# Best strategy for hypetrophy

**URL:** <https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/best-strategy-for-hypetrophy/19066>\
**Category:** Nutrition Q&A \[Moderated\]\
**Tags:** nutrition, bulking, hypertrophy\
**Created:** [September 23, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/best-strategy-for-hypetrophy/19066 "2025-09-23T15:20:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![techdanielss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@techdanielss](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/techdanielss)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/best-strategy-for-hypetrophy/19066/1 "2025-09-23T15:20:26Z")

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Hi Docs, I was wondering whats the best strategy for hypertrophy based on recent studies:

1. Being in little calorie surplus (max 200 calories from maintance)

2. Bulking (Up to 500 calories)

3. Maintaining

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**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/best-strategy-for-hypetrophy/19066/2 "2025-09-23T15:24:36Z")

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It may be helpful to clarify that I do not think any recent studies have changed the way I think about managing energy intake as it relates to muscle gain. Instead, I think a number of individuals on social media have made some very interesting claims based on “generous” interpretations of mechanistic data. I think I’m being kind in that characterization.

Based on available evidence, it is likely that an individual will gain more lean mass with greater and greater surpluses of energy. They are also likely to gain more fat mass with higher surpluses as well. With this premise in mind, we can make decisions about the degree of the surplus based on the individual’s needs and preferences.