why is it that a bulking stage is necessary to build muscle before cutting down?

Question

I want to be lean yet muscular. I know I have to go through a bulking stage first. I know that food gives you the energy to work out hard, but how come it's necessary to eat huge amounts so that you look thicker before cutting down to gain muscle? Why can't you eat moderately and store all of the energy as muscle?

Answer 1

It is logically only a necessary thing to do if you wish to lose enough body fat in order to reveal the *tone* of the muscles for a sculpted look; for example the muscles of a "washboard" abdomen. The opportunity to bulk up *during* the weight loss period is greatly compromised by the caloric restrictions of your weight loss diet, and the calorie burning activity of your aerobic excercise during that period. Conversely there are no such compromises before your weight loss phase begins. So you can have as much protein and carbos and additional calcium containing foods that you need during the body building phase.

Also, it is not necessary but extremely helpful before starting a weight loss program to already have plenty of muscle mass, which increases metabolism; increases ability to burn body fat. It is muscles that burn fat. Studies indicate that, even at rest, a muscular individual will burn more calories from fat than a nonmuscular individual..

Answer 2

It's not necessary but I have done this before. I just finished my bulking stage but I wish I did it in the summer because now I'm really huge. Anyways, we do this because if you bulk up, you can probably lift more and it'll give you energy. So, after you bulk up, you should lift weights past the maximum. Then, you'll build muscle way faster than when you were not bulked up.

Answer 3

You will want to eat a lot of protein, balance your meals out with vegetables and meat. To build you muscles up, you will want to do heavy weight and low reps, to tone and trim them you will want to do low weight and very high reps. Find your max on all weights and move up about 5 or 10 pounds every week and work out 6 times per week.

Answer 4

It depends who you want to look like. If you'd rather have a body like Bruce Lee, define (sculpt) the muscle you have now. If you want to look like Arnold instead, Bulk up first, and then define the muscle.

Answer 5

you dont need to bulk first. eat a healthy diet and do yoga or pilates if you want leaner muscle and swimming also. read more on exercises and healthier eating programs on this site

Answer 6

You can't shape mass which you dont' have. Create the mass, then 'sculpt' it.