It’s definitely not a short term goal. I went from 204 to 222 over a summer once. The main difference is that I was 17 and it was the first time I really hit it hard in the gym. I see that you’re not a newbie so that’s working against you for this goal.
Dirty bulks are garbage. Eat clean for this. Find your maintenance calories and increase gradually over time. You might not need to weigh your food and track your macros like I do but you’re definitely going to have to pay close attention to your nutrition. I don’t think a haphazard approach will work.
I think you should strive to gain 0.5 to 1.0 lb a month. That sucks because your weight can fluctuate way more than that throughout the day so you’re going to look at a bigger picture. I suggest planning your nutrition to put you on pace to gain 0.5 to 1.0 lb per month but look at least six months into the future. Aim to weigh 186 by January 1st. Way yourself first thing in the morning daily, weekly, or whatever interval you choose but make sure it’s consistent. First thing in the morning is usually the best because you eliminate a lot of variables such as food, fluid, and salt consumption that can cause you to fluctuate throughout the day.
As @MarkKO said, this could be a long journey if you want to do it right. Many people have fallen victim to the bulk/cut approach (myself included). As articles on this site have pointed out, it’s better to go slow and steady. You can bulk for 3 months and gain 10 lbs only to follow that with a cut where you lose 7-8 lbs. Now you’re 6 months down the road and only 2 lbs heavier. Do the smart approach and you could be 3-6 lbs heavier in the same amount of time without the need to cut.
Good luck!
