If you take lifting seriously and you’re not lean, why the fuk aren’t you?

[allianc3]

What’s the excuse? Why dedicate yourself to the gym, only to hold onto completely unnecessary body fat?

Inb4 I want to hit x,xxx total. That’s a goddamn excuse, do it while maintaining a healthy balance.

Most people don’t make lifting a priority to find a coping mechanism to remain fat, it’s totally ass backwards. The only legitimate excuse is if lifting is somehow your career and the extra body weight is necessary for your competitiveness.

[jeshelton]

What’s the excuse? Why dedicate yourself to the gym, only to hold onto completely unnecessary body fat?

Inb4 I want to hit x,xxx total. That’s a goddamn excuse, do it while maintaining a healthy balance.

Most people don’t make lifting a priority to find a coping mechanism to remain fat, it’s totally ass backwards. The only legitimate excuse is if lifting is somehow your career and the extra body weight is necessary for your competitiveness.

What's your lean threshold? AVI?

[allianc3]

What's your lean threshold? AVI?

Clear separation for every major muscle group.

[omnip0tent]

I workout to maintain the lifestyle I have.

1) Im doing a +1 positive as opposed to a -1 activity towards my health.
2) Allows me to not give a fck about my diet eat and drink like a total glutton and not be 400lb's
3) I generally enjoy going to the gym, lifting solo, listening to music. Its a relaxing 1 hour for me.


That being said I'm way too fat right now, just not dedicated enough to diet 7days/week when I got a GF, friends & family to hang with all the time.

[Silencespeaks]

Don’t want to be too lean. A bit softer looks better imo. I like where I’m at now and just want to maintain.

[Crooze]

That being said I'm way too fat right now, just not dedicated enough to diet 7days/week when I got a GF, friends & family to hang with all the time.

How fat are you? This just sounds like cope.

[poolshark472]

diet is the hard part for most people. training is not.

[Silencespeaks]

diet is the hard part for most people. training is not.

Yes it’s a never ending daily struggle for me.

[MichaelDuong]

still have clear separation for every muscle group, just slap on quite a bit of bloat/water/fat on my abs early on

i find that for me its easier to progress if i have some fluff on me

[nothingshocking]

because I'm a lifetime natty

[allianc3]

I workout to maintain the lifestyle I have.

1) Im doing a +1 positive as opposed to a -1 activity towards my health.
2) Allows me to not give a fck about my diet eat and drink like a total glutton and not be 400lb's
3) I generally enjoy going to the gym, lifting solo, listening to music. Its a relaxing 1 hour for me.


That being said I'm way too fat right now, just not dedicated enough to diet 7days/week when I got a GF, friends & family to hang with all the time.

Not buying it. I’ve never dieted in all my life, I eat takeout on average once a day and drink maybe 1-2x a month with friends. Have a GF and go out all the time, order whatever I want including dessert.

There’s a disconnect you’re not mentioning. It’s one thing to enjoy food and another to totally overeat all week long and wallow in self pity.

[omnip0tent]

How fat are you? This just sounds like cope.

Haven't ever gotten my BMI properly done, and I don't trust those handhelds lmao. But I'd say Im probably 20% BF.

Not buying it. I’ve never dieted in all my life, I eat takeout on average once a day and drink maybe 1-2x a month with friends. Have a GF and go out all the time, order whatever I want including dessert.

There’s a disconnect you’re not mentioning. It’s one thing to enjoy food and another to totally overeat all week long and wallow in self pity.

lel no self pity here. Came to give insight as to why some people lift and aren't mega lean.

I've never been one to try genetics or any crap like that. But I can tell you during the week I'm usually eating my 2 prepped meals/day (IF), Might have 3-5 beers throughout the week after dinner. I'll grab Chipotle or Pollo or something x1-2/week if the scheduling is too tight.

And yes I DEFINITELY binge drink/eat on the weekends. But chit, I don't go out to no fckin restaurant and pay $12 for chicken and veggies lmao. Rather stay home.

[cjmadscientist]

after bloatmaxxing for two years, started a very slow cut in March. Down 33 pounds (220 starting, 187 as of last weekend...@6 foot). Being lighter feels entirely better on my body, I was an idiot for letting it go so far. Looking to get down to 175-180, which shouldn't be too difficult at this rate.

My lifts have definitely stalled, but I'll push through that

[jeshelton]

For natty, because surplus to gain strength =/= clear definition of said groups?

Not disagreeing with you, but feel like I take lifting serious and can't see my abs ATM on bulk, but I'm not bloated/fat either. For late teens/early 20s this might be a different story.

[allianc3]

Lost 40lbs in a few months and got down to 12%(ish) and have been lean bulking from there since

OP is right. Being lean is so much better. I look and feel 10x better than when I was bloatmaxxing

Yep.

Better self condifce, clothes fit better, better cardio health, not dragging around unnecessary weight and looking like a buffoon after being winded from walking up a few flights of stairs, list goes on.

Can’t imagine why you’d want the opposite of those things to add another 50lbs on your squat.

[JUSA]

Different people have different goals. Although, it's very easy to hit the gym and train hard, make decent progress and not be overly concerned with diet and remain pudgy Dad-body mode.

Do you look better leaner? Sure. The more mass you have the higher a bodyfat % you look good at, but for almost everyone, that means 10-12% to look good and any higher means you don't look good. Unless you're a big motherfuker, in which case, you might look great at 15%. Most of us are not big motherfukers, though.

[Duckliver]

For natty, because surplus to gain strength =/= clear definition of said groups?

Not disagreeing with you, but feel like I take lifting serious and can't see my abs ATM on bulk, but I'm not bloated/fat either. For late teens/early 20s this might be a different story.

Are you saying allianc3 is not natty ?

[omnip0tent]

Want to know my current biggest motivation for dropping few lb's?




.... Being able to conceal carry a bigger firearm :P

[TheWeeknd4Ever]

Think I’m like 7% bf right now. Can’t even remember the last time I was above 10%

[jeshelton]

Are you saying allianc3 is not natty ?

Could care less if he is or isn't that's not the point.

Are you saying major strength gains can be accomplished naturally on a deficit or maintenance calories required to stay lean?

[Muzzlrpress]

stfu

[Mlinebacker0]

Because they don’t take their diet seriously? Or because they’re powerlifters who prefer moving weight to cutting it? Pretty simple stuff OP (*******)

[Duckliver]

Could care less if he is or isn't that's not the point.

Are you saying major strength gains can be accomplished naturally on a deficit or maintenance calories required to stay lean?

Deficit no, maintenance yes.

[allianc3]

Think I’m like 7% bf right now. Can’t even remember the last time I was above 10%

Good for you bro, that’s definitely on the more extreme end but if that’s a body comp you’ve become comfortable maintaining that’s quite impressive.

[ayyy]

Think I’m like 7% bf right now. Can’t even remember the last time I was above 10%

if even half way accurate mirin hard

[InstantLoser]

Clear separation for every major muscle group.

My muscle groups are clearly separated by body fat. What prize do I win?

[2Chad4You]

I'm lean during summer but I lose my abs when winter comes. My excuse and explanation is that I live in area where there are cold snowy winters that prevent me from doing cardio. During warm summer months I do 40-120 minutes of cycling almost daily, Can't do that in -20 celsius broski when all the roads are icy and slippery. If I really wanted I could so some kind of cardio but for me fitness is something I want to enjoy, and I enjoy cycling in beautiful nature.

[WizzyL]

No reason to be over 15-17% BF ever imo.

[jeshelton]

You get lean first and lean bulk from there dummy. And yes you can still gain some on maintenance though its optimal to bulk at a steady pace.

Deficit no, maintenance yes.

Thanks bros link me some programs and/or progress photos of this type of training. If it pans out I'll convert today.

[allianc3]

Because they don’t take their diet seriously? Or because they’re powerlifters who prefer moving weight to cutting it? Pretty simple stuff OP (*******)

Are you saying in order to move more weight you need to gain body fat? If you’re a passionate powerlifter, why not pick a weight class that is a functional weight for you to maintain without putting additional strain on your body with high body fat?

I totally reject your argument.