Gym lingo can be confusing whether you’re a beginner or intermediate gym-goer. If you’ve been hearing the words bulking and cutting being thrown around, you might be curious what they mean. Both of these terms are training and diet regimens that can help you achieve very different goals.
Keep reading to find all you need to know about using these protocols for getting fit.
Bulking 101
Bulking is a great choice for people who are “skinny fat.” You’ll know if you’re skinny fat if you appear thin and fit, but have little to no muscle mass. Once you have some muscle mass on your body, cutting your body fat percentage down will be easier.
Bulking focuses on gaining muscle without adding any body fat. Your body will need to be in a slight caloric surplus to do so. This means you’ll be eating a bit more than necessary to maintain your current weight.
Don’t let the idea of eating more food scare you. While you may gain some weight during your bulk, most of it will be in the form of muscle mass.
Though not necessary, there are some nutritional supplements you might consider using while you bulk.
While a proper diet through nutritious foods is key for bulking, it can be time-consuming to good all the food necessary to gain muscle. Weight gainers can range from 600 to 3000 calories and provide a solid source of nutrition without spending hours meal prepping.
Creatine is another great supplement for energy production. Studies show that it can boost your athletic performance during heavy lifting sessions.
Cutting 101
Most people new to working out should start with a cycle or two of cutting. If you are very overweight or have a lot of body fat to lose, you should cut first. Cutting focuses on burning fat without losing too much of the muscle you gained in your bulk.
During your cutting phase, you’ll be focusing on being in a caloric deficit. This means you’ll need to be eating fewer calories than what your body needs to stay at your current weight. Your cutting phase will result in weight loss, most of which should be body fat and not muscle mass.
The best cutting supplement stack contains products that burn fat and provide energy.
Thermogenics (AKA “fat burners”) work by converting your fat tissues into a useable energy source. They also raise your body temperature so you burn more calories throughout the day.
Whey protein is another great supplement for boosting your protein intake. They are often high in branched-chain amino acids which provide a nice energy boost to get you through your day and workouts.
Bulking and Cutting the Right Way
Bulking and cutting don’t have to be rocket science. Now that you know the difference between the two, you can delve deeper into your fitness journey.
Keep reading our blog for more health and fitness articles to help you reach your goals.
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