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Another Bulk or Cut Thread

Need help decided if I should bulk or cut.

dyedrin
dyedrin g Mike Dye
3 Post(s)
3 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: January 1, 2018
Posted

Hey Everyone,

 

After watching Scott's awesome new "Should You Lose Weight Or Bulk First" video, I decided to risk asking the community which option might benefit me the most.

 

Stats:

 

Height: 6'1"

Age: 35

Weight: 180

Body Fat%: 19%?

 

I've trimmed down over the past few years and have my nutrition at a point where I'm comfortable. I'm currently sitting at a TDEE around 2500-2600 and have my macros broken up as follows (approximately): 45% carbs, 35% protein, 20% fat.

I've always been on the larger side, and have spent the past year-and-a-half or so in the dreaded hellscape that is "too little to gain muscle, but not enough to lose weight". My end-goal is to pack on some muscle and replace much of the soggy midsection that I currently have.

So the question is, should I cut down to about 170-pounds prior to bulking, or would a lean bulk with the added muscle associated with it be more beneficial? Either way, what would be a good stopping point (either for cutting or bulking) so I don't lose what little muscle I have nor get more spherical in nature? And do my approximate ratios seem reasonable for whatever choice is made?

And as an aside, have I completely destroyed the potential for newbie gains by training without the adequate surplus for the 18-months I've been lifting weight?

 

Thanks for the input!

Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
Posted By: dyedrin

Hey Everyone,

 

After watching Scott's awesome new "Should You Lose Weight Or Bulk First" video, I decided to risk asking the community which option might benefit me the most.

 

Stats:

 

Height: 6'1"

Age: 35

Weight: 180

Body Fat%: 19%?

 

I've trimmed down over the past few years and have my nutrition at a point where I'm comfortable. I'm currently sitting at a TDEE around 2500-2600 and have my macros broken up as follows (approximately): 45% carbs, 35% protein, 20% fat.

I've always been on the larger side, and have spent the past year-and-a-half or so in the dreaded hellscape that is "too little to gain muscle, but not enough to lose weight". My end-goal is to pack on some muscle and replace much of the soggy midsection that I currently have.

So the question is, should I cut down to about 170-pounds prior to bulking, or would a lean bulk with the added muscle associated with it be more beneficial? Either way, what would be a good stopping point (either for cutting or bulking) so I don't lose what little muscle I have nor get more spherical in nature? And do my approximate ratios seem reasonable for whatever choice is made?

And as an aside, have I completely destroyed the potential for newbie gains by training without the adequate surplus for the 18-months I've been lifting weight?

 

Thanks for the input!

I can't help but lol at the Mario head 😂 

 

So from your pictures, I would say you're kind of at the skinny fat stage, yeah? You're not really fat, but you don't have a huge amount of muscle mass.. would you agree?

 

I don't think you should cut at all. I think you need to be into a bulking phase now to start adding some mass, which will alter your bodyfat% and potentially help you drop fat too. If you haven't been training with a surplus for 18 months, the newbie gains might still be there for you too so it's worth a shot.

 

I'd just change up your ratios.. so go for more like 40% protein, 40% fat and 20% carb. It doesn't have to be EXACTLY like that.. but the idea is that your carbs as quite low compared to the others, so that even though you're in a surplus, you don't pile on fat. I wouldn't focus on a weight as a stopping point, but more a bodyfat%. If you notice the bf% is going up, and gets to say 22-23%, then it's clear you need to cut. But I think if you do things right, you won't have to worry about that.

 

Have you been to the @mealplan page to get some starting numbers?

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dyedrin
dyedrin g Mike Dye
3 Post(s)
3 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: January 1, 2018
Posted

Hey Scott!

 

I would completely agree, not really much in the way of measurable muscle. I'll start a nice slow bulk using the ratios you described.

 

Quick question though: I would think that carbs would be higher considering the energy expenditure needed for the gym. Do carbs pose that big a risk in fat gain during a bulk?

 

I'll be looking at the mealplan page shortly to plan all this.

 

Thanks again! And thanks for all of your high-quality videos. They've certainly helped me figure all this out.

Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
Posted By: dyedrin

Hey Scott!

 

I would completely agree, not really much in the way of measurable muscle. I'll start a nice slow bulk using the ratios you described.

 

Quick question though: I would think that carbs would be higher considering the energy expenditure needed for the gym. Do carbs pose that big a risk in fat gain during a bulk?

 

I'll be looking at the mealplan page shortly to plan all this.

 

Thanks again! And thanks for all of your high-quality videos. They've certainly helped me figure all this out.

It varies person to person, but a lot of the time, you'll see that people start holding onto more fat when their carb intake is too high. By swapping out carbs in favor of more protein and fat, you take away that energy source the body will tend to store as fat, but you still get the energy you need for workouts through your fats which means you won't be tapping into muscle for energy.. if that all makes sense haha.

 

The @mealplan calculator will definitely help! Glad you have been learning from the videos too 😊 Let us know if you need anything else!

Need 1 on 1 coaching? Send me a direct message to learn more!
dyedrin
dyedrin g Mike Dye
3 Post(s)
3 Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Gain Muscle Date Joined: January 1, 2018
Posted
Posted By: Scott_Herman

It varies person to person, but a lot of the time, you'll see that people start holding onto more fat when their carb intake is too high. By swapping out carbs in favor of more protein and fat, you take away that energy source the body will tend to store as fat, but you still get the energy you need for workouts through your fats which means you won't be tapping into muscle for energy.. if that all makes sense haha.

 

The @mealplan calculator will definitely help! Glad you have been learning from the videos too 😊 Let us know if you need anything else!

That makes complete sense. Thanks a lot for all the input Scott!

Scott_Herman
Scott_Herman a Scott Herman
7.1K Post(s)
7.1K Post(s) Gender: Male Goal: Bodybuilding Date Joined: August 8, 2008
Posted
Posted By: dyedrin

That makes complete sense. Thanks a lot for all the input Scott!

You are very welcome @dyedrin! Time for Mario to get SWOLE.. maybe even more swole than Bowser! 😁 ðŸ’ª 

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