Bulking up and cutting question

fitness4fun · 08-04-2005, 12:52 AM

Okay, I've done so much reading about this, but not sure if it holds true for females. Would I need to bulk up then cut, and if so, how long do you bulk and how long does it take to cut? I want to have a figure comp. body but not sure about going through with the actuall comp. (the fact of being in front of all those people and doing a routine scares the crap out of me). Sorry if this question sounds stupid, but I do want to learn more. Thanks!

Pj-Macx · 08-04-2005, 01:29 AM

Are you wanting to put on Mass.. or just lose bodyfat??

**EME** · 08-04-2005, 02:19 AM

Hey Fitness4Fun,

Although I'm not female, my wife is an IFBB Pro Fitness competitor, and I'm her trainer, so I'll see if I can steer you in the right direction.

The cycle of "bulking" and then "cutting" in the traditional sense is typically done when a person wants or needs to put on a lot of muscle over the coarse of a particular period of time.

During the bulking phase, an athlete is taking in a significant surplus of calories and can train heavier and harder than they can when they are on a reduced or maintenance level of caloric intake. These surplus calories can result in a significant amount of weight and muscle gain, but can also result in a lot of fat gain too.

Both male and female competitors use this technique to put on muscle. With females, you typically see bodybuilding competitors truly bulking, while fitness and figure competitors do so to a lesser degree.

Now, "bulking" doesn't have to be done to the extent that a person puts on tons of fat. I actually prefer the phrase "mass building phase" rather than bulking, because I feel it implies more of a controlled period of weight gain.

If you truly need to put on muscle to fill out your physique, you are going to have to go utilize a period of caloric surplus to give your body the calories it needs to build muscle.

However, by accurately determining your calorie needs based on your goals, you can shoot for a level of caloric intake that is just slightly above your maintenance level and which should allow you to grow at a slow and steady pace, rather than putting on tons of weight.

Now, you will also put on muscle at a slower pace with this technique, but you will not be left with lots of fat you have to burn off later in order to see the true results of your training.

My wife, Kendra, does not "bulk" in the offseason. She lets her body weight and body fat levels return to a more natural level after a competition, and then takes in a controlled and calculated surplus that allows her to slowly gain muscle and make improvements in the offseason. Her offseason weight is only about 10-12 pounds above her competition weight.

If you were a female bodybuilder, you would probably need to utilize the more traditional style of bulking to really put on the type of muscle necessary to be competitive. But, as a figure or fitness competitor, I think you can take a more controlled and slower approach to building muscle.

One final note.. you mentioned you were considering Figure competition, but didn't want to do a routine. Remember that "Fitness" competitors do routines as part of their competitions. Figure competitors don't do routines at all. They only have to do the standard quarter turns to be judged from all sides.
So, you wouldn't have to do a routine to compete in Figure ( but you would have to get on stage in a posing suit.

)

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

- EME

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitness4fun

Okay, I've done so much reading about this, but not sure if it holds true for females. Would I need to bulk up then cut, and if so, how long do you bulk and how long does it take to cut? I want to have a figure comp. body but not sure about going through with the actuall comp. (the fact of being in front of all those people and doing a routine scares the crap out of me). Sorry if this question sounds stupid, but I do want to learn more. Thanks!

Pj-Macx · 08-04-2005, 03:01 AM

Thanks EME...

fitness4fun · 08-04-2005, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EME

Hey Fitness4Fun,

Although I'm not female, my wife is an IFBB Pro Fitness competitor, and I'm her trainer, so I'll see if I can steer you in the right direction.

The cycle of "bulking" and then "cutting" in the traditional sense is typically done when a person wants or needs to put on a lot of muscle over the coarse of a particular period of time.

During the bulking phase, an athlete is taking in a significant surplus of calories and can train heavier and harder than they can when they are on a reduced or maintenance level of caloric intake. These surplus calories can result in a significant amount of weight and muscle gain, but can also result in a lot of fat gain too.

Both male and female competitors use this technique to put on muscle. With females, you typically see bodybuilding competitors truly bulking, while fitness and figure competitors do so to a lesser degree.

Now, "bulking" doesn't have to be done to the extent that a person puts on tons of fat. I actually prefer the phrase "mass building phase" rather than bulking, because I feel it implies more of a controlled period of weight gain.

If you truly need to put on muscle to fill out your physique, you are going to have to go utilize a period of caloric surplus to give your body the calories it needs to build muscle.

However, by accurately determining your calorie needs based on your goals, you can shoot for a level of caloric intake that is just slightly above your maintenance level and which should allow you to grow at a slow and steady pace, rather than putting on tons of weight.

Now, you will also put on muscle at a slower pace with this technique, but you will not be left with lots of fat you have to burn off later in order to see the true results of your training.

My wife, Kendra, does not "bulk" in the offseason. She lets her body weight and body fat levels return to a more natural level after a competition, and then takes in a controlled and calculated surplus that allows her to slowly gain muscle and make improvements in the offseason. Her offseason weight is only about 10-12 pounds above her competition weight.

If you were a female bodybuilder, you would probably need to utilize the more traditional style of bulking to really put on the type of muscle necessary to be competitive. But, as a figure or fitness competitor, I think you can take a more controlled and slower approach to building muscle.

One final note.. you mentioned you were considering Figure competition, but didn't want to do a routine. Remember that "Fitness" competitors do routines as part of their competitions. Figure competitors don't do routines at all. They only have to do the standard quarter turns to be judged from all sides.
So, you wouldn't have to do a routine to compete in Figure ( but you would have to get on stage in a posing suit.

)

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

- EME

WOW!! You have answered all my questions! I didn't know that figure competitors don't do routines...that's a huge plus for me :bigthumbu I've been working out hard for two months now and am seeing such positive results, that I can see a competing future ahead...I do however need to start doing cardio, and I am now eating six 300 cal. mini-meals. My veins are starting to realy show through my skin (all over), so hopefully that means I'm losing body fat. How long did it take your wife to get to her first competition? Does she have to cut even more so because she does fitness? I'm lifting four days a week, working each body part twice a week. I lift heavy for 12 reps, heavier for 10, and very heavy for 8 reps. I would love any advise I can get, and thank you so much for answering my questions :bier:

08-04-2005, 12:52 AM	#1
fitness4fun New Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Northern Cali Posts: 19 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 0	Bulking up and cutting question Okay, I've done so much reading about this, but not sure if it holds true for females. Would I need to bulk up then cut, and if so, how long do you bulk and how long does it take to cut? I want to have a figure comp. body but not sure about going through with the actuall comp. (the fact of being in front of all those people and doing a routine scares the crap out of me). Sorry if this question sounds stupid, but I do want to learn more. Thanks! __________________ :bigthumbu Female Bodybuilder here

08-04-2005, 01:29 AM	#2
Pj-Macx Pro Stature Join Date: May 2005 Location: 632 HP SS Posts: 3,336 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 68	Are you wanting to put on Mass.. or just lose bodyfat?? __________________ Co-Owner @ BodyBuildingXtreme 2002 Navy Blue Metallic Camaro SS "The Blue Ghost" # 10354 -=LME LSX 454ci built for N20=-

08-04-2005, 03:01 AM	#4
Pj-Macx Pro Stature Join Date: May 2005 Location: 632 HP SS Posts: 3,336 Recipes: 0 Rep Power: 68	Thanks EME... __________________ Co-Owner @ BodyBuildingXtreme 2002 Navy Blue Metallic Camaro SS "The Blue Ghost" # 10354 -=LME LSX 454ci built for N20=-

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