Bulking FAQ

Hi friends! Its been a little while. School has been absolutely nuts. Finals are approaching and my motivation is starting to wear thin with school. It always happens this time of the year especially around the holidays because my excitement for break is through the roof!! But, break is so close which means pushing through and staying strong during this last tough stretch. I've been receiving a lot of questions the past few months about my bulk and bulking in general. I've been pretty open and vocal about it (especially if you follow my food/fitness Instagram) because I think it's something a lot of people can struggle with or be unsure of, which is totally normal. Bulking for me personally hasn't been too tough. I've actually really enjoyed it. I've learned a ton about my body and how it functions most optimally. My physical growth has skyrocketed but even more importantly my quality of life and mentality has grown & I owe a lot of that to bulking. 

Some FAQ & responses to the best of my ability:

How do you bulk without gaining fat?

You don't. I'm not going to sugar coat things. You can minimize the amount of fat gain though. How? You can do this by taking a lean bulk approach through a proper reverse diet. A steady increase in calories per week in addition to utilizing strength training and the gym can aid in making sure you only gain minimal fat. If you go into bulking with a negative mindset, it's going to be harder for you. Some fat will be gained along the way, it's inevitable. 

Okay Mik so say I decide to start bulking... How do I mentally deal with the weight gain/fat gain?

You need to go into a bulk understanding you have a goal of gaining muscle and with that will come a little fat. You need to understand that your goal is not to be super shreddy or a lean bean. You have to remember why you are doing it. You need to try and keep a positive outlook and mindset. Think long term. Think about how much this can benefit you in the future. Stop focusing on the now. You always have the opportunity to cut later on so that you can shed the minimal fat you gained during the bulk. Focus on you and what's best for your health. 

What will everyone think if I start to put on all this weight?

I'm going to stop you right there. If you are still worried about what other people think of you than life is going to be really tough. Brutal honest truth. You do not need validation from others. You do not need to justify your actions to anyone. You need to focus on you. You need to focus on your goals and your needs. If someone doesn't understand or respect your choices or decisions, too bad too sad. People that don't support you, uplift you, and aid in personal growth are not worth it. It's tough to accept, but life is way too short to worry about what other people think of you or to keep pursuing negative relationships. Surround yourself with people who allow you to better yourself and positively impact you.

What are the benefits of bulking?

Endless benefits in my opinion. FOOD! Lots and lots of food. More food than ever. It's awesome. I'm a total foodie and you won't ever hear me complaining about a surplus of food. Freedom! Go out to eat. Try new restaurants. Enjoy time with family and friends. A bulk is not a time to eat like a total a**hole but it's a perfect time to be more lenient. If you eat a little more than usual, no biggie. Move on. Strength Gainz! As you increase your caloric intake, utilize the extra strength especially in the gym. You should see your weight in the gym increasing even if it's a minimal increase. Strive to up your weight weekly. Keep track of PR's and set goals. Be proud of your gainz. Don't be afraid to push the weight. Don't sell yourself short, you can do a lot more than you think. Health Benefits! So many health benefits as well. Regulating your hormones, stabilizing your metabolism and hopefully revving it up so you can eat all the foods, regulating your digestion and internal functions are just a few that i've personally experienced. Those of you that know me know I have some pretty messed up digestive issues and food intolerances. My bulk has healed my stomach a lot. Don't get me wrong I still feel full and bloated from all the food, but I'm not in excruciating pain or struggling like I used to just last year. Girls, if you have lost your period or feel like your hormones are all whacky this can also help your body re-regulate and get back on track through stabilizing your metabolism. 

Do I have to track macros to bulk successfully?

Not necessary. Beneficial. It will however give you the most precise results. Look at it this way. If you are tracking everything that goes into your body and meeting your personal macro breakdown, you will most likely have better results than if you were to eat random amounts of everything. I think tracking macros is a great tool. It is an amazing way to learn the macronutrient breakdown and really understand what YOUR body needs to function at its best. Macronutrients. What are they? Proteins, Fats, Carbs in short. They all play a huge role in your bodies growth and ability to function. Tracking these things at first can allow you to see where you are currently at and where you need to be to reach your goals. For the first three months of my bulk I worked with a coach and strictly tracked macros. This was extremely helpful and necessary in the beginning. I'm now loosely tracking (to make sure I'm getting enough food & continuing to grow and reach my goals) but taking more of an intuitive eating approach. I weigh myself, take progress pictures, and go off of how I'm feeling to make sure I am still working towards my goals and getting optimal results.

Do I need a coach?

Of course not. Coaches can be expensive, I get it. A lot of us are working, in college, have other expenses, etc. If you have absolutely no idea where to start and think a coach will help/you can afford it, by all means go for it! Do your research. Find a good coach. Don't just settle and pick the first one you find. However, if you can't afford one and don't know where to start thats okay. Do your research. Set goals. Utilize the web. There are so many amazing resources out there. Bodybuilding.com is a great resource. They offer various calculators, nutrition advice, a workout database, the list goes on. Seriously. Check them out if you don't know where else to start. Katy Hearn Fit offers one of my favorite macro calculators. You can find macros tailored to your goals based off of your personal information. Such a great tool. These are just a few awesome tools but there are so many more out there!!! Don't be afraid to do your research and utilize them.

There are obviously so many more questions out there and I will continue to answer them with time and future blog posts. I wanted to answer some of the most frequent ones for this posts sake and get the general ones out of the way!

Don't let fear stop you from bulking. Don't second guess yourself. Aesthetics aren't everything friends. Stop focusing on that. Focus on where you are now and where you want to be. There are so many different reasons people choose to bulk and every single person has their own reason. Do not compare your journey to someone else's. Don't expect your results or journey to look like x,y,z's. Focus on you. Focus on your progress. Focus on where you are now and where you want to be. Let go of the fear or irrational thoughts scaring you away. Take that leap and bulk if that is your goal. Getting uncomfortable will lead you to success. Everyone wants to be comfortable and is scared to do something different. Don't be. It's really frickin cool to push yourself, to go outside the norm, to really test your limits. You are capable of whatever you set your mind to. Your journey is just as awesome as x,y, or z's. You are unique. Write your own journey. Your mom, dad, brother, friend, coach can't bulk for you. They can't put in the work for you. You need to put in the work. You need to hold yourself accountable. You have to want it. If you have that drive and mentality to do what you need to do to get where you want to be, you will be successful. You are in control. You are the only one with the power to create your success and reach your goals. 

Don't be afraid to try something new. If you have any questions, need that extra push, need a pep talk, or just need a friend, hit yah girl up. I am always here, always open to talk and listen. Lets do this friends. It's bulking sznnnnn :)

-Mik