Something you’ll hear every year at about this time is “Summer is coming up, time for me to start cutting”. Many people swear by the bulk up for winter and cut back the extra fat for the summer strategy in order to maximize their results. Today we’re going to look at what is involved in a bulking/cutting strategy and find out if it’s the plan for you!
In a bulking and cutting plan, the goal is to shred any extra fat you may have so as to increase muscle tone for the summer months. The reason for this is usually that the summer temperatures allow people to more easily show off all the work they’ve been doing at the gym and in the kitchen. After summer is over, however, it’s time to bulk up. That means eating more calories and upping the carb intake so as to maximize muscle growth.
Bulking vs. Cutting Workout Routine
Regardless of whether it’s bulking season or cutting season, your workout routine will mostly stay the same. You’ll want to spend 3-5 days a week either at a commercial gym or your own in-home gym burning as many calories as possible and exhausting your muscles so they can grow stronger. The one difference is that during cutting season you will want to increase the time you spend on cardio workouts. High-intensity workouts that get your heart rate up tend to burn fat faster than other workouts so these are perfect for your cutting routine.
Bulking vs. Cutting Diet
The biggest difference in bulking vs. cutting is your diet. If you’re cutting, you will want to ensure a calorie deficit so your body doesn’t store any extra calories as fat. You will also want to lower the number of carbs that make up your diet as your body tends to store carbohydrates as fat quicker than other sources of nutrition. On the opposite side, if the goal is to bulk up, you’ll want to have a higher intake of complex carbohydrates to refuel your muscles and speed up the recovery process.
The bulking/cutting method is very popular with many people and it does help to mix things up every few months so that you don’t get bored with your routine. If you find it difficult to stay motivated year-round, the bulking/cutting strategy could help you stay consistent with your workouts. Just remember that it takes 2-3 months depending on your fitness level and eating habits for other to notice a difference when switching between bulking or cutting so plan your fitness and nutrition schedule accordingly!
If you have any questions about bulking and cutting, or would like to learn more about other workout/diet plans, give us a call or contact us online today to speak with one of our professional consultants! Balance Fitness also specializes in both residential and commercial fitness facility development so if you’re an individual looking to add equipment to your home gym, or a commercial gym looking to expand your equipment offerings, we’d love to talk! Our number is (650) 348-1259 for San Mateo or (408) 244-3010 for Santa Clara or you can reach us online Here!
