I regret my cut

[faithnolimits]

So over the past 2 weeks, ive been doing my first true cutting phase. I went from 160 to currently 150 and it is genuinely depressing to me now. Im an ectomorph and i started at 135 two years ago and worked my ass off to get to 160.

Without eating all the sugar in the world, how long do yall think itll take to get back there on a 2800 cal diet?

[Shredthetics]

So you're saying it took you two whole years to gain 15lb from 135 to 160...
Then in two weeks you managed to lose 10 of those 15lbs?

I feel you may be lacking in the understanding of proper training and nutrition. 2800kcals is not much to gain on for most people, and no one can say how it will work for you without know your height/age/weight/tdee/routine and actually diet.
Give us some of that information and you may receive some decent help.

[nicholaslin739]

Whatever your maintenance now, increasing it by 100 per week until it hits 2800.

And don't regret what you have done, you are definately a stronger and more knowledgable person now than 2 years ago. You have dropped quite an amount of Body Fat% and once you start clean bulking now you will remain lean for a long time!

[MiKroN]

Theres a chance you were holding a lot of water when you were 160 and/or lost a lot of water or carbs (retaining water) on your cut. Also 10 pounds is way too fast. You should aim to lose 1-1.5 pounds a week max for maximum muscle retention. I am currently cutting from 170, im 160 now after about 7 weeks. I feel small af but im still going untill I lose this armpit fat and little bit of fat on my belly that I can pinch. I dont want to start bulking and cary that with me for several more months!

[tommyymas]

I am a true ectomorph/hard gainer and i have to consume 3750 calories to maintain while gymming, about 4500 to make very slow gains but i never have to cut. Problem is on your cut you lost too much weight too quick, a good cut is when you lose weight slowly and retain the maximum amount of muscle. Losing 5 lbs a week is way too quick!

[Jakeevans18]

your'e not an ectomorph you are a human

[kenny85]

My last cut took 2 months to lose 10lbs. You cut too much too fast

[jgreystoke]

My last cut took 2 months to lose 10lbs. You cut too much too fast

Same here.

And, since I was 230+ to start, it wasn't ridiculous.

[jgreystoke]

So over the past 2 weeks, ive been doing my first true cutting phase. I went from 160 to currently 150 and it is genuinely depressing to me now. Im an ectomorph and i started at 135 two years ago and worked my ass off to get to 160.

Without eating all the sugar in the world, how long do yall think itll take to get back there on a 2800 cal diet?

We all make stupid mistakes.

What possessed you to cut at 160lbs?

That's less muscle than normal size manual workers/active guys who don't even lift.

No problem, since no harm done, seriously. Take the long term view.

About this "ectomorph" stuff, I used to be 130lbs in school, college, and again in my forties(illness). Here is a math equation that should help:

"Ectomorph" = undereater who hasn't trained progressively(add weight to the bar regularly) for enough reps for big exercises for a long enough time to make a real difference.

You can fix everything on the right side of the equation, if you have the grit to stay the course. Then you'll look like a so-called "mesomorph", lol.

Forget short term "programs". Think in terms of getting progressively stronger for reps in squat, dead, mil press, bench/incline, row, clean, curl over the next few years if you want to become more awesome.

This should get you started:

http://articles.elitefts.com/trainin...-and-strength/

Everything you need to get much stronger for reps all over and much more muscular(they go together). None of the fluff that is just distracting you from becoming more awesome.

Lift well and prosper.

[Connor1226]

I'm confused.
If you didn't want to lose weight, why did you try?

Why do you regret the cut?
From what it sounds like, you just don't like the number on the scale.
Did you lose muscle? Just got too thin?

Gaining body fat is easy, gaining muscle is what is hard.
Doubtful you lost 10lbs of muscle in 2 weeks, so it sounds like you are over reacting to a number on the scale.

[kenny85]

Same here.

And, since I was 230+ to start, it wasn't ridiculous.

Former 230+ crew here. Know dem feels

[vollric]

So over the past 2 weeks, ive been doing my first true cutting phase. I went from 160 to currently 150 and it is genuinely depressing to me now. Im an ectomorph and i started at 135 two years ago and worked my ass off to get to 160.

Without eating all the sugar in the world, how long do yall think itll take to get back there on a 2800 cal diet?

5'10'' 160 lbs, why cut period? You should be on a calorie surplus in my opinion.

[ironwill2008]

So over the past 2 weeks, ive been doing my first true cutting phase. I went from 160 to currently 150 and it is genuinely depressing to me now. Im an ectomorph and i started at 135 two years ago and worked my ass off to get to 160.

Without eating all the sugar in the world, how long do yall think itll take to get back there on a 2800 cal diet?

With your stats, you were never a candidate for a bodybuilding cut in the first place. Add 20-30 pounds of muscle, and then think about cutting.

And based on your OP, you need to get a grasp of nutrition basics; start reading here:
*Emma-Leigh's Nutrition for noobs: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=136691851


*Emma Leigh's calorie/macro thread: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=156380183

[VmissileX]

With your stats, you were never a candidate for a bodybuilding cut in the first place. Add 20-30 pounds of muscle, and then think about cutting.

And based on your OP, you need to get a grasp of nutrition basics; start reading here:
*Emma-Leigh's Nutrition for noobs: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=136691851


*Emma Leigh's calorie/macro thread: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=156380183

We all make stupid mistakes.

What possessed you to cut at 160lbs?

That's less muscle than normal size manual workers/active guys who don't even lift.

No problem, since no harm done, seriously. Take the long term view.

About this "ectomorph" stuff, I used to be 130lbs in school, college, and again in my forties(illness). Here is a math equation that should help:

"Ectomorph" = undereater who hasn't trained progressively(add weight to the bar regularly) for enough reps for big exercises for a long enough time to make a real difference.

You can fix everything on the right side of the equation, if you have the grit to stay the course. Then you'll look like a so-called "mesomorph", lol.

Forget short term "programs". Think in terms of getting progressively stronger for reps in squat, dead, mil press, bench/incline, row, clean, curl over the next few years if you want to become more awesome.

This should get you started:

http://articles.elitefts.com/trainin...-and-strength/

Everything you need to get much stronger for reps all over and much more muscular(they go together). None of the fluff that is just distracting you from becoming more awesome.

Lift well and prosper.

All good advice from your elders who know what they are doing OP.

Go ahead and take it.

[Shredthetics]

"Ectomorph" = undereater who hasn't trained progressively(add weight to the bar regularly) for enough reps for big exercises for a long enough time to make a real difference.

Uhh no. **** types exist, they just play less of a role as many tend to think.

ie: In highschool I was 6'2 and floated between 120-130lb regardless of eating, cookies/candy/carls jr/pizza EVERY day consistently. I have narrow clavicles, small wrists & ankles, along with my body stripping off muscle as soon as I give it the chance. To start gaining at that stage I HAD to eat no less than 4200kcals a day for a 1lb/week progression.

Go ahead to tell me how I'm more like an endomorph than an ectomorph. smh
I feel OP is doing something very wrong regardless of his body type.

[faithnolimits]

I only cut because i wanted to slim down my stomach fluff for the summer. Prior to my cut i weighed myself regularly and flux'd between 157-162 so 160 seemed like my true weight. When i weighed in at 150 it was on an empty stomach food and water wise so ill weigh in again today. I went on a very low carb diet and all my caloric intake was lean protein and greens 4 times a day with peanut butter w/ fruit as snacks between meals (usual protein shakes pre/post) and ive always done superset horizontal workouts with high volume low sets. I still lift pretty decent especially for 150, i guess im just a little upset that im not filling out my clothes as well (struggles.. I know) and i miss eating sandwiches and pasta... I miss carbs...

Ecto's are real as hell btw haha i'm with shredthetics that i had to consume monsterous amounts of food to grow. Im going to start off with 3000 and bump up 100 everyday.

[UnsafeAtAnySpd]

So you're saying it took you two whole years to gain 15lb from 135 to 160...
Then in two weeks you managed to lose 10 of those 15lbs?

I'm no math expert, but...

[Mdenatale]

Uhh no. **** types exist, they just play less of a role as many tend to think.

ie: In highschool I was 6'2 and floated between 120-130lb regardless of eating, cookies/candy/carls jr/pizza EVERY day consistently. I have narrow clavicles, small wrists & ankles, along with my body stripping off muscle as soon as I give it the chance. To start gaining at that stage I HAD to eat no less than 4200kcals a day for a 1lb/week progression.

Go ahead to tell me how I'm more like an endomorph than an ectomorph. smh
I feel OP is doing something very wrong regardless of his body type.

Its ****totype not **** type. They were concocted by a psychologist, not someone specializing is physiology, biology or genetics. All tests to determine your ****totype include personality type questions. It has no bearing on bodybuilding other than it is used as an excuse for lack of progress.


So you ate a lot of "junk food" when you were a kid, EVERY day. That doesn't mean it was automatically enough calories for you to gain weight and apparently it wasn't. You needed 4200 calories a day to gain 1lb/week. So your maintenance was 3200 calories. That may be high for someone completely sedentary, but not for someone 6'2" and fairly active. It doesn't make you some special class of human being.


BTW, I'm 6'2" and was around 150-160 until my early 20's. By the time I was in my mid 30's I was 230-240 (more fat than muscle gained unfortunately) without even trying. Did my ****totype change? Nope, my lifestyle changed.

[davidolson22]

Man loses ~7 pounds of water weight in 2 weeks and 3 pounds of fat. Cries about his cut online.

[Former300lber]

Pretty sure he's just disappointed in the actual mass he gained, not so much lost.

[Jasonk282]

Its ****totype not **** type. They were concocted by a psychologist, not someone specializing is physiology, biology or genetics. All tests to determine your ****totype include personality type questions. It has no bearing on bodybuilding other than it is used as an excuse for lack of progress.


So you ate a lot of "junk food" when you were a kid, EVERY day. That doesn't mean it was automatically enough calories for you to gain weight and apparently it wasn't. You needed 4200 calories a day to gain 1lb/week. So your maintenance was 3200 calories. That may be high for someone completely sedentary, but not for someone 6'2" and fairly active. It doesn't make you some special class of human being.


BTW, I'm 6'2" and was around 150-160 until my early 20's. By the time I was in my mid 30's I was 230-240 (more fat than muscle gained unfortunately) without even trying. Did my ****totype change? Nope, my lifestyle changed.

All of this^

back in high school I hardly cracked 160 lbs...i was eating everything in site, plaing baseball, football and track. Fast forward 2 years into college...parties and not being active shot me up to 215 lbs fat ass. 1 year after college I was 165 lbs lean mean US Marine.

Did my body type change...nope, my lifestyle(s) did in each case.

[jgreystoke]

Uhh no. **** types exist, they just play less of a role as many tend to think.

ie: In highschool I was 6'2 and floated between 120-130lb regardless of eating, cookies/candy/carls jr/pizza EVERY day consistently. I have narrow clavicles, small wrists & ankles, along with my body stripping off muscle as soon as I give it the chance. To start gaining at that stage I HAD to eat no less than 4200kcals a day for a 1lb/week progression.

Go ahead to tell me how I'm more like an endomorph than an ectomorph. smh
I feel OP is doing something very wrong regardless of his body type.

You used to be what is often described as "ectomorphic". Please don't tell me that 216lbs is ectomorphic.

I hope you realize that the greatest bodybuilders tend to have small to very small joints. That's what makes them look so freaky vs Strongmen etc.

My wrists used to be under 7", and are now OVER 8". And I used to have thin weak hands. They are now thick and strong(crush the #2 Captains of Crush 195lb gripper, and 90kg(198lb) either hand on my heavy duty plate loaded grip machine, stiff leg dead 300+ on my 2 1/2" thick axle, rack pull 600 without straps when the joint inflammation[not lifting related, look at my age] is at bay).

That is not bone growth, because it happened in my fifties lol. I started serious training at 50. My connective tissue like cartilage, ligaments, tendons got much thicker from all the heavy training. And I am so much bigger I look like a bouncer.

Its ****totype not **** type. They were concocted by a psychologist, not someone specializing is physiology, biology or genetics. All tests to determine your ****totype include personality type questions. It has no bearing on bodybuilding other than it is used as an excuse for lack of progress.

This.

[Big.Jazayrli]

So over the past 2 weeks, ive been doing my first true cutting phase. I went from 160 to currently 150 and it is genuinely depressing to me now. Im an ectomorph and i started at 135 two years ago and worked my ass off to get to 160.

Without eating all the sugar in the world, how long do yall think itll take to get back there on a 2800 cal diet?

How long it will take is based on your TDEE... it may be impossible for you to gain weight on that amount of calories. We really have no way to know.

[ErikTheElectric]

So over the past 2 weeks, ive been doing my first true cutting phase. I went from 160 to currently 150 and it is genuinely depressing to me now. Im an ectomorph and i started at 135 two years ago and worked my ass off to get to 160.

Without eating all the sugar in the world, how long do yall think itll take to get back there on a 2800 cal diet?

You've been cutting for 2 weeks. Actually, you never even should've started cutting in the first place... You're 5'10 dude.

[dbrock504]

WTH do you mean "Without eating all the sugar in the world, how long do yall think itll take to get back there on a 2800 cal diet?" Get on a gainer protein. ON Pro Complex Gainer for example has 650 cal per serving. That's 1300 cal alone in 2 shakes per day.

You need to do some reading about how to properly gain based on nutrition. Based on your last sentence, you have no clue what you're talking about. Unless of course you want to dirty bulk and don't care about your sugar intake.

[faithnolimits]

Pretty sure he's just disappointed in the actual mass he gained, not so much lost.

^^ this.

I was just having a pissy fit. I dont have any fitness friends that would understand..

[Shredthetics]

You used to be what is often described as "ectomorphic". Please don't tell me that 216lbs is ectomorphic.

I hope you realize that the greatest bodybuilders tend to have small to very small joints. That's what makes them look so freaky vs Strongmen etc.

A persons weight has nothing to do with their ST IMO/E. Some people are genetic born with larger frames, thicker/stronger joints, and more adaptive metabolisms. Denying that and saying that every person in the world has the same ability to gain/retain muscle in strength without any real classification is ignorant regardless of who made the classifications.
I've learned through personal experience of past training partners, clients, ect that there is with 100% certainty different "types" of frames & metabolisms that can great influence a person's performance. ****totypes are simply a simple way of classification.
I also realize top strongmen types are much stronger due to factors such as their frames(ex thicker joints/wider hips) than top tier bodybuilders(ex: flex) who has to shove oil into their muscle because their frames won't support the size of their enhanced-muscles.
But hey I bet Poundstone trained his butt off to thicken his wrists and wide his hips. Must be all his calcium from them bone-structure gains. Smh

[foodandfitness]

I feel you, OP. I just finished cutting this year since Feb, almost 30 lbs. Started at 170 and now I'm at 143 and just barely under 10% bf, if not at 10%. Funny thing was I kept most if not all the strength I built up. I'm just small now and it's demoralizing.

[ChrisRamos007]

^^ this.

I was just having a pissy fit. I dont have any fitness friends that would understand..

This can be cured in the future with a better diet.

[dangap]

I'm no math expert, but...

Dammit you beat me to it