Folks,

good evening / morning where ever you may be based. I'm looking for some words of advice from someone who knows whats up with all things gym...

So I have always been a nimble framed young man; was a boxer in my youth, always had a lean frame (some muscle but nothing too major - was happy enough with myself, didn't really know any different back then.

Anyway, this all went to shit to say the least when I was diagnosed with some weird thing with my lungs, and on top of it all had a hernia - body reacted weird to the medication and stuff, and lost whatever muscle I had. Got to a stage where my clothes didnt fit me (as in they were too big).

Anyway a good friend of mine has some experience lifting , and basically said I have to lift and eat lots - no other way. So thats exactly what I did.

Was a bit hit and miss with it, but consistent enough (at a strech).

Then when I landed my new corporate job in May things changed. I had a real routine, not just a stupid college one.

I am lifting 4/5 times a week, and eating 3500-4000 calories daily (5/6 meals).

After my surgery I went down to about 67kg (147lbs) and it was so shit. Weighing myself tonight I am 81kg (178lbs); and things are better than ever. Confidence etc etc is at a all time high, clothes aren't fitting me for the opposite reason and lifts are at an all time high.

Benching: 90kg (190lbs) for 3-5

Squatting: 100kg (220lbs) for 3-5

Due to an ingury I am still incorporating deadlifts back into it , bit scared to just drive it up the whole time.

ANYWAY, tonight whatever after a heavy chest session session whatever top I was wearing, I got a glimpse of myself in the mirror and there is a belly developing.

Now I am eating an absolute fuck tonne, so I am not surprised, I am way over maintenance calories and all that stuff, so I need to reevaluate things.

What sort of surplus are you guys dealing with when bulking? Ideally I am hoping to hit 85kg (187lbs) before I start cutting back on calories.

Also, what split are you guys doing? At the minute I am doing either

M: Upper Strength / Upper Strength

T: Lower Strength / Lower Strength

W: Off / Push

T: Upper Hypertrophy / Pull

F: Lower Hypertrophy / Legs

S: Off

S: Off

Also, am looking to start incorporating 1-2 HiiT workouts into my week just to try keep everything a bit leaner.