Should I try cutting before summer, or should I just bulk through it?

[Chuuy]

Hi, at the moment I'm 17 years old and I'll be 18 in August. I'm about 5'9, weigh about 160 pounds, and have about 13% body fat.

I've been 'bulking' since about last summer. Most of my progress was something like lifting for a month, which was followed by a month of no lifting either because of an injury (strained hip flexors, broken foot, broken hand, some random **** with my spleen, etc) or just being overloaded with school work. Anyway, I'm at a point where I believe my form is great and that I could seriously start building muscle quickly as long as I don't get any new injuries.

My question is, is there even a point in cutting for summer? Should I just say **** it and bulk through summer? I'd rather look strong/chubby rather than skinny-fat, and I'm not sure if I currently have enough muscle to where I would look good at all if I cut. However, I would be totally satisfied if I could look even half-way ripped.

I'm great at controlling my diet if that means anything. What do you guys think?

[southparkbbb]

pics?

[Chuuy]

Sure. Any angles you guys want in particular or just whatever?

[Arcos27]

Sure. Any angles you guys want in particular or just whatever?

Front, back, and side. Flexed and unflexed versions of course

[comps]

I have a lot more mass than you, and I'm at a similar bf%. I am bulking through the summer, so what do you think my suggestion would be for you?

[chrisimundo]

Bulk bro, all types of bbq's during summer that you will want to be a part of

[Chuuy]

Alright well, here you go.

I think I've answered my own question. Upper body strength (especially my arms) has always been my biggest weakness, so I think I have a lot of work to do.

imgur .com/a/lECwN

It's just that at the same time, I don't know what look better for summer. Should I just bulk what I have now and remain chubby yet try to get stronger, or attempt to cut to get rid of some fat to be more toned? I know that I should bulk for the long term, but I'm just curious as to what you guys think I should do to try to look the best for the summer.

[bigsnakey]

its a little more than 13%, but it could be the height, but im 5'8 about 162 and im 10-11%, i say do a clean bulk, your fat will seem to fade and you'll get noticeably bigger

[Chuuy]

I have a lot more mass than you, and I'm at a similar bf%. I am bulking through the summer, so what do you think my suggestion would be for you?

I completely agree that I'm weak as hell right now. I know that for the long term, I need to bulk hard. But I'm mainly curious as to what I'll look best as just for this summer. I've never seen myself lower than about 10% body fat so I honestly have no idea.

It's just that personally, I'd rather be a skinny type of weak kid who still has abs rather than the skinny-fat thing I've got going now. As to whether or not I would actually have abs if I did lose weight is the reason why I wanted some more opinions.

[comps]

I completely agree that I'm weak as hell right now. I know that for the long term, I need to bulk hard. But I'm mainly curious as to what I'll look best as just for this summer. I've never seen myself lower than about 10% body fat so I honestly have no idea.

It's just that personally, I'd rather be a skinny type of weak kid who still has abs rather than the skinny-fat thing I've got going now. As to whether or not I would actually have abs if I did lose weight is the reason why I wanted some more opinions.

You most likely would have abs if you lost the weight.

My perception is much different than yours. I feel skinny, so phucking skinny it doesn't make sense. Yet, I am bigger than everyone I see in my daily life.