Cut Or Bulk - What Should I Do?

Training Beginners
1

Hi,

I have a problem; I currently weigh 174lbs at 5’9" but I’m 17% BF. A lot of the stuff I’ve read on here says I’m too small and need to build some muscle, and that if I diet I’ll end up a 160lbs skinny guy.

But aren’t I just kidding myself into thinking I’m not that already a 160lbs skinny guy. I mean I have the same muscle mass, just I’m hiding it under 14lbs of unwanted and useless fat.

So should I cut or should I bulk?

Here’s my current stats;
Age - 19
Height - 5’9"
Chest - 41.5" (Though some of that is fat)
Waist - 34.75" (Why bother putting the .75" - its pretty much 35")

1RMs;
Bench - 190
Squat - 235
Deadlift - 285

I’ve only recently started going to the gym so I don’t know what those numbers are like for a beginner, only that they seem a lot smaller than some of the other people on here who are my height and weight.

My current plan is to get down to 160lbs and about 10-11% BF and then go on a clean bulk to around 190lbs before trying for the permanently visible abs.

My long term goal is to look like the larger of the Mens Health or Mens Fitness cover models. I know that won’t go down well with some people but I don’t think I would suit being any bigger.

So um, should I do something like the V-Diet to get rid of all the fat and then build myself up on 3500 clean kcal?

PS: Will I actually look THAT small at 160lbs?

2

Why worry about the bf when you’re weak wit a lil chub when you could be in the gym right now increasing poundages and becoming strong wit a lil chub and then go on 2 cut down later when you’re pulling and pushing big weight. That’s how I look at it. Don’t sweat the small stuff look at the big picture. If you space out nice clean wholesome meals you should rev up that metabolism.

3

If you are really at 17% body fat, I wouldn’t worry about cutting. If you did nothing but add 20lbs of muscle you would be down to 15% body fat and look significantly better than you do now (I assume). If at that point you still feel the need to cut, then go for it.

And to answer your question, yes you will look freaking tiny at 160lbs.

Note:
I’m not an expert, but at 5’9" with your measurements I doubt you are sub 20% bF. Either way, you are far from fat AND you are young. My suggestion still stands that you should add 20lbs of lean muscle before you diet off your fat.

4

Clean bulk

5

bulk

6

When in doubt, just bulk. A solid clean bulk. Just make sure you’re getting the most of those extra calories in your training. You gotta take that bitch past Thunderdome and beyond. lol!