should I bulk or cut and bf% estimate

[agalicki17]

I'm around 5ft 9in 160lbs. I've been pretty much at maintenance for the past couple months and I'm not sure which way to go. I want to be able to see abs but I'm not sure if I have a good enough base to cut and look good. Also if you could give me a good diet to bulk/cut on.

[heinstein]

You need to gain a ton more muscle before you should consider cutting. That being said, you're already around 15%bf so you should make sure you bulk clean
Good luck sir

[slicksully07]

I'd cut a few more lbs then clean bulk.. I'm same height as you and I'm 152-154 lbs depending on food/water consumption. I'm now in the process of clean bulking. Good luck to you!

[thestoebz]

I'd go straight into a bulk from where you are. Get up to 190! Dare ya!

[agalicki17]

You need to gain a ton more muscle before you should consider cutting. That being said, you're already around 15%bf so you should make sure you bulk clean
Good luck sir

Yeah that's what I was thinking. I mean I think I look smaller than I actually am which is why I was thinking bulk too. Do you have any diet suggestions? I followed leangains to cut from about 20-25% bf last August but I'd be up for trying another diet to bulk on.

[agalicki17]

I'd go straight into a bulk from where you are. Get up to 190! Dare ya!

I'd love to be able to get up to 190, but I think that's years away. I want to be able to clean bulk and not just get my weight up. One of my main goals is to keep my bf % as low as possible.

[adambomb187]

If you added 10 lbs of muscle to your frame it would look dramatically different.. I would shoot for that over the next two years.

[OkashiiKen]

Have you been lifting consistently? I'd look at getting on a set program that increases strength and slow bulking. IMO, 5'9" 160 is too light to cut - I feel like 5'9" 155-160 is MP competitor weight and that's with solid muscle mass.

[agalicki17]

Have you been lifting consistently? I'd look at getting on a set program that increases strength and slow bulking. IMO, 5'9" 160 is too light to cut - I feel like 5'9" 155-160 is MP competitor weight and that's with solid muscle mass.

Yeah I have been lifting constantly. Since last August my program is 3 times a week each day a different compound lift. Since I stopped cutting from around 185-155 in January I have added some weight to my lifts and gotten back up to 160, although I wasn't really bulking. I have never really been on a true bulk, seeing as I only got serious about lifting in August, do you have any advice for a program/diet that would be good for a clean bulk?

[Gen1066]

Always figure 12% a good starting point for a bulk

[Xoroe]

same height as you and 170lbs. just bulk and worry about the cut later. started 132lbs bulked all the way to 176 and cut to 165. everything went better than expected.

[agalicki17]

I will start bulking, but I don't know how to do it right. I want to put on muscle but without tons of excess fat. I just need help with the diet breakdown. How many calories is enough excess? What should my macro breakdown be?

[indieblack]

I will start bulking, but I don't know how to do it right. I want to put on muscle but without tons of excess fat. I just need help with the diet breakdown. How many calories is enough excess? What should my macro breakdown be?

consume more daily calories than your body burns .2.9k cal be good for you agalicki, download a app call my fitness pal it can help you figure out how many cal to eat to gain and it tell you how many cal an item is, it does math for you.

[agalicki17]

consume more daily calories than your body burns .2.9k cal be good for you agalicki, download a app call my fitness pal it can help you figure out how many cal to eat to gain and it tell you how many cal an item is, it does math for you.

Thanks. I have my maintenance calories so I was really looking for how far over I should go, so that should help.