What do you think my BF% is?

[malfeasance]

Oh, year round, ok, got it. That definitely makes more sense.

I think we all tend to get smooth in the off season pushing the calories high. Staying single digit body fat would probably have a very negative effect in terms of adding as much size as possible.

I have heard some guys, once they get to a certain huge size, can stay leaner off season, but for a typical guy, like me, low level amateur, when I was trying to push over 250, the abs definitely had to go bye-bye.

 

[malfeasance]

LOL! Edited while you were "liking" it. Hopefully it still keeps the like.

 

[Deleted member 123722]

People forget where I started, so let me remind everyone...



this was last years progress, and people are acting I've done nothing at all...

then I bulked from 223 to 247



Then I cut from that bulk...from 247, to 217, rebound to 230, now I'm 225 stable, eating 3500 calories.


But somehow I'm doing it wrong even though I've improved every single time.

 

[malfeasance]

Definite differences. I guess we kind of need to know what your end goal is, or at least your coach does. You have to know where you are going first, then figure out how to get there.

 

[theotherguy]

People forget where I started, so let me remind everyone...

View attachment 171361
View attachment 171362
this was last years progress, and people are acting I've done nothing at all...

then I bulked from 223 to 247

View attachment 171363

Then I cut from that bulk...from 247, to 217, rebound to 230, now I'm 225 stable, eating 3500 calories.

View attachment 171365
But somehow I'm doing it wrong even though I've improved every single time.
View attachment 171366

On a public forum you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. You’re gonna get people talking to you from all sides and lots of it will conflict. Just stay the course your coach has for you and don’t ask for anyone input.

 

[Hightower]

People forget where I started, so let me remind everyone...

View attachment 171361
View attachment 171362
this was last years progress, and people are acting I've done nothing at all...

then I bulked from 223 to 247

View attachment 171363

Then I cut from that bulk...from 247, to 217, rebound to 230, now I'm 225 stable, eating 3500 calories.

View attachment 171365
But somehow I'm doing it wrong even though I've improved every single time.
View attachment 171366

And what is your goal. Progress is visible.

 

[Deleted member 123722]

My goal is not to be a mass monster, but to have bigger arms/calves to balance my body, maybe be like 220lb, give or take, with visible lean abs, whatever that percentage is at a maintainable levels. I guess the old-school beach bodies of the Golden Era. A classic physique looks, which I know is more on the asthestic sides, which means my arms/delts/calves need to improve.

 

[Hightower]

My goal is not to be a mass monster, but to have bigger arms/calves to balance my body, maybe be like 220lb, give or take, with visible lean abs, whatever that percentage is at a maintainable levels. I guess the old-school beach bodies of the Golden Era. A classic physique looks, which I know is more on the asthestic sides, which means my arms/delts/calves need to improve.

Now it is more clear where you are going.

 

[malfeasance]

Now it is more clear where you are going.

I think he posted on palifter's bodybuilding log, like a couple weeks out, when he was on the beach, that he had the perfect look he was going for. palifter then won the super heavyweight class.

So he is going for the super heavyweight winner two weeks out from contest look.

 

[Deleted member 123722]

I think he posted on palifter's bodybuilding log, like a couple weeks out, when he was on the beach, that he had the perfect look he was going for. palifter then won the super heavyweight class.

So he is going for the super heavyweight winner two weeks out from contest look.

lol

 

[Hightower]

I think he posted on palifter's bodybuilding log, like a couple weeks out, when he was on the beach, that he had the perfect look he was going for. palifter then won the super heavyweight class.

So he is going for the super heavyweight winner two weeks out from contest look.

Then he wants everything at once, as they say when there is no specific goal and the result will be the same

 

[Deleted member 123722]

Then he wants everything at once, as they say when there is no specific goal and the result will be the same

Not true: I would take a smaller version at 210-215.

 

[Hightower]

Not true: I would take a smaller version at 210-215.

Okay, maybe we're wrong, in any case, good luck to you.

 

[olrak]

well my friend Gabe, who is a coach, is giving me some advice, and he's telling me the exact opposite of what everyone here has said to do.

Everyone here has said "shred down to single digits, and then bulk up!"...He's saying, the cut is over now; it's time to maintain, and get ready to bulk hard after your body adapts to this new size until April, up to 250lb, then cut down to 230lb.

And I said, but everyone on the forum says I'm still too fat for a bulk...and he said, "People have a skewed view of BF%; you've lost a ton of fat, and your BF% is not the same as it was before...just trust me, get bigger and cut down, you'll thank me later...unless you want to do bulk cut bulk cut bulk cut for endlessly; go hard, gain size, and cut it down... If you put on quality tissue, your next cut will be easier..."

I'm paraphrasing but that's what he said.

And I have to agree. What is the "science" behind why one couldn't bulk, regardless of their bf%, so long as they are putting on quality tissue? If they are gaining mostly muscle with a clean bulk, they will gain minimal fat, and then they can cut down later. It seems everyone here believes one has to be super lean before a bulk, but why? If you cut correctly, you will lose all the fat you gained with minimal or no muscle loss whatsoever. Moreover, not everyone has the genetics to get to single-digit bf%, or the "abs" which people claim must be seen to be "lean enough." I know people who are ripped without abs, or have abs but fat limbs; we are all built differently and need to approach things differently.

So what he is telling me is at odds with everyone here; should I just ignore him?

this is him... Gabriel Edward-Lifestyle Coach (@gfitperformance) • Instagram photos and videos

Listen to your coach, he's spot on, also don't get to hung up on numbers, as some else said go by how you look, the numbers will fuck with you're head.

But you're right, I'm one of those guys who's jacked everywhere without abs, well barely a few upper ones but that's it, but I'm cool with that as I'm not a body builder, like you said we all hold fat differently

 

[Deleted member 123722]

Listen to your coach, he's spot on, also don't get to hung up on numbers, as some else said go by how you look, the numbers will fuck with you're head.

But you're right, I'm one of those guys who's jacked everywhere without abs, well barely a few upper ones but that's it, but I'm cool with that as I'm not a body builder, like you said we all hold fat differently

Yea, I'm already losing "lines" and it's fucking with my head; I'm tempted to cut again lol, but I won't...

 

[Hightower]

Listen to your coach, he's spot on, also don't get to hung up on numbers, as some else said go by how you look, the numbers will fuck with you're head.

But you're right, I'm one of those guys who's jacked everywhere without abs, well barely a few upper ones but that's it, but I'm cool with that as I'm not a body builder, like you said we all hold fat differently

Few people listen to their coach 100% of this, as a rule, most of the problems and, most importantly, there is no complete trust.

 

[malfeasance]

Yea, I'm already losing "lines" and it's fucking with my head; I'm tempted to cut again lol, but I won't...

Like I said, I had my wife double her calories. She did not like it, either, but I got her in perfect shape to step on stage with much larger quads than she had her prior season.

Just do as your coach says.

Communicate with him, find out why (he would probably be happy to tell you and communicate) but do it, and don't cheat or lie to him. Execute it all perfectly.

I remember Ronnie Coleman's coach on a podcast - he asked Ronnie whether in all the years he had cheated on his diet, and Ronnie looked at him strangely and was quiet, then said, "It never even occurred to me to do so." The coach was quite clear that such was rare.

 

[Deleted member 123722]

Like I said, I had my wife double her calories. She did not like it, either, but I got her in perfect shape to step on stage with much larger quads than she had her prior season.

Just do as your coach says.

Communicate with him, find out why (he would probably be happy to tell you and communicate) but do it, and don't cheat or lie to him. Execute it all perfectly.

I remember Ronnie Coleman's coach on a podcast - he asked Ronnie whether in all the years he had cheated on his diet, and Ronnie looked at him strangely and was quiet, then said, "It never even occurred to me to do so." The coach was quite clear that such was rare.

Yea man, I'm shocked at how much food I'm eating (3500 calories), and I'm still 225 not gaining any fat. He's right, because the next cut, I'll be losing fat at 3000, and will be easy. And I had no issue at 2500, if I had to get that low, it would be breeze. Next I time around, I won't even touch t3.

 

[Hightower]

Yea man, I'm shocked at how much food I'm eating (3500 calories), and I'm still 225 not gaining any fat. He's right, because the next cut, I'll be losing fat at 3000, and will be easy. And I had no issue at 2500, if I had to get that low, it would be breeze. Next I time around, I won't even touch t3.

I didn’t find it, but can you post the reception menu for the day according to the receptions, how much of what in grams do you eat for these 3500 kcal.

 

[Deleted member 123722]

I didn’t find it, but can you post the reception menu for the day according to the receptions, how much of what in grams do you eat for these 3500 kcal.

The only difference now is I've subbed ground beef and ground turkey, for two 5-6oz of top sirloin. I got sick of eating ground taco turkey and ground beef.