Bulk or cut? Skinny fat?

[21damage]

hey guys, need some advice. I don't know if i should bulk or cut. I've been extremely inconsistent with lifting for over a year. I've decided that I have to take it seriously now. My goal is to just be slightly big and lean (not a body builder). How much calories should i reduce or increase and whats the best program to follow in my case? Can you guess my BF %? I'm thinking im like 17-18%. Thanks in advance!

Height: 5'10
Weight: 166

[Diamhea]

I say lean bulk. You aren't really skinnyfat because you don't have the trademark wide birthing hips and have at least some muscle. ~500kcal over your baseline will limit fat gains.

[21damage]

Thanks. I guess I'll do a lean bulk. I was just worried about gaining too much fat because I can barely see abs unless I flex hard.

[jthokinson]

Do a clean bulk, you're pretty lean already!!

[Fran1211]

lean bulk...you are around 18% I guess

[PulseTraining]

you need to cut bodyfat.

[21damage]

thanks evryone. I will go for a lean bulk and post my progress. Question when is the right time to stop and then cut? how much weight should i cut after the bulk?

[Diamhea]

thanks evryone. I will go for a lean bulk and post my progress. Question when is the right time to stop and then cut? how much weight should i cut after the bulk?

Impossible to put numbers on it. let the mirror be your guide and stop when you seem to be getting too soft. The goal of a lean bulk is to put size on indefinitely without having to lose momentum and cut.

[PulseTraining]

thanks to @unplugged for the negative reps on my post. I understand what it's like to not want to hear the truth and lashing out won't make you feel better. OP still is over 15% bodyfat and has no business trying to bulk. If anything, base building should be a maintenance time for scale movement. But like you said,I should stop giving advice. What do I know, anyway?

[tomburbidge1]

IMO if this were me I would do like a 4 week cut first.
But as long as your happy with a little extra body fat, you need to realise that when you commit to bulk (and you ideally want to bulk for as long as possible), you're only going to put on more body fat. So really this varies with personal preference.
Also, I think that if someone in your situation, cut first then bulked, the results would be more apparent quicker and thus less chance of losing motivation.
Just some things to think about. Peace.

[21damage]

IMO if this were me I would do like a 4 week cut first.
But as long as your happy with a little extra body fat, you need to realise that when you commit to bulk (and you ideally want to bulk for as long as possible), you're only going to put on more body fat. So really this varies with personal preference.
Also, I think that if someone in your situation, cut first then bulked, the results would be more apparent quicker and thus less chance of losing motivation.
Just some things to think about. Peace.

Thanks for the opinion. After doing some thinking over the weekend, I think I will go this route and try to drop to maybe 15%. The body fat does bother me a bit so I might as well shed a bit then go with a clean bulk in the new year.

[Diamhea]

thanks to @unplugged for the negative reps on my post. I understand what it's like to not want to hear the truth and lashing out won't make you feel better. OP still is over 15% bodyfat and has no business trying to bulk. If anything, base building should be a maintenance time for scale movement. But like you said,I should stop giving advice. What do I know, anyway?

He negged you for that...? Weird.

[PulseTraining]

He negged you for that...? Weird.

yes he did. Thanks.