Should I bulk or cut?

IBeDrummin
IBeDrummin Posts: 3
in Getting Started
So I have been lifting with a friend for about 1-2 months now. So far he has given me a plan of what things to do. It's been a full body workout on M W F. Most things are 5x5 but I am on no set path (bodybuilding or aesthetics). The problem I have now is I want to cut my stomach fat but people are telling me I should bulk instead. I am not going for a HUGE body but I would like some muscle to show and have some definition to the muscle areas. So do you think I should cut or bulk right now? I am 5'9" and 155 pounds. I am a little hesitant to bulk because I have been at 165 before and it is not fun. Here are some current pictures of me (I hadn't eaten much at the time so my stomach is a little smaller here :O):

http://imgur.com/zL0gcsv
http://imgur.com/6hnLzQQ,zL0gcsv#0

Any help is appreciated!

Replies

  • Walter__
    Walter__ Posts: 518 Member
    Read your stats. 5'9 155 - you need to bulk.

    edit: Just saw your pics. Definitely need to bulk. There's nothing left to cut.. if you lose any more weight you're going to look like a concentration camp survivor.
  • mgermo
    mgermo Posts: 11 Member
    Cut to about 12% and then go for clean bulk.
  • derik999
    derik999 Posts: 73
    If you are looking for definition and strength you can use a combo of diet and bodyweight calisthenics to get there. If you bulk you are most likely going to add fat in addition to muscle so it's a bit of a balancing act that way. Depends on how disciplined you are I guess. You can lift purely for strength (not talking powerliting necessarily) and have a muscular body as long as your diet is conducive to losing body fat.

    Beyond Bodybuilding - Pavel Tsatsouline
    Enter The Kettlebell - Pavel Tsatsouline
    Convinct Conditioning - Paul Wade
    Pushing The Limits - Al Kavadlo

    These are all solid programs and vary with their approach.

    It all depends on what your ultimate goals are.

    I'm personally not a big fan of the standard bodybuilding mindset or philosophy, but to each their own.
  • IBeDrummin
    IBeDrummin Posts: 3
    If you are looking for definition and strength you can use a combo of diet and bodyweight calisthenics to get there. If you bulk you are most likely going to add fat in addition to muscle so it's a bit of a balancing act that way. Depends on how disciplined you are I guess. You can lift purely for strength (not talking powerliting necessarily) and have a muscular body as long as your diet is conducive to losing body fat.

    Beyond Bodybuilding - Pavel Tsatsouline
    Enter The Kettlebell - Pavel Tsatsouline
    Convinct Conditioning - Paul Wade
    Pushing The Limits - Al Kavadlo

    These are all solid programs and vary with their approach.

    It all depends on what your ultimate goals are.

    I'm personally not a big fan of the standard bodybuilding mindset or philosophy, but to each their own.

    Thanks for the response. It is hard for me to decide what to do. I want that fat that is left to be gone but since I am lifting a lot more now my friend says to bulk.
  • LiftCore
    LiftCore Posts: 23 Member
    Either recomp or slow cut.

    You lack muscle but you're also pretty fat. If you do either of the two things I suggested you will still gain strength/muscle on the count of you being a noob while still losing fat on the count of being in a caloric defecit or through the thermogenic effect of lifting.

    Losing fat is faster than gaining muscle, so I would get it out of the way so that you can later do a comfortable and elongated lean bulk.
  • abadvat
    abadvat Posts: 1,241 Member
    About time you make up your mind, stop listening to people and set you own goals.
    You have a belly + fat to get rid of and no muscles - what is your priority?

    Want to loose that belly?
    Control your portions to a deficit, add some cardio to your routine and eventually you will get lean and stringhy.
    Want to build muscles, eat at a surplus and train properly.
    You should eventually pile up some volume (both muscles and fat) and from there you can look into losing the unnecessary fat.

    Clean bulk - body recomp... start with the very basics and then start looking into other things!

    by the way, 5x5 will give you strength if done properly but very limited in size!
  • IBeDrummin
    IBeDrummin Posts: 3
    About time you make up your mind, stop listening to people and set you own goals.
    You have a belly + fat to get rid of and no muscles - what is your priority?

    Want to loose that belly?
    Control your portions to a deficit, add some cardio to your routine and eventually you will get lean and stringhy.
    Want to build muscles, eat at a surplus and train properly.
    You should eventually pile up some volume (both muscles and fat) and from there you can look into losing the unnecessary fat.

    Clean bulk - body recomp... start with the very basics and then start looking into other things!

    by the way, 5x5 will give you strength if done properly but very limited in size!

    So do you think it is better for me to cut first?
  • 1911JR
    1911JR Posts: 276
    Here is the best advise you will ever receive.

    You need to stop thinking about cut and bulk. Your 19 yrs old. LIFT Bro! It will take you the next 6 months just to learn HOW to lift and master some form.

    Start banging.......
  • derik999
    derik999 Posts: 73
    Here is the best advise you will ever receive.

    You need to stop thinking about cut and bulk. Your 19 yrs old. LIFT Bro! It will take you the next 6 months just to learn HOW to lift and master some form.

    Start banging.......

    That's one of the reason I like calisthenics, they develop body-weight strength and control of your body, as well as good form. Progressing on to resistance training after that is solid. But for the OP most definitely learn good form. You are young and don't want to develop bad habits early.

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