What should be my next step? bulk/cut. [PICS] wil rep. bf%?

[NoviceKevin]

Currently 185 lbs and about 18.5% bodyfat according to a stand on scale I have, Ive bulked from 168 lbs from oct 2017 to the current weight im at as of May 16th 185lbs. My question is should i maintain this weight, bulk to 190 and stay around there for the rest of the summer? or should i cut down to mid 170's for the summer. I feel if I cut down now i'll be losing hard earned muscle along with along with some fat and go back to being even skinnier than I already am.

Current stats: 5'10 185lbs 18.5% bf
lifts.
250x1 bench
305x1 front squat
445x1 deadlift
100x4 weighted dips, 90x2 chin ups

*The pics here are after a workout so a pump is present*

[xtatdsm]

Cut.

[d2mini]

Kind of up to you.
What's more important right now? Strength or aesthetics?
If it was me, I'd cut down a bit. I don't want to be over 15%.
Keep your nutrition on point and continue to hit the weights hard.

[1gainzfromabove]

Definitely cut imo, lifts are decent but if you bulk anymore body fat will likely start getting out of control. Depends on your overall goals though aesthetics or strength.

[wesleysh21]

Definitely lift

[grubman]

Well, it's up to you what you want...nobody can really tell you what to do. Hard truth is you don't have enough muscle that you can look "big" AND cut. Your going to look bigger in a shirt right now, but average, maybe even a little chunky, naked. If you lose some fat, you'll look better shirtless, but smaller (maybe like you don't even lift) in a shirt.

It's not really a conundrum at this point, because you don't yet have enough to really work with, so whatever you decide, you probably won't be totally happy with the end product until you have a little more time under the bar.

Myself, I'd go deficit at least to about 15% to see how much muscle I really had. IMHO 15% is the best of both worlds, you don't look tiny in a shirt, and you don't look soft naked.

What is up with that leg shot? It shows nothing at all?

[bodyhard]

Dude you do not have any real mass to start cutting if you diet down you will diet down to nothing.

You need to continue eating and hit core compound movements and build a base and you need to do that for about 6 months to a year.

[NoviceKevin]

Well, it's up to you what you want...nobody can really tell you what to do. Hard truth is you don't have enough muscle that you can look "big" AND cut. Your going to look bigger in a shirt right now, but average, maybe even a little chunky, naked. If you lose some fat, you'll look better shirtless, but smaller (maybe like you don't even lift) in a shirt.

It's not really a conundrum at this point, because you don't yet have enough to really work with, so whatever you decide, you probably won't be totally happy with the end product until you have a little more time under the bar.

Myself, I'd go deficit at least to about 15% to see how much muscle I really had. IMHO 15% is the best of both worlds, you don't look tiny in a shirt, and you don't look soft naked.

What is up with that leg shot? It shows nothing at all?

Thanks I guess ill maintain in the 180s and cut to 15% bf before the winter and then lean bulk. Will rep

[Payton1221]

. . . or should i cut down to mid 170's for the summer. I feel if I cut down now i'll be losing hard earned muscle along with along with some fat and go back to being even skinnier than I already am.

Using your initial bodyfat estimate, cutting to the mid 170's would leave you at ~15% bodyfat. But if you do this with adequate protein and a modest (~500 cal/day) deficit while lifting with the same weights and trying to maintain the same reps (i.e., the same intensity), then you shouldn't lose much muscle just to get to 15%.

[EjnarKolinkar]

What if you take a third option where you didn't bulk or cut. What if you just focus on progress in the gym and maybe getting that 5 lb between now and December?

It's not a suggestion. Its a question.

[Junsuiakai]

Dude you do not have any real mass to start cutting if you diet down you will diet down to nothing.

You need to continue eating and hit core compound movements and build a base and you need to do that for about 6 months to a year.

I disagree if he is so strong, he must have something.