Lean Bulking Successfully - 5 Fundamental Principles
Jul 1, 2021
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Learn how to successfully lean bulk by focusing on key topics such as the rate of weight gain, managing fat gain, monitoring body composition, and tracking relative strength. Discover the fundamental principles and tips for optimizing muscle growth without excessive fat gain.
Being in a calorie surplus and gaining weight is crucial for efficient muscle growth during a bulking phase.
Monitoring body composition and tracking changes in body fat are essential to ensure lean gains.
Training performance, including relative strength improvements, is the primary driver of muscle growth during a bulking phase.
Deep dives
Tips for Successful Bulking
To ensure successful bulking, it is important to focus on key principles. Firstly, being in a calorie surplus and gaining weight is crucial for efficient muscle growth. It is also important to understand that gaining weight takes time and multiple successful bulking phases to build muscle to its potential. Moreover, prioritize your training performance, as proper training is the primary driver of muscle growth. Lastly, utilize mini cuts strategically to moderate fat gain and prolong the bulk without abusing them.
Monitoring Body Composition
Monitoring your body composition is essential during a bulking phase. Consider using body fat calipers or waist measurements to track changes in body fat. Ideally, you should aim for a discrepancy between scale weight gain and body fat measurements. This indicates that you are making lean gains. Paying attention to relative strength improvements, such as increasing weight while maintaining or improving performance, is another important aspect to consider.
Calorie Surplus and Rate of Weight Gain
Rather than obsessing over the exact calorie surplus, focus on the rate of weight gain. A reasonable rule of thumb is gaining up to 0.5% of your body weight per week. It is advisable to aim for a slower rate, around 0.2-0.25%, to minimize fat gain. If your average weekly weigh-ins show a consistent increase over time, you can be confident that you are eating the right amount of calories.
Tolerating Fat Gain and Mini Cuts
The amount of fat gain you tolerate during a bulking phase should be an amount that can be reasonably lost in a shorter time span compared to the time it took to gain it. Aim for a bulk to cut ratio of at least 2:1 to prioritize gaining and spend more time bulking than cutting. Utilize mini cuts strategically to moderate fat gain while maintaining an upward trend in body weight over time.
Prioritizing Training Performance
Remember that training is the primary driver of muscle growth. Ensure that your training performance improves during the bulking phase. Focus on relative strength improvements and track your progress in key exercises. Pay attention to recovery as well, as a consistent and quality training routine is essential for optimal muscle growth.
Conclusion
To optimize your bulking phase and increase the likelihood of successful muscle gains, apply these principles: prioritize being in a calorie surplus, monitor body composition, pay attention to training performance, utilize mini cuts strategically, and aim for a favorable bulk to cut ratio. Following these guidelines will help you make the most efficient gains during your bulking phase.
In today's video, I'm covering some fundamental ways in which you can ensure that your lean bulking phase will be as productive as possible.
0:00 - intro
1:10 - why people advocate for different methods with bulking
2:55 - what we DO know about bulking properly
The 5 tips:
6:50 - rate of weight gain vs calorie surplus
9:10 - how much fat-gain is too much?
12:47 - monitoring/assessnig fat-gain vs lean gains
18:20 - Relative strength and why it's important
Coaching and consultations:
https://ssdabel.com/
Angles 90 grips:
https://angles90-the-first-dynamic-training-grip-worldwide.myshopify.com/?rfsn=5301938.a3640b
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insta: @ssdabel
body-fat caliper i mentioned:
https://www.amazon.com/Baseline-12-1112-Economy-Plastic-Skinfold/dp/B003YR7U86
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