How many weeks do you guys think I need to cut?

[ChadCox]

Hey you guys so I am new here and these are photos of where I am right now. I took these photos today

My Stats are:
5'11
178lbs
18% Body Fat









I was 200lbs a few months ago but I have been running about 4-5 days a week and eating a relatively healthy diet. At first I was just going to run until I got down to 160lbs but I feel like I will be to scrawny and I have gone down to 170lbs twice but I keep gaining back the 10 pounds when I stopped running for a few weeks.

So how long do you guys think it should take me to cut with proper weight training, cardio and eating clean? I was thinking about 8 weeks..... Any links or advice you guys could give would be much appreciated! Links to other threads or articles would be great to! Thanks!

Also ultimately my goal is to be very lean with muscle like this

[Kalikolei]

I think you need to just lift and eat. You need more lean body mass before you cut in my opinion. Its a lot easier doing it this way then just cutting then bulking. Unless of course you just want to be skinny, then I say cut for 10 weeks. You should be good if you lose 10 pounds or so, losing 1-2 pounds a week. Takes time, but definitely worth it.

[ChadCox]

Yeah I want to be mainly lean, I was thinking I would lift 3 days a week and cardio 4 days a week until I get my bodyfat down to 8%-10% then work on putting on more muscle. So think 10 weeks is about the time it would take?

[Shakaa]

Your BF% looks around 22-23% from the pics

Having said that a strict diet and exercise routine you could cut 1% BF a week

[DanMan2k06]

10 weeks, I don't think so. That's only a little more than two months. You will be able to drop a noticeable amount of fat in that time, but don't think you'll end up like that guy. Like other said, you need some mass before you can cut. I would say lift heavy, re-evaluate in 3 months, and then decide whether you want to cut of just keep building and cut later.

[ChadCox]

Your BF% looks around 22-23% from the pics

Having said that a strict diet and exercise routine you could cut 1% BF a week

yeah you are probably right, i used one of those scales that also checks you bf% and I dont know how accurate they are

[ChadCox]

10 weeks, I don't think so. That's only a little more than two months. You will be able to drop a noticeable amount of fat in that time, but don't think you'll end up like that guy. Like other said, you need some mass before you can cut. I would say lift heavy, re-evaluate in 3 months, and then decide whether you want to cut of just keep building and cut later.

well i was aiming to reach that models physique in about 6 months to a year, do you think that is a realistic goal

[13seth]

I think you should concentrate on lifting heavy and eating clean. You will become lean over a year or 2 and not look scrawney. You might want to do some cardio, but heavy compound lifting will add lean mass and lose fat.
Why do you want to look like that model, he is kind of scrawney, you may have a scewed body image because you were chubby when younger or something, but I think you should set your goals higher than that for yourself. Work at it consistently, as part of your life and you will be there before you know it

[ChadCox]

thanks for the advice you guys!

[bonoms]

well i was aiming to reach that models physique in about 6 months to a year, do you think that is a realistic goal

Um....maaaaaybe a year.....if you eat STRICT and are in the gym at least 5 days a week

[Shakaa]

That Physique was built in the kitchen not the Gym, With a good nutrition plan, lifting 3 Days a week is more than enough.

[lulswut]

Um....maaaaaybe a year.....if you eat STRICT and are in the gym at least 5 days a week

5 days a week isn't necessary. Good nutrition and HARD 1 hour sessions 3 times a week will get him there, and a lot futher if he wants.

And OP, remember that consitency is key when building muscle. Skipping a training day, or eating bad a weekend might not seem like a big deal at a time, but that stuff quickly builds up over the course of 365 days. There is no substitute for hard work...