Anyone cutting after a bulk?

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Replies

  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    bioklutz wrote: »
    So this is more of a vent - I just need to work on where my head is at and I know that. It has been a bit of a rough week. I have never before been that bothered by scale fluctuations. I have weighed myself daily for years and know what happens to my weight. Mid cycle and right before my period I have a scale increase. This is not surprising - I am fully aware of the fluctuations.

    Yet for some reason this week it is been messing with my head. I increase my calories from losing 3 pounds a month to losing 2 pounds a month and boom scale increase. All these crazy thoughts immediately run through my head - My metabolisms f'd up! Why is my lower abdomen so fat, is that where I store fat first? I can't remember! I am never going to be able to eat cake again! OMG I need to drop calories - this increase is not working.

    A few hours go by and I realize what is going on - mid cycle fluctuations. OK. I just need to ride this out, there is no reason to drop calories. Don't overreact.

    It has been a few days now. I was peeing like crazy yesterday and my lower belly looks a little strange. I thought for sure I was going to whoosh. NOPE! I am the same weight as yesterday. I really feel like crying at this point. Grrrr stupid hormones.

    I get you. This is why I first hired a coach (sidesteel) back in the day. I had such a hard time managing my emotions/calories, I needed it to be in someone else's hands.

    And this week I had almost the opposite end of the roller coaster. Weighed in after my period at 152 last Saturday. Had a mini freak out. Started cutting and I'm down 5 lbs and letting the scale make me HAPPIER, fully knowing that is water weight.

    And then it will all come back around again!!

    Hold steady on the calories.
  • bioklutz
    bioklutz Posts: 1,365 Member
    bbell1985 wrote: »
    bioklutz wrote: »
    So this is more of a vent - I just need to work on where my head is at and I know that. It has been a bit of a rough week. I have never before been that bothered by scale fluctuations. I have weighed myself daily for years and know what happens to my weight. Mid cycle and right before my period I have a scale increase. This is not surprising - I am fully aware of the fluctuations.

    Yet for some reason this week it is been messing with my head. I increase my calories from losing 3 pounds a month to losing 2 pounds a month and boom scale increase. All these crazy thoughts immediately run through my head - My metabolisms f'd up! Why is my lower abdomen so fat, is that where I store fat first? I can't remember! I am never going to be able to eat cake again! OMG I need to drop calories - this increase is not working.

    A few hours go by and I realize what is going on - mid cycle fluctuations. OK. I just need to ride this out, there is no reason to drop calories. Don't overreact.

    It has been a few days now. I was peeing like crazy yesterday and my lower belly looks a little strange. I thought for sure I was going to whoosh. NOPE! I am the same weight as yesterday. I really feel like crying at this point. Grrrr stupid hormones.

    I get you. This is why I first hired a coach (sidesteel) back in the day. I had such a hard time managing my emotions/calories, I needed it to be in someone else's hands.

    And this week I had almost the opposite end of the roller coaster. Weighed in after my period at 152 last Saturday. Had a mini freak out. Started cutting and I'm down 5 lbs and letting the scale make me HAPPIER, fully knowing that is water weight.

    And then it will all come back around again!!

    Hold steady on the calories.

    Holding steady!

    Hey water weight drops mean things are headed in the right direction! That means fat loss is coming next! Be happy about that! :smile:
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    So tomorrow I start my transition into maintenance. Probably spend about a week there until I cut my cals down more. Does anyone else do this, or do you go straight to cutting? The first few weeks are a bit of trial and error because of the usual huge water drop it's hard to know what's going on, plus I don't track my cals so sometimes it's like taking shots in the dark. :p
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    So tomorrow I start my transition into maintenance. Probably spend about a week there until I cut my cals down more. Does anyone else do this, or do you go straight to cutting? The first few weeks are a bit of trial and error because of the usual huge water drop it's hard to know what's going on, plus I don't track my cals so sometimes it's like taking shots in the dark. :p

    I tend to drop my cals by 100/day each week until I start losing. I'm a slow and steady kind of gal!
  • flowerhorsey
    flowerhorsey Posts: 154 Member
    I'd love to know more about cutting. I've been maintaining for a few months as i learn more, but I know I could probably stand to lose 5-10 pounds... Unfortunately when I think about cutting calories I get hungrier
  • bioklutz
    bioklutz Posts: 1,365 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    So tomorrow I start my transition into maintenance. Probably spend about a week there until I cut my cals down more. Does anyone else do this, or do you go straight to cutting? The first few weeks are a bit of trial and error because of the usual huge water drop it's hard to know what's going on, plus I don't track my cals so sometimes it's like taking shots in the dark. :p

    I go straight to cutting. I like to take advantage of the full to the brim feeling. I usually cut pretty aggressively for about a week and then switch to a less aggressive cut.

    Whatever is easiest for you would be the best approach!
  • edickson76
    edickson76 Posts: 107 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    So tomorrow I start my transition into maintenance. Probably spend about a week there until I cut my cals down more. Does anyone else do this, or do you go straight to cutting? The first few weeks are a bit of trial and error because of the usual huge water drop it's hard to know what's going on, plus I don't track my cals so sometimes it's like taking shots in the dark. :p

    I normally go 2 weeks at maintenance between transitions. Just finished a very lean bulk (about 100 calorie surplus per day). So, since the surplus was so low, I'm doing only a week of maintenance before cutting.
  • jdog022
    jdog022 Posts: 693 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    So tomorrow I start my transition into maintenance. Probably spend about a week there until I cut my cals down more. Does anyone else do this, or do you go straight to cutting? The first few weeks are a bit of trial and error because of the usual huge water drop it's hard to know what's going on, plus I don't track my cals so sometimes it's like taking shots in the dark. :p

    At the top of my lean bulk I was 3400 cals and I estimated my 500 cal Deficit at 2550. So I took that difference and divided by 3 and took 3 weeks to go from 3400 to 2550. So something like 3300 to 3050 to 2800 and then 2550.

    For me I knew I would be hungry doing anything more aggressive. hell I was still hungry at 3400 but I admit I didn't eat for volume like I am now.

    7 weeks in now cals at 2350 with an every other week refeed which consists of a normal day plus 720 cal pint of Ben and Jerry's Froyo. Down 12 ibs. About half way maybe. Starting to get hungry here and there without macros left.

    also currently in that funky stage between looking super lean and beach lean and just feel like I am small, DYEL, and flat. staying the course.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    jdog022 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    So tomorrow I start my transition into maintenance. Probably spend about a week there until I cut my cals down more. Does anyone else do this, or do you go straight to cutting? The first few weeks are a bit of trial and error because of the usual huge water drop it's hard to know what's going on, plus I don't track my cals so sometimes it's like taking shots in the dark. :p

    At the top of my lean bulk I was 3400 cals and I estimated my 500 cal Deficit at 2550. So I took that difference and divided by 3 and took 3 weeks to go from 3400 to 2550. So something like 3300 to 3050 to 2800 and then 2550.

    For me I knew I would be hungry doing anything more aggressive. hell I was still hungry at 3400 but I admit I didn't eat for volume like I am now.

    7 weeks in now cals at 2350 with an every other week refeed which consists of a normal day plus 720 cal pint of Ben and Jerry's Froyo. Down 12 ibs. About half way maybe. Starting to get hungry here and there without macros left.

    also currently in that funky stage between looking super lean and beach lean and just feel like I am small, DYEL, and flat. staying the course.

    I am sooo familiar with that feeling! My favourite time is right after you get super lean then start to add the cals back for bulking.. those first few weeks all the muscles fill with water.. and it makes it all worth it :p

    Sounds like you are doing amazing, keep it up :)

    Ha! I'm about a month or so away from ending this bulk and I still don't look like I lift!
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    jdog022 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    So tomorrow I start my transition into maintenance. Probably spend about a week there until I cut my cals down more. Does anyone else do this, or do you go straight to cutting? The first few weeks are a bit of trial and error because of the usual huge water drop it's hard to know what's going on, plus I don't track my cals so sometimes it's like taking shots in the dark. :p

    At the top of my lean bulk I was 3400 cals and I estimated my 500 cal Deficit at 2550. So I took that difference and divided by 3 and took 3 weeks to go from 3400 to 2550. So something like 3300 to 3050 to 2800 and then 2550.

    For me I knew I would be hungry doing anything more aggressive. hell I was still hungry at 3400 but I admit I didn't eat for volume like I am now.

    7 weeks in now cals at 2350 with an every other week refeed which consists of a normal day plus 720 cal pint of Ben and Jerry's Froyo. Down 12 ibs. About half way maybe. Starting to get hungry here and there without macros left.

    also currently in that funky stage between looking super lean and beach lean and just feel like I am small, DYEL, and flat. staying the course.

    I am sooo familiar with that feeling! My favourite time is right after you get super lean then start to add the cals back for bulking.. those first few weeks all the muscles fill with water.. and it makes it all worth it :p

    Sounds like you are doing amazing, keep it up :)

    Ha! I'm about a month or so away from ending this bulk and I still don't look like I lift!

    I don't think I'll ever look like I lift. I don't even know what that means though haha. I actually look almost the exact same as I did years ago when I was doing cardio. I mean I look more fit, I'm a bit more defined, booty is larger, tighter and separated but otherwise it would be hard to tell the difference.
  • kazane1
    kazane1 Posts: 264 Member
    I’m trying to understand cutting more because I’m entering my first cut at the end of the month.

    If I was eating at a maintenance of 3,500 and then I was to take 250 calories away to enter a cut after cutting for a few months if I was to then enter a bulk again and I was to add 250 calories again then that just means I would be eating back at 3,500 calories and then I would be back where I started from wouldn’t i?
    Thanks all.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    jdog022 wrote: »
    sardelsa wrote: »
    So tomorrow I start my transition into maintenance. Probably spend about a week there until I cut my cals down more. Does anyone else do this, or do you go straight to cutting? The first few weeks are a bit of trial and error because of the usual huge water drop it's hard to know what's going on, plus I don't track my cals so sometimes it's like taking shots in the dark. :p

    At the top of my lean bulk I was 3400 cals and I estimated my 500 cal Deficit at 2550. So I took that difference and divided by 3 and took 3 weeks to go from 3400 to 2550. So something like 3300 to 3050 to 2800 and then 2550.

    For me I knew I would be hungry doing anything more aggressive. hell I was still hungry at 3400 but I admit I didn't eat for volume like I am now.

    7 weeks in now cals at 2350 with an every other week refeed which consists of a normal day plus 720 cal pint of Ben and Jerry's Froyo. Down 12 ibs. About half way maybe. Starting to get hungry here and there without macros left.

    also currently in that funky stage between looking super lean and beach lean and just feel like I am small, DYEL, and flat. staying the course.

    I am sooo familiar with that feeling! My favourite time is right after you get super lean then start to add the cals back for bulking.. those first few weeks all the muscles fill with water.. and it makes it all worth it :p

    Sounds like you are doing amazing, keep it up :)

    Ha! I'm about a month or so away from ending this bulk and I still don't look like I lift!

    I don't think I'll ever look like I lift. I don't even know what that means though haha. I actually look almost the exact same as I did years ago when I was doing cardio. I mean I look more fit, I'm a bit more defined, booty is larger, tighter and separated but otherwise it would be hard to tell the difference.

    That's exactly how I feel... total gain from 114 lbs to 136 lbs and I don't feel any different from six years ago.
  • jdog022
    jdog022 Posts: 693 Member
    kazane1 wrote: »
    I’m trying to understand cutting more because I’m entering my first cut at the end of the month.

    If I was eating at a maintenance of 3,500 and then I was to take 250 calories away to enter a cut after cutting for a few months if I was to then enter a bulk again and I was to add 250 calories again then that just means I would be eating back at 3,500 calories and then I would be back where I started from wouldn’t i?
    Thanks all.

    Your maintenance will drop over time as you lose wieght and metabolism adapts. In other words every few weeks or every so many pounds you have to cut calories again or Increase cardio but usually a combination.

    Was 3500 just an example or is that really you maintenance? Because if so I'm jealous. most peoples maintenance is about bodyweight x16 but can certainly vary widely.
  • pinggolfer96
    pinggolfer96 Posts: 2,248 Member
    edited May 2018
    Currently cutting from a bulk because of work (would have kept the bulk going :'( ) here’s my progress thus far from bulk to cut.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    Currently cutting from a bulk because of work (would have kept the bulk going :'( ) here’s my progress thus far from bulk to cut.

    Looking great!
  • kazane1
    kazane1 Posts: 264 Member
    jdog022 wrote: »
    kazane1 wrote: »
    I’m trying to understand cutting more because I’m entering my first cut at the end of the month.

    If I was eating at a maintenance of 3,500 and then I was to take 250 calories away to enter a cut after cutting for a few months if I was to then enter a bulk again and I was to add 250 calories again then that just means I would be eating back at 3,500 calories and then I would be back where I started from wouldn’t i?
    Thanks all.

    Your maintenance will drop over time as you lose wieght and metabolism adapts. In other words every few weeks or every so many pounds you have to cut calories again or Increase cardio but usually a combination.

    Was 3500 just an example or is that really you maintenance? Because if so I'm jealous. most peoples maintenance is about bodyweight x16 but can certainly vary widely.

    @jdog022
    Ahh thanks this helps me to understand things a bit more and yeah 3,500 is my current maintenance but I am on a bulk and this is my 5th month bulking I have been upping the calories slowly over the past five months.
  • bioklutz
    bioklutz Posts: 1,365 Member
    Currently cutting from a bulk because of work (would have kept the bulk going :'( ) here’s my progress thus far from bulk to cut.

    Do you tend to drop weight from your stomach quickly? Digging the abs!

    @sardelsa & @Davidsdottir I am sure that you are being overly critical of your bodies! I don't remember seeing pictures of you Davidsdottir but from your tiny little profile pictures it looks like you have nice shoulders! I have seen your progress pics Sardelsa and you look amazing!

    I have 2 more pounds to go before I want to start reverse dieting! Funny is I was at this point early March and then went on vacation for 10 days. I ate so much and had to pretty much start over. :blush: No regrets! I have another vacation coming up in June. It is only 4 days this time - hopefully not enough time to undo most of my progress.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    bioklutz wrote: »
    Currently cutting from a bulk because of work (would have kept the bulk going :'( ) here’s my progress thus far from bulk to cut.

    Do you tend to drop weight from your stomach quickly? Digging the abs!

    @sardelsa & @Davidsdottir I am sure that you are being overly critical of your bodies! I don't remember seeing pictures of you Davidsdottir but from your tiny little profile pictures it looks like you have nice shoulders! I have seen your progress pics Sardelsa and you look amazing!

    I have 2 more pounds to go before I want to start reverse dieting! Funny is I was at this point early March and then went on vacation for 10 days. I ate so much and had to pretty much start over. :blush: No regrets! I have another vacation coming up in June. It is only 4 days this time - hopefully not enough time to undo most of my progress.

    Thank you, it's true... I'm overly critical of myself for sure. My quads have grown about 2" during this bulk. All of my measurements are up, except for my waist and chest LOL

    I actually hit goal today...140 lbs. I am officially lowering cals today by 100, reducing weekly until I hit maintenance. I'm also excited to switch up my workouts... getting a little tired of my programming.
  • pinggolfer96
    pinggolfer96 Posts: 2,248 Member
    bioklutz wrote: »
    Currently cutting from a bulk because of work (would have kept the bulk going :'( ) here’s my progress thus far from bulk to cut.

    Do you tend to drop weight from your stomach quickly? Digging the abs!

    @sardelsa & @Davidsdottir I am sure that you are being overly critical of your bodies! I don't remember seeing pictures of you Davidsdottir but from your tiny little profile pictures it looks like you have nice shoulders! I have seen your progress pics Sardelsa and you look amazing!

    I have 2 more pounds to go before I want to start reverse dieting! Funny is I was at this point early March and then went on vacation for 10 days. I ate so much and had to pretty much start over. :blush: No regrets! I have another vacation coming up in June. It is only 4 days this time - hopefully not enough time to undo most of my progress.

    No, my abs actually take the longest. I easily need another 2-3lbs off until I start seeing the ab veins lol
  • jseams1234
    jseams1234 Posts: 1,219 Member
    ending my cut in 7 days. :dizzy:

    Gonna have the biggest damned bowl of spaghetti you ever did see. Decided to end it around 13% ... because it's been 4 and a half months on this cut and I'm sick and tired of it. I tossed around the idea of trying for 10% and super ripped - but nah, don't wanna. Ended up at 192# but will probably blow up to close to 200 once I start eating a normal amount of carbs. Start weight in December was 238. I don't think I lost too much muscle, but the only real metric I have is that my lifts didn't suffer. I did cut back volume - mostly just cut 1 set out of my routine for each compound lift and instead of 1 strength and two hypertrophy days per week I did 3 strength days until the last two weeks where I cut a complete day out of my routine. Joints are screaming and I hope getting back into a surplus helps.
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    jseams1234 wrote: »
    ending my cut in 7 days. :dizzy:

    Gonna have the biggest damned bowl of spaghetti you ever did see. Decided to end it around 13% ... because it's been 4 and a half months on this cut and I'm sick and tired of it. I tossed around the idea of trying for 10% and super ripped - but nah, don't wanna. Ended up at 192# but will probably blow up to close to 200 once I start eating a normal amount of carbs. Start weight in December was 238. I don't think I lost too much muscle, but the only real metric I have is that my lifts didn't suffer. I did cut back volume - mostly just cut 1 set out of my routine for each compound lift and instead of 1 strength and two hypertrophy days per week I did 3 strength days until the last two weeks where I cut a complete day out of my routine. Joints are screaming and I hope getting back into a surplus helps.

    If your profile pic is current, then I'm sending heart eye emojis to you in my mind. No need to cut further.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    jseams1234 wrote: »
    ending my cut in 7 days. :dizzy:

    Gonna have the biggest damned bowl of spaghetti you ever did see. Decided to end it around 13% ... because it's been 4 and a half months on this cut and I'm sick and tired of it. I tossed around the idea of trying for 10% and super ripped - but nah, don't wanna. Ended up at 192# but will probably blow up to close to 200 once I start eating a normal amount of carbs. Start weight in December was 238. I don't think I lost too much muscle, but the only real metric I have is that my lifts didn't suffer. I did cut back volume - mostly just cut 1 set out of my routine for each compound lift and instead of 1 strength and two hypertrophy days per week I did 3 strength days until the last two weeks where I cut a complete day out of my routine. Joints are screaming and I hope getting back into a surplus helps.

    Yea the feeling when the cals increase is fantastic.. you look pumped and the lifts feel so good.

    Did you do any refeeds or diet breaks? I do a pasta refeed on the weekend, basically I have three bowls of pasta or so (which I work into my deficit) on one of my high cal days. It worked so well for me last cut, so hopefully this time it's the same

    Good luck with the last days of your cut :)
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    Wow @jseams1234 that is an amazing transformation! Well done :)
  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    @jseams1234 holy *kitten*!