Getting stretch marks from bulking is a lot more common than some people think. Making sure that we prepare for this possibility is key to making sure that we don’t get them.
If you already have stretch marks from bulking, not to worry, there are things that can be done to reverse them.
This article is going to cover everything from prevention to treatment.
Don’t bulk too fast
It might be too late for you if you already have stretch marks. But if you are gaining more than 5 pounds per month, you are definitely putting yourself at risk for getting stretch marks.
At their core, stretch marks happen because they are stretched beyond their limit in a short amount of time. When you gain weight too fast, you are not giving your skin enough time to adapt to its new dimensions.
I know that everyone dreams of getting jacked in a short amount of time, but we need to be realistic here. The maximum amount of muscle that you can gain in a week is about a half pound.
Meaning that in 1 year, you can theoretically put on 26 pounds of muscle. I know that this is possible because I myself put on over 20 pounds of muscle in one year.
But some people take it way too far and try to put on 50+ pounds in one year. It is definitely possible to put on this much weight in a year. But you need to consider that anything over 26 pounds is probably just going to be fat. Which of course is not ideal.
When you eat at a caloric surplus, you are going to put on weight. Since there is essentially a maximum amount of muscle that you can put on, everything else will go to fat.
This is why most people who are bulking only eat at a slight caloric surplus. That way they can maximize muscle gains and minimize fat gains. There is almost no ceiling in how much fat you can gain.
If you ate at a caloric surplus of 5000 calories per day, you would gain an absurd amount of fat.
Stretch marks are partially genetic
You may be wondering why some people get stretch marks from bulking and some don’t. Really what it comes down to is skin elasticity.
People who have tighter skin genetically are more prone to stretch marks. Those who have more elastic skin are less likely to get them. I am lucky enough to be in a party where I don’t get stretch marks while bulking.
After bulking for 3 years and putting on 70 pounds in the process, I went through multiple fluctuations in weight, yet I still never put on stretch marks. I think it was a combination of things, but to be fair, it’s mostly genetics.
If you are genetically prone to stretch marks, you are going to have to take extra steps to keep them at bay. How do you know if you are genetically prone? Does your mom, dad, or any other family members have stretch marks? That is probably a good indication that you might be genetically prone to them.
If you think that you might be genetically prone to stretch marks when bulking, be sure to take your bulk slow. Don’t try to put on a ton of pounds in a short amount of time.
Use prevention and healing creams
Prevention and healing creams are one of the best ways that you can prevent stretch marks from bulking. If there is one thing that we can take away from pregnant women, it is that they have been test subjects for years of stretch mark therapy.
Pregnant women can gain 25-40 pounds in 9 months, so stretch marks are a big concern for them.
These creams have been tried and tested on them, and you can just read the reviews to know how impressive they can be.
Preventative Stretch Mark Cream
When you know you are going on a bulk, you can prevent stretch marks from happening by using a cream like this.
Prevention creams work by moisturizing your skin and giving it more elastic tendencies. If you have a genetic predisposition to stretch marks, prevention cream is going to be a must have.
Stretch Mark Scar Removal Cream
If you already have stretch marks from bulking, you might want to look into scar removal cream. Although this type of cream wasn’t originally formulated for stretch mark removal, it works wonders.
It works by removing scar tissue over time and repairing damaged skin. If it can work on burn victims, it can definitely work on stretch marks!
Stay hydrated
This is one of the most underrated parts of keeping stretch marks while bulking at bay. Do everything that you can to constantly be hydrated. If you are not hydrated, your skin is going to take the brunt of your negligence.
Here is how your body works. The most vital organs get supplied with nutrients first. Once those are satisfied, then your body will distribute nutrients elsewhere. Unfortunately, this elsewhere includes your skin.
Therefore if you are not properly hydrated, your skin is going to suffer. When your skin is hydrated, it’s elasticity will improve. Which of course means less chance of getting stretch marks.
If you struggle to drink enough water, learn how to trick yourself into drinking more water.
I have spoken to a few doctors on the subject of proper hydration. They all agree that your urine should be either clear or pale yellow if you are properly hydrated.
Any dark yellow or medium yellow urine is a good indication that you need to drink more water.
Main Point: How to get rid of stretch marks from bulking
There are so many factors when it comes to stretch marks from bulking. We simply cannot cover all of the aspects in one article. But we can cover the basics.
By now, it should be pretty obvious that stretch marks can be prevented or at least mitigated to the point where they aren’t very noticeable.
Remember to not bulk too fast. When you bulk too fast, you put yourself at risk for excess fat gain, and of course stretch marks. A safe pace for bulking is about a pound per week. Which would be a half pound of fat and a half pound of muscle.
Ideally, you would want to gain a half pound of muscle per week, but gaining fat is almost a requirement for bulking. You can always cut fat later.
If you know that you are at a genetic predisposition for stretch marks, be sure to use some prevention creams to keep stretch marks at bay. And if you already have stretch marks, there are creams that will heal them and reduce them visibly.
Lastly, make sure that you are properly hydrated every day. This isn’t just a one time thing. You need to be conscious of how much water you drink every single day.
All in all, you can rest assured that stretch marks from bulking can be hidden over time. In the grand scheme of things, your overall health is more important than appearance. Therefore you should focus on making sure you are in the best shape of your life!
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