BF% target where you stop bulking and start cutting?

swlenz
swlenz Posts: 3 Member
edited June 4 in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
What BF% do people shoot for to stop bulking and start cutting - and what BF% do people target to stop cutting and start bulking again? Or how long do people bulk before cutting? My current plan has been 8-10 weeks bulking followed by 6-8 weeks cutting. What do other people do?

I struggle with bulking because I like to be shredded and struggle with allowing my BF% to get high at all because I don’t like what I see in the mirror etc. I know it’s part of the process but it’s a struggle.

I just finished a 10 week bulk and my BF% is probably 12-14% at 6 feet 2 and 208 pounds. I still have a 6 pack and super vascular but I don’t have the 6 pack I like. How do people get over the mental challenge of allowing BF% to climb during a bulk?

Replies

  • cupcakesandproteinshakes
    cupcakesandproteinshakes Posts: 1,135 Member
    If you are going to do bulk and cut cycles then there will be discomfort at how you look. I’ve done a couple of bulks and cuts and I definitely looked and felt chubby at the end of the bulks. Mine latest much longer than yours. About 6 months each. And I gained 10 pounds each time. I’m a woman though and middle aged. I was controlled with how much I gained.
    I guess mentally you have to think of what your future self will look like. It’s a challenge no doubt about that. If you follow body builders on insta the ones who are more honest post about this. Try layne Norton for example. The dude is shredded. But when he bulks his abs totally disappear. Gee posts pics quite honestly and unfiltered. I found that reassuring because there is a lot of unrealistic nonsense on line about this topic.
  • Retroguy2000
    Retroguy2000 Posts: 1,847 Member
    edited June 5
    I wonder if you are finishing a bulk too soon. I guess it depends on what your goals are. It sounds like having visible abs is very important to you, and you may be too focused on being "shredded" and "super vascular" imo, unless you are competing. That's not the best place to be wrt muscle building, hormonal balance, etc. For example, former bodybuilder Coach Greg Doucette always recommends men maingain at around 15% bf, i.e. gain weight slowly while remaining around that healthy bf level and avoid the bulk/cut cycle completely.
  • nossmf
    nossmf Posts: 11,627 Member
    You are unhappy to be up to 12%-14% BF at the end of your bulk, where I was probably at 16% or so when I STARTED my bulk. I haven't seen a six pack in decades, lol.

    For me, my decision on bulking has less to do with BF% and more to do with whether my pants still fit, lol. My current slow bulk has been going on for about 15 months, gained 25# and until recently only an inch on my waist. My waist is starting to make my pants uncomfortably snug, but my top end strength continues to grow so I'm gonna live with the waistline until I hit my next bench press PR target. (Already hit my squat PR target.)

    Once I switch to cut, it'll be until my pants are loose in the waistline again. I have no delusions of ever seeing my six pack again.

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