When to start cutting?

jiggyj9

Hi all,

I’m up approximately 7 pounds since starting my surplus (I will say it has not been perfect and there have been days that I do not hit my goals) from 130-137 lbs. I’m 5’7. My BF has stayed mostly the same, going from 18.2 to 18.8%.

I’m not sure when I should begin cutting because I still want more mass, but I am uncomfortable with the bloat around my midsection (perhaps water weight?). I know it’s impossible to spot exactly where you want to cut from, but I’m mostly worried I’ll lose the bulk around my lower body (I like when my thighs touch when I walk!).

If cutting isn’t the answer yet, is there any magical way to cut the waist a bit while still bulking? I’m naturally not very curvy and my shoulders are broader than my hips, so this has always been a desire (but even more so now that I have the extra lbs).

Thanks!!!

sardelsa

7 lbs is not that much for a woman. Let's say that at least 2lbs is water/food weight. Then you have 5 lbs, let's say ideally 50% is muscle, that is only about 2.5lbs. So while that is great, it may not be as visually significant as you are hoping once you cut down again. So personally since you are still lean bodyfat% wise, and it is likely bloat/water weight, I would keep bulking.

The extra food has a lot to do with that especially if you are eating a lot of volume, high fibre foods, higher carbs. Look for more compact calorie dense foods to help. In the end though, it will come right off when you start lowering your calories... so you either have to kind of just go with it, maybe think about a mini cut (although in your case it will be a few days to just drop the water, as soon as you up the cals again it could come back).

jiggyj9

Great advice. I'll just keep with it. How much weight do you typically aim to gain when bulking?

A little off topic here, is there any way to skip the bulk and the cut phases altogether? What would happen if you eat your maintenance calories... would you just plateau essentially?

sardelsa

I've run three bulks so far. First one was around 10lbs, second was around 12lbs, third was around 15lbs (my most successful one). I find with each bulk, the more confident I am. Plus with more muscle base the easier it is to deal with mentally and better I look with a higher bodyfat, so I'm able to gain more.

You can eat at maintenance to recomp.. so lose fat and gain muscle slowly over time. It is most ideal for those who are at a good weight for their height but with a higher bodyfat%. Being as lean as you are it may not be the most optimal, but it is an option instead of cutting after a bulk if you are pretty happy with your size and don't have a timeline to lean down. I did it for three months after my first bulk then did a small cut (since I was so impatient) but I definitely think it helped continue to build a little more and lean down at that point.

jiggyj9

Good to know that that's an option for long term. This is my first bulk so I'm going to keep with it and experiment with a mini cut before I hit 145 lbs if I get impatient as well.