Stupid question?

[japh]

For the record, whats everyones definition of a "clean bulk." I wonder about this term sometimes and just what it means to each person. I think there might be some difference of opinion and respectfully debatable.

Obviously, I like the idea of bulking while putting on as little bodyfat as possible while not slowing down the bulking process at the same time. lol

Whats everyones approach?

[MMASTAR]

my idea of a clean or lean bulk is being only about 500 calories above maintenece. High protein, moderate carb, moderate fat. Start with that for a few weeks and if you dont gain a pound or two in a week you can add 250 cals. Just my thoughts.

[Ritch]

Limit unhealthy fats and sugars perhaps? But this can have different meanings to different people I think. Also I`d keep the above maintenance caloric intake to 1000.

[Sean]

Simply (Eating Clean).

[Ritch]

Simply (Eating Clean).

That sure helped...

Q: How do you define a clean bulk?

A: Simply (eating clean)

[Sean]

What more is there to it? I'm assuming you know what eating clean means? Example; Oatmeal, tuna, Chicken, flaxseed ect.. Eat Clean adjust your calories to lose fat or to Gain muscle. Not that much to it!

[tiramisu]

It's not a stupid question and is a huge reason for some extremely heated debates.
Everyone defines this differently. Many are personally offended by the term "bulk" let alone the term "clean".

Some will argue that both terms are entirely irrelevant and that macro balances are important while "clean" is silly and that bulking just means fat.

Others will even argue that you can gain muscle without excess calories through the magic of fairy dust and special incantations.

Myself, I like the eat good food, get 1.5 gram protein/pound of body weight and look to put on 1/2 - 1 pound a week sort of definition. This mostly seems to work best for me until I reach the point where I hit the mid-teens in body fat percentage and then my body starts to turn to mush and it's time to take it off again.

[Sean]

I Never heard much debate about the term. We see Clean Bulk as eating as clean as possible while going above Maintance. As for how many calories, that's something you need to figure out yourself. Watch your fat % and adjust. Protein, Carbs and fats is something you need to tweek as well. That to me is the term Clean Bulk and NOT just BULK!!

[519Muscle]

A clean bulk is the same as dieting just eating more of the dieting food.

[japh]

I like what you guys have said. I know for me I can't honestly say I've EVER successfully completed a "clean bulk." I have successfully dieted down a few times to aproximately 7% but never "bulked" responsibly for 8 months straight. I think it might actually be harder than dieting in a sense. I start out with good intentions after each diet but by the end I am about 20% bodyfat eating chinese smorg and NOT looking good. lol I think a successful "clean bulk" would include me not going over 10%. I've always admired guys that look good year round. However, most of these guys are in maintenace mode. I look forward to the day I reach my goal of 220 at 10% and can then figure out how to just maintain that conditioning only having to drop 3% bodyfat in one month every summer. I've NEVER seen a picture of Arnold over 10%. lol It seems to me the old school bodybuilders in someway knew how to achieve a "clean bulk" All the guys from that era looked good year round. Maybe it was their high volume workouts?

I "bulk" for 36 weeks a year and diet 16. I can easily gain only a pound a week on average but a weight gain for me of 36 pounds is not pretty at the end. I'd say only gaining on average half a pound consistently each week would be about right. Thats not easy! lol It would mean living like I do while dieting when I'm bulking. lol Keeping fats and protein the same generally (whatever that may be) while keeping track of carbs like a nazi year round. Anyways, I think this will be my goal after this next diet is complete. Any other thoughts would be appreciated. This is something I would like to include in my lifestyle.

[Ritch]

Maybe try a different strategy? What if you were to do some type of plan where you bulk until you reach a certain bodyfat % then diet down for a short period of time? Then repeat the process?

[japh]

I'm thinking that for me and my fat storing genetics (lol) that in order to live between 7-10% while still consistently getting bigger each year I'd have to "cut" and "bulk" a few times a year. Bulk for 3 months followed by a 1 month "extreme cut". Something like the velocity diet. Maybe I'll try that this year. I think this would entail then being able to gain a pound a week for 12 weeks and a gain of 12 pounds then losing 9 pounds in one month and repeating 3 times a year. I think an 8 month long bulk wouldn't work for me anymore in order to achieve this.

[Ritch]

^^^ That could work. But I would build a plan that has you being the most strict during the summer.

[japh]

Thanks Ritch, I like the sounds of that! Seems feasible and a much better way to pursue my goals. 16 week diets suck ass as does looking like 5lbs of shit in a 3 lb bag at the end of each year.

[gregdoucette]

Clean bulk is what I am doing eating healthy not worried about being ripped but not jsut eating everything in site. I added over 10 lbs without any increase in bodyfat by doign this.

[maximus14]

Clean bulk is what I am doing eating healthy not worried about being ripped but not jsut eating everything in site. I added over 10 lbs without any increase in bodyfat by doign this.

exact thing im doing right now as well:hu