above question then bulking is the best option for you imo...

but this is coming from a person who can't ever be big enough.....i say always get bigger!!! when you're happy with you're size then cut it up and polish it...

you look good and keep the hard work, good luck!!

[Undecided09]

Thanks Take....The answer is no and I do plan on breaking that 200 barrier when I get back, I was so ****in close before I left too!

Im curious though if I need to shed the little fat that I picked up here before I bulk again, or maybe I just need to regain the muscle lost ASAP as cutting may lead to even more catabolism...

[Dangerdan]

I agree with takedown. I dont see the point in cutting then bulking, then cutting, when you could just bulk and cut once? But again it depends on your goals.

[Undecided09]

Well dan, I plan on doing another show at some point, so I need the size for sure...Im just concerned that the amount of fat that comes along with bulking, coupled with what ive put on since ive been in italy, will be a little more than i would like come cutting time??? However I have been one to lean up a little bit while putting on some quality muslce at the same time, so maybe i should just bulk?

[Dangerdan]

Maybe just a clean bulk, keeping the bodyfat under 12% or so? You got PM.

[bpm1]

Well dan, I plan on doing another show at some point, so I need the size for sure...Im just concerned that the amount of fat that comes along with bulking, coupled with what ive put on since ive been in italy, will be a little more than i would like come cutting time??? However I have been one to lean up a little bit while putting on some quality muslce at the same time, so maybe i should just bulk?

bro, do a clean bulk u can gain mass with no bf increase.im lean bulking right now and havent put any xtra bf at all, in fact i think it may be going down. go for it u wont regret it!

[muscle_20]

eat just over maintance while your away, your lean enough add some more size for you next show IMO.

[Undecided09]

It seems like cutting just has no purpose at this point, especially if I plan to bulk immediately afterwards anyways, my worries were just that I would be starting with too much bf, but in reality I really dont have that much comparatively...

Plus, I bet my body will tighten up ALOT once I get back in the gym, right now I feel soft, and I think that adding to the feeling of added fat, that might be deceiving..thoughts?

[PROTEINSHAKE]

lean bulk sounds like the way to go... as stated above..bulk doesnt have to mean increase in bodyfat IMO...

[Undecided09]

I agree with that, as I stated above, I think my appearance is deceiving me because I havent lifted, and I am taking my flatness and softness for added BF, which might not really be the case at all...

[PROTEINSHAKE]

PLUS... you arent doing a contest in the near future(4months) so get back at it....hit the weights-eat clean,but more volume & add your desired size that you want...worry about a real shred later...nows a good time to add size without getting "fatter"....

[PEWN]

yea man you can add a good 10 pounds of lean mass with out getting fat...

[bpm1]

im in the middle of wk 6 of my cycle, ive gained 18lbs over my starting weight. my waist is the same and my bf has been maintained or even dropped im VERY happy with the cycle so far.im eating approx 3700 cals a day with a 40/40/20 split its working just how it should. i think the days of going nuts and eating everything u can r over, i'll never do anything but lean bulk in the future. my cycling days r numbered anyways as im nearing my goal weight/size. lean bulk is the only way to fly IMO

[Undecided09]

Haha, i love hearing people say LEAN BULK, it cracks me up...to me bulking is lean bulking, you only need to specify when u are sloppy bulking, haha, because when i was taught how to bulk, it didnt include eating everything insight, rather quality foods that account for growth...rule of thumb, if it contributes more to fat gain than to muscle growth, dont eat it, follow that and you should be in good shape, hahah


typically....

Shake in the morning on the way to class, with oats mixed in and a banana,

Chicken Salad/Tuna Salad, with olive oil....

Some Rice Cakes Before lift....

Lift....

PWO Shake, Rice Cakes/Waxy Maize Starch....

Chicken, Rice/Whole Wheat bread, salad...


Steak, peanut butter...

Cottage cheese/shake, with Yogurt....

[PEWN]

sloppy bulk... is 30 pounds on one cycle ... lol..

[bpm1]

Haha, i love hearing people say LEAN BULK, it cracks me up...to me bulking is lean bulking, you only need to specify when u are sloppy bulking, haha, because when i was taught how to bulk, it didnt include eating everything insight, rather quality foods that account for growth...rule of thumb, if it contributes more to fat gain than to muscle growth, dont eat it, follow that and you should be in good shape, hahah


typically....

Shake in the morning on the way to class, with oats mixed in and a banana,

Chicken Salad/Tuna Salad, with olive oil....

Some Rice Cakes Before lift....

Lift....

PWO Shake, Rice Cakes/Waxy Maize Starch....

Chicken, Rice/Whole Wheat bread, salad...


Steak, peanut butter...

Cottage cheese/shake, with Yogurt....

i hear ya, then why r u so concerned about the fat increase, as u stated u dont need to get fat to bulk, so bulk it up!

[Undecided09]

Because Im concerned that Im starting too high to begin with, but like I said, I think the appearance is deceiving because of my abscence from the gym, and the softness/emptyness of my muscles is being taken for fat gain, when its really some muscle loss and lack of use....I think, lol...