Not in my experience.
I have undergone several bulking cycles since I began lifting in early 2010. Now, I wouldn't take those back for the world: that's where I built a lot of my muscle, and it certainly helped me gain mental strength as well.
But the thing about bulking is, well, it's kind of a mind game.
If you're anything like me, you'll love bulking while you're eating....
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| One of my favorite meals during last summer's bulk: recipe here |
....or lifting, and you'll have trouble with it the rest of the time.
People don't talk about the dark side of bulking much. (Yes, I've been guilty of this too.) We talk about how fun PRs are, and how great it is to have more time because we're not doing cardio, and how much food we get to eat... But it's not all fun and games and fairies and stardust.
Your jeans get tighter, and it's not ALL muscle. Your abs disappear under a layer of skin and you panic, wondering if you'll ever see them again - even though you know this is part of the process; this is a necessary step. You feel like you're doing something that is in direct opposition from everything you've ever been told. If you listen to the radio and watch TV and read magazines, you know that by virtue of your gender, you "should" be trying to eat less, not more. You "should" be trying to exercise more, not less.
But look. If you can survive the fat days, and stand against the ever-present background commentary about what a woman should and should not do, and if you can trust yourself to do what's right for your body, the reward is increased physical and mental strength.
Bulking is not easy, but it's worth every moment of the struggle.
(PS: Some of you wanted me to e-mail you yesterday, but Blogger doesn't supply me with your e-mail address! =( If you haven't heard from me yet, please e-mail me - SquatLikeALady@gmail.com!)
lol I just blogged about this today too.
ReplyDeleteIt ISNT easy. It's july and I'm building (I prefer that to bulking haha). I refuse to step on a scale and dont put on clothes I know will be too tight. For all intensive purposes I know I'm still "tiny"... but I also know the difference between that and lean ya know?
... Yes, talking crazy talk here.
A trip to the beach on the weekend definitely reminded me I"m still looking damn good for a bulk, but still the head game is there
LOL! Great minds! We are seriously always on the same page. <3
DeleteTHANK YOU for this. I am 'bulking' right now and it really is a mind game. You hit the nail on the head explaining that it's 'fun' during the time you are eating and in the gym. Outside of that, it sucks. I've been doing really well and eating a lot. I think people who want muscle are very hesitant to eat so much, and therefore they eat the minimal. I know now that by doing that, there is NO way they can put on the muscle they want. It's a mind game for sure, but I'm still pulling through!
ReplyDeleteJust keep focused on the finish line! =) Any fat you gain WILL come off. You know how to manipulate your body =)
DeleteI have never cycled like a true lifter before. I can definitely see how it could be both difficult but worth it.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely worthwhile!! =)
DeleteI had bulk actually going from cross country to swim season. Cross countriers are thin and very lean...swimmers are not (to be good). It's better to have fat. Needless to say it was a very hard process for me and I struggled a bit.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that! Why is it better for swimmers to have a little bit more body fat?
DeleteOne thing I particularly love about your posts is that you talk about the downsides. There's an awful lot written about the plus-sides of lifting/running/whatever in the blogworld, but not many people talk about the bits that aren't fairies and stardust. Which is a shame, since it's just as important (maybe more so) for people to know the tough bits, as well as the good.
ReplyDeleteAw geez - thanks =) I think the whole point of a blog is to be totally honest even when it's not things that people particularly want to hear =)
DeleteAwesome post. I'm bulking right now too and it's killing me. Sometimes it's not even fun to eat because it's still regimented - certain foods/combos at particular times of day. Huge amounts of protein and eating every 2 hours whether I'm hungry or not. and, of course, the disappearance of my abs. I am just trying to keep my eye on the prize!
ReplyDeleteThat's all you can do!! Just keep looking forward to the finish line - it gets easier =)
DeleteI was going to write a post about this next week! It's hard being a personal trainer and basically selling your skills based on your body, when you're carrying extra weight. I need to make a T-shirt that says "I'm bulking!" haha
ReplyDeleteThere is one!! It's on CafePress somewhere. They deliver to the UK right?? I don't LOVE that t-shirt anyway though...you should make a better one =D
DeleteLove this! I'm trying to gain some size but keep fat gains minimal and it's very tough! Especially since it's summer and I just want to be small again!!! But I must make improvements!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely ESPECIALLY difficult during the summer, when everyone is focused on bathing suits and the beach, etc!
DeleteI'm in class right now. Sable's class! Taking notes and learning, learning, learning...
ReplyDelete=) =)
DeleteI really want to do a bulk but I'm really worried about the mental aspect of it. Its something I struggle with anyway and I don't know if it would really be worth it for me. However, I am slowly realising how much I need to eat to put on any muscle and gain strength. I just need some more protein in my diet!
ReplyDeleteThe mental aspect is definitely tough, but going through it makes you so much stronger - you really realize how little your appearance matters at the end =)
DeleteI love this post! I really enjoyed the fact that you addressed the other side of bulking besides all of the good things.
ReplyDeleteI really think someone going into this type of process should be aware of the good AND the bad, ya know?
DeleteYou know I was wondering where are the negative media is that everyone references with body image and women. And then I realized I probably am not seeing it on the Home and Garden network cause that's all I tend to watch. How funny is that?
ReplyDeleteHaha! I actually don't watch much TV anymore - maybe the news once in a while but I'd prefer to read that in print or online. I really think being away from all that negativity helps!
Deletei think bulking is especially hard for people with our past histories. our whole mindset is telling us that this is wrong and we just have to push through. good for you for staying determined and doing what you needed to do!
ReplyDeleteIt definitely is =) Thank you - it paid off!
DeleteUgh thank you for writing this. I've been bulking for almost 12 weeks and I'm about ready to take a break. I know I've made good progress but I've never been this "big" ever and I know that no one would say I'm "big" at all. I'm still more used to my ED weight than a healthy weight. And I don't enjoy eating all the food, lol, it's work for me. But you're right, it's worth it. :) It's kind of cool to actually WANT to do some cardio, but I have to bulk for months before I feel like it, haha.
ReplyDeleteStick with it! =) The payoff is amazing. I've read that it takes about a year for your mind to catch up with your body when your body size or composition changes - it sucks but give it time! <3
DeleteFirstly I saw the pic you uploaded of yourself on Twitter and you are looking HAWT- glad to see that your hard work is paying off, Sable! This might sound like a silly question but at any point of your training, will you be incorporating HIIT sessions? I ask because I’m curious how else you can shed the fat portion that comes with bulking up.
ReplyDeleteYes!!!!! Right now depending on what Jay wants me to do every week, I do 1-2 HIIT sessions. One of them may be tabatas and sometimes they're things like sled drags etc. I love HIIT as a fat-loss tool!
DeleteGreat post Sable! This is exactly why I can't be a successful figure competitor. I just can't bring myself to bulk up properly. I may do the eating part with great success, but meanwhile I'm doing hardcore cardio twice a day, because mentally I can't handle all the calories I've consumed. You're bulking is paying off tenfolds, because your muscles are gorgeous! See, I love the look, I'm just not mentally able to attain it (now whose the one with the eating disorder!)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that you wrote about this! I've often wondered about the mental toll the bulking/cutting cycles take on a woman (esp. as compared to men) but they so rarely talk about it. Love this and your prior post on compliments - it's both a milestone and a strange moment when you realize that skinny is no longer a compliment, lol.
ReplyDelete