Need some advice on what I should do

Started a bulk in january, and so far its not going to well. I have gained 18 pounds. I started off at 3k cals than i went up to 3500 cals (big mistake). My lifts barley moved. I gained quite a bit of fat. Here is the thing, I still want to bulk, I dont have much size. My lifts suck **** (im getting better at from and i started babylovers SS). My plan is to bulk for the next 5 months, gain weight slowly, increase lifts, and then do a cut. When I did a cut before, i became skinnyfat. Is this a good idea or should I cut and redo all of this?

Uploaded a pic to get BF%

 

Need some advice on what I should do

Last edited by Ondle; Today at 09:40 AM.

 

Need some advice on what I should do

What would you estimate your body fat to be?

 

Need some advice on what I should do

You should post a photo or two if you want meaningful answers.

 

Need some advice on what I should do

Macros would help too. Are you getting enough protein and fats?

 

Need some advice on what I should do

Posted a pic...

Since I was getting so many calories in and would eat different thing everyday, my macros changed. Usually protein 200-250, 300-500 g carbs, 80-150 g fats

 

Need some advice on what I should do

In cases like yours I recommend a recomp at maintenance to build muscle without gaining excessive fat. You could even go at a slight deficit and still gain muscle while losing fat, though the fat loss would be slower than a proper cut.

 

Need some advice on what I should do

Yep. I would not be happy bulking with that much fat.

Pay close attention to your program. If lifts were't going up with a calorie surplus and proper macros, you were doing something wrong.

 

Need some advice on what I should do

Yeah this is the confusing bit, the lifts should've definitely been going up.

 

Need some advice on what I should do

It appears there are two problems: Diet and exercise.

You diet was way too caloric and thus the surplus contributed to making you overweight (actually, perhaps obese by measure of body fat). Also, it seems certain that you did not execute your exercise program correctly.

In regard to body fat, I would estimate, based on the photo embedded below, that you're certainly north of 25% and perhaps pushing 30% BF (the start of obesity).