does definition require bulking?

technobunny

hi all, i guess the topic explains itself?
i'm on the fence on whether to eat at maintenance or above, i do not want larger muscles per say, but i do want the definition.
is that only achievable through larger muscles or will my muscles be more defined with fat loss?

jimmmer

hi all, i guess the topic explains itself?
i'm on the fence on whether to eat at maintenance or above, i do not want larger muscles per say, but i do want the definition.
is that only achievable through larger muscles or will my muscles be more defined with fat loss?

You'll get greater definition as you strip away bf. What you're left with may or may not be what you want. A lot of people eff-up weightloss and lose too much LBM along with fat. Some people lose the bf% and think their muscles have actually gotten bigger due to the increased definition. It's all subjective at the end of the day and based on viewpoint and personal preference.

So it all depends. If you get down to a certain bf%, don't want to go any lower, and are still not happy with your muscles, then you're looking at doing a bulk to get them to where you like them.

It's such a personal thing and only you can say where you want to go and if you're happy when you get there.

ElliottTN

Definition is a result of low body fat. You are removing body fat to better define your muscles. Now, if you have enough muscle mass to get your desired look when you are defined is a completely different story.

technobunny

Awesome, thanks for the help guys. Gonna continue eating at maintenance and see where I'm at in a few months.

thatonegirlwiththestuff

I eat at a slight deficit and lift heavy. I have a whole lot of definition and I never bulked.

Greenrun99

All about your lean muscle and bf%..

cwolfman13

Awesome, thanks for the help guys. Gonna continue eating at maintenance and see where I'm at in a few months.

Just an FYI, getting the kind of body that I would venture you are trying to achieve is going to take more than a few months...

JNick77

What everybody else said, improved definition is the result of reduced bodyfat. Bulking is something entirely different and bulking does not necessarily yield improved definition.

djeffreys10

I got down to 153 and was skinny fat. I could have probably cut until I had definition, but I would have looked like I came from a prison camp. To have definition, you have to have muscle. If you already have enough muscle, you just have to lose the fat. If not, then you have to build muscle.

technobunny

Just an FYI, getting the kind of body that I would venture you are trying to achieve is going to take more than a few months...

I wasn't implying that I'd be where I want to be in a few months, just that I was going to re-evaluate my goals at that time depending on the improvements/changes I see. Whether I thought it was worth eating more to build more muslce, or eating a deficit to continue cutting fat. I'm doing stage 1 of NROL4W hopefully by the time I'm done with this stage, i can decide whether to continue eating at maintenance or at a cut.

technobunny

I got down to 153 and was skinny fat. I could have probably cut until I had definition, but I would have looked like I came from a prison camp. To have definition, you have to have muscle. If you already have enough muscle, you just have to lose the fat. If not, then you have to build muscle.

Ah, i could see that with a guy >_< but I'm hoping that won't be an issue with a smaller frame.

technobunny

I eat at a slight deficit and lift heavy. I have a whole lot of definition and I never bulked.

Yes! I am currently working towards lifting heavy as well! Just started NROL4W and went as heavy as I could, so hopefully I can lose all my skinny fat and not lose too much muscle on the way. Sent a request!