Now for the physique update, just for the record. Everything is under the same conditions as before. Changes are from the last update (18/07/20).
Weight: 185 lbs (+6 lbs)
Estimated body fat: 20% (no significant change, but definitely pudgier)
Shoulder width: 20 5/8 inches (no significant change)
Shoulder circumference: 50 1/2 inches (+2 inches? Doubtful, but ok…)
Chest: 46 1/2 inch (+1 1/4 inch. Also doubtful.)
Waist: 36.25 inches relaxed (+1 1/4 inch… oh dear)
Hips: 40.25 inches (+3/4 inch)
Leg: 23 inches (-1/2 inch. Well, I haven’t squatted for a while.)
Calves: 15 1/4 inches (-1/4 inch. Hey who cares about calves anyway.)
Arms: 15 1/4 inches (+1/4 inch. Can’t see any change, but it is only a quarter inch.)
Now… what does the future hold?
@T3hPwnisher @carlbm I’ve decided that my next step is to go on a short cut. It’s really tempting to keep the mass gain coming, but it’s not just a question of losing my abs - if my waist gets much bigger, it’s going to become a problem. I think I should take some action before it does. Hey, it’s been a fun bulk - almost 3 months, and I’m up 10 pounds, so it worked, for better or worse.
My plan is to reach either a 34 inch waist or 179 lbs, whichever comes first, and then we’ll reassess. The one caveat is this: I want to spend as little time in the cutting phase as possible, and I want to get back to gaining mass quickly. The log isn’t called ‘Biggest Guy in Class’ for nothing.
So now there are two questions that pose themselves:
- What should I do during this cut in terms of training? What program should I follow?
- What should I do afterwards to gain massive amounts of lean mass?
The reason I originally started Coach Thib’s 20 minute program was because I didn’t have time for my former full body split; each session was taking almost 2 hours. The lack of the back squat, while I understand the reasoning, I fully admit is probably not optimal. I like the look of Paul Carter’s 20 rep squat program, but don’t know if I can run it - it says for “intermediates” and PC himself thinks there’s no point in someone with a squat as low as mine running a 20-rep squat program. (And I also found the lack of OHPs in that program disturbing.)
My inclination is to play around with my own full body split that I started with, and do something to it to increase frequency. Benching or pressing every other workout, I think, might not be optimal. But this is all talk for later, and we can come back to it when we need to.
Also, Pwn - you’ll be happy to hear that I got the Deep Water ebook for some light reading 
Anyway - the most pressing priority is to figure out the best way to shred the chub left over from my bulk phase, preferably while gaining some muscle too, if possible. I don’t care how miserable it makes me feel while I’m doing it - but I need results.
Sorry if this post was an incoherent rant lol. I’m excited but also pretty damn confused.