Hello,
I need to cut (got too fat, also on lots of prednisone). Should I switch to less weight/more reps, and if so, what percent of my normal load should I lift? Or should I just keep lifting as heavy as I can?
5'11"
225lbs
Bench: 205lbs (2 reps)
Squat: 280lbs (5+ reps)
Deadlift: 325lbs (5+ reps)
OHP: 150lbs (5 reps)
I'd appreciate your advice on this. Thanks!
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11-20-2012, 02:06 PM #1
Reps/weight when cutting question
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11-20-2012, 02:09 PM #2
- Join Date: Jan 2012
- Location: Chatsworth, Georgia, United States
- Posts: 5,244
- Rep Power: 14153
I would keep lifting heavy as possible. You may lose a little strength along the way, but that is normal.
Eric
PR's
squat 335x1
benchpress 245x1
DB Benchpress 100'sx6
Bent over rows 245x8
deadlifts 445x1
Military press 130x6
Chin-ups BW+100x2
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=144259741 My workout journal
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11-20-2012, 02:16 PM #3
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11-20-2012, 02:18 PM #4
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11-20-2012, 03:32 PM #5
- Join Date: Feb 2012
- Location: fort st john, BC, Canada
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I lift the same when I'm bulking or cutting. May lose a little weight while cutting but I still keep in the 6-10 rep range for most of my lifts. If I can get 10 on all 4 sets pretty easy then I move it up. If I fall below 6 then I drop it down. Very rare for me to have to drop other than the last few weeks before comp
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11-20-2012, 03:51 PM #6
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11-20-2012, 07:32 PM #7
Can't recall if it was McDonald or who (Martin Berkhan?) who wrote some pretty extensive stuff on this- do not go to metabolic lifting versus stress/tension lifting on a cut. Period.
Without trying to sound like a mad scientist (which I am not- I just read and believe what they said) you have to keep your body believing it needs to preserve that muscle through use.
The only thing the articles said was, you MIGHT reduce either frequency (times per week) or set/rep counts, but you would keep, or in some cases, maybe even INCREASE the load. For your purposes (strength training), your sets and reps don't allow for a lot of reduction in numbers, so you might reduce frequency of workouts. Someone with far more reps/sets (BB) would maybe drop from say, 155lbs, 10 reps, 5 sets, to say 155lbs, 6 reps, 3 sets, or even, 160, 6 reps, 2 sets.
I think the key is, your "set" weight should not reduce, your reps can, your set count can, and your frequency per week can- but this is only meant to accommodate your caloric deficit. Still lift the same amount (or even a SMIDGE more) weight for less reps/sets, less often.
"Tell" your body "I need to keep this" is essentially the message you need to send...Nobody improves without trying. Period.
Listen to your wisdom as you gain it. Rarely are things lost forever. Change is usually always possible. Second chances sometimes reveal better results than first chances. Always look to believe that you can and will be better. You're not done until you give up.
(Bear= wife's nickname for me... Luna= my nickname for her)
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11-21-2012, 12:12 AM #8
Not to hijack the thread, but at what point is it a good idea to do high reps low weight. Seems almost 90% of the time or more people say push more weight..but at some point is the high rep stuff going to give you a break or allow your body to recover from the constant stress to push? Is there any benefit at all? Also, if it's a slow cut, can you still put on muscle at all, or are you going to lose it no matter what you do?
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11-21-2012, 02:41 AM #9
- Join Date: Jan 2004
- Location: Connecticut, United States
- Age: 73
- Posts: 12,657
- Rep Power: 50533
all very good questions!!
the trick is to realize that when you do need a "break", so to speak, it is not necessary to do a Jack La Lanne type of workout, meaning, you should NEVER have to do VERY light weights for untold repetitions, except, as maybe a burning movement at the end of a workout.
you take a break by backing off A BIT, because as you have discovered it is NOT possible to continually add weight.
and yes, if you are doing a slow fat loss you most certainly will continue to add lean mass....
people always forget that you make progress also by persistence, and , working out regularly, regardless of how much weight you add, is a plus.Lift as MUCH as you can, for as MANY reps as you can,
while in complete control of the exercise.
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