Am I skinny fat? Been lifting for a year, which way to go now?

[krod16]

I'm 5'6''. Been lifting consistently for a year now. I went on a bulk from 123lbs to 135lbs for 8 months. Now I have cut in the last 100 days to 118lbs.

Am I skinny fat? This is the leanest I have been in my life.

The problem is I still see quite a bit of fat on my waist (even have love handles). If I continue to cut I will get even more leaner which I don't think is healthy as I am already way below the expected weight for my height.

Another problem to cut is I am approaching my breaking point in how much I can lower my food intake.

So should I again go on a one year lean bulk and build more muscle and then cut or should I keep cutting till I drop to lower levels of body fat?

attached pictures with dates taken.

[Serpentarius]

post a pic, if you are still skinnyfat you are not on a proper program/not put in effort/poor "diet"

[upchuck1383]

I wouldnt say skinny fat. Just got some access fat and not much muscle mass. I would eat more and lift hard!

[StevieMaria]

Seems like at 118, if you have a belly and love handles, you haven't been lifting right. Can you post a pic? For all we know you could just have a skewed body image.

[krod16]

post a pic, if you are still skinnyfat you are not on a proper program/not put in effort/poor "diet"

I can't add links as I am a new user but I have attached some pictures with dates.

[krod16]

Seems like at 118, if you have a belly and love handles, you haven't been lifting right. Can you post a pic? For all we know you could just have a skewed body image.

I have attached some pictures. Please take a look.

[StevieMaria]

Oh, you're a dude! Damn, I'll never be 118. I'd say build muscle but I'll let the guys answer. Seems like cutting more is actually really unhealthy.

[krod16]

Oh, you're a dude! Damn, I'll never be 118. I'd say build muscle but I'll let the guys answer. Seems like cutting more is actually really unhealthy.

Yeah, I'm a dude. I'm definitely going to go on a loooong bulk. The question is should I start now or cut a few more pounds before I begin.

[chubbysam]

Start bulking. I wouldn't say you were fat. You are going to look worst if you lose more weight. So get eating.

[EjnarKolinkar]

Yeah, I'm a dude. I'm definitely going to go on a loooong bulk. The question is should I start now or cut a few more pounds before I begin.

Start now. Keep it simple.

What is your current weight training program?

[krod16]

Start now. Keep it simple.

What is your current weight training program?

I'm on a push/pull/leg split.

Push Day:
Dumbbell bench press 4x8
Incline dumbbell bench 4x8
Dumbbell flyes 3x8
Shoulder press 4x8
side raises 3x8
Skullcrushers 3x8
Rope pushdowns 3x8

Pull Day:
Barbell rows 4x8
Lat pulldowns 4x8
Seated cable rows 4x8
Face pulls 3x8
Dumbbell bicep curls 3x8
Cable curls 3x8
Cable hammer curls 3x8

Leg Day:
Squats 3x8
Lunges 3x8
Romanian Deadlifts 3x8
Leg press 3x8
Leg extensions 3x8
Leg curls 3x8

[krod16]

Going on a lean bulk from today.

Eat 250-300 calories above maintenance.
Will try to increase 1-2lbs every month.

[SpiiralOut]

I'm on a push/pull/leg split.

Push Day:
Dumbbell bench press 4x8
Incline dumbbell bench 4x8
Dumbbell flyes 3x8
Shoulder press 4x8
side raises 3x8
Skullcrushers 3x8
Rope pushdowns 3x8

Pull Day:
Barbell rows 4x8
Lat pulldowns 4x8
Seated cable rows 4x8
Face pulls 3x8
Dumbbell bicep curls 3x8
Cable curls 3x8
Cable hammer curls 3x8

Leg Day:
Squats 3x8
Lunges 3x8
Romanian Deadlifts 3x8
Leg press 3x8
Leg extensions 3x8
Leg curls 3x8

Need way more volume IMO and more frequency if only 1x a week. Or increase intensity and put more into each set

Basically you aren't working hard enough. And who was shrugs for traps? Bad routine imo. Terrible routine for shoulders too. Needs more deltoid work and something for rear delts. And throw in ~6 sets of shrugs on pull day.

Really what you should be doing is a beginner routine

[krod16]

Need way more volume IMO and more frequency if only 1x a week. Or increase intensity and put more into each set

Basically you aren't working hard enough. And who was shrugs for traps? Bad routine imo. Terrible routine for shoulders too. Needs more deltoid work and something for rear delts. And throw in ~6 sets of shrugs on pull day.

Really what you should be doing is a beginner routine

I do this routine twice a week. And I'm exhausted at the end of the workouts. I don't take my workouts lightly.

I think whether I should go high volume or not depends on how my body reacts. IMHO, for beginners like me it is more important to focus on compound movements to build strength rather than on isolation.

Am not worrying about my traps because compounds seem to hit them well for me right now. Later when I am more intermediate I will do those. For the rear delts, the face pulls do a great job for me.

This above workout is working fine for me and I will continue it for the bulk and evaluate after a few weeks.

[servonlewis]

I do this routine twice a week. And I'm exhausted at the end of the workouts. I don't take my workouts lightly.

I think whether I should go high volume or not depends on how my body reacts. IMHO, for beginners like me it is more important to focus on compound movements to build strength rather than on isolation.

Am not worrying about my traps because compounds seem to hit them well for me right now. Later when I am more intermediate I will do those. For the rear delts, the face pulls do a great job for me.

This above workout is working fine for me and I will continue it for the bulk and evaluate after a few weeks.

should stil add traps/calves

[KINGFABIAN]

Bulk Clean ....gain muscle and definition while losing the excess fat. You need to put your diet in check.