The TRUTH About Bulking & Cutting **as a Natural**

Summary

In this video, the creator reflects on years of bulking and cutting, sharing lessons learned and offering advice for beginners. They discuss the challenges of maintaining muscle while managing body fat, the reality of 'newbie gains,' and the importance of consistency. The video also explores the concept of 'gaintaining'—a slow, controlled muscle-gaining phase—while stressing that traditional bulking and cutting cycles are still the best route for most people. Despite setbacks like tendonitis, the creator remains committed to their training, and invites viewers to follow their journey into this new phase.

Takeaways

• 😀 Your first bulk is the most productive phase for muscle growth, thanks to 'newbie gains'.
• 😀 Bulking for years can feel like a slow process, so breaking it into smaller phases can help you enjoy your physique along the way.
• 😀 You might look smaller after a cut than you expect. You could need more muscle than you initially thought.
• 😀 Gaining fat during a bulk happens faster than you might expect. Maintaining a shallow calorie surplus can be tough.
• 😀 Maintaining a peak physique year-round is unrealistic for natty lifters, but you can still maintain a great physique with consistency.
• 😀 Staying natty might offer long-term benefits, like more consistent results and fewer drastic fluctuations in muscle and fat.
• 😀 A gaintaining phase (a slow, lean gain) might sound appealing but can result in very slow progress, and it requires a lot of patience.
• 😀 The biggest risk with gaintaining is not having enough of a calorie surplus to build muscle, leading to stagnant results.
• 😀 For most people, bulking and cutting is the best way to make noticeable progress and get closer to your goal physique.
• 😀 Being injury-free and focusing on training progression is key to consistent gains, even if you're not in a rush to gain mass.

Q & A

What are the main phases of the bulking and cutting process mentioned in the video?

The main phases mentioned are bulking, cutting, and a new concept called 'gaintaining,' which is essentially a slow, lean gaining phase where you maintain a very shallow calorie surplus.

What mistake does the speaker warn about when it comes to bulking?

The speaker warns that you'll likely gain fat faster than you expect during a bulk, which can make it harder to manage your body composition and may shorten the duration of the bulk.

Why does the speaker consider the first bulk the most productive?

The first bulk is the most productive because of 'newbie gains,' where your body responds faster to training due to lack of prior muscle adaptation, leading to quicker gains.

What challenge does the speaker highlight when trying to maintain a calorie surplus for muscle gains?

The challenge lies in maintaining self-discipline and willpower, as bulking often feels like you can get away with more food, leading to faster fat gain than intended.

What does 'gaintaining' mean, and what are its potential risks?

'Gaintaining' is a term for maintaining a very shallow calorie surplus for gradual muscle gain. The risks include not having enough surplus to make noticeable gains or potentially gaining no muscle at all.

What is the primary benefit of staying natty (natural) versus using steroids?

Staying natty means your physique should remain more consistent over the long term. Unlike steroid users, who may experience wild fluctuations in muscle mass due to hormonal changes, natty lifters typically avoid such extremes.

What is the speaker’s view on the long-term sustainability of the peak physique?

The speaker acknowledges that a peak physique is temporary for natty lifters, and it’s unrealistic to maintain it year-round. However, achieving a good physique and maintaining it is still possible with consistency.

How does the speaker approach their current phase of training and nutrition?

The speaker is planning to eat around maintenance calories and focus on consistent training, aiming to make slow, steady gains in muscle mass without rushing into a bulk or cut cycle.

Why does the speaker believe most people should avoid a 'gaintaining' phase?

The speaker believes that 'gaintaining' is not suitable for most people because it may result in too slow a rate of muscle gain, and bulking and cutting are likely more effective at achieving noticeable progress.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the body fat percentage during bulking and cutting?

The speaker advises that during bulking, it's common to gain fat faster than expected, and during cutting, you may feel that you need more muscle than you initially thought, suggesting that the process requires patience and realistic expectations.