Bulking plan

[nitromoose]

Hey guys

Due to me starting a new job on monday eating 5-6 meals just won't be able to work, but no point giving up completely is there!

Right now (yes contradicts the norm I know) I have been following a pretty low calorie diet. About 600 calories a day. Yes I know, not enough for a 12 yr old girl. (20m here). BUT it is working, and I've had no downsides with health, and I am slowly getting my 6 pac. I've lost about a stone and a half and seem to have kept most of my muscle so I'm happy.

However once I've lowered my body fat enough I'd like to bulk up again. I've found a weight gainer I want to use because I know if I have to keep spending time cooking large meals I am gonna get fed up and quit again, and I really wanna be consistent with my training this year. So I want convenience over anything else. Each serving of this product has 1250 calories and 50g protein per serving which is 2 scoops.

My diet at the moment consists of whey protein, tuna, chicken and veg & fruit. That's it. No non-fibrous carbs like bread, pasta etc. So what I'm worried about is the potential sudden fat gain of the carb intake when I bulk. So I was thinking of something like:

Week 1: 1 serving a day (maybe split up, like 1 scoop in morning, 1 at night, or maybe split up more so like 1/4 before workout, 1/4 postworkout)
Week 2: 2 servings a day so 2500 calories.
Week 3+: 3 servings a day, 3750 calories.

Current weight is 160 lbs, 5 ft 7.

But is the jump from 600 to 1250 initially likely to cause fat gain? That's the last thing I want!

My aim is to get down to 154lbs if possible by the end of april and then bulk.

All advice appreciated

[Lady C]

My advice is add 200 calories per week of green veggies and lean proteins. You need to get your metabolism back to normal and on 600 calories you will never acheive your goals long term. I would add in one serving of starchy carbs post workout.

Your goal of 154 may be unrealistic.

[nitromoose]

I've done okay so far, losing about 3-4lbs a week. I guess the slimmer you get the harder it is to shift though.

Do you mean to add the veggies and lean proteins weekly whilst I'm still in my cutting phase?

[Lady C]

Yes - it is unhealthy for ANYONE to eat less than 1200 calories. You are screwing up your metabolism and your body's ability to burn calories right.

[nitromoose]

Ok ignore the 600 cals bit for now, what about the 3 week plan I suggested for bulking. The idea is for convenience, so sorting out meats and veggies then is out so I wanna take this stuff. It's just whether those amounts upping each week is likely to cause problems or not.

[kevdogg]

im sorry, but that is not easy to ignore. your metabolism is through the drain right now. probably lost some muscle mass on this diet that your just not aware of. you were basically getting hal that amount of calories, or lower depending on activity level. you burn calories digesting the food, walking to your car, and everything you do. i hate when people do that to themselves.

on your question...i would say add 400 per week until you get to the correct amount, but dont bulk meals. spread the meals trhoughout the day. i do 6-7 daily.

[nitromoose]

It's just not possible to spread it, that's the problem. 4 is going to be my max including post-workout and that's gonna be seriously tight timing as it is.

I am listening to what you're saying but how can my metabolism be screwed if I'm still losing fat, and feeling healthier than ever? I know it sounds self-harming in a way but it's the best I've looked/felt in ages.

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by nitromoose

how can my metabolism be screwed if I'm still losing fat, and feeling healthier than ever?

Is it really? Have you been checked by a doctor?

Originally Posted by nitromoose

I know it sounds self-harming in a way but it's the best I've looked/felt in ages.

If you do such low caloric intake for more than a couple of months it can take years to get the metabolism back. It also means you are losing essential vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain good health. Has your hair been falling out? Is your skin dry? Do you have trouble with bowl movements? A myriad of health issues take months or years to show up. It doesn't matter if you feel great. I would seriously see a doctor and increase your intake. You fat loss will happen even if it is at a slower rate (which is healthier anyway).

[nitromoose]

Well if I'm bulking end of april then it shouldn't put me too much at risk then. Currently none of the symptoms you mentioned.

[sooner_ed]

Everything everyone has said is true. You are in some serious trouble later on if you continue a 600 calorie a day diet.
What I'm seeing is you want to achieve a certain result but take a short-cut getting there. Anything doing is worth doing right. You can still lose body fat eating a minimum of 1200 calories a day.
You say that it surely can't be screwing you up that much because you feel and look great. Imagine this. Imagine looking at a Bible. We all know it is an excellent book (not meaning to step on the toes of those who don't think so). But follow the logic here. You're looking at the Bible. You say to yourself, "What a great book. I think I'll read a few pages." You open it up and find nothing but dirty pictures inside. What's the point? Just because it looks good on the outside does not mean that what SHOULD be inside is actually there.
You have a plan. You want to lose more bodyfat before you bulk. You have a terrible strategy. It's a strategy that could possibly cost you your good health in the long run. As is the advice of everyone who has responded to your post, please change your strategy so you will be accomplishing your goal in a healthy manner.
You don't say what your new job is. I started a new job almost a month ago. I had no clue if I would be able to eat as often as I needed to. Turns out, I can. I understand that there are jobs where it may not be possible. But give yourself some time at the new job and you may find that you can squeeze in some food. Let me ask you this. At your new job, will you have time to go to the bathroom? Although this is not ideal, I've heard it done before. Take a sandwich or a protein bar (something) in with you and go into a stall and take a minute to eat the sandwich. Honestly, 120 seconds to scarf a sandwich in a stall is better than going too long between meals. You just have to be creative.
Anyway, just know that there are good people here as you know. When we see someone doing something that can and most likely will harm themselves in the long run, we're going to speak up. We want you to accomplish your goals in a healthy manner.

[nitromoose]

I do appreciate everything everyone's advised, don't get me wrong

It's basically a general office job with an hour lunch, I think I may have to do that bathroom thing like you suggested.

It's hard to explain but it's sort of like I just feel as if I'm getting enough? It's not like "I want to lose fat so I'm going to starve myself", I actually feel sensible the way I'm eating.

It's hard to for me to see it as unhealthy when I'm still functioning fine if not better than usual though.

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by nitromoose

It's hard to for me to see it as unhealthy when I'm still functioning fine if not better than usual though.

I fully understand what you are saying. In my case, I'm a diabetic. Diabetes can cause many problems if left untreated, such as blindness, foot amputation, kidney damage, and so on. In the case of blindness, there is no advance warning on it. It's not like you start to gradually lose your sight before you go blind. That's why we are supposed to have annual eye exams. The blindness will just hit you.
So even if you are "functioning fine if not better than usual," that doesn't mean anything unfortunately. Many times people don't find out about a problem until it is too late. So even though things "appear" to be wonderful, you have to do things that will prevent, or at least minimize the possibility, of things going wrong later.
Anyway...with an office job, have they told you that you can not snack at your desk? I've never seen anyone with an office job that didn't keep some kind of food or candy at their desk and snack while they work. That's pretty much the norm. True enough, I'm not there, but if I were a gambling man, I would bet that you will be able to get your meals in with an office job. After you've been there for a couple of weeks, let us know.

[Lady C]

I eat carrots and hard boiled eggs at my desk all the time. You can do that and still work. I can, so you should be able to. You are using a cop-out attitude to reach what you think are good results. You should seriously reconsider your plan.

[nitromoose]

Ed: They haven't mentioned the rules of that yet, I guess I just wanted to see what everyone else did and go from there. I just want to be prepared if I'm not able to. First week and all - didn't wanna push it yet Trouble is I'm working in a smaller department consisting of just me and 1 other guy so if he doesn't eat at his desk I won't know without asking. Yes I could ask but...hmmm lol. I see what you mean about the suddenly hitting you thing though.

Lady C: I think it's pretty unfair saying it's a cop-out attitude. Cop-out:
1. A failure to fulfill a commitment or responsibility or to face a difficulty squarely.
2. A person who fails to fulfill a commitment or responsibility.
3. An excuse for inaction or evasion.

I'm not excusing anything or failing responsiblilty, what I have read on this site more than anything else is "do what works for you" and I finally have.

Like I said, it's only till April anyway. Thanks for the replies all. Didn't really answer the bulking question but cheers anyway!