QUESTION:
It’s Sept and I’d LIKE to bulk up to 250 by Dec, with plans to cut to 200-210 by May/June. Being at 235lbs, 26% 5’7" idk if this is healthy. I’m already at the point where I need to buy new pants because they barely fit and my boxers squeeze the shit out of my coinpurse when I squat. I’ve been really active the past month, skateboarding 1+ hours a day, running 1 mile 2x a week (my legs can’t handle the weight lol), and been to the gym for the last two weeks to ease back into it.
I really would like to bulk, I feel that motivation I had back in Iraq. Most likely I’ll end up at 28-30% BF by the time I’m done but idk how healthy this is. I’m not too worried about gaining the weight aesthetically speaking, I’m just not sure if it would be better to cut now until Dec and just maintain through the summer (which would be pretty boring, I think). The other option is obviously to go balls to the walls, I just don’t want to have a heart attack or anything.
It’s been 2 years, so I imagine my gains will come pretty fast. I’m thinking of eating 3K-4K a day for now and then go up to 5K-6K depending on where I’m at. I’ll drop skateboarding in favor of HIIT 3x a week to at least try and keep some form of cardio going.
Ideas? Pics below
(lol, I just noticed my delts have completely disappeared. This is gonna be a hard year)
BACKGROUND:
3 Years ago I weighed about 135 and then deployed. I basically bulked for about 6-7 months lifting as heavy as I could to the point of throwing up and eating everything in site…to the point of throwing up. Probably ate 4.5-5k a day - at one point my buddy and I were eating a large pizza each at noon every other day, plus regular meals.
I gained almost exactly 90lbs by the time I got back, weighing in at 225 at just under 18% (I was 190-200 in my avatar). I did HIIT 3x a week plus sprints in the morning every other day (basically, HIIT everyday) which is the only reason I didn’t come back at 300lbs lol
It’s been 2 years since I’ve lifted more than twice in one month. I’ve suffered serious depression etc. My mind is back where it needs to be and I want to hit the gym HARD again!
I went to the gym and a personal trainer took my BF. He used some kind of weird steering wheel device that you hold for 15 seconds and somehow it measures your BF. Supposedly I’m at 26-28% BF right now at 235lbs.
Each month I drill in the National Guard, and people still say “Wow Carlos, you’ve been lifting huh?”. This leads me to think I’m not “fat”, even though I feel it. Hell, I see stars when I tie my shoes.
I have a really obsessive personality, so whether I cut or bulk I’ll go balls to the walls.