I personally don't bulk up. It's about five weeks after Nationals, and I'm sitting around 115 to 116 on most days, which is within ten pounds of my weight on stage.
I have found that I put on muscle much better when I'm leaner. I actually put more on during contest prep than I do during the off season, as was evidenced this year during my prep for Nationals. So my trainer and I agreed that I need to stay pretty close to competition weight and eat clean throughout the off season. I get two cheat meals a week, and I eat six to seven meals a day...every day. The protein and carb sources vary from meal to meal, and I try to stay away from chicken and red potatoes as much as possible during the off season. I also get a little more fat into my diet and of course a plethora of veggies and fruits. My cardio has dropped off considerably, and my weight training is five days a week rather than six, like it was going into the two bodybuilding shows this year.
I've found that my off season for bodybuilding isn't too far off from my in season for figure. Imagine that...lmao!
It's just that at 4'11", there isn't a lot of room for a lot of weight. When I hit 118 or more, I just feel so heavy, sluggish, and thick. It's just not comfortable for me.