Increasing bench on a cut

[Panterabreh]

I started cutting a few days ago, as my bf% was getting high. On my bulk, I reached a bench press max of 320 lbs and also got a 5RM of 285..., however, I was getting burned out from the heavy lifting and took a few days off, and today came back and was barely able to bench 275x4, which is a huge strength loss for just a few days.
Each time I have gone on a cut, I've lost tons of strength, however I don't want that to happen again. I was thinking that if I don't have too big of a deficit (currently, 2600-2700 calories a day) I could still slowly make some gains on my bench.

I was thinking of running this program, do you guys think it could work?

http://www.impulseadventure.com/weights/bench-rick.html

Each time I go on a cut, it's the same chit...brb 2 weeks ago could bench 285x5, now just a few days into the cut struggling to get 275x4, it's so frustrating watching the hard work go to waste and in just a matter of few days losing strength it took me weeks or even months to gain

[thom2355]

Trying to do everything will lead to accomplishing nothing. Either cut while training hard to try and keep strength, or keep things the way you are going while trying to increase strength.

Cutting while trying to increase strength is mentally damaging and physically improbable.

[baxtej44]

what is a cut

[balls2thewall]

Your bf is gonna get high during a bulk it happens its really no way around it inless you have a extremely clean diet on that note why not just keep bulking worry about cutting when its time to cut or if your getting to fat for your weight class

[Panterabreh]

Trying to do everything will lead to accomplishing nothing. Either cut while training hard to try and keep strength, or keep things the way you are going while trying to increase strength.

Cutting while trying to increase strength is mentally damaging and physically improbable.

So I shouldn't attempt to gain even just slight amounts of strength on a cut? Because I've seen lots of people making small gains on their lifts even while cutting, and my diet is in check, I'm not in a very big deficit, I'm getting adequate fat and protein and carbs aren't too low so why wouldnt I be able to gain a bit of strength?

[isaku900]

Because I've seen lots of people making small gains on their lifts even while cutting,

this happens due to improvements in form/technique or efficiency. aka they had bad form/technique or were really weak and really inefficient at the lift.

so if you're weak, inefficient or have bad technique, you can improve those while cutting.

[baxtej44]

your muscles can either grow or shrink. it's pretty rare that you are at perfect equilibrium and stay the exact same. that being said, like isaku said many people can increase their lifts while losing body weight because they are new to lifting, get better form, etc. but generally once you are no longer a novice, you have to choose which result you want more and realize that goal independently of everything else. not only will you get better results that way (ie more strength gains on a bulk than you could get while trying to gain strength on a cut), but it will also just be generally easier.

[isaku900]

when I cut down from 320 to 275 summer/fall 2012 I lost about 15% off my raw lifts, am still working on recovering from that, but I'm going to be putting weight back on to get into my gear again, so it should come back pretty quick.

[breathinglife]

Bench is the worst about losing strength on a cut.

Over the past year, I competed at 203 lbs, 197 lbs, and 181 lbs. Here are my contest results:

Bodyweight: 203 - 197 - 181
Squat: 580 - 570 - 575
Bench: 365 - 360 - 330 (Really strict judging at the last meet at 181)
DL: 555 - 570 - 560

So you can see, I cut 22 lbs, and my squat and deadlift stayed about the same, but my bench plummeted. I think it would not have plummeted nearly as badly had the judging not been so strict, but it still would have been down significantly.

The reason I only DLed 555@203 is because I missed 600 on a 3rd.

[5_02ls1]

when I cut down from 320 to 275 summer/fall 2012 I lost about 15% off my raw lifts, am still working on recovering from that, but I'm going to be putting weight back on to get into my gear again, so it should come back pretty quick.

this...I cut from 250ish down to around 200 and lost about 15% off each lift...im done cutting and bulking,conditioning several times a week and eating a fairly healthy diet seems to be working better for me...

[scorpionsf]

recomposition

/thread


by the way, how is 2600-2700 calories only a slight deficit?!?! that sounds like the food i eat.......prior to lunch

[takeittakeit]

I started cutting just to remind myself that I can still feel. I grew my bangs long and wore black a lot.

[Panterabreh]

recomposition

/thread


by the way, how is 2600-2700 calories only a slight deficit?!?! that sounds like the food i eat.......prior to lunch

not everyone's maintenance calories are 10000... from what I've seen 2600 cals is actually pretty high for a cut, most people cut at like 2000-2500

[Panterabreh]

I decided I would just do something really simple for bench... 3x3, and if I'm able to get 3x3 with a certain weight add 5 lbs to it and try to get 3x3 again etc
For instance next time I'll try for 275x3x3, and if I get it attempt 280x3x3 the following session

[scorpionsf]

not everyone's maintenance calories are 10000... from what I've seen 2600 cals is actually pretty high for a cut, most people cut at like 2000-2500

you should stay away from teenBB if you want to be strong

good luck with your goals. linear progression works, so do proven linear progression programs wink wink

[mahousesn]

not everyone's maintenance calories are 10000... from what I've seen 2600 cals is actually pretty high for a cut, most people cut at like 2000-2500

Cutting on 4000 cals crew

[Panterabreh]

Cutting on 4000 cals crew

Too bad your bench isn't nearly as impressive as your cutting calorie intake... im sorry you only bench 280 brah