Newbie to "over 35" forum

Hi Everyone!
 
I've finally decided, after all these years, to try to get back into shape.  The last time I did it was when Uncle Sam let me enroll in his "fitness camp" in 1982- the first and ONLY time I have ever seen my abs.
 
I started in 2006 with counting calories and bicycling, and went from 199 lbs/34% body fat, to my current stats are 178 lbs/27% body fat.  I've never been able to build muscle, even when my abs were showing, and now that I'm 46 I'm looking for advice on how to bulk a bit, if at all.
 
So far, losing fat has been easy with diet and cardio and circuit training.  When I'm ready to bulk, should I continue with the circuit training and varying exercises or should I try another approach?  With circuit training, I can use the fitness center at the office three times a week, work all body parts, and be out in 45 minutes.  Out of coincidence, my normal eating habits follow the rule of thumb of 40/40/20- guess there's benefit to being a meat and taters kind of guy :)
 
I'd welcome any advice that you'd be interested in sharing. 

Welcome to DB!
 
There's tons of advice here to be found but...
 
As you change your goals (bulking, cutting) you'll want to switch up your training and tweak your nutrition.  You may find that you simply can bulk clean without the use of any cardio.  Or you might use some cardio on a bulk to keep leaner.  All depends.
 
The important part is..
 
At 46 you are easily young enough to make signficant changes.
 
Advice?
 
Tons! 
 
But take a look around here and the FIRST thing you should do is mentally prepare yourself and choose a single tighly focused goal.

Marc C. David - NGA CPT
Author of NoBull Bodybuilding
www.nobullbodybuilding.com

Thanks Marc... nice to meet you :)
 
I've had goals- my first was to lose two belt notches off my middle, which I did, and noticed that my LBM did not change so I thought that was promising.  My next goal is a bit tricky- I'd like to get down to 15 % bf by mid-year, but because I look a bit "sickly" when too thin, I'm wondering if I should go ahead and try to bulk a little now even though I'm at 27% bf?
 
Several people have told me that I look better "fat."  That doesn't set right with me lol
 
Thanks again- great site going on here!

I'd like to get down to 15% bf by mid-year, but because I look a bit "sickly" when too thin, I'm wondering if I should go ahead and try to bulk a little now even though I'm at 27% bf?

Out of curiosity, how tall are you, Joe?
 
I'm assuming that when you say "bulk", you mean add some lean body mass (LBM). Am I right? As you probably know, that will require a fair amount of regular resistance training. What kind of equipment do you have at your disposal? 

¯
"Push your limits — define aggressive goals"
_________.P R O G R E S S___P I C S

I'm 5'10" and yes, I want to gain LBM.  Don't get me wrong, I like Mick Jagger, but I don't know that I want to "tone down" as much as he is.  I don't mean to be offensive by any means but that's a bit too thin in my opinion.  After basic training (US Army 1982-86) that's what I looked like.  Very low body fat, but no "bulk" if that makes sense.

oops... I forgot the other part of your question:  We have a modest fitness center here, with machines (forgot brand name): bench, lat pulldowns, rows, sitting press, leg press, leg curl, assisted dip/pullup, and a few others.
 
I'm at work now and have to go to a meeting- will answer more posts later.  See ya!