There is a lot of debate surrounding the topic of bulking.
Some people believe that it is an effective way to gain muscle mass, while others think that it can be harmful to your health.
In this blog post, we will explore both sides of the argument and let you decide for yourself whether or not bulking is healthy or harmful.
Quickly before we delve in – what is does bulking mean to a layman?
What is Bulking?
The process of “bulking” is when an individual consumes more calories than they burn in order to gain weight.
This extra weight can come from muscle, fat, water, or a combination of all three.
Some people bulk for the sole purpose of gaining muscle mass, while others do it to increase their strength.
Bulking is important because it allows you to eat more food and gain more muscle.
Gaining muscle is important for a number of reasons. First, muscle burns more calories than fat, so the more muscle you have, the easier it is to maintain a healthy weight.
Second, having more muscle makes you stronger and healthier; studies have shown that people with more muscle mass are less likely to suffer from injuries and illnesses.
Third, gaining muscle makes you look better; leaner muscles are visually appealing and can help improve your self-confidence.
If you’re looking to bulk up, it’s important to eat a balanced diet and get plenty of exercises. In order to gain muscle, you need to consume more calories than your body burns.
While there are majorly two types of bulking – clean and dirty bulking.
We shall discuss both in detail after we understand how healthy and harmful bulking up is for bodybuilders and athletes – men and women.
Is Bulking Healthy or Unhealthy?
Bulking is healthy when done correctly however it can be harmful if not done with proper guidance as the key to bulking healthy is to make sure that calories consumed are coming from nutrient-rich foods. This will help you pack on lean muscle mass rather than excess body fat.
When bulking the goal is to gain muscle mass while minimizing fat gains, this can be accomplished by following a few simple steps.
First and foremost, make sure you are eating enough calories to support your weight training program but not so many that you are gaining excessive amounts of body fat.
Second, focus on compound exercises that work for multiple muscle groups at once such as squats, deadlifts, and presses. Bulking can be harmful If you eat too much and don’t exercise, you can gain weight.
Third, eat a diet rich in protein and healthy fats to support muscle growth and recovery. Finally, be patient and consistent with your program; results will not happen overnight but if you stick with it you will see the fruits of your labor.
Types of Bulking
Clean bulking and dirty bulking are the two types of bulking.
Whichever bulking you chose – and how you manage it would determine how healthy and unhealthy you become from building up your muscle mass.
- Clean bulking
Clean bulking is the type of bulking where you focus on eating healthy foods. You would want to eat more proteins, lean meats, vegetables, fruits, and complex carbs.
During clean bulking, you would be lifting weights to build muscle mass and working out to create a calorie surplus.
You would also be consuming more calories than you’re burning, but the majority of those calories should come from healthy sources.
The good side about clean bulking is that you would be more likely to maintain your health and fitness levels. You would also be less likely to gain fat and be obese because you’re focusing on eating healthy foods.
- Dirty Bulking
Dirty bulking is the type of bulking where you focus on eating ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.
You would want to eat a lot of unhealthy foods such as fast food, junk, processed food, and sugary drinks.
During dirty bulking, you would need to consume a lot of calories each day. You would be eating more than you normally would and working out to gain muscle mass.
This type of bulking could be unhealthy and harmful if not done properly.
It is not the cleanest or healthiest way to bulk, but it is the fastest way to see results. That is when you maintain a balance between eating ‘ANYTHING’ and working out to make sure you burn and kill fats as much as possible.
If you are going to try dirty bulking, make sure you are ready to commit to eating a lot of unhealthy foods and working out regularly. This type of bulking is not for the faint of heart.
Is bulking better than cutting?
Cutting is when you eat fewer calories than you burn and try to lose weight. It is more or less the opposite of bulking. Read my Bulking vs Cutting Guide here.
The main difference between bulking and cutting is that, during bulking, you’re trying to build muscle mass by eating more calories and lifting weights. During cutting, you’re trying to lose body fat by eating fewer calories and doing more cardio.
There is no easy answer to which is better, as it ultimately depends on your individual goals and body type.
That said, many people find that bulking (i.e. gaining muscle mass) is more effective than cutting (i.e. losing fat) in terms of achieving the desired physique. Bulking can help you build a strong foundation of muscle, which can make it easier to lose fat and tone up later on.
Additionally, bulking may help you avoid the dreaded “skinny-fat” look.
Cutting, on the other hand, can help you achieve a leaner and more defined physique. If you have a lot of body fat to lose, then cutting may be the best option. And if you are aiming for a very specific weight or body fat percentage, then cutting may be necessary to get you there.
My favorite supplement for bulking
There are a few supplements that can help you bulk up, but my favorite ones are legal steroids alternatives.
Here are some of them:
- D-Bal from CrazyBulk
- Anadrole
- Trenorol
- DecaDuro
You can also check out the full bulking stack here.
These supplements can help you bulk up by increasing your strength, stamina, and muscle mass. They are completely legal and do not have any of the side effects associated with illegal steroids.
Besides the above – there are other supplements that can help with bulking such as protein powder, creatine, and BCAAs.
Protein powders help you build muscle mass, creatine increases your strength and stamina, and BCAAs help you recover from workouts.
Notwithstanding, you should never replace the nutrients from your diet with supplements, but you might need more nutrients than you can get from your diet. This is where supplements can help. One of the biggest problems people have when bulking is that they don’t get enough protein and calories.
Final Thoughts
Bulking can be a healthy or harmful practice, depending on how it is done.
It is important to focus on clean bulking and not overindulge in unhealthy foods. When done correctly, bulking can help you gain muscle mass while maintaining a healthy weight.
Also, make sure you work out regularly to balance out the calorie surplus from clean bulking. If you’re going to try dirty bulking, be aware of the health risks associated with it and make sure you are ready to commit to working out regularly.
You can also consider supplements for bulking, but be sure to research them before taking anything.