Progress Update September-April Appreciate any tips, advice etc.

[TowerChaser]

September 19th-April 16th

290 to 260 with uneducated unhealthy cut left me with no lean mass so I bulked to 285 the smart way and have recently cut back to 260 in the second pic. Did that with Carb cycling and 5X5 workouts 2-3 times a week. Recently started RFL. I'm on Day 5 and love it so far.


Appreciate any tips, advice etc.

[Pietens]

September 19th-April 16th

290 to 260 with uneducated unhealthy cut left me with no lean mass so I bulked to 285 the smart way and have recently cut back to 260 in the second pic. Did that with Carb cycling and 5X5 workouts 2-3 times a week. Recently started RFL. I'm on Day 5 and love it so far.


Appreciate any tips, advice etc.

Looking fantastic man! Keep it up. I'm a huge advocate of carb cycling myself. What's the cardio training like? That would be my first question.

[MCrow]

Good work man. Looks like your program is working.

[TigerBulk]

September 19th-April 16th

290 to 260 with uneducated unhealthy cut left me with no lean mass so I bulked to 285 the smart way and have recently cut back to 260 in the second pic. Did that with Carb cycling and 5X5 workouts 2-3 times a week. Recently started RFL. I'm on Day 5 and love it so far.




Appreciate any tips, advice etc.

Have you ever tried a routine like starting strength? It's only compound movements & is 3 times a week.

My understanding is that big compound movements will help you put on the most muscle and burn lots of calories.

I'm currently on a cut while on starting strength which is not generally recommended on these boards. However, it's my understanding that one can still make strength gains while on a cut, but it's like progressing into a headwind and relatively slow going. Unlike the gains made on a bulk which is similiar to having a tailwind / faster.

My advice tips would be to check out the IIFYM section and fine tune the micro and macro aspects of your diet to meet your personal goals.
After your diet is in check, use a proven workout routine (with progressive poundages) that will also meet your personal goals.

As for me, my combo is Starting Strength while on a 15% caloric deficit. My cut ends when I hit 11%BF or 145lbs. I'm hoping for the 11%, but I'm also a realist.

Good luck OP!

[TowerChaser]

Looking fantastic man! Keep it up. I'm a huge advocate of carb cycling myself. What's the cardio training like? That would be my first question.

In the beginning I was doing massive amounts of HIIT and stairs at the local track. I know it's supposed to support lean mass but I don't think I had my diet in check with it and was losing a lot of upper body tone.

To be honest I haven't done much cardio since December and so far that's one of the reason I like RFL so much. I don't have to feel guilty about not doing it cause it specifically says not too lol.

I like Cardio, I just have an OCD personality and it always turns into too much and bye bye muscle mass.

[TowerChaser]

Have you ever tried a routine like starting strength? It's only compound movements & is 3 times a week.

My understanding is that big compound movements will help you put on the most muscle and burn lots of calories.

I'm currently on a cut while on starting strength which is not generally recommended on these boards. However, it's my understanding that one can still make strength gains while on a cut, but it's like progressing into a headwind and relatively slow going. Unlike the gains made on a bulk which is similiar to having a tailwind / faster.

My advice tips would be to check out the IIFYM section and fine tune the micro and macro aspects of your diet to meet your personal goals.
After your diet is in check, use a proven workout routine (with progressive poundages) that will also meet your personal goals.

As for me, my combo is Starting Strength while on a 15% caloric deficit. My cut ends when I hit 11%BF or 145lbs. I'm hoping for the 11%, but I'm also a realist.

Good luck OP!

Compound movements are where it's at and I have seen the best results doing a 5x5 program with as heavy weight as possible. I would just look at the the risk of losing Muscle Mass while doing Starting Strength on a cut. Not saying listen to everyone else about it but track with a tape measurer and listen to your body.

Appreciate it and good luck with your cut as well.

[lee__d]

Great work. You must be a masochist if love RFL though, lol.

[TigerBulk]

Not saying listen to everyone else about it but track with a tape measurer and listen to your body.

Appreciate it and good luck with your cut as well.

Not to nit-pick, but I believe keeping up with your lifts (example: 5 Rep Max or X Rep Max) is superior to using a tape measure to keep up with muscle loss / gain when cutting. If you are losing inches, this does not necessarily mean that you are losing lean muscle mass. Upper arms are a good example of this phenomenon (AKA Fat-ceps). However, if you continue to progress with your OH Press, Bench, etc then you are likely to be making some LBM gains as well (however minor).

It is also generally advised to lift heavy on a cut in order to retain muscle.

Just a thought.

[TowerChaser]

I agree with you on that for sure. I've tracked every lift. Continous progression with weight has led to much more success than I had before. I think it's a good idea to do both as I've measured every two weeks. Just keeps me motivated when the scale doesn't. I also agree with heavy weight to retain muscle I just mean keep an eye on the amount of days your lifting. I can get away with more on a bulk.

[TigerBulk]

I agree with you on that for sure. I've tracked every lift. Continous progression with weight has led to much more success than I had before. I think it's a good idea to do both as I've measured every two weeks. Just keeps me motivated when the scale doesn't. I also agree with heavy weight to retain muscle I just mean keep an eye on the amount of days your lifting. I can get away with more on a bulk.

Agreed