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Group: General Fitness & Exercise

building lean muscle

THB Posts: 13 Joined: 2005/05/29	2006/08/08, 02:10 PM Hey everyone, My goal is to put on about 15 pounds of muscle and tone up. I have fairly low body fat already so I think if I just put on the muscle I would be fairly ripped. Since I am not trying to get huge I am wondering if I should have a bulking and a cutting phase still. Any diet ideas or workout routines would be good too. Thanks
mikencharleston Posts: 1,585 Joined: 2002/01/09	2006/08/08, 05:11 PM Fill out your profile with your basic data and you will get better answers. The choice is yours but don't get in a hurry either way as 15 lbs of muscle isn't going to come overnight.
THB Posts: 13 Joined: 2005/05/29	2006/08/09, 01:25 PM I am a 21 year old male. I am 6'2" and 170 lbs. If there is any other info that would help please let me know. Thanks
mikencharleston Posts: 1,585 Joined: 2002/01/09	2006/08/09, 01:48 PM I'd think about doing the lean mass workout routine here on FT and start a slow weight gain. You're at the age where if you aren't careful that thin look can mushroom into something you don't want to be. As I said in the previous post, get your diet in order and start a slow gain cycle.
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2006/08/09, 02:42 PM Probably the best way to stay as lean as you can and add muscle is with "cycles". That is a bulking cycle for X amount of weeks, then a hardening cycle for X amount of weeks. See, diet is what determines your gains in the gym, whether wanting to gain or lose. The diets for gaining and leaning are in no way compatible. This is why you must choose one, followed the other. Be aware that the longer your bulking cycle, the longer your hardening cycle will be. -------------- Maximus from Gladiator....Strength and Honor!
evol_js Posts: 111 Joined: 2006/03/19	2006/08/09, 02:51 PM What is this "hardening" cycle? Just cutting fat while trying to maintain muscle?
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2006/08/09, 02:52 PM Yes, getting asthetically pleasing to yourself, then re starting the bulk. -------------- Maximus from Gladiator....Strength and Honor!
THB Posts: 13 Joined: 2005/05/29	2006/08/09, 03:00 PM Thanks for the info. Is there a good length of time that a bulking cycle should last? Or do you just start your hardening cycle after you get the bulking results that you wanted?
bb1fit Posts: 11,105 Joined: 2001/06/30	2006/08/09, 03:48 PM this is purely asthetic for you, since you have no actual time limitations. Keep looking at yourself in the mirror. When bulking, when you don't like what you see any more, beging your hardening cycle. Now this cycle does not have to be an all out diet to lose maximum fat, just enough to make you happy if you catch my drift. A visual for me is when my abs get completely blurred, where I have to flex pretty hard to see anything at all. Pick a point for you, and use it. -------------- Maximus from Gladiator....Strength and Honor!