Is this a good idea (reps for serious answers)?

[Deathhawk]

*sigh* Well I'm presently just under 220 pounds at 5'7". I still feel small though. I know I'm ****ed in the head, but who cares. The things is that I'm starting to platough. I mean the gains are really coming along slowly. I'm thinking about this: bulk to either 225 or 230 and then spend about 2-3 months just cutting and going much lighter than usually with perfect form to kinda change it up. Maybe every few workouts I'd go heavy to retain strength, but it'd generally be considerably lighter. I've read that cycling weight like that can be great - that your body will eventually stop responding to just constantly getting pounded.

Good idea?

BTW who else here always feels like they're shrinking even though the scale and weights you're using suggest otherwise?

*edit* I should specify that when I refer to a "serious" answer I mean one that's actually decent volume. Nothing like "Yeah."

kthnx

[WorkoutKid02]

kids a monster..bulk away bro

[Deathhawk]

kids a monster..bulk away bro

Bulk to 230 then cut and go light like I said in the OP?

[DieselFella]

cut asap

[Deathhawk]

cut asap

Really? Why so urgent?

BTW if you're thinking about my avatar pic that's ancient.

[Iaskwhynot]

What BF% are you now?

[Deathhawk]

What BF% are you now?

Not sure. I'm 217 now and when I was 195 I had visible abs but not real detailed.It si pretty high though. I'm trying to gain .5 pounds/week. Maybe I'm.....18%. **** IDK.

[warman2442]

Cut asap as the other guy said

[av1atic]

lol its a good idea bro but im havin the exact opposite problem
im getting alot bigger/stronger but the scale isnt moving haha

[timothybryce]

just my opinion, but I would clean bulk for the next month or two and then start a good cut. I don't know about you but it's gonna be summer here in 2-3 months so I'm gonna start a cut soon so I have good defintion without a shirt on

[GLHF]

why cut "asap" that makes no sense...
just bulk up to 230, then go down to w/e u want.

[Iaskwhynot]

Not sure. I'm 217 now and when I was 195 I had visible abs but not real detailed.It si pretty high though. I'm trying to gain .5 pounds/week. Maybe I'm.....18%. **** IDK.

By wanting to go to lighter weights your currently doing high intensity low volume mostly then?

And i wouldnt want to be bulking if i was 18% and had plans on competing anytime soon. If your using gear (which i doubt with the weight gain estimate) then i would say go for as clean a bulk as possible then cut. But if your not like i expect, i would say maybe just cut down to something like 12-14% keep it reasonable and then bulk back up to 18% at 235 or w/e.

[Iaskwhynot]

why cut "asap" that makes no sense...
just bulk up to 230, then go down to w/e u want.

yeah except that it would be easier to get to his goal weight and BF if he clean bulks at a good starting point. Plus it would feel like **** to see yourself lose a lot of strength gains cutting from a 235 bulk to 210lbs or w/e instead of seeing your strength increasing from a clean bulk at 205 to 235.

Just my opinion though, plus he gets to look better longer

[Deathhawk]

By wanting to go to lighter weights your currently doing high intensity low volume mostly then?

And i wouldnt want to be bulking if i was 18% and had plans on competing anytime soon. If your using gear (which i doubt with the weight gain estimate) then i would say go for as clean a bulk as possible then cut. But if your not like i expect, i would say maybe just cut down to something like 12-14% keep it reasonable and then bulk back up to 18% at 235 or w/e.

Essentially my plan is to implement periodization and presently I'm doing the heavy, low volume portion.

What you're saying makes sense. I'm trying to gain really slow now. No more than .5 pounds/week.

*repped for good reply*

just my opinion, but I would clean bulk for the next month or two and then start a good cut. I don't know about you but it's gonna be summer here in 2-3 months so I'm gonna start a cut soon so I have good defintion without a shirt on

Outta reps. Sorry, dude. Remind me tomorrow or any other time.

[dimasso69]

well at 18% bodyfat that's not low..but u do make best gains between 14-18% well at least ive been told that by my older cousin who's a beast..but are u in a rush? i mean if u think ur fat then cut down if u want more mass do a nice clean bulk like u said steady slowly as long as ur in no rush to be lean otherwise id cut..im bulking prob through summer cuz ima twig i made a big mistake of "cutting" too early and i hated it. So my advice bulk up to ur goal then cut down, but that's just me.

[visionz1234]

The "weight cycling" idea sounds awful unless it's a brief de-load. Why do something stupid and change up what got you to where you are? Minor tweaks to your present/past plan.

[WorkoutKid02]

like I said b4 man...bulk, its way more fun nehow, your big as it stands right now and x2 about getting your best results between 14-18%BF, bulk to 230 as plan and then decide what you want to do from there, if you still think your small at 5 ft 7 230, you may have to look at yourself in the mirror again bro..haha, goodluck with the decision tho

[Alex_M.]

Yeah, I don't see how it can be a bad idea!

I have no scientific proof to back me, but I remember an accomplished friend (much older than me, and very built) saying that your body naturally stores fat in winter and loses it easier in summer, so it might follow logically for you to cut in the summer.

Just saying, you'd look jacked as fcuk.

[OoFaP]

Half bad idea. I agree with the cutting but DO NOT go lighter while doing it. Your muscle needs a reason to stay there. If you are eating a caloric deficit AND doing less weight than before, then your muscle has no reason to maintain what it was at before and you will lose some.

I would cut now though to be honest. Everyone is a higher body fat than they think so if you think you are 18 then I bet you are like 23. Any extra muscle you add now will most likely be lost in a cut anyway so I would just start now.

[Deathhawk]

The "weight cycling" idea sounds awful unless it's a brief de-load. Why do something stupid and change up what got you to where you are? Minor tweaks to your present/past plan.

Periodization is a tried and proven method though. Essentially that's what I'd be doing. And it's just cuz I'm starting to platough and I'm gonna cut soon. Two birds with one stone I figured.

Half bad idea. I agree with the cutting but DO NOT go lighter while doing it. Your muscle needs a reason to stay there. If you are eating a caloric deficit AND doing less weight than before, then your muscle has no reason to maintain what it was at before and you will lose some.

I would cut now though to be honest. Everyone is a higher body fat than they think so if you think you are 18 then I bet you are like 23. Any extra muscle you add now will most likely be lost in a cut anyway so I would just start now.

That's what I always tell people. But really I think 18% is about right. And regarding the first thing you said: that's why I'm hesitant. But couldn't I implement periodization along with some heavy days to combat that and retain mass?