How Long Does It Take to Bulk for Getting Necessary Results?

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The goal of any bodybuilder is to gain muscle mass, burn fat and increase strength. In simple words, bodybuilders try to transform their body into the best version of themselves. However, the process of building the perfect body shape takes a lot of time and requires the right approach from the athlete.

You have probably heard that every bodybuilder goes through three phases to achieve the best results, including bulking, cutting, and maintenance. This approach ensures high performance from training, nutrition, and rest. It all starts with the bulking phase, when the athlete begins to gain mass actively. This is the foundation for further body transformation. If you are looking for an answer to the question «how long should I bulk for getting desired results», then you have come to the right place. We have collected a lot of useful information that will help you understand how long should you bulk for achieving goals.

Major Types of Bulking

Bulking is a long process that requires the correct approach. Based on reviews from professional bodybuilders, gaining mass is the most difficult phase of the three possible phases. Obviously, the average duration of the bulking course is determined by the goals of the athlete and the types of this phase.

Fast and dirty bulking
This bulking type is great for beginners. Moreover, dirty bulking shows high efficiency among skinny people. This phase lasts only three months, during which athletes try to eat as much food as possible. If you do not separate food into useful and harmful, you can get a mass of doubtful quality.

Classic bulking
The common five-month-long bulking routine is most often used by bodybuilders before competitions. As a rule, no special diet is used here. However, athletes prefer to consciously choose what they eat to gain mass. In five months, you can gain about 7 kilograms of mass.

Long and lean bulking
This phase is designed for professional athletes who are not in a hurry to get results. For them, it is much more important to get lean muscle than to get low-quality mass in a short period of time. The diet during this phase is developed to get as much protein and less fat as possible.

How Long to Bulk?

Let us tell you how long should a bulk last. This phase does not last 2-3 weeks. Only a proper, consistent, and long-lasting approach can provide successful results for athletes. Each person is different and requires different approaches to training, nutrition, and rest. That is why there is no single answer to the question of how long should you bulk for achieving goals.

If you are a beginner in this field, try starting the bulking phase for 4-8 weeks. During this period, track your results and analyze how well your current approach is working. You should pay attention to the ratio of fat to muscle in the mass gained. Certainly, it would be ideal if you get 100% muscle mass and 0% fat. However, this is practically impossible.

Are there any risks of balking for too long? Actually, it only threatens you with the fact that there is a greater chance of gaining fat. If this happens, you'll have a harder time in the cutting phase to get the results you need.

Foods to Eat During the Bulking Phase

There is a common opinion among bodybuilders that any food that increases the total number of calories eaten in a day is suitable for the bulking phase. If you want to gain low-quality mass, you can consume any food. However, to gain lean muscle mass, customize a special diet that includes such foods:

Carbohydrates. This is the basis of the diet during the bulking phase, taking up 60% of the diet. Useful carbohydrates cover white rice, fruits, berries and porridge.
Protein. Include 30% protein from all food in your diet. This can include eggs, meat, seafood, and cheese.
Fats. Fats should take up about 15% of your diet. You can choose nuts, avocados, and olives as healthy fats.

Experienced bodybuilders often choose to use pharmacological supplements to improve their performance. Many of them help to gain pure muscle mass at an accelerated rate. In the list of top steroids for gaining mass is Nandrolone. You can easily find verified Nandrolone for sale in the sports pharmacy market. Another great option for beginners is to buy certified Testosterone Cypionate to increase the effectiveness of the bulking phase.

Duration of the Bulking Phase in Men

How long should you bulk for gaining a couple of kilos? The length of the bulking phase can depend on both the athlete's ultimate goals and gender. For example, it is considered harder for men to gain weight than for women. This is why bulking for men may last a little longer. However, always keep in mind that the length of bulking is most influenced by body characteristics.

In some cases, men may gain weight too quickly and this may indicate certain health issues. A common option for men is a 2-3 month bulking phase to gain a few kilograms of lean muscle. This requires adhering to a proper diet, workouts, and rest.

Duration of the Bulking Phase in Women

According to the research of scientists, women are more prone to gaining extra kilos than men. This is due to the genetic features of the female body. It will be a benefit for them during the bulking phase. On the other hand, practice shows that the duration of bulking in men and women is practically no different. Moreover, fat burning after mass gain in women is more difficult than in men.

What do professionals recommend for women? The bulking phase for them should last at least 8 weeks. This is the minimum amount of time for which a female can gain the desired mass. What is also interesting, women need to be especially careful when bulking. This can cause a lot of fat, which will be difficult to get rid of during the cutting phase.

Signs to Stop Bulking

A popular question on bodybuilding forums is how long I should bulk before cutting. This question is related to the fact that after the bulk comes the cutting phase, where athletes rid their bodies of excess water and fat. Several signs indicate you should move on to the next phase of bodybuilding.

Fat amount. If your fat percentage is around 20-28%, it's time to move on to the next phase.
Body condition. Are you feeling tired and lacking energy? This is a signal that you should end the bulking phase.

The bulking phase should last at least two months. After this time, keep an eye on your health and body condition so that you can move on to cutting in time.

Final Thoughts

For many people, the bulking phase may seem too simple, where the main requirement is a calorie surplus. However, you need to develop a special diet, train more in the gym and, of course, not forget to get plenty of rest to get the desired amount of muscle mass. You can use sports supplements to speed up the bulking phase. Thus, a comprehensive approach will allow you to gain more than 5-7 kilograms of muscle mass in a few months. If you are still wondering how long should you bulk for, remember that the answer depends on your individual goals and body characteristics.