Cutting season 2014

Hello all,

This is a thread dedicated to logging my journey through cutting season in 2014. This is the first cut that I have gone on where I felt I did things right from start to finish. I allocated an entire month to transitioning from my bulking intake (3600), down to where I started my cut (2700). I estimated my TDEE at the end of my bulk to be ~2900. I only reduced calories as I stalled, and I logged my weight every week on the same day. I followed IIFYM, so thankfully I didn't have any urges to cheat or binge. I went to sleep every night feeling comfortable (relative to eating at a deficit of course). My goal was to preserve as much strength and lean mass as possible. Speaking both physically and mentally, it was just a very prosperous cutting season for me.

I began transitioning to my cutting intake on New Years day. So after the transition phase, this is me on Feb 1, 2014 @ 210 lbs




5/12/14





5/20/14





5/30/14





6/2/14 @ 181 lbs




In all, I got down from 210 lbs to 181 lbs. After the initial 5 lb drop in water weight, I lost 1-1.5 lbs per week. I only added refeeds in when I got sub 12% (April). As a natural bodybuilder, I don't want to subject my body and hormones to more than 5 months of eating at a deficit. I also didn't feel like I had enough LBM yet for it to be worth getting ultra lean (7-8%). At 181 lbs, I felt VERY small.

However, this upcoming bulking season, I plan on incorporating squats and deads into my routine for the first time. Yup, you read that right (blasphemy, I know). I plan on making progressive overload a top priority as well. I feel like I have lots of mass gains to tap into (noob gainzzzzz LoL). I'm excited to see what my frame and LBM look like after this upcoming bulk.

I want to give a big shout out to all those who went through (and are still going through) cutting season this year. It's not easy at all weighing everything you eat, tracking your macros, and balancing that all with life in general. You have to sacrifice lots of time, some of your social life, and even some of your sanity. I want you all to know I'm definitely mirin' LoL.

Hope you all have a great summer!