getting cut but losing strength REPS!

KORMuscle · 07-15-2008, 08:58 AM

Hey guys,
Right now I am about 181 at 9.2% bodyfat. I've been cutting for almost 2 months now and I like seeing the results/looking better but I hate the feeling of 'being small' and going down in strength. I know it's inevitable to lose some power while cutting [naturally] but it's starting to get to my head.
ie. benched 250 x 10 now I can only do 250x5... big difference.
You guys have any good exercise routines/advice to prevent my strength from keep going down while during my cut? also I was thinking of using creatine ethyl ester but I dont want to lose my definition...
Thanks for the help.

soapmaker77 · 07-15-2008, 09:09 AM

the creatine sure wont hurt. its just water weight, and because youre cutting youll be storing less water to anyway. the strength loss is natural, but the good news is when youre done cutting you regain that strength pretty easily

headhuntr · 07-15-2008, 10:16 AM

The creatine won't hurt for cutting. It has actually been shown to help weight loss in certain cases. Regardless, if you drink enough water and buy a good creatine, that "bloating" side effect people talk about won't happen. Creatine will give you more energy and help with the pump.

As for losing strength, maybe you are eating too many calories below your maintenance level? As is the fact of eating too many calories over maintenance when bulking. The faster you gain weight the more likely it is to gain more fat. When cutting, if you eat too many calories below maintenance, you will lose weight faster but also increase the amount of muscle that you lose. The faster you lose, the more muscle you also lose. Maybe up your calorie intake a little in order to slow down the cutting, but also reduce the amount of muscle you are losing. Other than that, as was said, don't worry too much about it as you will regain that strength once you are done with your cut.

Being at 9.2% body fat, how much are you aiming at cutting to? That's already pretty low. Keep up the great work!

KORMuscle · 07-15-2008, 11:05 AM

now that I think about it I have approx 280grams a protein/day and only about 60g carbs....

soapmaker77 · 07-15-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORMuscle

now that I think about it I have approx 280grams a protein/day and only about 60g carbs....

what i like to do is start my cut with somewhat high carbs, maybe 200-250 a day and keep it until i miss my weight goal for the week and drop a few and continue this pattern. when i was younger i went low from the start and screwed myself. i was losing weight and was pleased but when i was done i was weak and i looked it.

FitManJack · 07-25-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORMuscle

Hey guys,
Right now I am about 181 at 9.2% bodyfat. I've been cutting for almost 2 months now and I like seeing the results/looking better but I hate the feeling of 'being small' and going down in strength. I know it's inevitable to lose some power while cutting [naturally] but it's starting to get to my head.
ie. benched 250 x 10 now I can only do 250x5... big difference.
You guys have any good exercise routines/advice to prevent my strength from keep going down while during my cut? also I was thinking of using creatine ethyl ester but I dont want to lose my definition...
Thanks for the help.

Man, I've been there. I cut down to 182 pounds and was extremely weak on pressing movements. I've bulked back up on a long-term clean bulk (mainly for strength building) to 200 pounds, and I've reacquired all the strength I had when I was fully bulked over a year ago at 217 pounds.

There are small things you can do to compensate. The main thing is to not over-restrict calories. If you cut too fast, you'll lose strength and muscle size. You want to cut slowly.

I learned to rely more on upping the cardio than cutting the calories. I do restrict calories, but not too much and not right away. Slowly build up the cardio, then slowly restrict calories.

I think a good creatine and NO supplement is helpful as well, but of course during the final weeks of your cut you'll probably want to drop them to shed the water retention.

I keep hearing great things about carb cycling, but I've yet to research it well. That might be part of your answer too. Good luck!

-FMJ

FitManJack · 07-25-2008, 09:57 AM

Wow, I guess my post was a strong bump....

-FMJ

Kelei · 07-25-2008, 10:06 AM

The best things you can do to preserve strength and size while cutting are to keep protein intake high at around 50% of your total calories per day, you also do not want to restrict your fats too low, especially saturated fats as it's these fats that are used to produce testosterone and nearly all other hormones created by the body.

For bulking I usually use something like 50% Protein, 35% Carbs, 15% Fat, for cutting I usually use something like 60% Protein, 30% Fat, 10% Carbs.

Basically when I cut my diet consists of plain meat (no crumbs or sauce) and eggs, everything is cooked in olive oil or natural butter, the only time I have carbs is with my post workout meal/shake.