Cutting Before Bulking

Diet and Nutrition
1

I have decided to go a different path than I have been reading what most people do, I have decided I would like to cut instead of bulk first. I am currently 185lbs, 6’1, 9.0% body fat and 20 years old. I am thinking about cutting down to 175 lbs and then bulking for a period of time. I am wondering if this sounds like a good idea?

Here is my current diet for the last week or so. I noticed I didn’t keep track very well on Friday, sorry about that. How does my diet look?

Food (1 serving) Calories Fat Carbs Protein
Monday
7:30
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g
Egg Whites 17 0.06g .24g 3.6g
Great Value Fat Free Milk (1 Cup/240 mL) 0 0g 12g 8g
Nordica Cottage Cheese (1/2 cup) 80 1g 5g 13g
Kraft Monterey Jack Cheese (1 oz) 100 9g 0g 6g
9:30
Apple (large) 110 0g 29.28g 0.55g
12:15
Tilapia 98 1g 0g 21g
Great Value Fat Free Milk (1 Cup/240 mL) 0 0g 12g 8g
Whole Spear Asparagus (3-5spears) 20 0g 3g 3g
Hellmann’s Tarter Sauce (2 Tbsp) 80 7g 3g 0g
Egg Whites 17 0.06g .24g 3.6g
Egg Whites 17 0.06g .24g 3.6g
3:00
Nature Vally Chunky Granola Bars 180 7g 30g 5g
Celery (4 in. stick) 1 0.006g 0.146g 0.03g
Celery (4 in. stick) 1 0.006g 0.146g 0.03g
5:45
Homemade Chili (9oz, 1 cup) 188.29 8.95g 18.25g 10.34g
Egg Whites 17 0.06g .24g 3.6g
Egg Whites 17 0.06g .24g 3.6g
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g
8:00
Celery (4 in. stick) 1 0.006g 0.146g 0.03g
Celery (4 in. stick) 1 0.006g 0.146g 0.03g
Celery (4 in. stick) 1 0.006g 0.146g 0.03g
11:00
Nordica Cottage Cheese (1/2 cup) 80 1g 5g 13g

Food (1 serving) Calories Fat Carbs Protein
Tuesday
7:30
Egg Whites 17 0.06g .24g 3.6g
Egg Whites 17 0.06g .24g 3.6g
Homemade Chili (9oz, 1 cup) 188.29 8.95g 18.25g 10.34g
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g
9:30
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (4oz) 120 4g 0g 21g
12:15
Chef’s Requested Foods Filet of Beef (1pc) 220 14g 0g 23g
Yoplait LightYogurt 100 0g 19g 5g
3:00
Nature Vally Chunky Granola Bars 180 7g 30g 5g
7:30
Homemade Chili (9oz, 1 cup) 188.29 8.95g 18.25g 10.34g
Homemade Chili (9oz, 1 cup) 188.29 8.95g 18.25g 10.34g
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g
Kosher Dill Spear Pickles 5 0g 1g 0g
Kosher Dill Spear Pickles 5 0g 1g 0g
9:30
Kraft Monterey Jack Cheese (1 oz) 100 9g 0g 6g
12:00
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g

Food (1 serving) Calories Fat Carbs Protein
Wednesday
7:30
Homemade Chili (9oz, 1 cup) 188.29 8.95g 18.25g 10.34g
Kraft Monterey Jack Cheese (1 oz) 100 9g 0g 6g
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g
9:30
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (4oz) 120 4g 0g 21g
12:30
Wild Salmon Fillets (4oz) 100 2.5g 0g 20g
Kraft Monterey Jack Cheese (1 oz) 100 9g 0g 6g
Albacore Tuna (1/2 cup) 70 1g 0g 15g
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Tumaro’s Tortillas 100 2.5g 13g 7g
2:30
Albacore Tuna (1/2 cup) 70 1g 0g 15g
Tumaro’s Tortillas 100 2.5g 13g 7g
5:00
Campbells Chunky Beef Soup (1 cup) 150 22.5g 21g 10g
7:00
Ready Pac Garden Salad 15 30g 3g 1g
Kraft Ranch (2 Tbsp) 110 11g 2g 0g
Great Value Shredded Cheese (1/3 Cup) 110 9g under 1g 7g
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
Kosher Dill Spear Pickles 5 0g 1g 0g
Kosher Dill Spear Pickles 5 0g 1g 0g
10:15
Kraft Monterey Jack Cheese (1 oz) 100 9g 0g 6g
Kraft Monterey Jack Cheese (1 oz) 100 9g 0g 6g

Food (1 serving) Calories Fat Carbs Protein
Friday
7:30
Egg Whites 17 0.06g .24g 3.6g
Egg Whites 17 0.06g .24g 3.6g
Yoplait LightYogurt 100 0g 19g 5g
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g
9:30
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (4oz) 120 4g 0g 21g
12:30
Pink Salmon (1/2 cup) 60 2g 0g 10g
Pink Salmon (1/2 cup) 60 2g 0g 10g
Tumaro’s Tortillas 100 2.5g 13g 7g
Tumaro’s Tortillas 100 2.5g 13g 7g
Banana (med) 110 0g 20g 1g
2:30
Bolt House Farms Baby Carrots (14 pieces) 35 0g 9g 1g
Kraft Ranch (2 Tbsp) 110 11g 2g 0g
Bolt House Farms Baby Carrots (7 pieces) 17.5 0g 4.8g .5g
4:30
Sea Gold Smoked Oysters (1/2 cup) (50g) 120 7g 5g 9g

Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g

Food (1 serving) Calories Fat Carbs Protein
Saturday
12:30
Van Camps Pork and Beans (1/2 cup) 140 1g 23g 6g
Tumaro’s Tortillas 100 2.5g 13g 7g
Tumaro’s Tortillas 100 2.5g 13g 7g
Albacore Tuna (1/2 cup) 70 1g 0g 15g
Albacore Tuna (1/2 cup) 70 1g 0g 15g
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
2:30
Bolt House Farms Baby Carrots (14 pieces) 35 0g 9g 1g
Kraft Ranch (2 Tbsp) 110 11g 2g 0g
4:30
6 inch Italian BLT 360 39.5g 31.5g 63g
Protein Shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g
6:15
6 inch Italian BLT 360 39.5g 31.5g 63g
Sara Lee Whole Wheat Bread (1 Slice) 70 1g 12g 3g
Our Family Peanut Butter (2 Tbsp) 100 8g 3g 3.5g
8:15
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g
Tilapia 98 1g 0g 21g
Hellmann’s Tarter Sauce (2 Tbsp) 80 7g 3g 0g

Food (1 serving) Calories Fat Carbs Protein
Sunday
12:30
Flavorite Mixed Fruits 80 0g 18g under 1g
Shur Fine Sweet Corn (1/2 cup) 80 1g 17g 2g
Shur Fine Sweet Corn (1/2 cup) 80 1g 17g 2g
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g
2:50
Albacore Tuna (1/2 cup) 70 1g 0g 15g
Albacore Tuna (1/2 cup) 70 1g 0g 15g
Tumaro’s Tortillas 100 2.5g 13g 7g
Tumaro’s Tortillas 100 2.5g 13g 7g
5:00
Van Camps Pork and Beans (1/2 cup) 140 1g 23g 6g
Shur Fine Sweet Corn (1/2 cup) 80 1g 17g 2g
Amino Burst 3000 10 0g 0g 3g
Swanon Multi-Vitamin 20 9g 0g 1g
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g
Celery (4 in. stick) 1 0.006g 0.146g 0.03g
Celery (4 in. stick) 1 0.006g 0.146g 0.03g
9:00
Nordica Cottage Cheese (1/2 cup) 80 1g 5g 13g
Nordica Cottage Cheese (1/2 cup) 80 1g 5g 13g
10:00
protein shake 100 1.5g 3g 20g

2

You want to cut at 9%? I think you’re just scared to lose your 6 pack. :slight_smile:

I think youre prime for bulking right now. Just make sure it’s a clean and slow bulk.

3

I am afraid to lose my “forming” 6 pack :slight_smile: because truth be told I don’t necessarily have a complete or all that good of one yet. Which why I was wondering if it would be a good idea to cut down to 175lbs then bulk while trying to maintain a 6 pack because I believe at that weight I would have something I would be pretty happy with. Or would doing that just be a complete waste of time for me? Thanks for the feedback.

4

[quote]Dark_Angel wrote:
I am afraid to lose my “forming” 6 pack :slight_smile: because truth be told I don’t necessarily have a complete or all that good of one yet. Which why I was wondering if it would be a good idea to cut down to 175lbs then bulk while trying to maintain a 6 pack because I believe at that weight I would have something I would be pretty happy with. Or would doing that just be a complete waste of time for me? Thanks for the feedback.[/quote]

If what you say is true, then I must believe that you aren’t a true 9% bodyfat, unless you are an individual who stores a very disproportionate amount of fat over your abdominals, which according to some authors on this site, could be related to cortisol production.

So the question is: How lean are you, REALLY - if you are not lean, then yes, cutting down before may have a couple of benefits:

  1. It will help you psychologically. You will feel more comfortable without having too much excess fat on you.

  2. Physiologically, being leaner may help you gain a greater percentage of muscle in relation to fat. As long as you don’t ingest a caloric surplus that’s far beyond what is needed for optimal muscle growth, and you ingest your macronutrients during the most optimal times, then you should remain relatively lean as you give yourself a year or so to gain lean muscle.

Most people screw themselves up by :

  1. Trying to exceed their natural ability to gain lean muscle in a certain amount of time by eating far too many calories, and thus gain too much fat.

  2. Never eat enough for fear of losing the leanness and six-pack, etc etc. Some loss of definition is to be expected. But this does not mean you have to eat yourself into Jabba the Fat in order to gain muscle.

Don’t do either of those.

5

I really am 9% body fat and I weighed myself today before my workout and was at 183. The machine I used to determine my body fat percent was (not sure of the name) but I put in my stats (weight, height, age, etc) and then held it out in front of me and I guess it runs some kind of electric pulses through me.

I know they are not 100% accurate of course, so maybe I am one of those people that has a lot of fat accumulate around my abs? I could get a picture up later tonight possibly but for sure tomorrow. So I am telling the truth when I say I am 6’1, 183, 9% body fat, do you have any suggestions for me?

6

I forgot to mention that I am on creatine so would that maybe make me look more bloated and not show my 6 pack as well?