I used to be this guy. On a constant bulk. Ever since I was in high school, the gym was like a second home for me. Of course growing up in Hawaii I loved going to the beach, but the gym was really the place for me. When my passion for training started, I was all about getting bigger. Bulk up.
What program did I do?
I did practically every program out there. I would grab programs from Flex magazines (yea, high school kid trying out pro bodybuilder workouts. I know. IDIOT!). Then I soon jumped into the usual workouts that a typical gym rat would follow. I had no clue what I was going to lift, all I knew was that whatever muscle I was going to workout that day I was going to kill it. I have to admit that I was also an upper body phenom when I first began out training, because I played basketball with my friends. That’s enough leg work for me.
I also bounced all over from program to program because I would read some new cool training split and immediately want to try it out the next day. I can hear some of you now thinking how in the world did I get a head strength and conditioning job.
Those mistakes that I made in the beginning continue to help me today. I deal with young athletes and even seasoned recreational lifters who are making the same mistakes and assumptions I made when I first started out.
I’m Bulking, so I can eat that…
My life is about performance and training. To be honest, I was probably on a 3 year bulk and wasn’t getting any where. Us guys always want to look good, no matter what we say. Even the skinny small guys out there want to have bigger arms or chest. Having a muscular body allows us to show other guys just how must testosterone we have and tell the ladies, “how you doin’?”
But what’s the use of continuously bulking and adding more body fat to your body unless you are competing as a bodybuilder. What fun is it to bulk up then cut down for the summer to only enjoy a somewhat leaner body for 3 months, if that? Wouldn’t it be much better to always have a leaner body year round?
The guys who say they are bulking have to ask themselves exactly how long have I been bulking for and then for what reason. When I used to bulk I would eat everything in sight. Pizzas were like a snack to me. Yes I increased some muscles mass over that time but it got so bad that my girlfriend ended up calling me a “blob”. Till today I’m still pretty sensitive about that one.
Is is really worth putting your hard earned muscles in hibernation under a layer of fat? I’ve thought it was but my perspective has changed a lot.
Training Vs Nutrition
Clear and simple. No matter what you do in the gym, if your nutrition is shit you are going to look like shit. Yes, I know you’ve heard of NFL football players who eat McDonalds all the time and are ripped to shreds. Sorry man, you’re not an NFL football player. Blame your parents.
Most gym goers train anywhere from 45 minutes to hour and half, some go for a shorter time some longer. That leaves the rest of the day to screw up all the work you did during your workout. That’s where you come across the difference when people say I workout or I TRAIN.
If you actually TRAIN that means you think about all the aspects; training session, peri-workout nutrition, nutrition for the rest of the day, recovery, sleep, hydration, you get the point.
*Quick plug: if you actually TRAIN, you can get a pretty cool shirt from Elitefts.com to make it known:
you're welcome Elitefts
I’m sure I hurt some people when I tell them this, but it’s better than blowing smoke up their ass. Nutrition is important if you want a bigger and stronger body as well as if you want a ripped and leaner body. Majority of gym-goers put all their efforts into what they do in the gym and half ass everything else and they wonder why they are not getting the results they want.
Final Thoughts
Forget about the whole bulk thing. It’s overrated. If you know you are going hard in the gym, you should ask yourself if you are dedicating just as much effort in your nutrition as you do in the gym. I hate the word “diet” because if gives the idea that there’s an end to it. Becoming smarter with nutrition is more of a behavioral thing and lifestyle change. Yes, your friends may want to go to Jack in the Box and clear out the dollar value meal, but is that going to help you achieve what YOU want?
Coming up next….How can I bulk and stay lean at the same time?…oh yes there is a way…