Day of the Shred VII: Why I’m not ‘Bulking’, Motivation vs. Execution, and Leaving Texas?

​It’s been a cold minute (that’s right, not hot) since I’ve done an actual blog. In fact, it’s been sometime since I’ve posted any new content on this site, but that’s all fixing to change, and I’ll talk about why that is here in a minute.

I’ve really grown to like writing these blogs.  I’ve been meaning to put one up recently because it can provide an insight look at what goes on with my training and diet.  I’ve been doing a lot more talking than writing lately, but I am to change that.

So enough dilly-dallying, right now I’m gonna tell you why I’m not actively trying to gain body mass, or “bulk” as it’s commonly referred to, this winter.

First off, people who bulk and start eating to gain mass are all ready fucking up, in my humble opinion.  Not EVERYBODY, but most people.  And the reason is they don’t have a real plan.  Once swimsuit season is over, guys (and an increasingly large amount of girls) throw their diets out the window and just start eating…everything, with the justification of “OH IT’S COOL, I’M BULKING.”  Shit, it sounds fun to say, right. But the reality is you’ll probably end up consuming a shit ton more calories than you really need to increase muscle mass and improve yourself.

I’m not saying bulking is useless, but it needs to be methodical. Lets put some numbers to the process.  To actively gain 1 lb of body mass, you’d need to consume an extra 3500 calories, which isn’t a whole lot.  This can be done in Sunday afternoon watching football and pounding 20 chicken wings and a few beers. There’s also the fact that this weight you’re gaining is not strictly muscle mass. A lot of it is FAT, stored glycogen, and water.  Probably about 90% of that weight is honestly. There’s also the rate at which you are gaining weigh that needs to be considered. If you’re pounding back the Micky D’s burgers and fries and you see the scale increase 2-3 pounds a week, you sure as hell aren’t packing on muscle mass there, Slim. For those who do bulk, a rate of MAYBE 1 pound a week will yield the most optimal muscle to fat ratio, and that’s pushing it.

So the ill effects of packing on that much body mass during a bulk can be pretty severe in terms of body composition.  If you’re someone who worked really hard dieting and training to lean out and looked pretty decent, why would you throw it all away just to eat and convince your own self that you’re “doing it for the gains”?? If you do decide to bulk, BE FUCKING SMART. Do it very, very, very slowly with only a slight calorie surplus, otherwise you’re gonna get real fluffy, real fast.

Which leads me to myself.  I’m not approaching a full on bulk. In fact, I’ve been attempting to reduce a bit of body fat WHILE increasing muscle mass over the last few months, and I’ll say I’ve done a pretty good job at it.
You might be thinking, “THAT’S WICHCRAFT! SORCERY! Craven, you always say it’s almost impossible to build muscle and lose fat at the same time if you’re not a newbee!” 

What I’m doing is known as a Body Recomposition, and while it may not be the most optimal way to either lose fat or build muscle, it’s perfect for what I’m looking to accomplish right now, which is just improve upon my current physique slowly.

I’ve been relatively lean for a while now, and while so many people would say “you just gotta  bulk up to add muscle mass now”, I say NO WAY JOSE. 

I really enjoy being lean, because I’ve been at the other end before at over 20% bodyfat. And I’ll tell you, it’s not that much fun.  You may be stronger and thicker, but it does not look as aesthetic and girls don’t give a fuck about how strong you are.

There’s also the fact that a lot of what I do as a coach as an “online fitness entity” revolves around how I look. I hate to say it, but there’s a certain image people expect to see from someone who boasts fitness and nutrition and advice for a living. This isn’t to say that adding a bit more body fat to my frame is horrible for business, but when I tend to be in front of some sort of camera most days, there’s a certain look that people find most appealing; which is a leaner look.
​
Also, chicks dig it more. And finally, I just LIKE the look.  So yeah, that’s why I’m not going to jump up to 190 lbs in the next 2 months. 

Currently hovering around 162 lbs with increased muscle mass and decreased body fat. AKA Body Recomposition.

​Motivation vs. Execution
Motivation is simple. Anyone can instantly become motivated.  Don’t believe me? Go to YouTube right now and pull up a Tony Robbins video, I guarantee that man will get you motivated.  The problem here is EXECUTION. Actually making moves to get where you want to be or accomplish whatever it is you want to do.  There’s so much motivation on social media everywhere you look, it’s almost sickening.  From the insta-models with their provocative poses laden with their daily motivational posts, to your company’s facebook page telling you to keep on pushing forward for the team.  It’s ubiquitous.  And honestly, all of that is just noise.  We all know how to get motivated, we just don’t know how to execute.  And honestly, there is no easy secret here, and there’s not a whole lot to be said here other than  you just gotta shut out the fear, anxiety, and the little voice in your head that says you can’t do it and just go for it.  
​

​Leaving Texas
So I started writing this blog a few weeks back when I was in transition between San Antonio, Texas and San Diego, California.  And as many of you may know by now, Yes I did move to San Diego. Permanently. Or at least that’s what I’ve planned. As sudden of a move as it seemed, it wasn’t something I just thought of overnight.  Since I graduated college last year, my life in San Antonio had become increasingly dull. Maybe it was my fault. Maybe I wasn’t doing everything I could to make it all it could be. I had a nice part time job as a bartender at an upscale resort while I pursued my coaching and other business ventures. Everything was cool, but something felt like it was missing. I can’t even explain what it was, but I know I wasn’t exactly truly happy.  So I thought I’d finally shake things up and make my move to the west coast.  Now after being here for almost 2 weeks, I can honestly admit it’s not exactly easy being here.  While I love the location, the activities, and the opportunity out here, it’s scary.  Scary to think that so much of what I found comfort in back in Texas is no longer there for me. Scary to think that I have to start all over again- make new friends, find a place to live, and make a living for myself, all in a new city.  But as scary as it is, it’s also exciting because I know I’m capable of doing all of those things and more. I’ve planned to make this my life and my home for as long as I can imagine, and I’ll do my best to follow through with it.