Down 20 lbs in 6 months; Am I done cutting?

[forcajovem]

Long story short, after a realization that I added too much weight and needed to lean out, after 6 months I have lost 20 lbs.

Do I still need to keep at it and get leaner? Or am I finally at a weight where I can put on some mass (albeit, slowly and properly this time).

Feedback is much appreciated!

[Tigerbruh]

If you are training for aesthetics then I would say yes, definitely start a slow bulking process, just eat very slightly above your maintenance and keep training hard. You are probably around 13% bodyfat now, so cutting any lower wouldn't make much sense since you don't have that much muscle mass that it would be warranted to lose another 10 lbs just so you have more visible abs and stuff. (at least IMO)

[forcajovem]

Thanks! Yeah, absolutely training for aesthetics.

I just want to avoid mistakes I've made in the past. Last winter I trained hard for 6 months, going from 148 lbs to 165 lbs during that time but I added mostly fat. I was probably around 16-18% to begin with back then, though.

Am I correct in assuming that since I'm a little bit leaner to start this time, with better nutrition and more delicate weight gain, I will add more muscle than last time (and prevent my past mistake)?

[Tigerbruh]

Well IMO you can add muscle no matter the starting point, it's obviously easier if you are at a "normal" bodyfat range because your body isn't trying to regulate its bodyfat levels (might be broscience but I'm pretty sure thats how it works )

And yes you should definitely just eat clean and try not to overshoot on calories. I think it's better to gain less weight and less muscle overall but keep your bodyfat the same/lose fat while doing so than just going full potato and bulking at a very big surplus and ending up gaining not only muscle but a lot of fat too

[Tommy W.]

Start adding mass. No sense going to lower BF untill you have some muscle. Any leaner and you'll be wasting your time as far as the big picture goes.

[forcajovem]

Great. Thanks for the feedback.