Author Topic: Bulked up and cut back down, in retrospect (Read 9701 times)

Firemuscle · « **on:** March 30, 2011, 06:48:34 PM »

In late 2009 I decided to "bulk up". At that time my body weight was only 154.

So I ate everything. Ate 6-8x per day. Lifted hard. By mid 2010 I was up to 182. Of course some of it was fat. I was feeling like shit. Low energy from eating food all the time. My body constantly digesting and breaking down foods, feeling tired because of it. Looking like shit, bigger, but softer all around with fat around my waist and face. I was stronger for sure though. I could tell I was less attractive to women. I didn't feel healthy.

I got sick of living the bulking life and decided to cut back down. Started dieting, eating cleaner, doing more cardio. Now i'm back down to 158. I feel MUCH better. More energy. My body feels healthy and light, not bloated. Feel clean instead of being full of toxins. My shitting and digestion is back to normal.

I am getting more smiles from females again becuase of my lean neck and jawline, vascularity and muscle tone. Most women don't give a fuck about muscle size, they appreciate muscle tone, a hard body and vascularity, but sheer size usually doesn't impress them. Getting bigger and thinking it'll get you more pussy is a foolish road to walk on.

What did I gain from bulking up? 4 pounds of muscle.

What did I learn? I learned that being big does not feel good. It can look good sometimes if it's lean mass, but it definitely taxes your internal organs when you carry more weight, it's just nopt healthy. When you eat more food you tax your organs more, have less energy, your body is busy digesting all the time. Your heart is pumping blood to more tissue and working harder.

The bodybuilder diet, eating 6-8x per day. That really fucking sucks. I am REALLY happy to be eating 3x per day again like a normal person. Bulking is lame. Slow, steady, lean growth is what it's all about.

Bulked up = feel like shit, less energy, unhealthy, unnattractive, unathletic, losing.

Lean and cut = feel great, more energy, healthy, attractive, athletic, winning.

High bodyfat = fail. Cut = win. It don't matter how much muscle you have underneath it.

BikiniSlut · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2011, 06:49:16 PM »

This thread is worthless without pictures.

Firemuscle · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2011, 06:51:16 PM »

Quote from: BikiniSlut on March 30, 2011, 06:49:16 PM

This thread is worthless without pictures.

I'll take a new picture later on, just for you

I'm looking lean and healthy. Abs and new striations keep on popping out more every day. Much better than having flabby mass.

makaveli25 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2011, 06:54:34 PM »

Damn only 154 pounds are you an anorexic woman? Epic trying to make your self feel better bye saying having huge muscles is a waste of time and energy.

MP · « **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2011, 06:55:14 PM »

I agree with your overall point, but 158?

You still gotta add some mass.

makaveli25 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2011, 06:58:51 PM »

I agree with some of the points also but 154 pounds is weak to small. At least get to 175. I know what you mean bye not feeling healthy. My "fighting weight is around 200-205 maybe even lighter. I get way more female attention. If I decide to use some test or dbol I go up to about 225-230 I notice my attractiveness takes a plummet because my face gets so chubby. Bloat isn't attractive. Plus I loose some endurance and feel like my blood pressure gets to high. I don't exactly stick to a super clean diet though.

Firemuscle · « **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:00:06 PM »

Quote from: makaveli25 on March 30, 2011, 06:54:34 PM

Damn only 154 pounds are you an anorexic woman? Epic trying to make your self feel better bye saying having huge muscles is a waste of time and energy.

Having huge muscles with low body fat is cool.

But, that can usually only be achieved with drugs, and it's unsustainable without lots of maintenance, money invested, and sacrifice.

For us nattys (real nattys), we gotta choose between being cut and thin, or go massive and get chubby.

Naturals can't have huge muscles and be cut. Unless they are top 1% genetics, usually only black dudes with great genetics can pull that off.

makaveli25 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:02:09 PM »

How tall are you 5'4. Seems like 154 is super underweight for most adult men.

Firemuscle · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:05:10 PM »

Quote from: makaveli25 on March 30, 2011, 06:58:51 PM

I agree with some of the points also but 154 pounds is weak to small. At least get to 175. I know what you mean bye not feeling healthy. My "fighting weight is around 200-205 maybe even lighter. I get way more female attention. If I decide to use some test or dbol I go up to about 225-230 I notice my attractiveness takes a plummet because my face gets so chubby. Bloat isn't attractive. Plus I loose some endurance and feel like my blood pressure gets to high. I don't exactly stick to a super clean diet though.

With my genetics, when I get to 175 I get soft. Abs are blurred with layer of fat over them. Ass feels soft and flabby, face and neck get chubby. Fuck all that.

I'm gonna keep training and see where it goes. But I know what my natural limits are. Right now at 158 people can tell I work out and I get comments about how in shape and fit I look, so it's all good. I can tell the women are much moe attracted to me at 158 than at 175.

If I could be a super lean 175 i'd do it. If I decide to go on hormones i'm sure i'll get there no problem.

Captain Equipoise · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:05:50 PM »

I agree completely dude, I never thought I would say this but it's come to a point in my life (31) where I think bodybuilding and massing and all this shit is just silly, it's cool when you're 19,21 but as you get older you just realize it's retarded and for little kids, last few years I've gotten way more into staying lean and fit by doing more cardio and cross training with muay thai. At this point I'm 244 and have no interest in getting bigger

Firemuscle · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:06:34 PM »

Quote from: makaveli25 on March 30, 2011, 07:02:09 PM

How tall are you 5'4. Seems like 154 is super underweight for most adult men.

I'm just over 5'7. And I weigh 158 now.

Welcome to the world of natural lifting. It is what it is.

makaveli25 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:08:42 PM »

Quote from: Captain Equipoise on March 30, 2011, 07:05:50 PM

I agree completely dude, I never thought I would say this but it's come to a point in my life (31) where I think bodybuilding and massing and all this shit is just silly, it's cool when you're 19,21 but as you get older you just realize it's retarded and for little kids, last few years I've gotten way more into staying lean and fit by doing more cardio and cross training with muay thai. At this point I'm 244 and have no interest in getting bigger

244 isn't exactly small bro.

Firemuscle · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:09:06 PM »

Quote from: Captain Equipoise on March 30, 2011, 07:05:50 PM

I agree completely dude, I never thought I would say this but it's come to a point in my life (31) where I think bodybuilding and massing and all this shit is just silly, it's cool when you're 19,21 but as you get older you just realize it's retarded and for little kids, last few years I've gotten way more into staying lean and fit by doing more cardio and cross training with muay thai. At this point I'm 244 and have no interest in getting bigger

Exactly, i'm the same age as you and I feel the same way about it.

Of course i'm living in a different world since i'm natty. 244 pounds without being a total fatass is impossible for most nattys unless they are built like linebackers.

makaveli25 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:10:51 PM »

Quote from: BlackFlagRedStar on March 30, 2011, 07:06:34 PM

I'm just over 5'7. And I weigh 158 now.

Welcome to the world of natural lifting. It is what it is.

Seems like you got the shitty end of the genetic stick

Good for you though I like your enthusiasm. If you've gone this long without using aas don't even bother unless you are interested in hrt at a older age.

Captain Equipoise · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:12:46 PM »

Quote from: makaveli25 on March 30, 2011, 07:08:42 PM

244 isn't exactly small bro.

I'm just saying, I've been up to a 9-10% 260 and at some point I just realized how silly and pointless it is

walking around that big is pointless, it does more damage then good, other then being able to flex and show off
your 19.5" arms it really doesn't do anything good for you.

2ND COMING · « **Reply #15 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:15:28 PM »

Quote from: BlackFlagRedStar on March 30, 2011, 07:06:34 PM

I'm just over 5'7. And I weigh 158 now.

Welcome to the world of shitty genetics. It is what it is.

fix that for ya there, champ.

Firemuscle · « **Reply #16 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:15:42 PM »

Quote from: makaveli25 on March 30, 2011, 07:10:51 PM

Seems like you got the shitty end of the genetic stick Good for you though I like your enthusiasm. If you've gone this long without using aas don't even bother unless you are interested in hrt at a older age.

My genetics are actually not that bad. My genetics for gaining size and body weight are not good because i'm an ectomorph. But I naturally have a good shape and naturally stay lean. A good v taper and abs is easy for me to keep up. Also when I get lean I have epic vascularity.

I think most getbiggers have unrealistic expectations. They think nattys can do more than they really can. Because there are so many guys who use low doses of hormones and lie about it, it skews people's persepctive.

With real, 100% natural bodybuilding, it's rare for someone to have good size and be lean at the same time.

Firemuscle · « **Reply #17 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:17:36 PM »

Quote from: 2ND COMING on March 30, 2011, 07:15:28 PM

fix that for ya there, champ.

I've been lifting for a long time. I know what people can accomplish naturally. I'm about average.

Most of you all are seriously living in dreamland when it comes to natural lifting.

TacoBell · « **Reply #18 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:21:37 PM »

Quote from: BlackFlagRedStar on March 30, 2011, 07:15:42 PM

My genetics are actually not that bad. My genetics for gaining size and body weight are not good because i'm an ectomorph. But I naturally have a good shape and naturally stay lean. A good v taper and abs is easy for me to keep up. Also when I get lean I have epic vascularity.

I think most getbiggers have unrealistic expectations. They think nattys can do more than they really can. Because there are so many guys who use low doses of hormones and lie about it, it skews people's persepctive.

With real, 100% natural bodybuilding, it's rare for someone to have good size and be lean at the same time.

Your genetics are horrible. Kill yourself.

makaveli25 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:21:48 PM »

Quote from: BlackFlagRedStar on March 30, 2011, 07:17:36 PM

I've been lifting for a long time. I know what people can accomplish naturally. I'm about average.

Most of you all are seriously living in dreamland when it comes to natural lifting.

Walk into any highschool football locker room in the united states. You will see a lot 0f 16-17 year olds that are 5'10-6'1 175-200 pounds clean. You would be one of the sissies who has to go out for cross country haha. People think you need steroids to take steroids to do anything on this board.

Firemuscle · « **Reply #20 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:24:25 PM »

Quote from: makaveli25 on March 30, 2011, 07:21:48 PM

Walk into any highschool football locker room in the united states. You will see a lot 0f 16-17 year olds that are 5'10-6'1 175-200 pounds clean. You would be one of the sissies who has to go out for cross country haha. People think you need steroids to take steroids to do anything on this board.

But those guys aren't really cut.

I weighed 182 last year. I still had good shape. But I was soft. I looked just like those guys.

I don't think you know what it means to be truely cut. I'm talking about veins in the lower stomach, rock hard glutes, etc.

makaveli25 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:28:09 PM »

I know what it means to be cut. I was under 10 percent in highschool. I played football offense, defense, special teams never came off of the field. Ran track 400m, 800m, 4x800, 4x400 hardest races there is and also wrestled. I know what cut is I know what good genetics are.

MP · « **Reply #22 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:28:53 PM »

158 pounds and rock hard glutes? I'm outta this thread.

The Grim Lifter · « **Reply #23 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:31:00 PM »

Quote from: MP on March 30, 2011, 07:28:53 PM

158 pounds and rock hard glutes? I'm outed in this thread.

Fixed

tonymctones · « **Reply #24 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:35:14 PM »

I agree with you on the idea of staying decently lean, I did the same thing and im currently on my way back down.

However I think you have a biased idea of natural bodybuilding b/c of your experiences. You only put on 4 lbs of muscle in a year of heavy lifting and lots of eating?

Sorry bro thats pretty crappy...

I think I have about average genetics, I am a lifetime natural, Im just a tad shorter than you and almost 40 lbs heavier. Now i definetly have some fat to lose but even I figure ill be around 10% at around 170-175 ish if not closer to 180.

Is it easy?, not really...it does take a good amount of work and time but its certainly doable by the average natural lifter.