Genetics and cutting

[Topperharley5]

Just a quick question I thought I'd ask as I'll be undertaking my first serious cut in the next few months

I figure like everything else with bodybuilding genetics plays a major role when cutting but my question is:

When cutting given that diet and training are in check will a persons genetically inferior muscle groups lose more muscle mass than their genetically superior muscle groups?

For example: my chest is one of my genetically weaker muscle groups, because of this should I expect to lose more muscle mass when cutting there compared with my genetically superior muscle parts?

Thanks in advance

[Get-n-fit]

Start with a low deficit and continue lifting heavy and you should minimize muscle loss.

[Topperharley5]

Start with a low deficit and continue lifting heavy and you should minimize muscle loss.

I understand the science behind cutting but given that ur muscles do not grow the same in a calorie surplus do they hold onto or lose the same amount of muscle when on a calorie deficit?

[pastorgbc]

It depends upon how and why you are cutting. If you are simply cutting to get leaner by lowering calories, muscle mass loss will be a function of the work you have done to this point and what work you do during the cut.

If you are cutting to get into competition shape, there are more strategies that come into play. Muscle mass loss generally is a function of the work you have done to this point.

If you do not like your chest now, I would not cut.

Ray

[drudixon]

Keep protein and fat the same, lower carbs, keep deficit small to moderate and you should be fine. After a year don't expect to grow while cutting.

[ironwill2008]

For example: my chest is one of my genetically weaker muscle groups, because of this should I expect to lose more muscle mass when cutting there compared with my genetically superior muscle parts?

Purely anecdotally, but it's been my experience with both myself and a few others IRL, as well as several journalers here, that those muscle groups that are the most difficult for each of us to build are those that will lose mass quickest during a deficit.

Again, nothing concrete to back this up; merely an observation on my part.

[Topperharley5]

Purely anecdotally, but it's been my experience with both myself and a few others IRL, as well as several journalers here, that those muscle groups that are the most difficult for each of us to build are those that will lose mass quickest during a deficit.

Again, nothing concrete to back this up; merely an observation on my part.

This was the reply I was hoping I wasn't going to get but was definatley expecting

Ur opinion is always highly valued IW...

Thanks very much to all the posters, great help as always

[ArchAngel'73]

Just how low bf wise do you want to go?
With a proper nutrition program males should not be worrying about losing muscle mass until hitting sub 10%.
If you're still above 10% bf and losing muscle you're on too much of a deficit and it needs to be corrected.

[Topperharley5]

Just how low bf wise do you want to go?
With a proper nutrition program males should not be worrying about losing muscle mass until hitting sub 10%.
If you're still above 10% bf and losing muscle you're on too much of a deficit and it needs to be corrected.

I'll not be aiming to go to single digit bf %....

I'll b looking to cut for approx 12 weeks at around 1 pound per wk

Hopefully then I my get to retain most of my hard earned muscle

@Druid... I've been training approx 3 years now, 2 years with proper nutrition so no muscle building on my cut unfortunately, my sign up date was a long time after I started browsing the forums

[highiso]

[ArchAngel'73]

I'll not be aiming to go to single digit bf %....

I'll b looking to cut for approx 12 weeks at around 1 pound per wk

Hopefully then I my get to retain most of my hard earned muscle

@Druid... I've been training approx 3 years now, 2 years with proper nutrition so no muscle building on my cut unfortunately, my sign up date was a long time after I started browsing the forums

Follow your plan and you'll do just fine then.

[willybrokeback]

Purely anecdotally, but it's been my experience with both myself and a few others IRL, as well as several journalers here, that those muscle groups that are the most difficult for each of us to build are those that will lose mass quickest during a deficit.

Again, nothing concrete to back this up; merely an observation on my part.

Murphy's law of bodybuilding.

[brit-iron]

I'm on my first proper cut like you op, and my weakest part are shoulders in terms of strength and they have weakened dramatically during my cut.
In fact all the pushing movements have suffered more than pulling movements, but no where to the degree of ohp.

[michail71]

I think general targets are 50%/50% muscle/fat for a bulk and 10%/90% for losses on a cut.

[michail71]

Yikes, I struggle to down 3,500. Though having proper fat and protein amounts go a long way to curbing appetite.