Is it normal to get love handles while bulking?
Mostly.Normal for most people
Yes, it’s normal to gain some fat around your waist while bulking. Building muscle usually involves eating more, and some of that extra energy can show up as love handles.
When you eat in a calorie surplus to support muscle growth, you may gain some body fat along with muscle—and your waist is a common place for it to show. How much depends on things like the size of your surplus and where your body tends to store fat.
If you’d rather keep waist gain modest, a smaller surplus and a slower rate of weight gain can help. Love handles don’t mean your bulk has failed; they’re just one possible side effect of gaining weight.