Should I keep cutting or start bulking?

Lawasacaca

Hey everyone,

I’ve been cutting for several months and dropped from 144 lb to 128.2 lb. I’m 18 years old, 5’6”, and currently eating around 1800 kcal with a clean diet and training 6 days a week (push/pull/legs split). I also do cardio 3 times a week and abs 3 times a week.

According to a recent DEXA scan, I’m at about 12% body fat. But even with that, I still feel like my chest isn’t flat and my abs aren’t clearly visible yet. I’ve always been more of a skinny-fat type, and while I’ve made solid progress, I’m still not happy with how my body looks right now.

Should I keep cutting to try and get more definition in my chest and abs?

Or is it smarter to start a lean bulk now and build muscle to shape my body better?

My long-term goal is to have a lean, muscular body with visible abs. I’ve done everything by myself up to this point, but I’m also thinking about hiring a nutrition coach to guide me through the next steps.

nossmf

Welcome to the MFP forums! You've hit the ground running at a young age, setting yourself up very nicely for your future you to thank present you.

A nutrition coach is a smart move, though not necessarily required. You look great, even if your abs aren't showing as you may like (for most guys, 12% BF just starts to show abs, and below 10% is required to make them really pronounced).

Personal recommendation is to switch gears and start a slow bulk by increasing eating just a couple hundred calories per day, making sure you get at least 0.7g-1.0g/lb BW of protein. Take it slow, don't try to make an overnight change.

One last word: at age 18, some guys have already matured into their adult bodies, while others still have growing to do. I'm not talking about puberty and internal chemistry changes, but simply the final shape of our limbs and torso. When I graduated high school at age 18 I looked a lot like you now; four years later I looked night and day bigger, even though I'd only added 10lbs or so of muscle, but my shoulders were broader, my arms defined. My son is following my same footsteps; you may be the same as well.

Patience, young padawan. Good things come to those with the discipline to choose a good path and stick with it. You have chosen a great path; now stick with it!