Help! Timing peak condition for Summer '14

Hi,

I'm not actually going to compete, but I still need help reaching a peak condition at a certain time please.

Ever since I've started, I've been on this cycle where I reach peak leanness in the middle of the winter! It just tends to work out this way based on the rate at which I bulk and cut and when I first started bodybuilding.

I want to hit 8-10% bodyfat around June 1st 2014. The same condition as my avi pic (with more muscle, hopefully). Not contest lean, but definitely sub 10%.

Right now I'm at 15%-18% I'd say. If I cut now, I'd reach peak leanness in winter again (thinking a 3-5 month cut to reach this condition in my current state)!

So I was thinking of slowly continuing to bulk until around Nov 1st, and then starting a cut that would last about 6 months. That is the easiest way I can think of solving my problem and it gives me a shot at another 2-3 lbs of LBM before the cut (think I've gained about 7 LBM since this time last year).

What would YOU do? Pretend you're OK with not looking your best until the target date of 6/1/14. Being chubby in Fall really doesn't bother me much as long as I look good next Summer.

Current pics:

Front Bi:
[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/28lw184.jpg[/IMG]

MM:
[IMG]http://i40.tinypic.com/nvns4y.jpg[/IMG]

Lat Spread:
[IMG]http://i44.tinypic.com/2igdb89.jpg[/IMG]

Side Tri (here's where you can really tell I'm getting fat):
[IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/2jequrc.jpg[/IMG]

Relaxed from front:
[IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/sfxthe.jpg[/IMG]

Relaxed from side:
[IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/sd232v.jpg[/IMG]



P.S. I've been on two 6 month cuts already, each has left me with a much better physique than I had before.

8-10% body fat is a level you can easily maintain AND add lean mass while looking good year around.....why not go that route instead of constantly bulking or cutting? You do not have to add excessivel fat to grow.....

[QUOTE=simpleguy4;1116618273]8-10% body fat is a level you can easily maintain AND add lean mass while looking good year around.....why not go that route instead of constantly bulking or cutting? You do not have to add excessivel fat to grow.....[/QUOTE]

Thanks man.

I've adapted the Lyle McDonald idea of bulking and cutting between a 8-15% range in order to make the most efficient gains (in his opinion). He talks about it in detail in this article:

[url]http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/muscle-gain/general-philosophies-of-muscle-mass-gain.html[/url]

He's against excessive bulking and cutting, but he also believes gaining anything less than ~4 lbs per month is not as effective for muscle gains.

In summary, he says:

"As noted above, there’s no doubt that gaining some fat will allow a faster rate of muscle gain. The drawback is that, gain too much fat and dieting time is extended and appearance suffers. And while staying lean is nice from an appearance standpoint, trying to stay too lean all the time tends to hurt mass and strength gains because the trainee simply can’t eat enough"

Not trying to start a debate here, I respect your opinion just as much as Lyle's. Just giving you an idea of the beliefs that are already in my head influencing how I go about this.

Regardless I've pretty much made up my mind to go on a mini cut for about 2 months, bulk for another 3 months, and then cut for 6/1/14. That way these titties don't get any bigger lol.

I am also a big proponent of Lyle McDonald and respect his work. But experience with myself and many others has shown that 10%+/- BF allows more than enough cushion to allow for steady muscle gain without the downside of extended dieting and accompanying loss of lean mass. If just sheer size and strength were the goal I would say get as big a necessary to accomplish that regardless of bodyfat....but if the end result is a lean, muscular physique, excessive bodyfat is more of a hindrance (...reduced insulin sensitivity, higher cortisol, lower testosterone) than would be had by making leaner gains.