I admit it, I was wrong!

[DesertDude11]

OK, so in another thread I thought it was possible to simultaneously cut and bulk. I no longer think it's possible. I have been on a 500 cal/day deficit for the past 2 weeks and I just do not have the energy to throw up the weight necessary to gain.

Furthermore, I would say that if you have to choose one, cut first then bulk. If you do it that way, you can be more diligent about how you put muscle mass back on after you lose the fat.

...just my $.02 on a beaten old topic.

[Brackneyc]

OK, so in another thread I thought it was possible to simultaneously cut and bulk. I no longer think it's possible. I have been on a 500 cal/day deficit for the past 2 weeks and I just do not have the energy to throw up the weight necessary to gain.

Furthermore, I would say that if you have to choose one, cut first then bulk. If you do it that way, you can be more diligent about how you put muscle mass back on after you lose the fat.

...just my $.02 on a beaten old topic.

Get ready to hear about all the guys whose lifts went up huge while on a deficit. True story.

[nixter]

While technically possible to do a recomp it's incredibly difficult and inefficient, especially for anyone with some training already under their belt.

[Medtreker]

inb4 Bodyhard calls OP a sissy for admiting he was wrong.

[stephanielynn76]

OK, so in another thread I thought it was possible to simultaneously cut and bulk. I no longer think it's possible. I have been on a 500 cal/day deficit for the past 2 weeks and I just do not have the energy to throw up the weight necessary to gain.

Furthermore, I would say that if you have to choose one, cut first then bulk. If you do it that way, you can be more diligent about how you put muscle mass back on after you lose the fat.

...just my $.02 on a beaten old topic.

While I have actually managed to hit some PR's during a cut, I doubt I've been successful in actually putting on much size while in a deficit. I'm mostly just maintaining what I have. For me, I gotta eat to make any noticeable gains. I'm a chick though... which already puts me at a disadvantage when it comes to muscle building.

[Getsum]

Get ready to hear about all the guys whose lifts went up huge while on a deficit. True story.

My lifts went up while on a deficit. True story.

[Brackneyc]

My lifts went up while on a deficit. True story.

1 down, 1000s more to go.

[JolietKev]

inb4 Bodyhard calls OP a sissy for admiting he was wrong.

That one made me chuckle.

[nebraskaheat]

I think a lot of the disagrement stems from newbies like myself who watched their strength grow while on their initial cut.

Go from sedentary to lifting regular with noob gains and you can increase strength while cutting. Once those noob gains are gone and you try to cut again, you learn how quickly you lose strength while in a caloric deficit.

[DesertDude11]

inb4 bodyhard calls op a sissy for admiting he was wrong.

bahahhahaha +100

[bodyhard]

Hmmmmm, should I???

[drudixon]

Adding strength doesn't have the same dietary requirements as adding size. Can you add strength on a cut? Yes, but not as much as you could on a surplus. Adding lbm ... That's different.

[DesertDude11]

Hmmmmm, should I???

You'd do it if you weren't a sissy!!!!

XD

[SteveR40]

1 down, 1000s more to go.

Make that 2 Craig . I believe I even posted in your journal about it.

I also agree that when you are just starting out it is much easier for this to happen.

CHEERS!!

[EB68]

I have managed to up some PR's on this cut, but my size has not increased, and my stamina is starting to fade. I have posted 2 deadlift PR's since this cut started, went from 385 to 405, then on to 435. My squats have improved as well. I just cannot hit the reps I was doing when eating at a suplus.

[Getsum]

Adding strength doesn't have the same dietary requirements as adding size.

Amen!

[Marius_Ursus]

There are a lot of factors involved, not just calories, and I've hit PRs while dropping bodyfat, but as far as adding mass while dropping fat, like nixter said, still possible, just not efficient.

[pharmamarketer]

OK, so in another thread I thought it was possible to simultaneously cut and bulk. I no longer think it's possible. I have been on a 500 cal/day deficit for the past 2 weeks and I just do not have the energy to throw up the weight necessary to gain.

Furthermore, I would say that if you have to choose one, cut first then bulk. If you do it that way, you can be more diligent about how you put muscle mass back on after you lose the fat.

...just my $.02 on a beaten old topic.

Keep at it. There are many factors that go into each individuals gains and progress.

[bodyhard]

You'd do it if you weren't a sissy!!!!

XD

What the f'ck, you took some courage pills today or some sh!t?

[acrawlingchaos]

What the f'ck, you took some courage pills today or some sh!t?

I recommend punching OP in the face.

[bodyhard]

I recommend punching OP in the face.

LMFAO!!! I never thought I see the day I see AC write that!

[LowCarbDiabetic]

My son is managing, but I've warned him it's short-term and noob-gains. He's 16, about 20-25lbs overweight and just started training about 6 weeks ago. He's been on a 500 calorie deficit and annoyingly has had noticeable mass increases and crazy strength increases.

I think he's simply a raging hormone machine at his age and that's why.

As for me? No bloody way. I go into a deficit and I lose fat like crazy, but can barely pick up my blender anymore let alone make any gains...

[superman713]

LMFAO!!! I never thought I see the day I see AC write that!

Hug it out

[ngtvenfnty]

OK, so in another thread I thought it was possible to simultaneously cut and bulk. I no longer think it's possible. I have been on a 500 cal/day deficit for the past 2 weeks and I just do not have the energy to throw up the weight necessary to gain.

Furthermore, I would say that if you have to choose one, cut first then bulk. If you do it that way, you can be more diligent about how you put muscle mass back on after you lose the fat.

...just my $.02 on a beaten old topic.

I don't know why it should be so difficult. Say an average guy is maintaining his weight, and is taking in a balanced 2500 cals a day, starts a workout routine and continues to eat 2500 cals per day.

You are going to tell me that he is not going to simultaneously start to gain muscle and lose fat? I want detailed reasons and documented proof because it does not compute. He should theoretically be able to drop down to any percentage of body fat he desires, and increase his muscle mass in whatever proportion can be sustained with 2500 cals a day.

But on 500 cals a day you are barely going to get out of bed, let alone perform a workout. You realize that processing the the materials in your body require energy, right? You are eating an anorexic level of food. You are not cutting you are engaging in an eating disorder. A guy your size active and working out, 2000 minimum. Anything less is stupid and foolish.

The idea of cutting and bulking is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Eat a balanced diet with sufficient calories and your activity will force your body into a proportionate equilibrium.

[superman713]

I don't know why it should be so difficult. Say an average guy is maintaining his weight, and is taking in a balanced 2500 cals a day, starts a workout routine and continues to eat 2500 cals per day.

You are going to tell me that he is not going to simultaneously start to gain muscle and lose fat? I want detailed reasons and documented proof because it does not compute. He should theoretically be able to drop down to any percentage of body fat he desires, and increase his muscle mass in whatever proportion can be sustained with 2500 cals a day.

But on 500 cals a day you are barely going to get out of bed, let alone perform a workout. You realize that processing the the materials in your body require energy, right? You are eating an anorexic level of food. You are not cutting you are engaging in an eating disorder. A guy your size active and working out, 2000 minimum. Anything less is stupid and foolish.

The idea of cutting and bulking is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Eat a balanced diet with sufficient calories and your activity will force your body into a proportionate equilibrium.

500 cal deficit... Not 500 cal total intake.

[AndrewR770]

I was going to say that I did it this year, but then again, it was the noob factor. I went from 185 (>30% BF) to 160 (~12% BF) while making considerable strength and size gains. However, since I hit 160, I've been somewhat stymied on losing additional BF but still making size and strength gains. I think I may abandon trying to cut and just work on mass and size, which is more or less what I've been doing for the last month or two (weight is creeping upward, about 164 now, still some BF loss too though). As long as the BF keeps decreasing while lifts are increasing, I don't care much. I have a difficult time with nutrition out here (deployed military) so I'm doing the best I can and working on increasing strength and trying different lifts and routines. When I get home, I'll buckle down and work on the nutrition when I can buy my own things.

Bit of a noob here on the forum, and I have to say that I come here half for the comedic value. Learning stuff is just a bonus.

[BloodySalad]

Furthermore, I would say that if you have to choose one, cut first then bulk. If you do it that way, you can be more diligent about how you put muscle mass back on after you lose the fat.

Not unless you're pretty obese.

The problem is that it's far, far harder to add muscle than it is to lose fat.
Bulking first helps to consolidate any lbm you've got (and build it) whereas going straight into a cut risks losing it.

Too many newbs finish their diet looking like skinny little skeletons with no mass because they went straight for the cut. Then they have a helluva time trying to add any amount of muscle to make them look decent.

[RobertD2]

I don't know why it should be so difficult. Say an average guy is maintaining his weight, and is taking in a balanced 2500 cals a day, starts a workout routine and continues to eat 2500 cals per day.

You are going to tell me that he is not going to simultaneously start to gain muscle and lose fat? I want detailed reasons and documented proof because it does not compute. He should theoretically be able to drop down to any percentage of body fat he desires, and increase his muscle mass in whatever proportion can be sustained with 2500 cals a day.

.

You're talking about a recomp. How long do you have? A guy with 30lbs of extra fat and **maybe** trading five pounds a year of fat for muscle is looking at six years. OTOH if you're pretty close to your BF goal then it's a great idea.

[Paulie_G]

I've had some luck on a recomp, losing fat and gaining strength. However, the deficit was only 300 cal from maintenance, and it certainly slowed down fat loss progress. It's just another way to do it. If you're looking for quick strength gains or getting lean in a hurry, it's not good for that, but in the long run, it does work to achieve both goals....you just need patience.

[DesertDude11]

What the f'ck, you took some courage pills today or some sh!t?

Dude, I take them every day....

I'm married!