I began bulking today. I used the fitday website for the first time as well. According to fitday, I ate 2503 calories, around what I was shooting for today. After plugging in my activites, I burned 2,765 for the day. I obviously need to up the calories. Maybe to around 3000. But should I do this right away? I had started a little lower so as not to shock my body. During cutting, I ate between 1800 and 2100 calories. Many days were closer to 1800, especially non-lifting days. Lifting days were typically between 2000 and 2100. I also had my body fat tested today-it was 9.6 %. This is after a week off from lifting and structured exercise in which I did a fair amount of partying and drinking and didn't worry about eating clean. So, I maybe ended cutting around 9.1% or something (i've finally gotten around to taking pictures-they're in my digital camera, and I'll get them onto my computer and posted by the end of the week). Given this approximate body fat and my calories during cutting, is it advisable to start bulking at 2500 and stay there for a week or so before bumping it up? Or should I increase it immediately. Thanks in advance, everyone!

Most people say bump them up slowly over time... However I don't really care for that. When I went from cut to bulk, I went from about 1800 to 2500 in the span of a few days, maybe increasing the calories by 200 per day. I now bulk at about 2700 on off, 3200 on on days, and I didn't gain any fat as far as I could tell. I think the body is faster at adapting than we give it credit for, but I don't think it would harm you to take it slow. My results may not have been typical.

Most people say bump them up slowly over time... However I don't really care for that. When I went from cut to bulk, I went from about 1800 to 2500 in the span of a few days, maybe increasing the calories by 200 per day. I now bulk at about 2700 on off, 3200 on on days, and I didn't gain any fat as far as I could tell. I think the body is faster at adapting than we give it credit for, but I don't think it would harm you to take it slow. My results may not have been typical.

Thanks betastas. I think I'll stick at 2500 throughout for the next few days and bump it up to 2700 on Friday or Saturday. I just don't like the idea that I'm still burning more calories than consuming. That can't work for a bulk. But it's still a big increase over my cutting calories, and I don't plan to take very long before creating a true surplus to fuel growth. anybody else?

...I burned 2,765 for the day.
What in the world did you do that burned 2,765 calories?

be aware that fitday tends to OVER estimate your calories because it gives you a base rate, + daily lifestyle (which it gives you a TON for - way more than it should), + activities.

After plugging in my activites, I burned 2,765 for the day.
Oh, ha ha, I thought you meant that you burned 2,765 in exercise activities... I'm a little slow today.

Oh, ha ha, I thought you meant that you burned 2,765 in exercise activities... I'm a little slow today.

haha-nope. my marathon days are over (at least for the time being) if even that would do it. Total including exercise, BMR, everything. I will, however, keep what Kyra said in mind. But I did put myself in as Seated(aside from exercise which was factored separately) and I'm really not. I walk around a lot to classes and such. And I'm not behind a desk even on days when I don't have class. So maybe the overestimation evens out.