Should I bulk?

[Ondle]

Would you bulk when you are 162 pounds at 17-19& BF? I look good in clothes, but I have a stomach and love handles. I have been taking BB seriously for the last 2 months. I have dropped 18 pounds and increased my lifts, but i still have fat in my legs, and stomach. Should I just continue my cut or bulk?

[Kahldris]

It's hard to say without pictures.

If you are actually 17%+ bodyfat I would cut, but that's just me, its up to personal preference.

[McBlouster]

please cut

[Ondle]

here is a pic taken last week.

[Kahldris]

I could see someone going either way based on your pic. Its really up to you man..

Judging from your pic I would bulk so I have something to cut to later.

[Ondle]

please cut


About 3 months ago I cut all the way down to 150-155 and I couldnt get below. I was true skinnyfat. Im afraid Im headed in the same direction. Im hitting my macros correctly. And lifting heavy. I actually made some gains in certain lifts.

[Saintsqc]

If you are comfortable with your body, bulk.

If you want to be leaner, cut.

Keep in mind that if you want good result with a bulk, you have to do it for a couple of months. That means you will get fatter for many weeks.

At the end its your call. I did a bulk of 8 months, at the end I was quite fat...but I dont care about that. Im okay being 20%+...some others cut once they get over 12...

[Ondle]

If you are comfortable with your body, bulk.

If you want to be leaner, cut.

Keep in mind that if you want good result with a bulk, you have to do it for a couple of months. That means you will get fatter for many weeks.

At the end its your call. I did a bulk of 8 months, at the end I was quite fat...but I dont care about that. Im okay being 20%+...some others cut once they get over 12...


what was ur routine like? 3 day split, 5 day split?

[Ondle]

i was wondering would I see results with a recomp?

[nosix]

i was wondering would I see results with a recomp?

Yes if you have the dedication and patients

[blackkingcarter1984]

Pics please!

[Ondle]

i posted a pic dude

[blackkingcarter1984]

I could see someone going either way based on your pic. Its really up to you man..

Judging from your pic I would bulk so I have something to cut to later.


Yup, his choice in this one.

[Ondle]

man im so confused...Im scared to put on more on fat, especially since I have a high BF%...I guess what I will do is cut a little bit more than bulk up...I dont even know how much leaner Im going to get.

[teebone21]

My opinion: you need to muscle up for atleast 8 months then cut down and see what you earned. You are currently in the skinny/fat stage. Continue cardio but up the weights and food

truth is its up to you bro and what you are confortable looking like. Your BF maybe high but you can improve on that at any time.

[RSmithyy]

Cut to less than 10% BF and then bulk.

That way, at 10% you will have visible abs.

Bulk until the abs are barely visible. Cut again. Rinse and repeat.

Ab visibility is something easy to guage to know if you are getting your body fat too high so you wont let the fat gain get out of control on your bulk.

You still have a fair bit of fat to cut IMO. As long as you are lifting heavy, you shouldnt end up skinnyfat at the end of your cut.

Good luck with it bro. I am still cutting even though im 174 pounds.

[Ondle]

Cut to less than 10% BF and then bulk.

That way, at 10% you will have visible abs.

Bulk until the abs are barely visible. Cut again. Rinse and repeat.

Ab visibility is something easy to guage to know if you are getting your body fat too high so you wont let the fat gain get out of control on your bulk.

You still have a fair bit of fat to cut IMO. As long as you are lifting heavy, you shouldnt end up skinnyfat at the end of your cut.

Good luck with it bro. I am still cutting even though im 174 pounds.


Based on my pic is it possible to get down to 10% bf? I may have to get down 30 more pounds, but im afraid im going to stall at some point.

[Kahldris]

Based on my pic is it possible to get down to 10% bf? I may have to get down 30 more pounds, but im afraid im going to stall at some point.

Why would it NOT be possible for you to get down to 10% bodyfat? You seem to think that your body is an exception to the laws of thermodynamics..

Whether you bulk or cut is not a big deal, just do one or the other and you will be happy about it, trust me.

[Ondle]

Why would it NOT be possible for you to get down to 10% bodyfat? You seem to think that your body is an exception to the laws of thermodynamics..

Whether you bulk or cut is not a big deal, just do one or the other and you will be happy about it, trust me.

thanks man, another reason I dont want to bulk yet is because Im still making small gains. Once I start stalling on my lifts , I will have no choice but to bulk.

[Kahldris]

thanks man, another reason I dont want to bulk yet is because Im still making small gains. Once I start stalling on my lifts , I will have no choice but to bulk.

Why can't you make strength gains on a cut?

[Ondle]

Why can't you make strength gains on a cut?

i am making strength gains on a cut.

[Kahldris]

i am making strength gains on a cut.

Exactly, you said once you start stalling you will have no choice but to bulk...

Strength is not 100% related to physical muscle gain.

[Ondle]

Exactly, you said once you start stalling you will have no choice but to bulk...

Strength is not 100% related to physical muscle gain.

hold up let me get this straight. increasing weight on certain lifts is not a gain in muscle? i actually though strength gains=muscle. guess I am wrong?

[RSmithyy]

Bro trust me you can get to 10% BF.

I used to be quite fat. Around 220 pounds. I was > 20% BF I would think.

I also doubted myself and thought it was a slow metabolism and thought I would need heaps of cardio and some rediculous calorie deficit to cut. Thing is, I didnt.

Right now I am probably sitting at around 12% BF. I am still losing week to week. It does come in whooshes though. Stick with it even if you plateau and you will break through. Fat loss is not linear.

If you are getting noobie gains on a cut, cut for sure. Take advantage of this.

I know how it feels about lifts stalling on a cut. Lifting the same weight for weeks on end feelsbadman. I just started doing 5x5 instead of 8x3 on some of my lifts and I have made some strength increases. I work my ass off in the gym though.

[Kahldris]

hold up let me get this straight. increasing weight on certain lifts is not a gain in muscle? i actually though strength gains=muscle. guess I am wrong?

No, you can gain strength without gaining muscle, look up powerlifting.

[fitbrah]

bulk

[Ondle]

Bro trust me you can get to 10% BF.

I used to be quite fat. Around 220 pounds. I was > 20% BF I would think.

I also doubted myself and thought it was a slow metabolism and thought I would need heaps of cardio and some rediculous calorie deficit to cut. Thing is, I didnt.

Right now I am probably sitting at around 12% BF. I am still losing week to week. It does come in whooshes though. Stick with it even if you plateau and you will break through. Fat loss is not linear.

If you are getting noobie gains on a cut, cut for sure. Take advantage of this.

I know how it feels about lifts stalling on a cut. Lifting the same weight for weeks on end feelsbadman. I just started doing 5x5 instead of 8x3 on some of my lifts and I have made some strength increases. I work my ass off in the gym though.


yes this is what I mean. Im not going to lie about 2 months ago I couldnt do a pullup/chinup. I can do at least 9 chins and 9 pullups. And about 3 chins weighted using a 25 pound dumbell, and now i working on doing wide grips, which I could only do about 1 (couldn't do any before).

[RSmithyy]

If you cut more, you will look better than you will if you bulk.

Cutting makes you look ripped and gives more muscle definition. Provided there is some there.

You will feel better about how you look if you cut. Trust me.

Just keep lifting heavy and frequently 3-4 times per week and reap those newbie rewards!

[Ondle]

If you cut more, you will look better than you will if you bulk.

Cutting makes you look ripped and gives more muscle definition. Provided there is some there.

You will feel better about how you look if you cut. Trust me.

Just keep lifting heavy and frequently 3-4 times per week and reap those newbie rewards!


thanks bro.

[nosix]

If you cut more, you will look better than you will if you bulk.

Cutting makes you look ripped and gives more muscle definition. Provided there is some there.

You will feel better about how you look if you cut. Trust me.

Just keep lifting heavy and frequently 3-4 times per week and reap those newbie rewards!

wdf..

[sawoobley]

Lift heavy. Your not going to looked ripped if you cut at this point. You simply lack lean body mass. However, if you cut to a lower body fat percentage while reaping the newbie gains you can bulk for longer later when your progress starts to slow down.

You don't look that fat to me. It's more a lack of muscle. How tall are you?

[Ondle]

Lift heavy. Your not going to looked ripped if you cut at this point. You simply lack lean body mass. However, if you cut to a lower body fat percentage while reaping the newbie gains you can bulk for longer later when your progress starts to slow down.

You don't look that fat to me. It's more a lack of muscle. How tall are you?

5'9 or 5'10

So I should basically cut a bit more than bulk up?

[RSmithyy]

wdf..

I meant you will look better on your initial cut. You need to get fairly lean first to reap the rewards of looking good on a bulk.

If you just bulk with ~20% BF, you will just look like you are built like a fridge. Personal preference of course...

[FunkymonkAW]

Bulk slowly (.5-1lb a week) IMO until you have some muscularity.

Starting Strength, or a basic 5x5 regimen centered around compound movements will serve you well.

[Ondle]

Bulk slowly (.5-1lb a week) IMO until you have some muscularity.

Starting Strength, or a basic 5x5 regimen centered around compound movements will serve you well.

5 sets each
DAY 1 � PULL

Deadlifts or Power Cleans
Barbell Rows, Dumbbell Rows, or Wide Grip Chins
Barbell Curls, Close Grip Underhand Chins, or Hammer Curls

DAY 2 � PUSH

Incline or Flat Barbell or Dumbbell Bench Press
Barbell or Dumbbell Shoulder Presses
Tricep Dips or Close Grip Bench Press

DAY 3 � LEGS

Front or Back Squats
Barbell or Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlifts
Calf Raises (3x12) - only if a seriously lagging bodypart
Weighted Crunches or Weighted Hanging Leg Raises (3x12)


about to follow this routine. does it look good?

[Kahldris]

5 sets each
DAY 1 � PULL

Deadlifts or Power Cleans
Barbell Rows, Dumbbell Rows, or Wide Grip Chins
Barbell Curls, Close Grip Underhand Chins, or Hammer Curls

DAY 2 � PUSH

Incline or Flat Barbell or Dumbbell Bench Press
Barbell or Dumbbell Shoulder Presses
Tricep Dips or Close Grip Bench Press

DAY 3 � LEGS

Front or Back Squats
Barbell or Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlifts
Calf Raises (3x12) - only if a seriously lagging bodypart
Weighted Crunches or Weighted Hanging Leg Raises (3x12)


about to follow this routine. does it look good?

I would reccomend doing babylovers SS routine or an upper/lower split. But once again it's ultimately up to you.

[Ondle]

I would reccomend doing babylovers SS routine or an upper/lower split. But once again it's ultimately up to you.

I actually did the all pro beginners routine for like a month until I got used to doing certain lifts. I recently found this routine and im gonna start it tomorrow. Before I was doing squats, deads, and bench at the same workout session. Now I want to split them up and see how this will workout.

[sawoobley]

about to follow this routine. does it look good?

It looks horrible IMO. You should be hitting your major muscles 2-3x per week.

Get on starting strength. http://www.startingstrength.net/workouts/
http://startingstrength.wikia.com/wiki/Video#Deadlift

I suggest reading this multi-part series on beginning weight training: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/beginning-weight-training-part-1.html

[Kahldris]

I actually did the all pro beginners routine for like a month until I got used to doing certain lifts. I recently found this routine and im gonna start it tomorrow. Before I was doing squats, deads, and bench at the same workout session. Now I want to split them up and see how this will workout.

What are your lifting stats? Too many people switch routines way too early.

[Ondle]

What are your lifting stats? Too many people switch routines way too early.

squat:185
deadlift:135
bench:125

[Kahldris]

squat:185
deadlift:135
bench:125

Please stay on SS or a close varation of it.

I'm not trying to be rude here but those lifts are very low and you would benefit more by sticking to SS or something close to it.

[Ondle]

Please stay on SS or a close varation of it.

I'm not trying to be rude here but those lifts are very low and you would benefit more by sticking to SS or something close to it.

how long should I stay on it?

[FlyOrDie]

please cut

He means cut/trim your armpit hair,lol
Op, do u even lift?

[sawoobley]

I would reccomend doing babylovers SS routine

This routine sucks also. Just do Starting Strength as it was originally was designed.

Edit: I've seen several versions of babylovers and some of them are atrocious while others just add some arm vanity work. Either way, I wouldn't mess with the basics especially at OP's level.

[Kahldris]

how long should I stay on it?

Until you can no longer add weight each time you lift.

Read the stickies on the routines I'm talking about, you will learn alot.

[Kahldris]

This routine sucks also. Just do Starting Strength as it was originally was designed.

Or this, just do something that is proven to work, OP.