A dirty bulk typically involves eating a lot of extra calories from high-calorie foods, including junk foods, to promote quick weight gain. A clean bulk uses a more moderate increase in calories in addition to healthier food choices. But which one is best for achieving optimal mass?
The body of evidence around the practice isn't exactly comprehensive, but at present, dirty bulking does not appear to be any more effective at creating muscle gain than a diet with a set caloric surplus.
In a “dirty" bulk, the athlete consumes processed, highly palatable foods: burgers, fries, pastries, ice cream, milkshakes, fried chicken, doughnuts, candy, and other calorie-dense foods.
The Bottom Line. Clean bulking and dirty bulking both work for gaining muscle mass. But the fact that dirty bulking is easier and—as a result—more effective for some people is undeniable. On the other hand, dirty bulking also brings a much higher risk of fat gain and (over time) health problems.
There really isn't any guidelines to follow when going on a dirty bulk and you will gain weight quicker than with a clean bulk, but the weight will be from fat, not muscle. If you eat a large quantity of junk food when you bulk, you will get to your targeted weight quickly, but it is not that healthy for you.
When to Start Cutting. Whether you did a lean bulk or a dirty bulk it doesn't matter. The only thing that's certain is that now you've got some fat loss to take care of, and there's a good way and a bad way to go about it.
Being skinny doesn't mean you need to dirty bulk. Instead, try increasing your calorie intake with healthy foods first and make sure you hit a decent calorie surplus. Then if you find you're still not gaining weight, you could try a temporary dirty bulk to see if it helps you break through your plateau.
High intensity cardio burns far too many calories to incorporate into your bulk. This means that you need to stick to low intensity exercise that promotes cardiovascular health without burning too many calories. Walking, jogging, cycling and elliptical machines are all good options for this.
You should aim to have around 40% protein, 30% carbs and 30% fats during a day. Carbohydrates are most effective on training days, where they provide energy. Pre-workout, aim for slow-release carbs like sweet potato and brown rice. Afterwards, faster releasing carbs are a good idea to quickly replace glycogen.
Can you eat anything while bulking? It is recommended that you do not just eat anything you want, and as much as you want, during a bulking phase. This is because it could lead to excessive weight gain and make the body fat cutting phase much more difficult in the future.
There's no single way to do this, but the goal is to just provide some structure so you don't overdo it every single meal, every single day. For example, you could start your dirty bulk by just going all out one day a week and see how your body responds. If you need more, add a day.
You need to eat big to get big. The funny thing is, what makes dirty bulking bad for others makes it perfect for newbies. Hardgainers can dirty bulk to build a foundation of muscle without adding too much fat. Whereas a normal gainer would get super fat dirty bulking.
Frequently Asked Questions. Is 3000 calories enough to bulk? If your maintenance calorie requirements are in the region of 2500 calories per day, then 3000 calories represents a surplus of 500 calories. That's more than enough for most people who want to bulk up and gain muscle.
Most experts think the appropriate body fat range for beginning a bulk or cut should be between 10-15% for men and 20-25% for women. This range is ideal as it provides enough energy to build muscle while allowing for visible definition. Once you hit the upper end of the range, start cutting.
"In general, muscle is not lost before fat—it is very dependent on nutrition and activity volume," Miranda-Comas says. "A person who is attempting to lose weight by not eating may lose weight in muscle first before fat." How does that happen? Well, the body likes to go for carbs (glucose) for energy first.
Should you bulk or cut first? If you are underweight, you should bulk. If you are overweight, you need to cut; however, the less training experience you have, the more likely it is that you will gain muscle simultaneously as you lean out (though you'll lose weight overall).
Competitive bodybuilders typically follow a cutting diet for 2–4 months . A person can decide the duration of a cutting diet according to their individual needs, but it is not a long-term diet. Bodybuilders usually go through a bulking phase before a cutting diet.
Losing weight means you could lose fat, water weight, or muscle mass. To lose weight and maintain muscle mass, you need to go into a caloric deficit and exercise regularly. Cardio, strength training, and especially compound movements are key to losing fat and building muscle.