By the way, 10% is pretty damn “pealed” in my books.
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First, 12% is pretty damn good. Second, sounds like your cut is too extreme if you’re getting all those effects.
I’d take your chest over mine anyday. Its fully developed and thick. My chest has always been lagging because of over developed delts. I’ve tried doing BB bench presses and torn both pecs at different times. Now I focus on flies, floor presses and pullovers and its growing more than ever.
SB
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I’m not sure about that. Definitely maybe in reality. But I followed the diet advice from Thibs and others on the forums
I take 140mg per week. It puts my TT around 8-900ng/dl on my trough days but I’m high SHBG so I usually end up in the teens on free T (2/3 of range).
I couldn’t provide any advice on cutting that much. I’ve never been below 14-15%. In my avatar I’m sitting about that. If I try to cut more than that I lose arm and chest size. I haven’t figured it all out yet. I know it can be done, but I’m not the guy to ask there. There is also a genetic factor that comes into play.
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Their advice is great, however, again, everyone is individualistic and needs to be approached as so. If you feel like shit, keeping calories a bit higher, or keeping carbs a bit higher, implementing different types of cardio, or switching up how you’re lifting for a short time can help. It just means whatever you’re doing isn’t what your body needs.
Don’t get me wrong, when I cut, I feel flat and small. I look great in a mirror, but I feel tiny. But I don’t tank my energy or libido.
Again, 12% is pretty legit and not all that visually different than 10%. Do you get accurate scans ? Many folks say 12%, and in reality are 15-17% and would actually be quite happy with 12%
I’d say get to 12% and run a cycle. It could help you lose a bit more while gaining muscle and thus boosting your TDEE. The more muscle you put on, the less you end up having to cut calories to a level that your body hates you for.
I appreciate that man. It definitely blows my mind how many guys I see at the gym BB benching way more than I ever could, and their chests are much less developed. Their triceps are typically meatier than mine, but chest, definitely not.
I’m not sure if your pecs and shoulders allow for it. But try some weighted dips, EXCELLENT for chest development.
Again, a true 12% for someone focusing on powerlifting is pretty exceptional.
Nah, and your probably right. It’s pretty arbitrary but I usually just guess based on ab definition. My levels of lean are “beer belly” “little too much extra” “hey there’s some ab shadow” “movie lean” “ripped” “you look sick brah” lol
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@jcmcnorton
Post pics (no face)
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Dexter guesses my BF accurately with a confirmed dexa scan. Always welcome to post a pic with no face and you’ll get probably a good guess within 1-2%
Dexter scans have been proven to be just as accurate as Dexa scans. Many studies showing this to be true. I won’t bore anyone with the literature.
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You are currently underestimating your body fat by a good bit. The pics help a lot. You just need to get close to the 15% range to meet your goals I believe. Or rather on your scale ‘hey there’s some ab shadow’ LOL. Your lifts are pretty good. You deadlift and bench a little more than I do and I’m heavier than you with less BF.
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Yeah to be honest the level of lean you are in the profile pic is pretty close to what I’m looking for while increasing my strength towards the goals I listed above. For me, actual weight is irrelevant
Your shape is good with your shoulders and chest, you just hold a good bit of fat around your abdominal section. Do you drink alcohol? No cardio? Sedentary job aside from your lifting?
I’d pin you at ~20% in those photos. Here’s a photo of me, last week, at 14.5% body fat (dexa scan). I am 5’10 and 191lbs. So I’m pretty close to you.
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A couple of beers here and there. No cardio other than a bit of warm-ups. Desk jockey
Damn. OK fair enough. So looking at dropping about 12 lb of fat. I think a good short term goal is dialing in my TRT as I start cutting. 1lb a week should be fine. And hopefully the high test levels will keep me from crashing and burning. It’s been a year+ since trying to cut last. Just off the photos I was maybe a touch leaner when I started all the shitty symptoms. Problem is maintenance of that bf while still getting stronger.
So when you “cut”, are you just dropping calories as your main source of cutting?
I think I can connect the dots pretty accurately why you have a higher BF%, and why you feel a bit shitty cutting. Good news is, it’s all quite easily fixed, minus the desk job shit. That’s brutal.
Not that you have to pick… but be honest. What’s more important to you, lifting super heavy weights, or having the physique you desire? You’re way strong than me… and we both weigh the same amount.
Above you say you want to get significantly stronger, and drop a good amount of body fat. That’s a tough combo.
I would definitely suggest adding some cardio in there regardless of your goals.
Right now, being strong. It’s what keeps me motivated and coming back for more. I’ve tried in the past and I just end up quitting training all together for a few weeks out of boredom and lack of motivation.
Agreed, in the past I’ve set aside time where I just know I will take a drop in strength to trim down. That doesn’t really bother me. In the long run it doesn’t amount to any actual loss. It has to be possible though to be sustainably lean while getting stronger still. Hell, as a natural I’ve gotten plenty strong and don’t look that much different than I did.
I definitely agree. And I definitely know better. But damn do I hate it.
Always open to sound advice. All ears. Brutal? Why yes, yes it is
Exclusively