When to end a Cut??

[thuisinga]

Hey guys, so I'm 5'11" and I've gone from 250 lbs down to around 175 lbs over the last 14 months. I started near 30% body fat and now I believe I'm pretty close to 14%. I'd do anything for my abs to start showing but it seems I'm just burning muscle and my belly fat remains even though I'm lifting weights 5 days a week (Chest and Tri's, Back and Bi's, Shoulders & Traps, rest a day then start over again plus cardio every training day). I've been eating at a caloric deficit for quite some time but my energy is as good as ever. My fear is that I'm just lowering my lean body mass and I'll continuing looking "skinny fat". How would you guys suggest I drop my body fat that last 4% or so I'm looking for to get down to 10%?? Is it time to take a break, drop the cardio and work soley on nutrition and weight lifting?

Thanks for any help you all could add.

[Vaylor]

What makes you believe you are burning muscle? As long as you are hitting your macros and lifting weights you will be fine.

[Vaylor]

And yes I would cut down to 10% to see if your abs show up.

[Currensy420]

If I were you, I would slowly increase my calories till I am close to maintenance calories, maybe just below 10% maintenance. Stay in that calorie zone for about 2-3 weeks just to get your hormones/metabolism regulated and build a little bit of muscle mass/strength, note, you will probably gain a couple pounds but trust me this will help. After the 2-3 weeks are over, return to your caloric deficit and you will begin to shed even more fat. Good luck!

[thuisinga]

And yes I would cut down to 10% to see if your abs show up.

Whats the key to cutting down to that 10% level?

[nae25]

Whats the key to cutting down to that 10% level?

Patience, if you are continually losing weight, still with your diet and workout plan. And i hope you plan on lifting legs when you start bulking haha.
Also, it's hard to tell, but judging just off your avi it looks like you might be a little higher than 14% but i'm not sure. Either way, stick to your plan as long as it's working.

[RhinoBody]

If I were you, I would slowly increase my calories till I am close to maintenance calories, maybe just below 10% maintenance. Stay in that calorie zone for about 2-3 weeks just to get your hormones/metabolism regulated and build a little bit of muscle mass, note, you will probably gain a couple pounds but trust me this will help. After the 2-3 weeks are over, return to your caloric deficit and you will begin to shed even more fat. Good luck!

This is the smartest thing anyone has ever posted on the internet. srs.

[Currensy420]

This is the smartest thing anyone has ever posted on the internet. srs.

Thanks I think.

[xxRedemptionxx]

Hey guys, so I'm 5'11" and I've gone from 250 lbs down to around 175 lbs over the last 14 months. I started near 30% body fat and now I believe I'm pretty close to 14%. I'd do anything for my abs to start showing but it seems I'm just burning muscle and my belly fat remains even though I'm lifting weights 5 days a week (Chest and Tri's, Back and Bi's, Shoulders & Traps, rest a day then start over again plus cardio every training day). I've been eating at a caloric deficit for quite some time but my energy is as good as ever. My fear is that I'm just lowering my lean body mass and I'll continuing looking "skinny fat". How would you guys suggest I drop my body fat that last 4% or so I'm looking for to get down to 10%?? Is it time to take a break, drop the cardio and work soley on nutrition and weight lifting?

Thanks for any help you all could add.

Errrrr hey bro uhhh where is core day?

[masonb62]

Errrrr hey bro uhhh where is core day?

Every day is core day

[Djankie]

If I were you, I would slowly increase my calories till I am close to maintenance calories, maybe just below 10% maintenance. Stay in that calorie zone for about 2-3 weeks just to get your hormones/metabolism regulated and build a little bit of muscle mass/strength, note, you will probably gain a couple pounds but trust me this will help. After the 2-3 weeks are over, return to your caloric deficit and you will begin to shed even more fat. Good luck!

How can you gain weight while below maintenance?

[DefiningMoments]

How can you gain weight while below maintenance?

He'd by raising calories close to maintenance eating more than before. Water weight would go up from the increased calories/carbs/sodium/extra food in his system

[gheruth06]

Hey guys, so I'm 5'11" and I've gone from 250 lbs down to around 175 lbs over the last 14 months. I started near 30% body fat and now I believe I'm pretty close to 14%. I'd do anything for my abs to start showing but it seems I'm just burning muscle and my belly fat remains even though I'm lifting weights 5 days a week (Chest and Tri's, Back and Bi's, Shoulders & Traps, rest a day then start over again plus cardio every training day). I've been eating at a caloric deficit for quite some time but my energy is as good as ever. My fear is that I'm just lowering my lean body mass and I'll continuing looking "skinny fat". How would you guys suggest I drop my body fat that last 4% or so I'm looking for to get down to 10%?? Is it time to take a break, drop the cardio and work soley on nutrition and weight lifting?

Thanks for any help you all could add.

Just a little suggestion, ADD LEGS. A couple reasons:
1) if you don't lift legs girls will laugh at you and so will everyone on this website
2) Legs are HUGE muscles and extremely important
3)Because they are so big you will burn A LOT of calories during the work out, and leg day will also have the highest after burn effect (after burn=amount of calories you burn for the 24 hours after you finish lifting)

[thuisinga]

Patience, if you are continually losing weight, still with your diet and workout plan. And i hope you plan on lifting legs when you start bulking haha.
Also, it's hard to tell, but judging just off your avi it looks like you might be a little higher than 14% but i'm not sure. Either way, stick to your plan as long as it's working.

Thanks man. Being down 75 lbs over a long period of time has me feeling like the finish line is within reach......but I guess I still have a ways to go to get to that 10%. Motivation level has gone through the roof feeling like I'm sooo close. I'll implement legs this week and stick to the nutrition plan until I get where I want to be.