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Started By
Message
Bad calories vs. not enough when adding size (bulking)
Posted on 12/20/22 at 9:19 pm
Posted on 12/20/22 at 9:19 pm
5’10”
169 pounds (started at 145 earlier in the year)
Desk job
41 years old
Trying to gain
So I’m having to eat about 4,000 calories a day as I’m burning around 3,500.
500-700 burned come from one-hour gym workouts 4-5 times a week, the rest come from walking around the office I guess. I just have tons of energy and walk about 10k-12k steps a day.
Now to my question…
I’m hitting about 200-240g of protein a day. Meat, shakes, etc. The rest are not very clean. Not filthy but not clean either. Is hitting my calorie goal and sleep more important than the calories themselves? I know I’m adding weight way too fast and I plan on cutting around March but dang my stomach is getting huge. (Obviously so) I’m adding size especially in my legs which is nice, but am I going to have to cut for like 6 months?
Thanks.
169 pounds (started at 145 earlier in the year)
Desk job
41 years old
Trying to gain
So I’m having to eat about 4,000 calories a day as I’m burning around 3,500.
500-700 burned come from one-hour gym workouts 4-5 times a week, the rest come from walking around the office I guess. I just have tons of energy and walk about 10k-12k steps a day.
Now to my question…
I’m hitting about 200-240g of protein a day. Meat, shakes, etc. The rest are not very clean. Not filthy but not clean either. Is hitting my calorie goal and sleep more important than the calories themselves? I know I’m adding weight way too fast and I plan on cutting around March but dang my stomach is getting huge. (Obviously so) I’m adding size especially in my legs which is nice, but am I going to have to cut for like 6 months?
Thanks.
This post was edited on 12/20/22 at 9:22 pm
5
Posted on 12/20/22 at 10:08 pm to pwejr88
quote:
169 pounds (started at 145 earlier in the year)
24 lbs is a lot in under a year especially when that's 17% of your starting weight.
quote:
So I’m having to eat about 4,000 calories a day as I’m burning around 3,500.
You don't have to eat 4k calories a day. Drop it down some and you'll still gain but at a better rate.
quote:
I know I’m adding weight way too fast and I plan on cutting around March but dang my stomach is getting huge.
Sounds like you know the answer but it's not what you wanted to believe. If it were me I'd slow it down. I know you don't want to because at 5'10" 169 you feel like you have so much weight to put on. But no reason to rush it. Of course if you just have a fast metabolism and your body is used to being 5'10" 145 you will probably lose the weight fast when you do cut
Posted on 12/20/22 at 10:14 pm to Yeti_Chaser
Thanks for the insight.
You’re right. I am rushing it. I want to go Hulk mode every day and I’m addicted to the weight room and chasing the pump. I can’t get enough. I need to slow down but dang that’s hard.
That’s encouraging to hear on the metabolism. Yes, I’ve been a stick all my life and I’m not very wide so any weight I’ve gained from aging was 100% gut. Got down to 142 and I would say 155 is my average weight over the years.
You’re right. I am rushing it. I want to go Hulk mode every day and I’m addicted to the weight room and chasing the pump. I can’t get enough. I need to slow down but dang that’s hard.
That’s encouraging to hear on the metabolism. Yes, I’ve been a stick all my life and I’m not very wide so any weight I’ve gained from aging was 100% gut. Got down to 142 and I would say 155 is my average weight over the years.
Posted on 12/21/22 at 5:01 am to pwejr88
Based off ur gains i would guess your actual maintenance calories is more like 2800
Posted on 12/21/22 at 5:33 am to lofty
Yeah according to the TDEE website right at 2,600.
Posted on 12/21/22 at 6:40 am to pwejr88
quote:
I’m adding weight way too fast and I plan on cutting around March but dang my stomach is getting huge.
At 41 years old, there are a lot of things worse than being skinny. Being fat is #1 on that list. Clean up that diet, shrink that stomach, and focus on adding strength. The bulk will come
Posted on 12/21/22 at 9:44 am to CoachChappy
I’ll never go back to being fat. Ever. 
My stomach is bigger but man it was in my neck also. Disgusting.
I’ve dropped 40+ pounds more than once so I’m not worried about cutting fat at all. That’s easy. Gaining mass with limited fat seems dang near impossible.
And just to add: I was too skinny for 30 years of my life. I don’t want to be fat but I’m for sure done being skinny.
My stomach is bigger but man it was in my neck also. Disgusting.
I’ve dropped 40+ pounds more than once so I’m not worried about cutting fat at all. That’s easy. Gaining mass with limited fat seems dang near impossible.
And just to add: I was too skinny for 30 years of my life. I don’t want to be fat but I’m for sure done being skinny.
This post was edited on 12/21/22 at 9:46 am
Posted on 12/21/22 at 10:20 am to pwejr88
quote:
I want to go Hulk mode every day and I’m addicted to the weight room and chasing the pump. I can’t get enough.
So I'll offer an alternative to my earlier post. If this is what's keeping you consistent and motivated then maybe keep doing what you're doing but every 4 weeks stop and do a 1 week low carb mini-cut. This will help slow you down while still keeping you strong and fed for 80% of your workouts and re-sensitize your body every month
Posted on 12/21/22 at 11:50 am to pwejr88
quote:
Gaining mass with limited fat seems dang near impossible.
Aim for a smaller surplus (200-300 cal above maintenance) and stick with a hefty protein bias. 4k cal at your weight/age is too much.
Posted on 12/21/22 at 3:21 pm to pwejr88
You aren’t burning 3500 calories a day
Posted on 12/21/22 at 8:42 pm to Vyvanse
Have a Fitbit that’s a top 5 calorie tracker on the market and I never take it off. I’ll trust that over you.
Posted on 12/22/22 at 11:21 am to pwejr88
Lol
Posted on 12/27/22 at 12:51 am to pwejr88
I’d focus on protein, vegetables, few carbs, sleep and training. The rest is just building fat. You’re 41. Don’t get in a hurry. Shoot for a pound or two a month. Build it lean. 8-9 hours of sleep is ideal.
Best of luck.
Best of luck.
Posted on 12/27/22 at 10:45 am to pwejr88
Only my opinion...unless you are training for a specific athletic event that requires bulking for serious strength gains or training for some type of bodybuilding contest that requires putting on a lot of muscle no matter how much weight you gain, heavy bulking and months of hard cutting aren't worth it, especially for those of us over 40.
Like others have said, eat at a small surplus, get your protein, and keep working hard, think lifestyle and longevity, 3-5 years over 6 months. Its hard to do that I know, but for me, I'm more than happy to fit in my current clothes year round with flat belly and very small, but incremental strength and size gains over the years vs. wearing elastic pants for several months.
Like others have said, eat at a small surplus, get your protein, and keep working hard, think lifestyle and longevity, 3-5 years over 6 months. Its hard to do that I know, but for me, I'm more than happy to fit in my current clothes year round with flat belly and very small, but incremental strength and size gains over the years vs. wearing elastic pants for several months.
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