I had sought out advice back in fall and decided to continue to lean out since I was feeling good and lifts were progressing. I’ve dropped about another 9lbs since that post in October. I’m 30 year old, 5’11” and cut to ~153lbs. Goal has continued to drop, and technically sits at 150lbs. Wanted to lose all fat around lower belly, pecs, and love handles. GETTING CLOSE (I think)! Posting current pics.
But I’ve been in a deficit for quite some time, and wonder if this is hurting T levels or hormones in general. Also, excited to be primarily aimed to putting on muscle with maintenance/surplus calories. So, just looking for some encouragement/advice and direction from others on this journey. Overall, my goal is to have a strong, lean, and athletic body. Ideally closer to 190lbs about 15% bodyfat I suppose.
Heres my thoughts regarding going into surplus once I reach desired leanness. Goal is to add .25lbs weekly for a total of 1lb per month. I know muscle gain is slow. Hypothetically, and I know nothing in fitness is linear and progression slows down. BUT, if I could put on 12lbs of muscle in a year, and 24lbs in 2 years? That would be great! I know its not quite how it works. But I’m willing to go slow to avoid fat gain and keep calories tight. That’s just my thinking. Like I said, would like some advice from the community! (Link to October Post is on here and current pictures.)
BUT, if I could put on 12lbs of muscle in a year, and 24lbs in 2 years?
I feel like spending 2 solid years doing the kind of training that builds muscle would absolutely grind me into dust and have me hating training and, consequently, life. Periodization is a thing for a reason. I woudl approach this with phases.
Understandable! What are your pointers on my current situation, continue to lean out anymore? Go into maintenance then surplus? Think this deficit is messing with T levels/cortisol.
Thanks. That’s what I’m feeling lately. Should going to maintenance for awhile help in this? Should I jump into surplus or anything? I’ve been wanting to get lean as possible before going into that bulk, but think it likely isn’t worth it.
It’s not my place to say what you should or should not do.
I am a 5’9 trainee, and if I weighed 153lbs, I would want to be MUCH heavier. The lowest I let myself drop in recent years was 164lbs, which was a weight I had seen once in high school, and it was NOT a good look for me.
But as far as nutrition goes: it always supports training for me, not the other way around. I wouldn’t pick a nutritional approach and find a plan to support it: I’d pick a training approach and eat to support it.
And since the topic has been periodization, I’d pick a training approach that is DIFFERENT from what I’ve been doing up until this point so I could get the benefits of that.
