How are the cuts going?
caseythirteen
Posts: 956 Member
I know so many awesome ladies have finished their bulks and moved on to the world of cutting. So how's it going?
Right now I'm trying to cut a little but it's not going so well. This process can suck balls sometimes!
Right now I'm trying to cut a little but it's not going so well. This process can suck balls sometimes!
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I'd love to hear this too as I'm thinking of cutting soon (3 lb off but I might go early). Hope it goes well for you, casey.0
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Kim-Girl, you have nothing to cut!!! You're ripped up!
It's going good, can't complain cutting at 2250 cals. I scratched the plan I was advised on as I just didn't feel my body maintained at that level. For 2 weeks I maintained steadily at around 2500+. I hit my macros and micros and I still allow myself freedom, not restriction and it feels good. I am patiently waiting for things to level out bc I'm drained but I know much of that has to do with shift changes at work and I'm not sleeping well, not the cals. I've decided to deload on strength reps for a few weeks; I've hit some goals so it's time to give my body a break. It's still a bipolar ordeal cutting though, I've only lost a 1lb but things are fitting well and my belly is back to being flat but I see my legs slimming and I want to cry. I so wish I would keep all my size in my hard earned trunks! Glad I've decided to take it slow.0 -
Finally making progress, SLOW, but at least it's something in the right direction... my body doesn't lose like it used to it seems! Then again I haven't had to lose 8-10lbs in a LONG time. I'll hopefully get there before June lol!0
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Well, I officially started my cut last week and have maintained. It is my TOM, so I was ravenously hungry last week.
I went ahead and renewed my bodymedia so I could accurately track what I burn. I'm really hoping with the warmer temperatures, cutting will be easier.0 -
I ditto what Holly said…Kim you DO NOT need to cut! You are ripped!
I'm eating 2400 (according to macros) and am down about 1 lb as well. I'm assuming some of the loss is just water and I'm also assuming I'll have to drop down to 2200-ish soon to keep a loss coming. But, again..I'm in no hurry. I do feel like my belly is flatter and less full looking most days. I also and noticing a teeny tiny bit of definition come back in my arms…but I usually lose in my upper body first anyway.0 -
ALMOST!!! I have a few more workouts to go- although I might start aiming for maintenance here shortly.
Tipped the scales (well my scale anyway at 180) apparently I'm ready to cut LOL
Happy we are keeping an in house "cut" thread. will make it easier to have somewhere to go chit chat with people who get it!0 -
ALMOST!!! I have a few more workouts to go- although I might start aiming for maintenance here shortly.
Tipped the scales (well my scale anyway at 180) apparently I'm ready to cut LOL
Happy we are keeping an in house "cut" thread. will make it easier to have somewhere to go chit chat with people who get it!
I agree…I was thinking of updating my "bulking log" thread once a month during my cut.0 -
Yea - everyone is doing great! Love to hear about women who are doing it slow and steady with no drastic measures. I would definitely love to keep seeing updates here (or your logs) since the cut really is part of the process.
Holly and Sarah, thank you - I really appreciate that! My problem is my bottom half. I'm totally good with the top but what you guys don't see is the saddle bag/thigh area. I know in theory it's fine, but I just would like some of the jiggle gone like it was before. That's why it's so hard - it's the last place I lose and it's hereditary to a degree. I won't do what I did before so not sure it will go anywhere. So really my plan is slight cut during the week to give me wiggle room on the weekends which 9/10 are always over. Hopefully between that and steady workouts I will end up with a slow bottom half recomp.
Keep the updates coming!0 -
That's kind of how I feel- the cut is just the part B of the bulk process.
I realized today- that I was probably going to aim for almost 40 lbs- so this is going to take much longer than I thought.
Grumpy grumpy grumpy pants. crap.
oh well. Will make next winter easier when I start my bulk from a lower point. 0 -
Nice- glad to see some updates in here on the cuts!
Mine is going nice and slow. Down a lb after the initial loss of water weight bloat I was carrying around. I'm actually pretty happy with how I look now that my food baby gut is gone, so I don't think I will cut as much as I had originally intended! Maybe just a few more pounds so I actually have knees again and my thighs stop looking like a hail damage clearance sale. Other than that…meh!
This was my first bulk, so this was more of a learning experience than anything. I am LUCKY if I gained 3lbs of muscle. I think I got a little giddy over Christmas time and had one too many "EAT ALL THE THINGS" moments in the name of bulking. I put on too much fat in too short of time. I would like to do an 8 month bulk starting in August, but this time I will be a bit more cautious about my calorie intake. Not to say I had a total free for all, but I certainly had good handful of days in December/January where I ate a couple hundred over, and that added up in the end!
Haven't lost any strength but I could def use a nap after my training on some days. Other than that, can't complain too much.0 -
I'm also pleasantly surprised that I have yet to see any loss in strength. In fact…so far, my lifts are still progressing nicely. That is another reason I'm in no hurry to cut fast.0
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I was wondering when a thread like this would pop up! It only makes sense because like Jo said cutting is just part B of the bulk. It's good to read through everyone's experiences as we'll all get to the cutting part eventually.0
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I think I'm ready to cut... That bulk wasn't long enough, and I gained about 5 pounds but at least I kept seeing increase in my lifts. I won't do anything drastic, just trying to get rid of some fat before I hit the beach in a month. Then who knows... I might just go back to bulking or maintenance. I don't know yet, guess I'll decide after I see what's left after cutting!
Glad this thread was created, because I love this group and am happy to discuss cutting with bulking ladies
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I'll be in the cuuting boat now too!
Last 1RM test today so I will go down to 2900 tomorrow (should be about 50 over maintanance) and then to 2600 (non-workout) 2700 (workout) day. which puts me at a tiny deficit. I see what I look and feel like after the bloat is gone (I only gained 6 lbs) and hopefully go back to maintanance or maybe even slightly over in may.
I kinow I will get to eat about as much as you guys did on your bulk but it still makes me sad to just think about my cutting calories...0 -
Cutting on 2000...which is ending up being more like 2200. It sucks. A lot. I lost 3 lb in 3 weeks even despite upping carbs from maintenance, so I may increase cals to 2400 or something soon, since I have very little to lose.
But having a flat, unbloated stomach is fun. And I'm getting some new definition.0 -
you.make.me.sad.
I'm going to cutting at 1500. maybe even lower. sigh. 0 -
you.make.me.sad.
I'm going to cutting at 1500. maybe even lower. sigh.
Jo-Why are you planning to cut so low?0 -
Omg wut????you.make.me.sad.
I'm going to cutting at 1500. maybe even lower. sigh.
Don't do it. Think of the bacon.0 -
And there I am wanting to cry over 2600...0
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you.make.me.sad.
I'm going to cutting at 1500. maybe even lower. sigh.
Jo-Why are you planning to cut so low?
even at 180 technically my maintenance is 1900- I do add in my eat back calories- but seeing as how I sit on my big fat *kitten* all day- the only thing I can add in is workouts. pout pout.Omg wut????
Don't do it. Think of the bacon.LOL I'll fit it in- don't you worry- I can make bacon and eggs only be 4-500 calories for a fab breakfast!!!
My numbers have been pretty spot on thus far... I'm hoping with my metabolism this high- I can cut hard drop a bunch of weight and drop weight then go to maintenance then after the lifting competition do a more regulated cut to push back more weight- I mean 180 is pretty heavy- to compete in another weight class I need to be closer to 140- that's FORTY pounds. I can lose it- but not all at once- and I can afford to cut all the way up to the meet.0 -
Ahhh see that's where I get caught up. I automatically think TDEE, not MFP + activity so when I saw that I was like damn!0
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I do a TDEE wackadoodle thing- I use TDEE but I set mine a sedentary- because my workouts vary- I don't like to add them in- so I kind of do it like MFP- but I worked through TDEE to get me there. I didn't like MFP doing it for me. But it's the way MFP does it- I just manually did it.
So I'll aim for 1500 then eat back 1/2 of what I work out with so total it'll be around 18-2000. Last time I dropped 15 lbs I mostly just restricted carbs and ate an obscene amount of meat and veggies- worked okay- so this time I'll go that route- but I'll put some numbers on it to force the issue.0 -
I'm cutting around 2000 calories/day during the week and giving myself a free-for-all on the weekends. Well, not totally, but this past weekend was bad. It's TOM so it's been tough. I don't really have a lot to cut, I don't think...just want the little pooch that formed over my six-pack to be gone!0
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you.make.me.sad.
I'm going to cutting at 1500. maybe even lower. sigh.
So glad it's not just me. Eating at maintainance this week (1960) then I'll go for 1700 till it slows, then 1500. Already feeling it - 50 cals over today (and I haven't logged my snicker ????)
I had heard length of time in deficit can be just as bad as having a large deficit so I'm hoping I can drop faster than I normally do.
It's a relief seeing someone who knows what they're doing going a bit on the lower side, I won't feel like as much of an amateur.
Any tips on preserving what I might have gained, muscle wise, or is it just a case of keeping protein up, lifting and hoping for the best?0 -
I swear every time I think "cut", I gain. I'm hoping this is just water weight from the weekend.
Cut calorie goals are 1700 calories 5 days a week, and then two days at 2000 calories. That should be a 1lb/week cut, but since I only want to drop 5 lbs, it gives me a little wiggle room for weekend error. The five lb loss is also assuming my jump in weight is mostly water.0 -
you.make.me.sad.
I'm going to cutting at 1500. maybe even lower. sigh.
I had heard length of time in deficit can be just as bad as having a large deficit so I'm hoping I can drop faster than I normally do.
It's a relief seeing someone who knows what they're doing going a bit on the lower side, I won't feel like as much of an amateur.
Any tips on preserving what I might have gained, muscle wise, or is it just a case of keeping protein up, lifting and hoping for the best?
Well one way would be to do a slower, less drastic cut. That's how it helped me in previous cuts, had very little loss. However that seems contradictory to what you've heard....
Either way, it's very hard to retain all gained LBM during a cut. Just keep trucking. If you find you're losing too fast reconsider what your plan is.0 -
you.make.me.sad.
I'm going to cutting at 1500. maybe even lower. sigh.
I had heard length of time in deficit can be just as bad as having a large deficit so I'm hoping I can drop faster than I normally do.
It's a relief seeing someone who knows what they're doing going a bit on the lower side, I won't feel like as much of an amateur.
Any tips on preserving what I might have gained, muscle wise, or is it just a case of keeping protein up, lifting and hoping for the best?
Well one way would be to do a slower, less drastic cut. That's how it helped me in previous cuts, had very little loss. However that seems contradictory to what you've heard....
Either way, it's very hard to retain all gained LBM during a cut. Just keep trucking. If you find you're losing too fast reconsider what your plan is.
yeah long sustained medium cuts can really eat into your metabolism and tank things- but flip side- hard cuts can be bad too- so you have to be body attentive- I'd prefer a shorter harder cut and be a little miserable than drag it out- least for my time frame and my life. I'm too busy to really function well on a long sustained medium cut. It doesn't work to well- I'm too busy.
HMVOL is right- keep doing what you're doing- always keep and eye and re-evaluate if you are not hitting what you need.
I've cut at 1200 for about 6 weeks- eating back about 3/4 of my workout calories I was okay- I had a very short term goal for a photo shoot so I went through the whole cut and prep like you would for a competition- very eye opening.0 -
This cut sucks.... I've now been at it for 4 weeks and am not seeing much result yet. Doesn't help of course that past 5 days I was on a skiing trip from work that included lots of apres ski time. Now I'm back at 1700 kcal net intake, including lifting, but excluding cardio. I'm really noticing the difference in intake with my lifts, everything requires more effort and I'm feeling more tired all the time. well, 2 months more and I should be at an acceptable bf% again. 0
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Thanks guys.
I actually, normally, do better on 1200 + exercise - the more I have to eat, the more I seem to cheat and I always lose sloooow. Think my maintainance range is definitely better since doing the bulk though (the last couple of weeks, I was losing at surplus despite upping) so I'll probably play it by ear, like you guys have said.
Need to get my healthy eating head back on and say goodbye to the snickers for a few weeks 0 -
FWIW a long cut IMO is 12 wks. I would never go past that and haven't. My most recent cut over the summer was 8 wks where I had my best success with a not so drastic deficit and controlled refeeds incorporated every week. Strength never diminished, actually improved and I was sane. Keyword sane. Never felt deprived, weak, miserable or struggled.0
