Bulking Question, Fat Belly

[Psyk0sisS]

I've been bulking for almost 2 months now and gained about 10 lbs. I've checked my body fat (using the electronic pulse type) but it kinda fluctuates around 1-2% up or down. My belly is getting fat, and its annoying since I worked hard to get it as cut as I've been prior to the bulking phase. Is this natural during this phase? I've not gotten fat anywhere else and I'm taking in about 3000-3200 cal/day and I'm putting on some nice muscle size. I know the fat belly runs in my family, the men on my dad's side all have bellies and are pretty skinny otherwise.

I'm pretty new to body building so I'm guessing this is fairly normal.

-When I go back to my cutting phase, how far back should I cut my cals?

-Should I cut back on Fat Calories now ( most of it coming from Whole Milk) or during my cutting phase?

-What's a good way to trim the belly button area of the body (belly button, love handles...that area)? This is my main fatty area, specifically.

-Are fat burning pills suggested for the cutting / trimming phase, along with diet?

Any help is appreciated, and thanks in advance!

 

[NBS 4life]

Chillen is probably the one to help you with your diet stuff but heres some questions for you.

How long has your bulk been going for?

What are your macronutrient percentages?

Are you highly stressed?

What sort of routine have you been following?

 

[Wrangell]

I've been bulking for almost 2 months now and gained about 10 lbs. I've checked my body fat (using the electronic pulse type) but it kinda fluctuates around 1-2% up or down. My belly is getting fat, and its annoying since I worked hard to get it as cut as I've been prior to the bulking phase. Is this natural during this phase? I've not gotten fat anywhere else and I'm taking in about 3000-3200 cal/day and I'm putting on some nice muscle size. I know the fat belly runs in my family, the men on my dad's side all have bellies and are pretty skinny otherwise.

I'm pretty new to body building so I'm guessing this is fairly normal.

-When I go back to my cutting phase, how far back should I cut my cals?

One possible approach is to first update your ' maintenance calories ' requirement based on your current stats, lifestyle and current ( or expected ) exercise regimen ) and then ( as a starting point ) cut your ' maintenance calories ' requirement back by 20% for your fat loss phase.

This link below does the ' maintenance calorie ' calculation for you.......

-Should I cut back on Fat Calories now ( most of it coming from Whole Milk) or during my cutting phase?

You just need to cut back on total calories to shed fat - the macronutrient allocations for fat, protein and carbs needn't change much in response to a 20% ( as an example ) reduction in overall calories IMO.

What is your current macronutrient ratio look like now - i.e what % of your calories now come from fat ?

-What's a good way to trim the belly button area of the body (belly button, love handles...that area)? This is my main fatty area, specifically

You can't target one area of your body for fat loss - that sort of ' spot reducing ' is a myth.

Fat loss is all about creating a calorie deficit. And, when you create a deficit you'll eventually be losing fat from all over your body - not just from select areas of your body like your gut or love handles etc. etc. ( though I suspect, those are the areas where the fat loss get ' noticed ' more easily )

 

[Psyk0sisS]

I'm pretty new, so I've never heard of macronutrient. Below is my daily diet however:

6:30am- 2 eggs, 1 strip/turkey bacon, 1 slice/cheese, 1 slice/toast with butter, 1 cup/light yogurt.

8:30am - Meal replacement @ 320cal

10am - Banana

11am - Orange

12:30pm - Lunch ( varies)

2pm - PBnJ sammich with whole wheat bread

3pm - Protien shake w/ whole milk

~5:30pm - Dinner (varies)

10pm - Protien Shake w/ whole milk

I do have a few Guinness' each night (126 cal / 10g Carbs / ~5% alc.) but I've been drinking these since b4 I had my belly to its slimmest point. I know they're not good for me but I have to assume its not the only cause .

As I mentioned earlier, I've only been bulking for about 6-7 weeks. I'm 5'10, and currently 167lbs, 28yrs old. I'm not overly stressed, I'm active during work as well. My workout routine is as follows:

Mon - Chest / Tri's
Tues - Abs / Cardio
Wed - Back / Bi's
Thurs - Legs
Fri - Shoulders then Bi / Tri Supersets

I read a FBW is the way to go, so I'm currently trying to find one I like ( any suggestions for puttin on muscle and strength? )

I hope this is enough info...OH, I guess I should say when I went to bulking I added about 1000 cal / day to my diet. I assume that will help ya maybe .

Thanks again for the replies!

 

[shanks911]

1000cals is a bit of a big jump from maintenance to bulking, perhaps you should try 500cals higher than what you were on before.. It'll slow fat gains but it won't slow muscle gains!

 

[Typhon]

I've been bulking for almost 2 months now and gained about 10 lbs. My belly is getting fat, and its annoying since I worked hard to get it as cut as I've been prior to the bulking phase. Is this natural during this phase?

-Should I cut back on Fat Calories now ( most of it coming from Whole Milk) or during my cutting phase?

-What's a good way to trim the belly button area of the body (belly button, love handles...that area)? This is my main fatty area, specifically.

-Are fat burning pills suggested for the cutting / trimming phase, along with diet?

I think your weight gain is probably too fast as it isn't normal to gain a belly so quickly. A little fat maybe but after only 2 months it shouldn't be that noticable to the naked eye

Also, as Wrangell said earlier, fat gain comes for too many calories in total, not too many calories from fat. And also, you can't spot reduce fat from one area

Fat burning pills? They're often nothing more than caffiene tablets, IMO not needed at all

I read a FBW is the way to go, so I'm currently trying to find one I like ( any suggestions for puttin on muscle and strength? )

FBW's are very fashionable on this site but many, many people (me being one) prefere split routines to build strength. I currently use a push/pull split

 

[Wrangell]

I'm pretty new, so I've never heard of macronutrient.

Generally speaking, when people refer to ' macronutrients ' they're referring to carbohydrates, fat and protein.

Along with tracking overall calories, it's a good idea to track how many grams of carbohydrates, fat and protein you consume each day as well.

6:30am- 2 eggs, 1 strip/turkey bacon, 1 slice/cheese, 1 slice/toast with butter, 1 cup/light yogurt.

8:30am - Meal replacement @ 320cal

10am - Banana

11am - Orange

12:30pm - Lunch ( varies)

2pm - PBnJ sammich with whole wheat bread

3pm - Protien shake w/ whole milk

~5:30pm - Dinner (varies)

10pm - Protien Shake w/ whole milk

I do have a few Guinness' each night (126 cal / 10g Carbs / ~5% alc.) but I've been drinking these since b4 I had my belly to its slimmest point. I know they're not good for me but I have to assume its not the only cause .

I you want to shed fat, you have to have some handle on where your daily calories are at, both in terms what you are currently consuming ' now ' and in terms of how many you should be consuming - i.e adjusted ' maintenance calories ' - to help you reach your goal of losing fat.

Take all those items above and note the following for each ; calories, fat, carbs and protein. Then, add them all up to arrive at your total for the day of calories, fat, carbs and protein.

Then, see how this ' added ' calorie total compares to the total you got when you did the calc in.....