A good rule of thumb for lifters is at least 8 - 12 weeks for bulking and then you can go into your cut phase if you're happy with the results. How long does it take to cut after bulking? The cutting phase varies per person, often cuts are around 8 - 16 weeks, dependent on your goals and achievements.
You can often cut for short cycles and see good progress but bulking takes a long time (unless you are using anabolic steroids). Most people can have highly effective cutting cycles in 8-12 weeks, but an effective bulking cycle should be 16-26 weeks on the low end and upwards of an entire year on the longer end.
A typical bulking phase is 3 or 4 months, but a lot of people do way more than that. You should do at least 3 months to reap the benefits of a good lifting program.
How long should you bulk before you cut? I recommend that people bulk for a minimum of five months before cutting so that the muscle-building process isn't interrupted before a measurable amount of progress is made. There is no maximum time frame, but I recommend people don't exceed 20% body fat for health reasons.
We normally recommend gaining 20 pounds over 3–5 months.
Carrying an extra 20 pounds can have a noticeable impact on your body, and you may feel a range of physical and emotional effects throughout the day.
A classic bulk usually means aiming to gain about 0.5–1 pound per week. That usually means eating a calorie surplus of 200–400 calories, weighing yourself every week, and adjusting. If you're gaining weight too slowly, add 200 calories.
There are other terms for this, such as build mode, but bulking is a common term for this caloric surplus. Dirty bulking is when an individual is in a caloric surplus to build muscle (build mode). However, the individual is eating foods that are carb dense, unhealthy, and ultra-processed out of convenience.
Most experts think the appropriate body fat range for beginning a bulk or cut should be between 10-15% for men and 20-25% for women. This range is ideal as it provides enough energy to build muscle while allowing for visible definition. Once you hit the upper end of the range, start cutting.
Now, for the age-old question: should you do cardio during bulking? The answer is yes, but with a balanced approach. Too much cardio can counteract the calorie surplus you need for muscle growth, making it harder to see progress.
How much sleep do you need for muscle growth? The average adult needs around 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Regularly having this much sleep is especially important for those looking to increase their muscle mass or change their body composition.
“With all of those things considered, the average man can gain about one to two pounds of muscle per month and the average woman up to one pound per month,” Jacobchick told us.
Frequency of workouts
Most scientific studies on the matter conclude that a muscle needs to be worked at least two or three times a week in order to see it change and grow. This means you should aim to gym at least two times a week, up to a maximum of six times.
A mini-cut is a brief but intense dieting phase, typically lasting 2-6 weeks. During this time, you reduce your calorie intake significantly—by about 25-30% below your maintenance level—to prompt quick fat loss.
At 10% body fat, a man is just above his essential body fat level. At this body composition you will see muscle striations and definition, six pack abs, and look athletic and fit. However, you may not see as much vascularity as you would in single digit body fat levels.
Unlike bulking, the most common misstep with cutting is eating too few calories. If you do, King warns it can lead to a decrease in muscle mass. Maintaining energy is also one of the most challenging aspects of a cut. “Since your calorie intake is lower, it's important to emphasize quality,” says King.
The body fat percentage needed to see your pack of abdominal muscles falls somewhere around 14 to 20% for women and 6 to 13% for men. However, the ideal body fat percentage for abs can look slightly different per person, depending on how you carry weight, where you typically store fat, and your fitness routine.
Lean muscle is all about that shredded, sculpted look, while muscle bulk is more about sheer size and power. It's like the difference between a sleek race car and a hulking tank. Both have their advantages, so it all comes down to personal preference.
What does “skinny fat” look like? Phenotypically, they look lean and healthy, but when we check them out they have high levels of body fat and inflammation. This ectomorph body build has hidden high levels of body fat. They appear thin and flabby.
May lead to health problems such as high blood pressure and insulin resistance. Bulking can be expensive due to increased food intake and supplements. Requires a significant amount of time commitment to achieve desired results.
It is important to understand the role of cardio during a Clean Bulk, which is that it should be used as a tool to maintain cardiovascular fitness, not to burn calories. ~60-75 minutes a week at a moderate intensity during this period of your training cycle is probably sufficient to maintain cardiovascular fitness.
Healthy weight gain
The key to gaining weight is to consume more energy (calories) than you burn. As with weight loss, gaining healthy weight (primarily muscle mass) takes time. Healthy weight gain of 1-2 pounds per week can be expected when reasonably increasing energy intake.