Why can't bodybuilders always be cut?

doughnutwretch

Essentially, they pig out (and cycle 'roids) and just build insane amounts of muscle. It takes calories to build muscle, so they pack on some fat as well.

When they cut, they enter into a phase that is, for all intents and purposes, an eating disorder... they trim their bodyfat as low as they can and still be alive. They also lose muscle during the cutting phase, but they try to minimize that. They really are not examples of fit athletes... (personally, I believe they're the equivalent of models, not athletes)

It's actually a very unhealthy existence.

Is telling someone they're downright stupid against the rules? If so, I'm a rule breaker.

That being said, no, they don't trim their bodyfat as low as they can to be alive. Essential bodyfat for a male is 2-5% and for women is 10-13%. Bodybuilders generally cut down to 6-13% as a male and 14-20% as a female during competition times.

They eat at a surplus in order to build muscle because they constantly strive for improvements and then when they've reached their limit of how much bodyfat they want to have during a bulk, they start to cut it. The beauty of the process is that each time the cut is easier because muscle burns more calories than fat. The end result is a stronger, leaner, more physically fit person and without doing bulk and cut cycles, there is kind of a cap to what can be accomplished.

They aren't athletes?! Again, you're an idiot. These people, myself included, spend hours in the gym lifting and doing cardio and hours in the kitchen doing meal prep and monitoring their nutrition to a T and yet they aren't desciplined enough or talented enough to be called an athlete?

BEERRUNNER

DANCE PUPPETS DANCE!!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAthe OP guy is playing you all!! :bigsmile:

_Witsy_

Essentially, they pig out (and cycle 'roids) and just build insane amounts of muscle. It takes calories to build muscle, so they pack on some fat as well.

When they cut, they enter into a phase that is, for all intents and purposes, an eating disorder... they trim their bodyfat as low as they can and still be alive. They also lose muscle during the cutting phase, but they try to minimize that. They really are not examples of fit athletes... (personally, I believe they're the equivalent of models, not athletes)

It's actually a very unhealthy existence.

Wellllll no. Just no.

suv_hater

That being said, no, they don't trim their bodyfat as low as they can to be alive. Essential bodyfat for a male is 2-5% and for women is 10-13%. Bodybuilders generally cut down to 6-13% as a male and 14-20% as a female during competition times.

I was thinking they could only be at their competition BF% for a short period of time. But if 2-5% is essential and you are saying they are generally at 6-13% during competition, then can the average joe be cut year-round?

Hendrix7

, then can the average joe be cut year-round?

yes.

The average joe isn't stepping on stage trying to win a bb contest twice per year, there is your difference.

twinketta

They can`t always be cut or ripped because it is a very expensive `hobby` and the mail service has strict rules now and it is difficult to send medication to some countries, especially USA. The payment is difficult also you can not just make it by Paypal, you can try Western Union but the fees are pretty high :laugh:

doughnutwretch

That being said, no, they don't trim their bodyfat as low as they can to be alive. Essential bodyfat for a male is 2-5% and for women is 10-13%. Bodybuilders generally cut down to 6-13% as a male and 14-20% as a female during competition times.

I was thinking they could only be at their competition BF% for a short period of time. But if 2-5% is essential and you are saying they are generally at 6-13% during competition, then can the average joe be cut year-round?

Absolutely. As a male, 9-13% is stull "cut" and as a female, anything up to 20%, depending on the woman's build, is considered "cut".

HeidiMightyRawr

Because they want to build more muscle, and "bulking" is the easiest way to do so.

You don't automatically get all the muscle you desire in your first bulking session, it usually takes many bulk/cut cycles to get the desired look. In theory you could continuously bulk until you have lots of muscle, but you'd probably get very fat in the process (subsequently giving yourself a lot to strip away) and not many people want that.

Yogi_Carl

edit: decided my own post was BS.

HeidiMightyRawr

Essentially, they pig out (and cycle 'roids) and just build insane amounts of muscle. It takes calories to build muscle, so they pack on some fat as well.

When they cut, they enter into a phase that is, for all intents and purposes, an eating disorder... they trim their bodyfat as low as they can and still be alive. They also lose muscle during the cutting phase, but they try to minimize that. They really are not examples of fit athletes... (personally, I believe they're the equivalent of models, not athletes)

It's actually a very unhealthy existence.

For starters, not everyone cuts to unhealthily low levels of bodyfat. Maybe if you want to compete, but even then it's for the short term so in an otherwise healthy individual would do no damage as you are back to normal afterwards. Not every bodybuilder wants to compete.

Secondly, comparing cutting (a calorie deficit) to an eating disorder is absurd. Anyone here wanting to lose weight is doing the exact same thing, the only difference is that they may not be lifting / have such a focus on muscle maintenance.

Yanicka1

Yawn

bumblebums

Essentially, they pig out (and cycle 'roids) and just build insane amounts of muscle. It takes calories to build muscle, so they pack on some fat as well.

When they cut, they enter into a phase that is, for all intents and purposes, an eating disorder... they trim their bodyfat as low as they can and still be alive. They also lose muscle during the cutting phase, but they try to minimize that. They really are not examples of fit athletes... (personally, I believe they're the equivalent of models, not athletes)

It's actually a very unhealthy existence.

Why do so many young, normal men adopt these methods?

For the same reason that so many young women develop eating disorders and cut themselves.

CorvusCorax77

Can't build muscle without a calorie surplus

i hate you for not accepting my FR and still showing your abs in forums! How dare you!?!?!



OP:

Bulk is to build muscle,
cut is to cut fat.

What people mean by being "cut" has variation. As has already been said, "competition" level of BF% is unsafe to keep long term. But it's possible to keep bf% low and stay ripped without ever going into another bulk cycle (from what I can tell).

CorvusCorax77

Why do so many young, normal men adopt these methods?

For the same reason that so many young women develop eating disorders and cut themselves.

Edited because i think i might be an idiot.

....carrying on...

aproc

Because some people like to have a season to be able to eat what they enjoy and use it advantageously at the same time... Being cut all year round is great, but it isn't for some people. Some like that diet break.. Neither my bf or I would be very happy if he were cutting or trying to maintain a certain bf% all year round. You can't gain more muscle without having a calorie surplus so eventually you have to get out of that 'staying cut' mindset if you want to put on more muscle. You don't have to get fat on a bulk but gaining a little fat is inevitable in most cases.