Potential problems bulking on a smaller frame!

S

shanks911

0
Hi,

I had another topic to discuss which I was going to add to another post I made but it's on a totally different subject so I thought I'd make a new post!..

Anyway, I've recently started a bulking diet/weights plan. However, I'm becoming concerned about the actual area where the extra weight will go. I did a mirror-check post workout today and I noticed that my torso itself, small though it is, was actually all out of space around the chest area, the only area I could see any space for extra mass was on my arms and shoulders/back..
The chest (pecs) are already fairly large (40/60 fat n muscle I'd say).. Currently my diet and weights routine are just aimed at general bulking, and because I'm bulking on such a small frame I don't see where the weight can go without just being extra weight thus hanging off as fat or such.. I was lean at 150-154lb but now at 157lb i seem to have gained a stomach and semi-manboobs which I did not expect to happen so fast!! (only been bulking properly, that is to say on the calorie excess for about 3-4weeks).. At 180lb previously I had no problem storing the mass as it was all on my stomach..

I am aware that bulking to my goal (around 170, which I may edit) will inevitably lead to fat gains, but I cannot see, even post cut, where I would keep any muscle stored, it just doesn't seem to have anywhere to go!!.. My waist is small, in line with my frame, as is my general 'mid-section' from navel to ribcage.. And, as aforementioned, I don't see much room on my upper chest either!!

My stats are as follows:

20yrs old (pretty endomorphic)
5'9.5 (176cm)
157lb (was 180, cut to 154, nw bulking to a lean 170 post cut *hopefully*)

As an alternative, I was considering focusing more on isolation back/shoulder/arm/LB exercises and maintaining the slightest caloric excess just so that I can work those areas and 'spot' gain.. Would that work?.. My lifelong goals are mostly fitness related so I'd take lean and healthy over big and unhealthy anyday, but I like experimenting and if a bulk works, I may stick at a slightly higher weight if I can work towards getting somewhat lean at the higher weight!..

I've already committed to a bulk, and I probably will continue it just for experimentations sake, but I'd just like anyone's views on the whole 'bulking on a small frame' situation!!..

Thanks in advance for any replies!!..

p.s. I'm doing a 95% clean bulk, HOWEVER, the fat doesn't seem deterred by this.. Being genetically adept at putting on mass of any kind, the clean diet doesn't seem to be doing a GREAT job of keeping the fat at bay so I was wondering, how bad would it be if I went on a semi-dirty/dirty bulk instead? 'Cuz I mean if I'm gonna put on a good amount of fat with a clean bulk and need to cut drastically anyway, why not just do it as dirty as I want!..
 
If you gonna bulk, expect a fat gain. Theres nothing you can do about it. The goal is to gain mass with the least amount of fat as possible. Eat clean foods and over your calorie mainteance. Foods likes Tuna, Chicken, Milk, Whey protein, Oatmeal, brown rice, all vegetables, peanut butter would be good for you and easily affordable.
 
diet..

hi,

thanks for the reply! but I am aware of the fact that if i bulk i will get fat, especially so because of my body type - I've made my peace with that.. and i do eat very clean foods and my diet is in check on that front..

the main thing i was wondering about was what would happen when i gain muscle as i don't see where it could go? especially with my chest already being packed at such a low weight (157lb) and there not being much room on my torso generally.. I am just having trouble understanding where exactly the muscle would pack on.. My frame (by frame I mean bone-structure e.g. shoulder/torso width) is not very wide and already kinda thick, and atm it's V-shaped, I'm worried that if i bulk I'll just lose the V and the muscle won't have anywhere to settle?? I'm not afraid of the fat at all, it's just something I've never come across whilst doing my research and I was hoping someone could tell me what would happen in this situation??

Thanks..
 
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I'm confused on the concept of not having room for any more fat or muscle. You've certainly seen people with more fat or more muscle than yourself, right? It just goes on top of what's already there.

BUT...let's say that you really think you're full of muscle and there's no more room...then why bulk? I think there's something I'm missing here.
 
shanks911 said:
the main thing i was wondering about was what would happen when i gain muscle as i don't see where it could go? especially with my chest already being packed at such a low weight (157lb) and there not being much room on my torso generally.. I am just having trouble understanding where exactly the muscle would pack on.. My frame (by frame I mean bone-structure e.g. shoulder/torso width) is not very wide and already kinda thick, and atm it's V-shaped, I'm worried that if i bulk I'll just lose the V and the muscle won't have anywhere to settle??
Click to expand...

Umm, what?

If you are pretty endomorphic then you wouldn't have a small frame. When you bulk, the muscle would pack on evenly based on how you train. I'm not sure what you mean by the "muscle won't have anywhere to settle" Muscle isn't like juice concentrate, it doesnt' settle at the bottom of the bottle or something like that.

The muscle will pack on everywhere (if you do a proper workout)
 
muscle 'settling'

Hi,

It's basically just that I was worried that my pec's would just get too wide and end up looking like boobs if they got any bigger!.. So I'd have an almost cylindrical upper body! I'm not sure whether muscle makes the body wider or thicker or what.. and if its JUST thicker, then I'd end up looking like a cube because I'm not very wide shoulder-to-shoulder..

Of course I've seen people who are more muscular than me with a similar frame, it's just that I don't seem able to imagine the end result of what I'm going for now.. And the reason I want to bulk is because I was 180lbs, and then i cut and felt a little too lightweight/small at 150ish (even though proportion-wise I was fine) so I thought I'd try a bulk to 170lb..

I just wanted an idea of how muscle develops in terms of shape more than anything else really.. Thanks for the replies..
 
shanks911 said:
I just wanted an idea of how muscle develops in terms of shape more than anything else really.. Thanks for the replies..
Click to expand...


Muscle shape is predetermined genetically. For instance, some people have very large bicep peaks, and some don't. This is similar to body type (ecto meso and endo morph) it is very difficult to change (some would argue you can't change it and some would argue with hard work you can do anything)

If you ask about shape, you'll likely get different answers from people because some people think that you can actually shape your muscles, and some (like me) don't. This isn't to say that you can't engage different fibers of the same muscle to work at different angles, but you can't really "shape" a muscle.



Actually, my knowledge of muscle shape is rather limited, you'd be better off waiting for another post. But I thought I'd share anyway.
 
cool..

hey, thanks for the reply anyway, glad to see at least i've made it a bit clearer as to what I actually mean!!..

Cheers boss..
 
google for some images of lightweight bodybuilders. these guys have insane bodies, and are usually all-natural (no steroid use). they aren't as hulking as Ronnie Coleman (a heavyweight IFBB pro, and mr. olympia)...but they still look amazing.

maybe that'll put things in perspective about how muscular a smaller framed person can really get.
 
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