Requesting opinions on how to move forward

Brunner26_2

Hey guys,

I'm a 28-year-old guy, 5'10", 136 lbs. Starting about a year ago, I bulked for six months, and then cut for six months. I'm back to the weight I started at, leaner, and much stronger.

For my cut I've been training 3x per week, doing minimal cardio, eating 2100 to 2200 calories per day, and losing about a half a pound per week. I've still been making gains in strength doing more or less the stonglifts program, though some lifts have stalled a bit recently.

I'm unsure if I should continue on this path or change my approach. I wanted to get really lean (like six-pack lean) before I started bulking again. The military body fat % calculator puts me at 9.4%, but I don't really look it. I've also been having really intense food cravings recently, even though I do go over my TDEE from time to time.

Eventually I want to be a lean 150 to 160 lbs. What do you guys think? Continue the same? Change to losing 0.25 lb per week? Start bulking now?

n3ver3nder

You could keep on with your cut/bulk cycle, or why not do a slow recomp, such as leangains? The eating under maintenance on rest days stops some fat gain, and the eating over maintenace on lift days means you'll make size/strength gains. You can then indulge your cravings on lifting days too. You'll have to cycle your macros, which is a bit too involved for me personally, but I know of people who have had great results on it.

It will mean slower gains than if you were bulking, and slower fatloss than if you were cutting, but you should be able to address both goals simultaneously, albeit a bit more slowly.

Another choice is a very mild calorie surplus, so that you're putting on weight/mass but not enough that a lot of the calories are stored as fat.

SideSteel

Hey guys,

I'm a 28-year-old guy, 5'10", 136 lbs. Starting about a year ago, I bulked for six months, and then cut for six months. I'm back to the weight I started at, leaner, and much stronger.

For my cut I've been training 3x per week, doing minimal cardio, eating 2100 to 2200 calories per day, and losing about a half a pound per week. I've still been making gains in strength doing more or less the stonglifts program, though some lifts have stalled a bit recently.

I'm unsure if I should continue on this path or change my approach. I wanted to get really lean (like six-pack lean) before I started bulking again. The military body fat % calculator puts me at 9.4%, but I don't really look it. I've also been having really intense food cravings recently, even though I do go over my TDEE from time to time.

Eventually I want to be a lean 150 to 160 lbs. What do you guys think? Continue the same? Change to losing 0.25 lb per week? Start bulking now?

I think you should put a few pics up in the bodyfat estimation thread that we have here so that you can get another assessment of your bodyfat percentage and also so we can get a good visual as to your current physique as that will help a great deal in getting a recommendation for bulking/cutting.

See here:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/826435-bodyfat-estimation-thread

Brunner26_2

Will do.

ArroganceInStep

I think the whole cut to 10% bulk to 15% and repeat while trying to get strong as **** in the process is a good strategy personally.

Brunner26_2

I posted pics in the body fat estimation thread

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/826435-bodyfat-estimation-thread?page=13#posts-15006290

Sarauk2sf

Tagging

MinimalistShoeAddict

I am following this thread because my stats are almost identical to yours (although I am closer to 5'9", 137 pounds).

For the next few months I want to limit my weight gain as I prepare for my first marathon. I am currently doing Stronglifts 5x5, CrossFit and some weighted pull up related work in addition to my running. Unfortunately I expect that I will have a hard time gaining a lot of muscle as long as I am running long distances.

After my marathon, I will focus more on strength training and will begin my first major bulk.

SideSteel

I think you're in a good spot to begin a bulk now.

I would start by increasing calories by about 100 or so, and I'd stick them all in carbohydrate. Repeat this every week until you show a gain. I'd target somewhere around .5 to .75lb/week or so, roughly. If you start clearing 1lb/week gain you may need to dial it back on the intake.

Brunner26_2

Thanks a lot.

Sarauk2sf

Locking so we can track active threads easier. If you have anything you want to add, please PM either myself or SideSteel, including a link to this thread, and we will unlock it so you can.