Should I dirty bulk if I'm skinny fat?

Author: Minnie Cummerata Jr.  |  Last update: Tuesday, August 26, 2025

DIRTY BULK This is when you eat whatever you want, and as much as you can, to gain weight as fast as possible. Typically this includes a lot of unhealthy junk food. With a dirty bulk, a lot of the weight gained will be from fat, which will not help your situation if you are skinny fat.

Is dirty bulking good for skinny fat?

Dirty bulking appears attractive. But the promise is false. The sad reality is that dirty bulking will slow down your progress because it adds more fat you'll need to lose later, while significantly slowing down your ability to build muscle.

Should you bulk if you're skinny fat?

So, should you cut or bulk first if you are skinny fat? You should bulk first if you are skinny fat. A 10% caloric surplus is optimal to build muscle while ensuring you don't put on a lot of excess body fat. Stay in a surplus for a minimum of 4 months and then begin a slow, gradual cut. In humans.

Should I take mass gainer if I'm skinny fat?

Summary Some skinny people really do benefit from supplementing with mass gainers while bulking. They won't speed up the rate your body can build muscle, but they can make it easier to eat more of the right kinds of calories--protein and starchy carbs.

What should I do if I'm skinny fat?

Combatting skinny fat involves a combination of strength training to build muscle mass and a balanced diet to support overall health. Focus on nutrient-dense foods, limit processed foods and sugar, and incorporate regular exercise, including both cardio and resistance training.

How To Fix "Skinny Fat" (3 Ways)

How do I go from skinny fat to toned?

Exercise Regimen. Obviously, to transform a skinny fat build into a more aesthetically pleasing form, you'll have to address your body composition through physical activity, particularly resistance training and some cardiovascular exercise. Intuitively, adding more muscle will correct the "skinny" part of the equation.

Should I bulk or cut at 20% body fat?

If you're above 20% body fat, cutting is usually the best path. If you're skinny-fat and eager to bulk up, that's okay. You can build muscle just as leanly as anyone else, and perhaps more so. Alternatively, you could start with an emphasis on getting stronger, not worrying too much about how your weight changes.

How to get rid of a skinny fat belly?

8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

Is it better to bulk or cut first?

👉 Here's the answer: Cut first: If your body fat percentage is above 20-25%. Bulk first: If you look lean but lack muscle size. But remember, bulking doesn't mean eating junk food, and cutting doesn't mean starving yourself!

Does creatine help skinny guys?

So is creatine good for skinny guys? Yes, because this supplement helps to increase training performance, perform a greater volume of work, as well as contributes to gaining muscle mass and strength! It is a great addition to regular strength training and a well-planned diet with calorie surplus.

Should I take creatine if I'm skinny fat?

Creatine improves workout performance and increases muscle growth. That's just as important while cutting as while bulking. If you take creatine while losing weight, it should help you burn more fat and keep more muscle.

Is it harder for skinny people to bulk?

Often referred to as “hard-gainers,” skinny guys might struggle to build muscle due to factors like a fast metabolism that burns calories quickly, less natural muscle mass, or a genetic predisposition. This makes it more challenging to create the calorie surplus needed for muscle growth.

Is 20 body fat skinny fat?

The recommended ranges for healthy men are between 10-20% body fat, and for women, the ranges are 18-28%. If your body fat exceeds these ranges, but you have a normal weight when you stand on the scale, you may be skinny fat.

Should I bulk if I'm skinny fat?

You definitely want to bulk if you are skinny fat. This is for a few reasons: It's much easier to build and preserve muscle in a caloric surplus. If there are any hormonal issues (i.e. high cortisol from stress), cutting would only worsen them.

Is a dirty bulk worth it?

“I look at a study like this, and it's proof that we shouldn't be promoting dirty bulking,” Dr. Dakkak states. “It increases your fat and your risk of chronic disease without any improvement in performance. There are just too many risks without enough benefits.”

What are the cons of bulking?

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.

Should I bulk if I'm 25% body fat?

Using body-fat percentage as your guide, start with a bulk if you are less than 20 percent. If you are a normal weight and have experience lifting heavy or you are between 20 and 25 percent body fat, then you can choose which will get you to your ultimate goal.

Is a 2 month bulk enough?

Generally it doesn't matter a whole lot the frequency you choose what's important is to keep going until you achieve the desired results. However, for most I recommend bulking for 2-3 months, then cut down for however long you need to get rid of the unwanted amount of fat. Everyone will need a different amount of time.

Should I bulk if I have belly fat?

Should you bulk or cut first? If you are underweight, you should bulk. If you are overweight, you need to cut; however, the less training experience you have, the more likely it is that you will gain muscle simultaneously as you lean out (though you'll lose weight overall).

How do I tell if I'm skinny fat?

Signs of being 'skinny fat'
  1. excess fat tissue around the internal organs.
  2. fat deposits in tissue that normally does not contain much fat.
  3. fat tissue inflammation.
  4. altered inflammatory and metabolic profiles.
  5. reduced skeletal muscle mass.
  6. low cardiorespiratory fitness, which is the ability to use oxygen to move or exercise.

Why am I skinny but have a pooch?

One reason for belly fat is a sedentary lifestyle. Even skinny people can spend too much time in front of the television or computer screen, and this can encourage what little extra fat they have to settle into the stomach. A diet high in processed foods can also cause belly fat, even in skinny people.

Does fat get jiggly before you lose it?

The Science of Fat Loss

Think of it like a balloon losing air—it deflates, but doesn't disappear immediately. Over time, your body adjusts, but the jiggly feeling can be a temporary step along the way.

How long should a bulk last?

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.

At what body fat percentage do abs show?

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.

What bf to start bulking?

The ideal body fat percentage for bulking and cutting

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.

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