Bulk/cut?

[Damon628]

Gyms open here on Wednesday and I’d like to know what approach to take when returning

Stats:
18yr old
5ft 10
173lbs
8-10 months training experience

Got photos on my account any helps appreciated

[faithbrah]

maybe maintenance until you stop making gains, then bulk

[xsquid99]

maybe maintenance until you stop making gains, then bulk

^^^ This.

[inspirasn]

Depends on your personal preference man.
There would still be room to bulk since you're not chubby yet. But then again you aren't super lean either. I'd guesstimate that around 14/15% or 13% at the LOWEST.

You could take the more patient approach and steadily maintain (get leaner while simultaneously add muscle and strength slowly)

Or you could bulk but that depends with what kinda body fat percentage you are personally OK to live with. Some guys don't mind getting well over 20/25% during a bulk since they still look good with a tshirt and feel strong.

I'd recommend to stay under 16% at all times. Kinda within the 8%-16% range for optimal nutrient partitioning.

Option 3 is you could cut down until a desired body fat percentage that you'd love to maintain in the future (i.e. 10% with visible abs if that's your thing) and then start bulking again from there until you hit 16%, cut down etc. and so on.

[Damon628]

Depends on your personal preference man.
There would still be room to bulk since you're not chubby yet. But then again you aren't super lean either. I'd guesstimate that around 14/15% or 13% at the LOWEST.

You could take the more patient approach and steadily maintain (get leaner while simultaneously add muscle and strength slowly)

Or you could bulk but that depends with what kinda body fat percentage you are personally OK to live with. Some guys don't mind getting well over 20/25% during a bulk since they still look good with a tshirt and feel strong.

I'd recommend to stay under 16% at all times. Kinda within the 8%-16% range for optimal nutrient partitioning.

Option 3 is you could cut down until a desired body fat percentage that you'd love to maintain in the future (i.e. 10% with visible abs if that's your thing) and then start bulking again from there until you hit 16%, cut down etc. and so on.

Appreciate the response!

[AlexSays]

Depends on your personal preference man.
There would still be room to bulk since you're not chubby yet. But then again you aren't super lean either. I'd guesstimate that around 14/15% or 13% at the LOWEST.

You could take the more patient approach and steadily maintain (get leaner while simultaneously add muscle and strength slowly)

Or you could bulk but that depends with what kinda body fat percentage you are personally OK to live with. Some guys don't mind getting well over 20/25% during a bulk since they still look good with a tshirt and feel strong.

I'd recommend to stay under 16% at all times. Kinda within the 8%-16% range for optimal nutrient partitioning.

Option 3 is you could cut down until a desired body fat percentage that you'd love to maintain in the future (i.e. 10% with visible abs if that's your thing) and then start bulking again from there until you hit 16%, cut down etc. and so on.

This is good advice and a good overview of the options

However OP before you decide just note that you are already well over 20% bodyfat if those photos on your profile are recent. I would not recommend you go into a mass gain phase. Maintenance or small deficit

[Damon628]

This is good advice and a good overview of the options

However OP before you decide just note that you are already well over 20% bodyfat if those photos on your profile are recent. I would not recommend you go into a mass gain phase. Maintenance or small deficit

Yeah I’ve decided to go into a small deficit until I get down to desired bodyfat level.