Glad you stopped by! You are asking every question that we have asked. Usually multiple times over.
I have a slightly different take on it that CC does. I preferred the 3x5 rep scheme of Starting Strength and GreySkull over 5x5 strong lifts. As a novice (again, defined as someone who can add weight to the bar every workout), one just doesn't need 5x5 volume. At this stage, think minimum effective dose. What's the absolute least you can do to make progress? There will come a day where you have to add complexity, try and put that off as long as possible.
As for "bulking" I also have a slightly different take and a few suggestions. I do think you need to keep an eye on the weight gain and caloric intake. Will this potentially slow you down on your strength gains? Maybe, but as someone who clearly has "cut" before, you probably aren't in a mental space to just add weight to your body to add weight to the bar without a plan. (I say this because I was the same way, I cut to a very unhealthy weight.. 164 pounds at 6'5", to 240 over about a year and a half). Yes, my strength gains were solid, but (1) my blood worked sucked. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, (2) I felt like crap, and (3) I didn't like how I looked in the mirror.
I have since cut down to 195 and feel much better. I'm bulking again but doing so in a much more controlled manner (I was gaining 1 lb a week for a year and a half… I should have started with 1lb a week for like 6 months… then slowed it down).
Here is my suggestion. Go get a Dexa scan. It will tell you your body fat percentage and lean body mass weight. This is a good data point. Take measurements. Measure your chest (at nipple line). Measure your waist (at belly button line). You can do hips as well. Take another scan at like the 6 month mark.
I don't know how old you are. If you are in your 20s, maybe early 30s, perhaps shoot for the classic 1 pound a week weight gain. That said, keep an eye on this. Take your measurements once a month to see how your body is responding to the calorie intake. If your waist jumps up 2 inches in a month, you need to tone it back. If it changed .25 of an inch and you put 60 pounds on your squat, you crushed it. (This is less of an issue in 6 months, as your waist is going to get thicker due to squats… this is where your dexa scan will come in handy… your will have a bigger waist, but likely didn't add much fat…. But… after about 8/9 months, this will even out)
There will be lots of folks that say just gain the weight and quit being a beetch about it. There is some truth to this as it will undoubtedly work to get your bigger and stronger. Im just suggesting that you do what makes YOU comfortable. So what if you leave a few gains on the table. You feel good, look the way you want, and are healthy.
(Also, some dudes are just built to run heavy. They can add a bunch of weight, distributed in a "burly way", their blood pressure and overall health is perfect, and they can lift a house. Good for them. Maybe you are one of those dudes.
I realized I'm not, and had to change my training and weight gain to account for that.
