17yo, 72kg, 1.85m CUT OR BULK?

[Andyro77]

Hello. I am 17 years old, 1.85m height (or 6'1) and 72kg (or 159 lbs).
So, 3 months ago I was at 84kg and I was not quite happy with my overall shape. Today, as I'm writing this, I'm about 72kg and I find pretty difficult to answer this one question: keep cutting for lower body fat and then bulk OR start bulking now and later cut.
What I want to achieve, as any other teenager, is a six-pack. I know it may be impossible for me to achieve six-pack this year, but I'll do my best.
What am I confused about? I am already 72kg, and some people are saying I am getting too skinny and I will not look good, but I still have some kind of stubborn belly fat that I want to get rid of before bulking. I am feeling bad when I'm sitting down and I'm looking at the fat I still have, but at the same time I am feeling proud that I lost 12kg in 3 months.
I really hope some of you guys can help me. This is my first post on this forum, and I'm really confused, as I said above, and I'm trying to get some help.
Should I continue cutting until I'm 68kg or so, or start bulking now and then start cutting like 4 months later? I am very afraid of putting back the fat I've lost if I will start bulking, even though I calculate all the food I eat and I don't eat junk food.

I've also included some photos, which are not very good quality (though I have a very good damn phone). It may seem I am too skinny in those photos.

[DyingAtheist]

Start bulking, you're not going to look how you want if you keep cutting because you're clearly lacking in muscle mass. Eat at 250 calories over surplus (that equates to putting on 2 pounds a month) and lift heavy whilst hitting your protein macros. Do that and it'll reduce any potential fat gain as much as possible and you'll have a much better base to cut down to... wouldn't be thinking of this in terms of 4 months, you're probably looking at about a year if you want to make serious progress.

[Partyrocking]

You don't have enough muscle for a six pack. Lean bulk for the next year. If you cut, you'll just be a skeleton.

[GKC45]

You can choose to be Skeletor or HeMan.

Right now you are closer to Skeletor.

[Partyrocking]

You can choose to be Skeletor or HeMan.

Right now you are closer to Skeletor.

IDK Skeletor is pretty jacked.

[Andyro77]

Alright, thanks all for responses, even though you made fun of me. Two more questions:
1. Should I take care of the amount of sugar I'm consuming when bulking? I don't drink soda anymore so it shouldn't be a problem?
2. Is there any chance to gain muscle mass and fat at the same time even though I hit my protein goals and I weight everything I eat? I used MyFitnessPal for tracking weight when cutting and I will use the same app for bulking

[Brisfitgirl]

It's impossible to gain muscle without gaining some fat. You will still look more fit though even if you add 20 lbs and half is mucle and half is fat (not saying half will be fat, just generalizing). This is because the muscle under the fat gives a shaplier appearance to your body. before I ever picked up a barbell and only did cardio and lifted nothing more than 5 lbs I was skinnier than I am now, smaller in size but I was flabbier and less shapely through my waist and lower body. Not saying I'm super athletic looking or anything....but I have more fat than I did when I was 105 - 110 lbs but appear a bit fitter due to some muscles under my flab giving me some shape and firming things up.

[Andyro77]

Thanks a lot! Is TDEE + 500 calories okay for bulking (2500 kcal total)? MyFitnessPal says I can gain 0.25kg a week. Is that okay?

[dipatel13]

Thanks a lot! Is TDEE + 500 calories okay for bulking (2500 kcal total)? MyFitnessPal says I can gain 0.25kg a week. Is that okay?

Eat enough to gain ~2lbs per month.

[DyingAtheist]

Eat enough to gain ~2lbs per month.

Which is TDEE+250, so that's what you should aim for OP.

[StriationsBruh]

u are really skinny OP, also cutting/bulking techniques for beginners are BS, I suggest just focus on high protein/fat diet, try to minimize high GI foods, minimize fastfood/soda/sweets etc..


And just focus on your training routine, because you barely have any muscles, try to work smarter, don't do like 1.5-2h workouts, try to do intense, short rest 45 min- max 60 min workouts

[Andyro77]

u are really skinny OP, also cutting/bulking techniques for beginners are BS, I suggest just focus on high protein/fat diet, try to minimize high GI foods, minimize fastfood/soda/sweets etc..


And just focus on your training routine, because you barely have any muscles, try to work smarter, don't do like 1.5-2h workouts, try to do intense, short rest 45 min- max 60 min workouts

Thanks for the tips! I don't drink soda anymore (I've had a kidney stone last year because of this, very freaking painful for a 16 years old) and I will try to minimize the sweets. Also, I'm not "really skinny", those photos aren't too good and it may seem that I'm skinny. I'm normal, not skinny and not fat (anymore). I've started bulking today, hope I will see some good progress in some months and then I will cut again for those abs. Thanks!