Opinions Please

[bassman]

I am struggling with which direction to take in my training, I am hoping some other opinions might help me make a decision.

First off I should point out that I am 34 yrs old, 6 feet tall, 230 lbs and approx. 30% body fat.

I have always liked lifting weights, ever since I was 18 but due to a bad shoulder injury I have never able to stick with it for more then 6 months at a time. Over the years I have made some okay gains here and there, mostly my arms (17 3/4"). My chest and shoulders have always lagged due to the injury though.

Now that I am 34 I have FINALLY over come my injury. My shoulders are stronger then they have ever been but they, as well as my chest still have a lot of catching up to do.

My dilema is this....

I want to build up some mass in all my body parts but I have a pretty good belly on me, my waist is 40" relaxed.

I have been on a bulk diet and doing a Max-OT style workout for over a month now. I am starting to see some results in all my body parts and my belly feels smaller (key word "feels", I could just be getting better at holding it in, LOL). However the scale tells a different story, I have gained about 6 pounds in the last couple weeks. I would like to think some of it is muscle but I am sure a lot is of it is fat.

Would you start by cutting to get that body fat down first and then do a bulk or would you not worry about the belly, start eating a bulk diet and worry about getting the body fat down later?

I have been eating ALL good foods, my breakdown is something like this...

Daily average

Calories - 2200-2500cal
Protein - 235g
Carbs - 200g
Fats - 38g

Being that it is winter I attempting to convince myself that I shoudn't worry about what the scale says, keep eating the way I have been and working out the way I have been and see where I am in about 4 months. It's just so hard to watch the scale go up and being uncertain if I am doing the right thing or not.

 

[geauxmook]

Everyone will have an opinion on this, but...... personally I would try to start dropping some bodyfat. If you continue to bulk you will just add more bodyfat. Then when you decide to get cut, it is going to take that much more work, discipline, and time to get where you want to be. That could lead to you getting frustrated and just quitting which would leave you right where you are right now.

Just my $.02

 

[JKurz1]

MAX-OT rocks...........now post your diet............Im having a hard time believing its all clean..............dont leave anything out, only selling yourself short for a response......

 

[Munkieballs]

I think a cutting style diet would be in order IF you have been eating for bulk for a while. If you have been eating bulky for a month, try cutting for a month. If you aren't too advanced, you can probably build muscle while losing fat.

This all depends on your goals. If your ultimate goal is to be shredded, I think you may find that you like the physique changes from losing BF better than gaining muscle (I do, although not to an extreme). In the long run, you are going to have to change things up to keep gains in either direction going.

 

[bigstve12]

go for the fat loss first

 

[poopmonkey]

Not trying to flame you or anything bro but at 30% you are just plain fat.

You should not be bulking. You need to cut ASAP.

And like Jkurz said, what are you really eating?

Cuz at 2300-2500 (strict) calories at a bodyweight of 230 there's no way the scale would be going up.

-

 

[AirWolf]

Totally agree w/ poopmonkey - start cutting immediately...you will probably still be able to add quite a bit of muscle on your way down, just do it slow. Coming down (at least to me and by the sounds of it you as well) is the hard part...no need to make it harder by bulking. And if you are thinking the additional muscle you get from bulking will make losing fat any easier...don't kid yourself.

 

[AirWolf]

Besides...you don't want to end up like this...

agsma.acparadise.com/SDCC98/cartman.jpg

Sorry I didn't make the link active, but it messes up unless its cut/pasted

 

[bassman]

MAX-OT rocks...........now post your diet............Im having a hard time believing its all clean..............dont leave anything out, only selling yourself short for a response......

Breakfast
Cereal (Vector 1 1/4 cup)
Orange Juice
Coffee w/creamer

Pre Workout

Prolab Whey Protein Drink
Apple

1/2 hr after Workout
Prolab Whey Protein Drink
Banana

Lunch
Milk
1- Can of Salmon
Whole Wheat Bread (2 slcs)
Lettuce 2 leaves
2 Pickles

Afternoon Snack
Prolab Whey Protein Drink
1 can of Tuna

Dinner
Milk
Salad (w/light dressing)
Fish (2 - Salmon Fillets)
Brown Rice (1/2 cup)

Calories Protein Carbs Fat
2283 231.5 224.5 32.2

 

[bassman]

Update....

I think I need to apologize for my original post. I wasn't very clear or accurate on a few things. (still learning/reading as much as I can)

1st I have only been doing this new diet for 1 1/2 months. Before that I wasn't eating very well and my protein intake was way low. I wasn't drinking any where near a gallon of water either. My weight has leveled off since my first post, the scale hasn't moved in two weeks, it's staying at 230. I KNOW I am gaining muscle because I can see and feel it.

2nd I shouldn't have said my current diet is a bulking diet, if it was I would be eating 3500-4000 calories a day. Really? According to my age, weight, height my current diet should be considered a cutting diet. It's recommended that I should take in 3400 calories a day just to maintain. I am currently at 2400-2800/day

3rd I don't think the system I am using to determine body fat is very accurate.(wrist measurements, height and weight) I have a belly but I also have some pretty good muslce on me, there is no way I am 30% fat. Probably closer to 20-25%

So now that I have cleared a few things up do you think that I need to do anything differently? I mean if I am only taking in 2400-2800 cals a day on average and I should be taking in 3500 just to maintain shouldn't I start seeing some weight loss soon?

I agree with everybody saying I need to loose some body fat. What do I need to do differently? Keep in mind I am in no hurry either, if it takes me a year I don't care I am in this for the long haul. Is my diet okay?(posted above) Max-OT routine okay?