Help needed!!

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  1. McG1's Avatar
    • New Member
    • Posts: 19
    Help needed!!
    I know this is maybe a stupid question but it is something which is confusing me.

    I am 5ft 7 and about 9 stone so quite skinny. I am looking to gain muscle. I do 20 mins intense cardio after working out but what worries me is that this could be stopping me gaining muscle? should I cut out cardio? due to the fact that I am eating more calories that my RDA i dont want to put on a layer of fat as that would defeat the point of gaining muscle size if you can't see muscle defination.

    any help would be appreciated.
  2. tooosh's Avatar
    • Vengeful, Imperial Overlord of The Student Room
    • Location: London/Soton
    • Posts: 3,864
    Re: Help needed!!
    Lean bulking does not involve working out and eating at a deficit/doing cardio to avoid putting on weight. It's when you alternate between eating a lot to put on muscle and fat, and eating less to lose fat. Look up lean gains.

    It's a slow process, you'd be better off bulking for a few months, then cutting and so on.
  3. ceris's Avatar
    • Exalted Member
    • Posts: 319
    Re: Help needed!!
    (Original post by McG1)
    I know this is maybe a stupid question but it is something which is confusing me.

    I am 5ft 7 and about 9 stone so quite skinny. I am looking to gain muscle. I do 20 mins intense cardio after working out but what worries me is that this could be stopping me gaining muscle? should I cut out cardio? due to the fact that I am eating more calories that my RDA i dont want to put on a layer of fat as that would defeat the point of gaining muscle size if you can't see muscle defination.

    any help would be appreciated.

    Look up leangains and intermittent fasting. You bascially fast for a minimum of 16 hours a day and cycle carbs and calories throughout the week. It allows you to build mass without experiencing much fat gain (provided you do it right and don't half-ass it). There is a lot evidence (scientific and anecdotal) supporting it.


    Before you brush it off as "too hard/complicated" bear in mind it will be infinitely more effective than doing what you are planning on doing (cardio to try and burn the fat you put on from bulking, while continuing to inexplicably build muscle mass... no offence but seriously?)

    Or you can just man up and deal with not seeing your abs for a few months while you bulk, then do a cut once you're satisfied with your gains like every other natural lifter
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