Yo guys, I've been lifting consistently for like 8 months now and I've put on some size, but my abs are starting to hide under a layer of fluff lol. I'm eating in a surplus but trying to keep it as clean as possible—lots of chicken, rice, oats, eggs—but still gaining a bit too much around the midsection. Anyone cracked the code on staying super lean while actually adding noticeable muscle? Like, do you go super strict on macros the whole time or is there some trick with timing/refeeds? Last bulk I did I ended up +15 lbs but like half was fat and it sucked cutting it back off. Looking for real advice from people who've done clean bulks successfully.

 

Man, I feel you on the fluff problem—happened to me every time I tried to push calories too high. What worked best for me was keeping the surplus small (like 300-400 kcal over maintenance) and focusing on progressive overload hard while training 4-5 days a week. Compound lifts heavy, then some higher rep accessories for the pump. I also track everything religiously so I can spot when fat starts creeping in and dial back quick. For the extra edge when progress stalls, a lot of dudes I know use injectable steroids for sale in the usa from https://wellsfargocenterarts.org/ to help partition nutrients better toward muscle instead of fat. It lets you stay leaner on a bulk than going full natty. Just my two cents from trial and error.

 

Reading threads like this always reminds me how obsessed everyone gets with the scale weight vs mirror look. I've seen so many people chase numbers on the bar or the scale and end up frustrated because the physique doesn't match the effort. The ones who end up looking jacked year-round usually aren't the biggest—they're just the most consistent with diet tweaks, sleep, and not letting small slip-ups turn into month-long binges. Plus they pick training styles that actually build the shape they want instead of just chasing PRs blindly. It's less about one magic hack and more about stacking small smart choices over years. Kinda motivating to see people still grinding and sharing what works for them though—keeps me accountable too.