ObeseToBeast123's Journal, 17 April 2024

cut is done time to carb back up  

how long do you cut/bulk of each? feel like you just started cutting! 

there's no set amount of time. my goal was 22 weeks of bulking and 8 cutting but I felt so sluggish and just wasn't feeling great and needed to change it up at the 18.5 week mark so I started cutting. I planned to cut for 8 weeks but went an extra 2 weeks longer with the cut and got leaner than when I started the bulk last year. so this year was 18.5 bulk 10 cut and I'm heavier and leaner. I'll probably still gain another lb in water weight as my glycogen stores refill from the extra carbs. it will also take some tinkering to get a baseline maintenance calorie level. right now I'm being conservative and I'm probably still in a deficit just not a very big one it will take some adjustments and my activity level day to day determines the most. 

we will see if I do this again or not but I already have a list of things I would do differently next year either way I'm feeling good and happy with the results  

Thats awesome! Thanks for sharing. How you find out what your calorie range is for cutting vs bulking? Just tinker with it?  

Lol people who work out the way ObeseToBeast does might be better at math and science than literal doctors!!! I used to be a gym bro even though I’m not a “bro” (she/they pronouns for the record). 😂then I developed a seizure disorder and have to exercise in moderation. Moderation takes *more* discipline, not less, than being extremely active. The irony. Moderation with exercise is not enough for endorphins unless it is outdoors, so thank goodness for the nice weather and getting outside today! 

I try and use my garmin watch to guide me. I update my weight in it regularly and I set it to sedentary and then it just estimates how many calories above my basline that I burn extra throughout the day through activity. when I cut I make sure I'm 500 to 1000 under the total burn for the day and bulking this year I went with a 500 calorie surplus everyday. my first bulk I did a 200 calorie surplus if I do another bulk I would probably split the difference and do 250 to 300 next time. it's not going to be 100 percent accurate but it's always been close enough. I'm going to do the same thing for maintenance but I'm going to start with 100 to 200 less than it says I'm burning and just continue to monitor my weight and see if I keep losing or maintain.  

Fitness University lol? 😂 I used to be a Fitness University member lol, if you know what I mean about the calculations and science, yes, even with technology to aid you, still Fitness University hahaha. I can go “back to school” (JK) at Fitness University 😂when I am seizure-free long enough and have to ask my neurologist how long to wait until I can be extremely active again… 

LaineAndTheDog98 haha moderation is not my strong suit 🤣 overdoing it is a great way to get Injuried though and I'm constantly adjusting to find the sweet spot of doing as much as I can without hitting that injury point. I actually had to pull back on my running for the last week because my achiles was getting a bit irritated so I would much rather rest it more before adding more back in again. My first spartan of the year is approaching quickly. 

I also structure my workouts mych better than I used to do and allow more recovery. I've learned alot by making mistakes and then correcting them lol  

OTB- wow!! I didn't realize garmin did all that!! Have you heard of the take your goal weight and multiply that by 11-15 depending on activity? I wonder how accurate it would be vs garmin vs cut/bulk calories? When i was boxing i overdid it... It probably accelerated my Left knee osteoarthritis, im left handed but box like a right-hand person. Im very ambidextrous so id switch to south paw in the middle of training and confused the shit outta people. 

Laine, im going to look up fitness University, haven't heard of that. You are right, moderation is harder and requires more discipline then going all out. One could go "all out" one day an the gym vs going every day and having consistent results without burning out.  

No, there is no such thing as Fitness University! I made that term up as a joke referring to how gym bros know more about math and science than most of us do, and have to literally study lol!!! I have a dry sense of humor and like to make up silly terms too. 😂😂😂I wasn’t clear. There is no Fitness University. It was a term I made up as an inside joke. 

OH LMAO -facepalm- i honestly wouldn't have been surprised if there was such a website. The gym bros can keep it!! In school math was like Chinese to me but i loved writing, even if i messed up my English, growing up hearing mainly italian, and greek. I like that Hevy calculates out volume of a total workout. Lol would take me far too long.... 

No need for a facepalm! My humor is…quirky, and not even something I can be clear with when I’m using text, because there is no comedic tone of voice. I would love to visit Italy and Greece. 

DAZEY_iz_Well I think. That would give a pretty good idea I know for me ×15 eoudl still put me below my maintenance on an average activity if it was a high activity day it would be way low. It's very easy to get caught up in the excitement of seeing yourself get better at something and wnat to do more and get better. I've fallen into the trap many times already and it never works lol I end up having to pull way back or stop entirely than start again. I'm getting better at not doing it.