Bulking is a strategy used to build muscle by putting our bodies into a large caloric surplus for a predetermined amount of time, basically bringing in more calories than our body burns off.

And cutting refers to the time needed to lose the excess body fat.

This strategy is based on sound logic because it is common knowledge that our bodies need to be in a caloric surplus to be able to build muscle.

And many bodybuilders have used this strategy with a lot of success.

The obvious problem, of course, is that when our bodies are in a large caloric surplus, we will experience fat gain as well.

This is just an accepted fact with the bulking then cutting strategy.

Breaking Down the Risks of Traditional Bulking

Unfortunately, recent research suggested there are a lot of other problems that you’re probably not aware of that are associated with this old school strategy.

One big less known about problem is, fat cell hyperplasia.

This is when our bodies are forced to create more fat cells because of all of the excess calories coming in that our bodies can’t use towards muscle growth.

And here’s the thing, these fat cells never, ever go away.

So, even when you do go through the cutting phase of this strategy and get down to a really, really low body fat percentage, these new fat cells will still be there.

Having more fat cells makes it easier for us to store fat for the rest of our lives when we mess-up on our diet.

We really don’t need to feel any more guilty on our cheat days, now do we? The take-home message is we can’t force our bodies into building more muscle than it’s physiologically able to build by just ramping-up or calories.

Doing so will most definitely backfire.

Other less known about problems with the traditional bulking approach include things like liver strain, pancreatic strain, increased cholesterol, increased blood pressure, fluid retention, AKA puffy moon-face look, thyroid problems, insulin resistance. And the list goes on.

The long and short of it is, on top of the excess fat gain, the traditional bulking approach can make it much more difficult for us to have a nice, lean, healthy future and these are things you should be aware of.

The good news is, with recent advancements in nutrition, there are alternatives to the traditional bulking approach that can be just as effective at building muscle, but without the fat and the other health problems that are associated with the traditional bulk approach.

To put it very simply, the solution to the traditional bulking approach comes down to giving your body what it needs, when it can use it and not giving your body extra fuel when it can’t use it.

Now, that is a lot easier said than done, because there are so many variables that determine what those exact needs are, because all of us are different.

That’s why the best pro bodybuilders, fitness models, fitness competitors actually go out and hire professional nutrition coaches to tailor the programs to them.

That being said, even though I don’t know you or your body type, a valuable tip I can give you is to consume your daily caloric surplus in a four-hour window surrounding your workout.

And do so only in the form of protein and carbohydrates, and that will actually have you on your way to building some lean muscle without fat.

Now, for more detailed information on this solution to the traditional bulking approach, you can check-out the free presentation in the link below, if you’d like.

But, other than that, thank you very, very much for your time.

I hope you learn something useful and I’ll talk to you soon.


Bulking & Cutting Guest Post by Kyle Leon