Cut Or Bulk? 6ft 178lbs

[alimash2]

Hello there.
I am currently 6ft and 178lbs and have been bulking for over 4 months after a long break during the pandemic.
My measurements are
42 inch chest
15 inch biceps
34 inch waist

Should I cut or bulk? What weight goal should I set for myself?

[xsquid99]

Eat in a small deficit and continue lifting on a good program.

[Luclin999]

Hello there.
I am currently 6ft and 178lbs and have been bulking for over 4 months after a long break during the pandemic.
My measurements are
42 inch chest
15 inch biceps
34 inch waist

Should I cut or bulk? What weight goal should I set for myself?

Bulking up more would be a mistake, you are over 20% BF ATM.

Keep lifting while dropping 15+ pounds.

[alimash2]

Bulking up more would be a mistake, you are over 20% BF ATM.

Keep lifting while dropping 15+ pounds.

Wow, I wasn't expecting it to be 20%. Had the 16-18% figure in mind, with the thought to bulk to 200lbs over the winters. I feel small... I'm afraid that I'll end up where I started if I cut but I'm definitely considering it now.

[Junsuiakai]

I agree with Luclin. Also find it crazy how you are 6 4 and 180 and look like that lol. Normally when I hear 6 4 180 I think of a scrawny guy.

[alimash2]

I agree with Luclin. Also find it crazy how you are 6 4 and 180 and look like that lol. Normally when I hear 6 4 180 I think of a scrawny guy.

I am not 6 4 i am 6ft. 6' 0"

[alimash2]

Do you guys think there's decent amount of muscle to cut to? with 15" arms and 42" chest currently, will i not look too small after the cut?

[TolerantLactose]

Does it matter? You have a significant amount of fat making bulking not a good idea.

[RapidFail]

Personally I would estimate you to be more like 18%, but I agree with others that cutting now is the best course of action. Yes, I think you do have enough muscle to cut and look good, but you'll look better still after another bulk and cut cycle.

[xsquid99]

Does it matter? You have a significant amount of fat making bulking not a good idea.

^^^ This. You need to cut, I agree you’re over 20%, which makes bulking not a smart idea. In fact I’m slowly moving into the “anti-bulking” camp. If done right (no more than about 1-2 lbs per month) then its ok, but most people aren’t capable of doing it correctly and all it does is give you a bunch of fat that you have to strip off later.

[RapidFail]

^^^ This. You need to cut, I agree you’re over 20%, which makes bulking not a smart idea. In fact I’m slowly moving into the “anti-bulking” camp. If done right (no more than about 1-2 lbs per month) then its ok, but most people aren’t capable of doing it correctly and all it does is give you a bunch of fat that you have to strip off later.

It's pretty much mandatory for skinny and under-muscled guys. I was skinny-fat and chose to cut first. Got down to 154lb (6'1") at about 14%, at which point I switched to bulking. That said, I get your point - my first bulking gains weren't as lean as I would have liked. It takes a bit of practice to get it right.

[xsquid99]

It's pretty much mandatory for skinny and under-muscled guys. I was skinny-fat and chose to cut first. Got down to 154lb (6'1") at about 14%, at which point I switched to bulking. That said, I get your point - my first bulking gains weren't as lean as I would have liked. It takes a bit of practice to get it right.

I was the same way, I’m 6’ 5” and cut down to 187 (wasn’t fun trying to find jeans in a 28-29” waist and 36” inseam”). I just feel like bulking in the traditional sense wasn’t worth the time spent having to cut. Even though 30 lbs over 13 months was my biggest bulk I probably only added about 8-10 lbs of actual muscle during that time, and probably lost at least a couple lbs of it in the subsequent cut. Three+ years into it now and maybe I’ve put on 15 lbs of muscle. But I often feel like I could have gotten here eventually without the ups and downs and instead just by eating at or slightly over maintenance (adding no more than 5 lbs per year).

[Tommy W.]

You need to cut this is not even up for debate.

[Luclin999]

Do you guys think there's decent amount of muscle to cut to? with 15" arms and 42" chest currently, will i not look too small after the cut?

Would you rather be "small & athletic" or "big but fat"?

Because right now you are in "big but fat" range.

[RapidFail]

To answer your original question of a weight goal, you could cut down to about 12% before going on a long, lean bulk. If you're currently 20% at 178lb then you'll need to get down to at least 164lb, likely nearer 160lb including water loss. At that weight you'll look much smaller in clothes, but much better with your shirt off. Then look to slowly (2lb per month or less) bulk for as long as possible, stopping when you approach 18%.