Cutting and strength loss

taso42

For those of you who do bulk/cut cycles and the like, do you find that strength goes down during the cut? I'm a few weeks away from my first cut and basically nervous that my strength will inevitably go down.

Also, do you change up your training program during the cut?

MissFit0101

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erickirb

From what I have noticed, if you are still newer to lifting (progressively getting stronger each workout) then usually you can still increase strength but at a slower rate then when you were bulking, or at least remain the same, while cutting. If you have been lifting for years and have very slow gains or have plateaued in adding additional weight then you can expect some small strength losses.

Hopefully some others with more experience will chime in on this as I would like to know as well.

d2footballJRC

For those of you who do bulk/cut cycles and the like, do you find that strength goes down during the cut? I'm a few weeks away from my first cut and basically nervous that my strength will inevitably go down.

Also, do you change up your training program during the cut?

I've been majorly cutting and I'm hitting PR's along the way for the last 5 months. Granted the PR's usually only come after a spike day. (high cal day to keep metabolism high) It's very slow then when I was younger and I bulked. Protein and BCAA's will be your friend when cutting. Especially BCAA's, you can choke those babies down for zero to 20-30 cals and hit you up with 7-10g of Amino Acids which studies have shown promote anti-catabolism of your muscles.

Acg67

Only towards the very end of my cut did i notice some strength losses, through about 3/4 of the way through my strength was increasing

medennison123

Cut down gradually.

I'm guessing you want to cut down 10 pounds or so to look lean. Solid idea. If your going to go with any sort or calorie deficit you should not be at 3000 calories one day and the next start the cut at 2500(to lose a lb a week). It is too much of a jump. I like to do 100-200 calories for a week or so than 300-400 deficit for the next week. Then I settle in to the 500 calorie deficit with increased cardio. I find it works for bulking and cutting.

I am on a 8 month clean bulk. Trying to gain lean muscle.

Here is a decent video. On the bulking/cutting topic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COCaK59QaZg

I_give_it_2_u_str8

In my first attempt at cutting, I started to "lose" strength, but then when I started my gain phase (now) im noticing
That I have been able to get back to about 90-95% of my pre cutting weight strength. I think this is what
They call 'muscle memory'

I'm also curious about others' experience

addisondisease

I notice a strength loss (not huge) any where below 12% body fat. But then again you feel stronger at body weight excessive like pull ups and dips.

addisondisease

Though on an anabolic cut you can go a lot lower in bf% with out the loss in strength.

Yanicka1

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Bamacraft

I read this just this morning. Havent been there yet since i am still a couple weeks away from beginning my cut. Ive shot up to 178 from 168 and made significant gains, especially bench and squats. Same as you tho...i really wana cut down but keep the strength and what little mass i have built.

http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/how-to-lose-fat-without-losing-muscle/