Anyone cutting and trying to gain at the same time?

BonyCastro
BonyCastro Posts: 110 Member
edited November 27 in Fitness and Exercise
I read is possible to cut and gain at the same time but it's very difficult and it takes a long time. Anybody had experience or success with this?

Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,024 Member
    I have 2 clients doing it now and it's a LONG PROCESS. I've had them both for over 2 years now and yes there's been progression, but you'd have to put their before and after pics beside each other to appreciate it.
    Male has maybe put on 3-5lbs of muscle and female maybe 2lbs.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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  • nordlead2005
    nordlead2005 Posts: 1,303 Member
    I'm cutting and building strength and hitting new PRs every session. If I'm gaining muscle, awesome, if not, oh well. I'm of the opinion that while studies say it is possible (the ones I've read are for people who started overweight), that personal expectations should be set to maintain muscle while cutting. Then, if you put on a few lb of muscle it is an awesome bonus, if you just maintained, then that is awesome too.
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    I've attempted it with a high protein diet and had little results over 6 months. I had much better results doing a traditional bulk and cut. Instead of gaining maybe 1lb over 3 months I gained almost 6lbs in the same amount of time. Along with about 6-8lbs of fat, but it's a simple enough process to cut any extra body fat over acouple months. Strength isn't my number one priority since I'm more focussed towards hypertrophy. Obviously I have made considerable strength gains, but I aim more towards low intensity high rep workouts.
  • BonyCastro
    BonyCastro Posts: 110 Member
    Well I better pick one or the other then! I have been trying to do both for the last 5 months and I have some progress but minimal. I just can't decide if I want to cut or bulk
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    You want to bulk and put off competing until you have saved enough funds for a trainer to help you prepare for the bikini competition.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    edited December 2015
    I tried a recomp. Lasted 3 months. It's not for me. I don't have the patience and am having way more fun being pushed out of my comfort zone with a bulk. Not a lot of fun cutting to get down to an semi-appropriate body fat% first though.

    ETA: My results in those three months were minimal. I looked "nice" but it was hard to pinpoint why, even with pictures and measurements. I just looked generally more fit than I did while in a deficit.
  • FluffyAndFestive
    FluffyAndFestive Posts: 53 Member
    I'm actually currently doing this as well. I've only lost about 4 pounds but I've lost several inches off my waist (roughly about 3-4 inches) and gained some muscle. I've done this in the past as well and like others have said it takes a long time. For me it's the only way though. I enjoy weight training to much to just go light and do cardio. So I take the harder road and try and put forth more effort to gain the results I'm looking for. I currently workout 6 days a week and roughly put in about 3 hours a day total. In my opinion it's tough to take in bulking calories when I want to lose fat because than I kind of feel like I over ate, but it's needed to gain size. Anyway that's just my opinion. I hope you find what works best for you.
  • nakis623
    nakis623 Posts: 31 Member
    It's the slowest process ever; I feel sometimes that I am on a one way road going no Where. I am definitely not at a place where I can just bulk. I have to cut. My biggest problem is the scar tissue in mid section from C- Section.
  • adamhendrickson92
    adamhendrickson92 Posts: 29 Member
    Haven't tried this yet, but as soon as I hit 200lbs I will be. I'm around 197lbs right now so pretty soon I'll be figuring out how it can be done.

    I don't see why it wouldn't be possible, and I'm prepared to pay more attention to my diet and nutrition. They have been key to my goals so far and will probably be even more important for trying to make gains while reducing body fat.
  • valskeete
    valskeete Posts: 53 Member
    It's definitely a long slow, arduous process. You'll definitely have to have patience. I've been cutting and gaining the last eight months. 1 hr every am before work, 2-a-days on Sat, Keto + .8 protein per lb. Like someone else said- it's def the only way to go. I haven't been gaining but my BF% makes up for it. Good luck!
  • robs_ready
    robs_ready Posts: 1,488 Member
    You're much better off performing one or the other, it's not that it's not possible to do, it's just you won't get the gains (or the cuts) you'd expect and may get dissapponted
  • codsterlaing95
    codsterlaing95 Posts: 221 Member
    Waste of time
  • rybo
    rybo Posts: 5,424 Member
    I hate cutting, so other than when my bf% was on the higher end & dropping weight is relatively easy, I prefer to just recomp.
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