Bulky vs Lean Body: Which is Best for Me?
Who do you wanna look like: Brock Lesnar or Captain America?
It seems like a simple question, but there’s a lot more to it than what meets the eye. See, both require a huge amount of sacrifice in the kitchen, gym and — most importantly — life. You shouldn’t be taking this choice lightly, and you surely shouldn’t be making this choice on a whim.
So, what sacrifices are you supposed to be making? Is there a better ‘base’ for either of them? And how hard is it to really be big or ripped?…
What Does It Mean To Be Bulky?
Well, a lot. Being bulky takes way more than just eating a lot. Brock Lesnar is a prime example of a “bulky” physique.
You Need to Eat (A LOT)
Thermodynamics is a fancy word that describes the study of energy and how it flows.
It’s like understanding the rules of a game that everything in the universe has to play. And guess what? Your body is no exception! Since your body is also in the universe, it abides by those same rules.
Now, imagine your body as this amazing machine that requires energy to function. You need energy for all sorts of things, like breathing, moving, and even just lying around doing nothing. This energy comes from the food you eat, which is like the fuel for your body.
If you’re large, your body requires more energy at all times since muscle mass is calorically intense — it needs calories to survive. Fat does not.
Energy can only be transferred or transformed from one form to another. This is where the concept of calories comes in. Calories (energy) are needed to sustain your mass. And if there’s more mass, to begin with, more calories are necessary.
Sprinkle a bit of common sense on there, and you have your final answer. Big people eat more to be big. But they are also big to become big. It’s a vicious cycle.
The Training Is Brutal
While there are some that get big just by looking at weights, the rest of us really need to put in a ton of effort to get and maintain that muscle mass. This means constantly lifting more weight and more volume and pushing yourself to the limit (and far beyond it).
Is It All Bad? Of Course Not!
As a bulky person, you’ll just be super strong. You’ll be far stronger than your lean counterpart, and you’ll be able to recover from workouts with no problem. You’ll also demand respect everywhere you go simply based on how great you look in a shirt.
Trust me, being big demands respect, even from those who don’t want to give it.
(Oh, and good luck finding clothes that fit. I’m wearing a 7XL shirt as I’m writing this.)
3 Pros of Being Bulky
1. Respect and Social Status
Being big grants you look and respect that being ripped doesn’t. Anyone can get ripped in 12 weeks, but it takes years before you truly get huge. So, by getting huge, you send a message that you’re a hard worker and you get the job done.
2. You Get to Eat a Lot
If you have a huge appetite, this is a pro. If not, it’s a con. Being big requires you to eat way more than you think is necessary, and since most of this should be clean, you’re going to be eating a large volume of food in order to grow.
3. You’re Strong as Hell
One typical by-product of being large is the accompanying strength. This goes with the amount of food you’re eating, which causes muscle growth and bulk muscles. The only thing is that you need to keep lifting this heavy in order to actually retain that size…
3 Cons of Being Bulky
1. It’s Not Exactly Healthy
While lifting weights and training regularly is extremely healthy, carrying any extra amount of weight on your body isn’t exactly ‘good for you.’ It puts a strain on your heart health and will probably increase blood pressure as well.
2. It’s Uncomfortable
While being slightly bulky is perfectly fine, once you pass the 30 pounds up from your last cut mark, you begin to feel like crap. You struggle to breathe, you have a hard time fitting into clothes and cars, and even something as ‘normal’ as sex becomes a cardio session — and not one you’re always prepared for.
3. The Cost
Remember the copious amounts of food? Yeah, well, someone’s gotta pay for that. Currently, my daily food bill is up to $20 – $30 a day, 30 days a month. Do the math — and this is all clean food. Plus, you gotta pay for the gym, supplements, etc.
It’s expensive being big. (P.S., my monthly rent is $500.)
What Does It Mean To Be Lean?
On the other end of the spectrum, we have a leaner and more aesthetic physique. These folks carry less fat than their bulky counterparts but also carry less muscle.
The only reason why someone prefers this over the former is simply because they prefer it (either for health, comfort, or sexual reasons). Or, they are getting paid for it.
Chris Evans from Captain America is a perfect example of a lean physique.
It’s Healthier
Yes, being somewhat lean is healthier than being bulky. Why? Well, less weight means less stress on your heart, arteries, and cardiovascular system. These factors will certainly make for an easier and healthier life experience.
It’s More Comfortable
Secondly, it’s more comfortable. Not carrying around all that extra weight means you don’t pay the physical price of discomfort.
You fit into places, you don’t look obnoxious, and you maintain better digestion because your stomach isn’t constantly being bombarded with food. You typically also have better poops, which is nice…
You Get To Be More Attractive
And yes, you are (probably) more attractive. Studies show that there’s a link between attraction and how lean you are — and you don’t even need science to know this. Just take a look at Instagram. For that reason, some folks prefer to stay leaner, and that’s perfectly fine!
Just keep in mind you won’t be growing muscle optimally. Keeping a low body fat percentage year round means you’re limiting calorie intake and, therefore, also limiting your possible muscle mass growth.
Now, if you never intend on getting a bulky body (and eventually a bigger lean body), then you don’t need to grow muscle but come on…
3 Pros of Being Lean
1. You’re More Attractive
Not only to others but also to yourself. This might seem so backward, but it’s true. Sex sells, and if you’re nice and lean with veins everywhere, people tend to find you more attractive. Also, you’ll feel more attractive yourself, and you might just have a better mental health image.
2. You’re Healthier
Up to 10% body fat (for men) is actually pretty healthy! Once you go further, you begin running into hormonal issues and an increased risk of injury. Also, because your heart and arteries carry less strain, you’re far less likely to develop cardiovascular diseases.
3. It’s Less Expensive
This is subjective because you usually end up spending more when cutting (somehow). But if you’re only maintaining muscle mass and body weight, you could get by eating a lot less than your bulky counterpart.
The Only Con of Being Lean
1. You Probably Aren’t Progressing
By only maintaining muscle mass and weight, you aren’t gaining muscle, increasing your strength, or bettering yourself. This could be an issue in the long run if you have larger goals in mind, but if you’re perfectly fine being you, then it shouldn’t be an issue.
The real issue arises when folks want to ‘maintain their abs’ while also ‘getting bigger than I’ve ever been.’ Those do not go together — ever. Make a conscious choice about your current goal and go after it.
Being Bulky vs Being Lean Conclusion
So many options to choose from! LOL. Jokes aside, this seems like an obvious choice… but isn’t really.
If you have the overarching goal to develop and grow to be bigger and better than you were yesterday, you gotta be bulky sometimes. You need those excess calories, protein, and recovery to grow as much lean body mass as you possibly can.
Once you’ve gained enough, you’d simply cut down to a lean body and sustain that. While sustaining that, you won’t be gaining muscles. It’s not really possible for non-beginners to gain muscle without a calorie intake that puts them in a surplus.
Thus, being super lean is really only for show and for health reasons, although I’ve yet to meet 10 people doing it for the latter.
Honestly, choose both at different times. You don’t need a bulk body for life — just a few months, add 10 – 20lb, and then get lean. Then, sustain that, or do it again.
It’s a vicious (but amazing) cycle.