BF% estimate and assessment

[fenderstrato]

Hey guys. So, I'm in need of some advice as to where I should be directing my focus. For starters, based on my attached photos, where do you think my BF% is at? I'm guessing around 15% based on my height and weight (6'1", 155lbs or so). With that in mind, would I be better off starting to bulk or should I cut to try and drop a couple more pounds of fat before I start putting mass on? I seem to be storing what fat I have left in my chest (as you can see in the photos) which is frustrating and I'm curious whether it would look better trying to cut that fat or bulking up my chest to even it out. Right now, I'm lifting heavy 5-6 days a week, with 3 days of HIIT (boxing). I'm definitely making gains in the gym, however they could just be newbie gains since this is only my third month of serious lifting. What do you guys think would be the best course of action for me?

[jinda628]

I guess you would be around 18~20%?

[Phncke]

Skinny fat for sure. 16+. Prolly closer to 20. My suggestion would be to cut all ur fat RIGHT NOW. all of it. Cut to single digit body fat. Do a few rounds of p90x maybe. Fix it now or it will haunt u

[DSUP]

What do you guys think would be the best course of action for me?

Sleep, Eat, Lift, Repeat. You're 19. Take advantage of all the testosterone coursing through your veins and build some muscle. There aint much besides bones under whatever fat you're carrying anyway so why cut?

[nlite2000]

Sleep, Eat, Lift, Repeat. You're 19. Take advantage of all the testosterone coursing through your veins and build some muscle. There aint much besides bones under whatever fat you're carrying anyway so why cut?

Totally.

Not a ton of fat on you---no way it's as high as 20%. It looks like all you need to do is lift weights and eat big without paying too much attention to stuff like calories and macros.

[solilopop]

one nipple's pointing up and the other one is pointing down. and dang. if that's 18-20 bf, i'm screwed. Bulk up.

One thing a buddy of mine told me was that You can never have too much lube and you can never have too much muscle.

[fenderstrato]

My concern is that, if I am indeed at upwards of 18% BF, bulking is only going to add even more fat which I'm going to have to lose eventually. So I guess the question is, would I be better off just going for the cut (even if I don't have a lot of muscle underneath the fat), getting to sub-10% BF, and then finally bulking, or would I lose the fat easier with a better muscle base.

[cyco85]

My concern is that, if I am indeed at upwards of 18% BF, bulking is only going to add even more fat which I'm going to have to lose eventually. So I guess the question is, would I be better off just going for the cut (even if I don't have a lot of muscle underneath the fat), getting to sub-10% BF, and then finally bulking, or would I lose the fat easier with a better muscle base.

Dude if you dropped to sub-10%, you'd probably look like a Holocaust survivor. You're probably around 15% but it's hard to tell when there's little muscle mass. I'd bulk for a good 6 months (eating roughly 300 cals over maintenance and lift heavy). Fat gains should be minimal especially you being 19.

[masud]

I guess you would be around 18~20%?

mmm no, more like 15

[jch254]

Bulk up now! Eat! Lift! Sleep!

[jinda628]

mmm no, more like 15

Yeah, not really sure about my guess due to his lean mass. Its hard to tell. He look like he got a small frame also that's why I came up with it. Second look at his pic, I'll change my guess-timate to 16-17%

[sshin]

Looks soft...16% roughly? Bulk.

[aman88]

like 15%.

[fenderstrato]

Thanks for the advice guys. I think what I might do is a mini-cut of sorts for the next 5 weeks before I go back to school, since during the summer it is much easier for me to regulate exactly when and what I eat. After that, I will definitely start clean bulking. I suppose if I bulk slowly and properly, I won't put on too much fat, and after a few months, I can reassess and decide if I need to cut again.

[drewsedg]

Your problem isn't bodyfat it is bodyfat percentage. By that I mean the amount of bodyfat you have is disporportionate to your bodyweight because you are lacking muscle mass and not because you have a lot of bodyfat.

As someone else mentioned you should take advantage of the teenage testosterone levels and lift and eat now. Over the next year or two your natural levels will begin to decrease along with your potential for growth. It likely has already started by 19. From here on out it will only get harder for you to gain quality mass.