6-7 month progress. Is cutting an option?

[MartinBHansen]

All my life I've been fairly sporty, being the captain of the soccer team and whatnot, but a few years ago my team disbanded and I ended up quitting. I proceeded in life by playing video games for the most part, and drinking occasionally. Needless to say, it wasn't much of an actual life, and during this time I put on some fat. One day I just looked myself in the mirror and thought "man, this isn't me. I'm not supposed to look like a slob with terrible posture and a beer belly", so I got my ass off the couch and got myself a 1-year gym membership. Best ****ing decision of my life.

I've been seeing a lot of gains recently, and I'm extremely focused and hardworking once I'm in the gym. However weird it may sound, it's a place for me to relax - in the sense of forgetting everything else and just focusing on moving the iron. I feel like I'm in sort of a meditative state when I work out. I know some of you can relate.

Many people here have achieved way better results and have fought through more bodyfat than I have, but I still feel like I've made somewhat solid progress.

I guess my question is, should I keep bulking or is it possible for me to cut down to a single digit % and not be as thin as a needle? Or might my best shot maybe be to cut for a little while then start bulking again? My goal is to look shredded by July-August, if it's even possible for me to look shredded with my current mass. I would also love a bf % estimate. In the april 14-pic my belly's a little bloated as I had been drinking about 1.5 liter during that workout and in the april 11-pic my biceps aren't tensed.

Thanks so much in advance!

[Ali136]

You've made some great progress, I would personally continue to bulk, however it all depends on your goals. Do you want to look "okay" this summer och look great next summer? I am currently bulking THROUGH this summer and I will cut for summer 2014, reason being is that I am lacking a lot of mass.

[Thepayne369]

Although you have made good progress I would continue to add a bit more mass, when people with not much mass cut they often look malnutritioned. U would look in better shape and look healthier IMO if you carried on bulking.

Good luck whichever way you go mate

[MartinBHansen]

Thank you both for your feedback.

Since I have never done a cut before, I'm not sure what to expect once I've lowered my bodyfat to about 9-10%. Is there any chance someone could link a pic of what I'd (approximately) look like?

Also, seeing as no stores sell bf measurement calipers where I live and my gym doesn't have one either, could someone do an estimate of my bf %? Highly appreciated.

[shortfield]

what your height and current weight?

[MartinBHansen]

what your height and current weight?

179 cm/5'9"

I don't have a scale where I live, but I'm somewhere around 78 kg/172 lbs