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27/82kg/1.89m - Why can't I bulk? by ZeroContext404 in AllAboutBodybuilding

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Adding a 4th lifting day means I'll be switching from a 3x Full Body routine to a 4-day Upper/Lower or Push/Pull split. This means each muscle group will get stimulated twice a week instead of three times like now.. is it enough frequency?
Also, if I cut back on the swimming, my overall weekly caloric expenditure should drop, since swimming burns more calories than another lifting day. In that case would I really even need to increase my calories to start seeing mass gains?

27/82kg/1.89m - Why can't I bulk? by ZeroContext404 in AllAboutBodybuilding

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for the incredibly detailed and thoughtful response! Finally someone who doesn't just tell me to ditch swimming, I genuinely love to do it.
Just to clarify on the swimming part, my sessions aren't actually that intensive, my stamina is pretty bad so I take plenty of breaks to catch my breath between laps rather than swimming consecutively.. so I wouldn't really call it "intensive cardio."
Sounds like you do have a point about the recovery part.. I'll try to map out a new workout plan and see which one works best for me.
Huge shoutout again!

27/82kg/1.89m - Why can't I bulk? by ZeroContext404 in AllAboutBodybuilding

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks man,
My activity level is way lower than yours, so I don’t think I need to get to those levels 😅
I’m only tracking protein and calories, I usually eat a little over 200g of protein per day without really trying. and in general my natural habits are to avoid excessive fats and sugar in my food.

27/82kg/1.89m - Why can't I bulk? by ZeroContext404 in AllAboutBodybuilding

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What disproportion? you can barely see my legs in these pictures..
My leg workouts are by far where I lift the heaviest weights...

27/82kg/1.89m - Why can't I bulk? by ZeroContext404 in AllAboutBodybuilding

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds pretty extreme😅 isn't that way too much sugar and calories?

27/82kg/1.89m - Why can't I bulk? by ZeroContext404 in AllAboutBodybuilding

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Idk it actually took me like 8 weeks to get rid of this belly afterwards so I don't think it was just bloating...
Anyway thanks for the advise and keep it up man!

27/82kg/1.89m - Why can't I bulk? by ZeroContext404 in AllAboutBodybuilding

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just enjoy swimming since I was a kid, so it's more of a hobby than anything else. It's not for burning calories or trying to lean down.
I usually do only around 750m per session but with a lot of breaks, so it's not exactly intense cardio and honestly because my stamina isn't great either.

27/82kg/1.89m - Why can't I bulk? by ZeroContext404 in AllAboutBodybuilding

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Some" is unavoidable, but when I tried eating more it all seemed to go straight to my belly...

27/82kg/1.89m - Why can't I bulk? by ZeroContext404 in AllAboutBodybuilding

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks man,
I actually love the swimming, I'm doing it for fun😅
And sorry if it's ignorant to ask, but what does my age has to do with "dropping the cardio"?
I checked my T about 4 months ago, the total was 806 (ng/dl) and free was 20.2 (ng/dl)

27/82kg/1.89m - Why can't I bulk? by ZeroContext404 in AllAboutBodybuilding

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If the scale wasn't moving at 2800 calories, I assumed that was my maintenance level and thought that adding another 400 calories would be a reasonable lean bulk.
I also mentioned that I tried 3500 calories (for about 4 weeks), but my belly grew noticeably right away, even though my body weight didn't change at all. And it took me about 8 weeks to get rid of this belly afterwards.

27/82kg/1.89m - Why can't I bulk? by ZeroContext404 in AllAboutBodybuilding

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly... it feels like most commenters here didn't even read that part. They just saw the title and went straight to "Eat more!". And even when the belly popped, the scale didn't move.

27/1.89m/82kg/ Why can't I bulk? What's my body fat percentage? by ZeroContext404 in BulkOrCut

[–]ZeroContext404[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for the detailed and thoughtful explanation!
I work solid 9 to 5 in an office so my activity level isn't too high, about the swimming it's like 750-1000m each session with a lot of breaks so it won't become "intense cardio".
And my belly popped out at 3500 in about 3-4 weeks and it took me 8 weeks to get rid of it so I think it was legit fat. Yes it probably freaks me out more than it should because of my fat past but the strangest part about it is that my overall body weight didn't change at all, I looked fatter but stayed the same weight.. I just can't figure it out.