Bulking up vs. cutting? Can I do both at the same time?

[Cool The Kid]

I recently got back into the workout groove but I'm kind of lost as to how to proceed. I've been running about 2 miles on the treadmill at about 5-6mph about every other day and lifting every day with a 1-2 day break after 2 days of lifting (I do my chest/triceps/shoulders the first day and biceps/back the next)...

I've noticed that my stomach section's a lot better and my chest is a little bigger, but my weight has basically hovered around 167-170. I wanna gain mass and be more cut, but I dunno which way to go. Should I bulk up and burn off the fat, should I trim down and bulk up, or will me doing what I'm doing get me where I wanna go?

[Logic86]

http://forums.sohh.com/showthread.php?t=549761

[314central]

I recently got back into the workout groove but I'm kind of lost as to how to proceed. I've been running about 2 miles on the treadmill at about 5-6mph about every other day and lifting every day with a 1-2 day break after 2 days of lifting (I do my chest/triceps/shoulders the first day and biceps/back the next)...
I've noticed that my stomach section's a lot better and my chest is a little bigger, but my weight has basically hovered around 167-170. I wanna gain mass and be more cut, but I dunno which way to go. Should I bulk up and burn off the fat, should I trim down and bulk up, or will me doing what I'm doing get me where I wanna go?
That doesnt make since...Why dont you bulk up while your body mass is up. Lift weights monday wed and fridays...Dont over do it tho...It wont help you get any bigger. And try doing 4 miles 5 days a week...it help aid in losing the access fat.
Having a fitness teacher for a coach helps a lot. :king:

[Cool The Kid]

Damn 4 miles a day??? I'mma have to work my way up if that's supposed to be normal, I'm very out of shape then. When I run I don't die...I run right when I wake up (which might be another problem) and I feel energized for the whole day. But when I get to 2 miles I'm just like "ahhhh I don't wanna do this anymore". I ramp up the speed progressively too. Then after I get back from work if it's a weight training day I do that at night, so I kinda get the full effect.

What about diet though? I feel like I need more energy to run longer in the morning. I heard somewhere that runners eat pasta/carbs the night before they have big events. Is there anything I can get to give me a boost in the morning?

[Big H]

You can't bulk and cut at the same time. Simply pick a phase and jump on it. Most returners will opt to bulk since its easier and fun, but keep it in your mind that when it comes time to cut you gotta do that sh*t and do it right. I suggest you bulk up for a number of months then see where your at; if your packing on too much fat with the added muscle then you may want to take a break and go on a quick cut.

[houston911]

i didnt have a lot of time to lift at the end of the semester, im bout to start training hard at the end of this week. (im gonna cut)

tips?

I plan on buying like 25 packs of ground turkey

[Cool The Kid]

i didnt have a lot of time to lift at the end of the semester, im bout to start training hard at the end of this week. (im gonna cut)

tips?

I plan on buying like 25 packs of ground turkey
When I bulked up over the sophomore year of college I had whey protein after every workout. That sh*t worked...between freshman and sophomore year I seriously put on like 30# of muscle (and a little fat), and after my regimen trailed off junior year, even 2 years later I'm still way bigger than I was in HS. But yea whey protein should help. I might pick up a container tomorrow and start with that again...

Another question: is it OK if I bulk up and do cardio simultaneously? I.e. weighttraining every other night, running every morning?

[Big H]

Another question: is it OK if I bulk up and do cardio simultaneously? I.e. weighttraining every other night, running every morning?

Nothing wrong with it, just keep it moderate. An ideal split could be like this, MWF you lift, then do cardio Tuesday, Thursday, and maybe Saturday.

When your cutting you can do cardio AFTER lifting since Glycogen levels will be some what depleted following weight training.

[Cool The Kid]

But no cardio on the days I lift? I feel like the two have nothing to do with each other. Lifting= uses protien, burns fat; cardio= uses carbs, burns a lot more fat. I mean I don't mind, I'm just willing to work a little harder to get my results faster.

[Big H]

But no cardio on the days I lift? I feel like the two have nothing to do with each other. Lifting= uses protien, burns fat; cardio= uses carbs, burns a lot more fat. I mean I don't mind, I'm just willing to work a little harder to get my results faster.

Well thats why you wanna split them up. Lifting does not USE protein, it uses Carbs just like cardio does. Protein is used as building blocks, not expendable energy like Carbs. Bulking required that you concentrate your lifting and diet efforts towards gaining mass and weight; this means eating an excess amount of calories, including carbs/protein/fats. This also means that after lifting your rest and diet play a HUGE role in how much muscle you actually gain.

Doing too much Cardio can and will rob your hard-earned muscle of ALL the nutrients it needs, this is why bulkers keep it to a minimum.

[Cool The Kid]

Well thats why you wanna split them up. Lifting does not USE protein, it uses Carbs just like cardio does. Protein is used as building blocks, not expendable energy like Carbs. Bulking required that you concentrate your lifting and diet efforts towards gaining mass and weight; this means eating an excess amount of calories, including carbs/protein/fats. This also means that after lifting your rest and diet play a HUGE role in how much muscle you actually gain.

Doing too much Cardio can and will rob your hard-earned muscle of ALL the nutrients it needs, this is why bulkers keep it to a minimum.
Ahhh ok. Well how often should I alternate between bulking and cutting?

[Big H]

Ahhh ok. Well how often should I alternate between bulking and cutting?

Alternate based on gains. Just set a goal and reach it. When you think you've packed on enough muscle you go on a cut.

Others, like myself, switch by seasons. For example I like to start bulking towards the end of Fall and throughout Winter; then I start cutting from mid-February to mid-May, and then just maintain for the summer.

You have to decide.

[houston911]

Alternate based on gains. Just set a goal and reach it. When you think you've packed on enough muscle you go on a cut.
Others, like myself, switch by seasons. For example I like to start bulking towards the end of Fall and throughout Winter; then I start cutting from mid-February to mid-May, and then just maintain for the summer.
You have to decide.

i was looking at pictures of my back, and i realized i need to get my bf% down to see my details

Are tuna and 7 percent turkey good foods to eat if youre tryna cut up?

I plan on lifting 4 days a week and hooping prolly 4 or 5 days a week as well

I prolly eat a lb of turkey a day

Im out of protein, im thinking about getting some creatine

[Big H]

i was looking at pictures of my back, and i realized i need to get my bf% down to see my details
Are tuna and 7 percent turkey good foods to eat if youre tryna cut up?
I plan on lifting 4 days a week and hooping prolly 4 or 5 days a week as well
I prolly eat a lb of turkey a day
Im out of protein, im thinking about getting some creatine

Tuna and Turkey should be staples in any diet along with Chicken and Top Round Steak. Don't worry too much about the fat. Just make sure your eating good fats (EFA's), and if you do eat fats, make sure your not combining them with Carbohydrates in the same meal. Carbs and Fat simply don't belong together while on a diet, unless its Fiber (veggies).

Make sure your eating SIX meals a day. I must stress this because it is key to keeping your metabolism healthy and preventing your body from entering starvation mode.

Try to grill or bake all your foods and always include a decent size serving of veggies with your meals.

Eliminate ALL processed/refined sugars from your diet, you don't need them. Your carbs should be coming from Complex and Fibrous sources (whole grains and veggies).

[houston911]

Tuna and Turkey should be staples in any diet along with Chicken and Top Round Steak. Don't worry too much about the fat. Just make sure your eating good fats (EFA's), and if you do eat fats, make sure your not combining them with Carbohydrates in the same meal. Carbs and Fat simply don't belong together while on a diet, unless its Fiber (veggies).

Make sure your eating SIX meals a day. I must stress this because it is key to keeping your metabolism healthy and preventing your body from entering starvation mode.

Try to grill or bake all your foods and always include a decent size serving of veggies with your meals.

Eliminate ALL processed/refined sugars from your diet, you don't need them. Your carbs should be coming from Complex and Fibrous sources (whole grains and veggies).

appreciate that

are pork and beans a good food to eat? They look healthy based on the stats on the can, but they taste so good i feel like theyre bad

if its ok to eat fats and shyt, what changes about your diet?

[Cool The Kid]

The diet is the hardest part for me. I figure "blah I can eat how I want as long as I'm exercising..." but I'd probably get better gains with a better diet. Should I fukk with this whey protien again? Is it necessary?