Progress Advice / Any General Rule of Thumb?
I've seen conflicting info regarding which are the best or most optimal approaches to ensure optimal progress in our bodybuilding journeys. I'm not incredibly lean, probably around 12-14% BF at the moment. I do have abdomen showing, especially when flexed. My question is, would it be optimal to really push a hard growth phase, not overly worrying about some fat gain in order to produce as much muscle tissue accrual possible, eating excess calories to ensure steady growth and only when I'm starting to reach the higher end of the BF% spectrum 18-20% max, then start a cut and look to reach at least single digit BF% before proceeding to opt for another growth phase? I've seen some experienced guys in the field discuss this, and almost always, they seem to advocate getting large and strong first, and only then start to polish up the physique and then properly cycling back and forth from there on. Any thoughts on this? Would anyone recommend cutting to single digit first? Considering it's winter, I'm leaning toward a growth phase and only cutting once I've reached a decent goal weight/physique. All advice is welcomed. I have some old-ish pictures in my profile. Slightly stronger and perhaps a little larger, but looking to start making a more serious attempt at substantial gains and more efficient cuts, hopefully leading to much more progress over time. Look forward to hearing anyone's feedback. Thanks!
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sele137You have to worry about gaining fat because it will cost you time, suffering and muscle to get rid of that fat. Generally, the best approach is to start working on the mass with the lowest percentage of body fat. The best approach to mass is to force eat PURE CALORIES which is actually the hardest part of bodybuilding. So food that someone on a diet would eat in large quantities, adjusted to your weight. The most ideal work on the mass is when you gain weight, and the waist remains the same dimensions. My approach is that it is better to gain half a kilogram of clean mass with a little fat than 20 kg of junk that many people get on a cycle and brag about.
Agreed. And this is something I see a lot being recommended. However, I've also seen programs and advices for people early in their careers to basically build non-stop, with fat checks along the way of course, but essentially building the strongest and largest foundation possible in say a 2 year period, limiting fat gain and no more than a certain weight gain to ensure most of anything is gained will be muscle accrual and of course a smaller percentage of fat. Diet would dictate this. Then, once a certain level is reached, you begin to polish the physique and begin rotating cutting and growth phases as competitive BB'ers do. I've even heard a lot of top pros over decades report that they actually utilized similar structure early on.
I've always thought that. Gain the mass and work the fat off after. You don't gotta go fucking crazy and gain so much fat you become all fucked up about it but your going to gain fat putting the size on. There isn't a way to do it without gaining fat imo. It's what I do at least
Basically what I stated above ^. Thanks for your opinion.