Cut or Bulk?

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

I’m sorry I don’t have any pictures, but I have a question for you all. I have been cutting for the last 2.5 months and it’s went well, except for the last week or two. I am sick and tired of cutting and am cheating way more than I should be. I was planning on cutting for another two weeks and stating to bulk again around the 10th of June.

I am now wondering if I should just start bulking now instead of waiting those two extra weeks. Will I really lose that much BF in the next two weeks? The main problem here is that I am just sick of dieting… I want to start eating again.

2

I’m no expert, and im sure that there are plenty of people here that knoe a helluva lot more than i do about the finer points of cutting but my suggestion is to start your bulking cycle.

3

Did you try HOT-ROX on your cut?

IMO you might start to bulk or go for HOT-ROX on the rest of your cut.

4

I would personally stick to your plan quit cheating etc… Just to TRY and oprove to yourself you have the will powwer to sue it. Just switching up is no excuse man. Show yourself you can go thropugh with ba plan in its fullest.

That is unless you have reached your total goal or leanness. If you are as lean as you had planned then no bulk. It doesnt sound that way to me though. Itv sounds as if you are taking the point of weakness that has you cheating as an excuse to bulk.

Just my opinion, hope iot helps and good lyuck,
Phill

5

[quote]Phill wrote:
I would personally stick to your plan quit cheating etc… Just to TRY and oprove to yourself you have the will powwer to sue it. Just switching up is no excuse man. Show yourself you can go thropugh with ba plan in its fullest.

That is unless you have reached your total goal or leanness. If you are as lean as you had planned then no bulk. It doesnt sound that way to me though. Itv sounds as if you are taking the point of weakness that has you cheating as an excuse to bulk.

Just my opinion, hope iot helps and good lyuck,
Phill[/quote]

This guy has given no personal info about his stats or his goals. You could very well be telling a 140lbs kid to continue dieting.

I agree even less with the other poster who pimps particular supplements again without knowing this guy’s current condition.

6

[quote]This guy has given no personal info about his stats or his goals. You could very well be telling a 140lbs kid to continue dieting.

I agree even less with the other poster who pimps particular supplements again without knowing this guy’s current condition.[/quote]

Personally I really dont care what his stats are, and obviously his short term goal was to cut for a few more weeks. Yet from the sounds of the post it has gotten a little tough. He’s having some mental weakness and is ready to give that goal up for the easy way out. To begin eating again.

What happens then when he starts eating again with the goal to Bulk up. He starts to make progress but sees a little fat gain, nothing major. But he also stops gaining and is just tired of eating. Doesnt want to take that next step and once again throws his goal out the window for the easy way out, to not eat enough to Grow. Not push that extra set, not go to that next step needed.

I just feel there is something to be said for making a damn goal and having the strength to reach it. That is why I feel a simple timeline goal is not good. Better to have a more defined goal. A BF%, a weight goal, a measurement, a PR, something more tangible.

That way when you do meet your goal you know it, be it early or late. It will stop this asking to give yourself permission to stop what you know is your goal early for the easy way out. Never taking that extra step, that last one that HARD one to reach the pinnacle of your goal.

I agree he needs to figure out what his long term goal his and go for that. I just dont see how giving yourself permission now to not rerach a set goal will be a help in the future when the next goal gets a little tough. Will he just quit then to. Coming back here for some type of comfort excuse.

Just my take.

Tank This is not a flame on you man. Just me trying to help. This may not be the case at all. You may have actually met your goal. I am not sure it is just by the sounds of your original post that you are giving up when the going gets a little tough.

I say evaluate what you REALLY want and get that damn goal. Dont stop till you do. Then make another and go get it.

Once again I hope that is clear and that it helps. Also just my opinion for what little its worth.

Come on back and we can all try and help more. We may not agree but hey you will get all kinds of advice from every angle, one is sure to fit.

Phill

7

[quote]Phill wrote:
Personally I really dont care what his stats are, and obviously his short term goal was to cut for a few more weeks. Yet from the sounds of the post it has gotten a little tough. He’s having some mental weakness and is ready to give that goal up for the easy way out. To begin eating again. [/quote]

His current condition has EVERYTHING to do with how he should train now. I have seen way too many posts on this board in the past (though they seem to be coming in less frequency now) of guys who barely break 150lbs talking about dieting. Without his stats, you have no clue what he truly should be doing.

[quote]
What happens then when he starts eating again with the goal to Bulk up. He starts to make progress but sees a little fat gain, nothing major. But he also stops gaining and is just tired of eating. Doesnt want to take that next step and once again throws his goal out the window for the easy way out, to not eat enough to Grow. Not push that extra set, not go to that next step needed.[/quote]

That is why any decent trainer starts with the goals of the individual. You can’t plot where you are going without understand the destination or your starting point. You don’t just dole out random advice just because it sounds good. Once a long term and short term goal is reached, then his path is made more clear. That way, you avoid falling into the trap of “toning” for years but ending up looking exactly the same after years of “training” or worse.

[quote]
I just feel there is something to be said for making a damn goal and having the strength to reach it. That is why I feel a simple timeline goal is not good. Better to have a more defined goal. A BF%, a weight goal, a measurement, a PR, something more tangible. [/quote]

Then why not ask for that BEFORE giving out random advice? That should be the FIRST thing you ask for. You didn’t.

[quote]
I agree he needs to figure out what his long term goal his and go for that. I just dont see how giving yourself permission now to not rerach a set goal will be a help in the future when the next goal gets a little tough. Will he just quit then to. Coming back here for some type of comfort excuse.[/quote]

Just to give you a heads up, there are enough people out there with self image distortion that he could very well be pursuing the wrong goal. Again, without knowing where he is now, telling him to continue just for the sake of sticking to it may not be the best advice.

8

First off I don’t think we are very far off of the same exact view on this issue. Just a few little details that are a bit different.

[quote]Then why not ask for that BEFORE giving out random advice? That should be the FIRST thing you ask for. You didn’t.

Just to give you a heads up, there are enough people out there with self image distortion that he could very well be pursuing the wrong goal. Again, without knowing where he is now, telling him to continue just for the sake of sticking to it may not be the best advice.
[/quote]

I agree. I think the only thing I am guilty of if giving this person the benefit of the doubt. Giving them credit for knowing their own self, their goals and needs to reach them without throwing a monkey wrench into the path of the ultimate goal. Giving advice to GO for the original goal seeing as it has yet to have been met. Giving faith that this original goal was well thought out and warranted.

Where as you are one the opposite end and give them NO credit for having the ability to accurately assess there short and long term goals on their own. Is either right?? No. Hey we are on a forum and it can be very tough to truly asses any situation and give the best help. I do agree however that the more info the better.

I have in the past and still continue to agree here on the 150 and cutting weight issue. This falls back again to me having faith in this person having some ability to REALLY know what they need and also on there simply being something said for reaching a goal. Pushing for that damn thing. The character it can build and will allow/give you the strength to reach the next goal.

We have all had goals in our time that have not been of the best for the long term or for our lives in general but simply by pushing through them we become stronger people. It helps us later when we are able to actually KNOW what it is we want. IMO Character and REAL strength is lacking in today?s society possibly even more so than physical strength

LOL once again I am having some faith in his original choice. By doing so, by telling him to go for and reach his original goal I am in total agreement wioth this statement.[quote] falling into the trap of “toning” for years but ending up looking exactly the same after years of “training” or worse[/quote] I am telling him not to give up. To push on. don?t just spin those wheels and continually hover in the same area. To take that extra step and find what it takes to actually make that extra step. Once you do so you will start to understand yes Its Fing hard to make the Big steps but nothing to be afraid of and with some hard work and dedication you don’t have to hover. But you need to bust ass to get these goals they wont just happen.

I think that’s a little more clear. Hope so. Either way. Giood Luck tank and in none of this conversation Pro.X and myself have had has helped then PLEASE post more info. Evaluate your goals or ask for help in doing so. REALLY KNOW what you want and find the stregth to reach it. Or bust your ass trying.

Phill

9

Thanks much for the responses guys. I understand what you are saying Phill. The whole eating thing is a combination of going to a small liberal arts school in Schenectady NY and having no money. The food here is downright dreadful, as they buy preprocessed chicken breasts that literally taste like dirt. That is really my only source of protien other than powders. It is much easier to eat “big” here than to eat “small” and it’s starting to get to me.

I was planning on bulking no matter what once my cutting cycle was over, I just thought I could start it a bit earlier. I play football, so getting down to body builder type BF levels is not what I’m after.

My stats are as follows:
244 pounds at 12.2 percent BF
Been lifting since 6th grade, so 9 years now?

Anything else needed?

Also, is there a definitive way to check and see whether or not something is fat or simply loose skin? I lost about 45-50 pounds in about a year with definitive muscle gain, so there was a lot of at lost. It seems as if I have pockets of empty skin underneath my arms and around my stomach. Is there any way I can check and see if it’s fat or just empty skin?

10

[quote]TheTank123 wrote:
Thanks much for the responses guys. I understand what you are saying Phill. The whole eating thing is a combination of going to a small liberal arts school in Schenectady NY and having no money. The food here is downright dreadful, as they buy preprocessed chicken breasts that literally taste like dirt. That is really my only source of protien other than powders. It is much easier to eat “big” here than to eat “small” and it’s starting to get to me. [/quote]

Welcome to college. I was worse off because that was before protein powders started tasting significantly better and coming down in price. You can buy basic protein powders on the internet for under 25 bucks for 5lbs of whey protein. I personally think there are enough good products out there that this can be less of a concern than it may have been 10 years ago.

[quote]
I was planning on bulking no matter what once my cutting cycle was over, I just thought I could start it a bit earlier. I play football, so getting down to body builder type BF levels is not what I’m after.[/quote]

Then how low were you planning on going in body fat? How tall are you? Droping below 12% could quite possibly have the effect of reducing performance. I have found that to be the case with me in the past which is why the act is mostly cosmetic.

[quote]
My stats are as follows:
244 pounds at 12.2 percent BF
Been lifting since 6th grade, so 9 years now?

Anything else needed?[/quote]

How about your goals?

[quote]
Also, is there a definitive way to check and see whether or not something is fat or simply loose skin? I lost about 45-50 pounds in about a year with definitive muscle gain, so there was a lot of at lost. It seems as if I have pockets of empty skin underneath my arms and around my stomach. Is there any way I can check and see if it’s fat or just empty skin?[/quote]

At 12% and under, fat shouldn’t be “hanging” off of your body at all, but that isn’t “ripped”. Most guys lose fat around their stomachs last. When I have dieted in the past, my obliques will hold on to fat when everything else has leaned up. Without pictures, unless you are over the age of 35-40, I would guess it to be just extra fat. We all have slightly different problem areas for fat storage. I have seen people who taped out at 15% body fat still have their abs visible, while for many people, your abs don’t come in until at and under 10%. 45-50lbs is not that drastic of a weight loss. Competitive bodybuilders lose that much just getting ready for a show in 4 months or less. Had you stated “100lbs” then I would be more inclined to worry about “loose skin”. Your skin is very elastic.