Many brothers discuss their cycles and stats on the boards, and many cite their bodyfat % being around 20. They then ask for suggestions for these elaborate (and impressive) bulking cycles, and then mention they will do a cutting cycle later. As I prepare to embark upon a physiological journey, I asked myself "why bulk, then cut, if bodyfat % is high to start with". I could find no good answer to that, and here are some of my reasons.

1) Bodyfat is a location for the aromitization of certain AS into estrogens. More bodyfat, more aromitization, more estrogen. Estrogen promotes fat gains.

2) When you lose fat (naturally, or with only mild "supplementation") muscle loss is inevitable. As you start to carry more and more muscle on your body, the easier it becomes to lose it. Conversely, the further away from your body's muscle limit you are, the easier it is to gain muscle. If you diet and lose the fat before bulking, you will lose less muscle than if you bulk then cut. Lose a little muscle up front getting lean, make it up quicker as you bulk, and lose less muscle as you take off the few pounds of fat you might have added bulking.

3) Everything we do places stress on our body's structures. Some of this stress is good and will promote hugeness (like lifting). Some of it is bad (like slouching, using bad form, laying around like a lazy shit) and promotes osteoarthritis and other musculoskeletal problems. In either case our body is doing work. Work is described as force times distance. Using heavy weight while lifting increases work, and helps us get huge. Carrying around 20 or more unnecessary pounds of fat every second while you do the mundane activities of your life accelerates the development of musculoskeletal problems. Lose the fat before you bulk, so that after you gain 20 pounds of muscle and 3 pounds of fat, you aren't placing so much damn negative stress on your body.

4) Elevated bodyfat levels is a metabolic disorder in itself, and is a major risk factor for other metabolic and cardiovascular disorders.

Take Joe Smith, a hard lifting (but natural) brother who has decided that the time has come to cross to the other side. Joe weighs 190 at 12% bodyfat (22.8 pounds fat, 167.2 pounds lean body mass). He wants to weigh 205 at 8% before too long.

In scenario 1, Joe makes breaks the cherry with a fine bulking cycle, gaining 30lbs muscle and 4 lbs of fat in 10 weeks. Joe now has 14.6% bodyfatat 224 pounds and has to lose a lot of fat before he's satisfied. He'll lose a lot of muscle with that too, even with the ECA or clen.

In scenario 2, Joe keeps his protein intake high but his calorie intake slightly limited, and while he gains less muscle (18 pounds) on his cycle, he takes off a pound of fat. At 207 pounds, Joe has 10.5% bodyfat, and can see a bit of abs.

In scenario 3, Joe uses some supplements to lose fat before he gains muscle. He uses clen, or ECA, and some primo or other gear, whatever. In one 2on-3off cycle he loses 8 pounds of fat and 1 pound of muscle (being a pessimist, chances are "Joe" will gain some muscle and lose the fat). After 5 weeks he is 181 lbs at 8.2% bodyfat. He is aso ready for another cycle. If Joe does his bulking cycle in scenario 1 (with the same results, gaining 30 pounds of muscle and 4 pounds fat), Joe is 215 pounds at 8.7% bodyfat. Joe hasn't got to do much to get down to below 8%.

Other things can enter into these equations (DNP, for example, which I'm not willing to use, for health reasons). I know that getting from 10% to 8% is a bitch. But even accounting for these "other factors", if you have a moderately high bodyfat %, cutting before you bulk makes sense for your looks and your health. Best wishes bros. Peace!

Joe lives in a blessed land where it is completely legal to give his animal such supplements. He is giving it arimidex to prevent the poor thing from growing multiple breasts, clomid to make sure it restarts natural hormone production, and finasteride because it would be a shame if the animal's nice shiny coat of hair got patchy (oh yeah, he is also going to bathe it daily with a spironolactone shampoo, and nizoral)
Is there any reasons why finasteride would have any negative effects with this regimen, as it would with say, a nandralone? I realize that 5-alpha dehydrogenase only acts upon homones with a double bond between certain carbons. Would any of the metabolites resulting from this have such a bond, and would it be smart to prevent such dehydrogenation fom occurring? I would appeciate input. Peace!

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Check out my HardCore Pic sitehttp://www.dell.homestead.com/conan/index.html

Does aromitization actually occur in the fat? I think it aromitizes the same in a fat dude as it would in a lean guy?? Am I wrong?

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"My New Syringe"

2) When you lose fat (naturally, or with only mild "supplementation") muscle loss is inevitable. As you start to carry more and more muscle on your body, the easier it becomes to lose it. Conversely, the further away from your body's muscle limit you are, the easier it is to gain muscle. If you diet and lose the fat before bulking, you will lose less muscle than if you bulk then cut. Lose a little muscle up front getting lean, make it up quicker as you bulk, and lose less muscle as you take off the few pounds of fat you might have added bulking.

If you are below 13% (give or take), this thread doesn't apply to you as much. The higher metabolism is a mixed blessing when your body is perfectly willing to burn "extra" muscle for the sake of its fat reserves. Dieting can suck bro. Doing keto cycles I needed the ECA for the intensity it lent me. I think 5 weeks is not too long to devote to fat loss though, not when you will be ready to bulk at the end. I firmly believe that the bulking/cutting guidelines in point 2 are true. Peace!

Ahh, I wish there was an easier answer but I know there is not. I am not a fat pig by any means but I have some work to do to get into those single digits by spring.

Can't wait to get the boat out and cruise the channel in Grand Haven!!!!! This weather sucks the big one I can not wait until the summer!!!! Gotta be sportin the six pack for the girls on the pier!!
C ya

giantset

If I go on a keto diet for 4 weeks, and then come off and go right into a 10 weeks bulking cycle, won't I gain fat even faster than a normal bulking cycle where I did not diet? My metabolism is going to be slowed down from the diet, and I'm thinking I'm going to blow up if I suddenly reverse from eating 1,400 calories straight into 4,500 calories per day. I'm assuming that until my metabolism kick-starts itself again, I'm going to be running a massive calorie surplus there...

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Learning medicine for the benefit of the Iron Brothers (and Sisters, God bless them)

Mass Monster
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It will only seem kinky the first time...

giantset