First time cutting

Sometimes I wonder why people chose keto out of all diets to lose weight? Is it because it's a "hip" thing to do because everyone else is doing it or does the OP really enjoy a high fat diet? I see too many people on mfp chosing keto by default to lose weight, but I never know if it's for the right reason (Ex: They enjoy that diet) or if it's for the wrong reason (Example: They think it's the best diet to lose weight which is false).

Mind you, there is nothing wrong as long as you are aware about CICO and it's a diet you know that you will stick with. However with that said, in general and I do say in GENERAL, keto and lifting isn't the most optimal. Not saying you can't build muscles with it, but studies after studies, keto is considered inferior when it comes building muscles to the maximum potential (link to Alan Aragon's latest research on keto: sci-fit.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Summary-Table.png ). Now enough about keto, if at this point you still want to do keto, go ahead.

As for building muscles and lose fat at the same time, the only way that can be achieved is if you are in one or more of these categories:
1) You never lifted before (aka newbie gains), therefore you can build muscles and lose fat at the sametime, but this won't last forever. After a few months, you will be like the rest of us.
2) Doing a recomp, but the process will be much slower than the bulk and cutting cycles.
3) Freak genetics
4) You are obese, but once you are lean, you won't be able to lose fat and build muscles
5) You're on steroids

If you're not in one of those 5 categories I mentioned, then the only way to build muscles is to bulk (gain weight), but you will gain fat in the process. Which is why I recommend you to start losing weight at first and once your lean (about 10-12% body fat), then you are primed to bulk up and build muscles. I have a feeling you're a new lifter, so initially you may build muscles and lose fat, so at least that's good news.

Seth1825 wrote: »

trigden1991 wrote: »

A few questions and pointers:

Why keto?
Why 6 months?
Will you take any diet breaks?
You can’t build muscle without fat!
6 months to lose 12lbs sounds like a long time.
Gaining 20lbs of lean muscle mass will take years!

How long should OP take to lose 12 lbs ideally? And I'm just asking out of curiousity because I screwed up last time I tried to cut so just wondering what an ideal time frame in relation to lbs lost should be?

It depends how lean you are. If you’re obese it could be 4 weeks, if your extremely lean you may want to make it 12-16 weeks.

trigden1991 wrote: »

Seth1825 wrote: »

trigden1991 wrote: »

A few questions and pointers:

Why keto?
Why 6 months?
Will you take any diet breaks?
You can’t build muscle without fat!
6 months to lose 12lbs sounds like a long time.
Gaining 20lbs of lean muscle mass will take years!

How long should OP take to lose 12 lbs ideally? And I'm just asking out of curiousity because I screwed up last time I tried to cut so just wondering what an ideal time frame in relation to lbs lost should be?

It depends how lean you are. If you’re obese it could be 4 weeks, if your extremely lean you may want to make it 12-16 weeks.

So basically 3-4 months is reasonable? For me I'm not extremely lean, but I'm bulking now

fb47 wrote: »

Seth1825 wrote: »

trigden1991 wrote: »

Seth1825 wrote: »

trigden1991 wrote: »

A few questions and pointers:

Why keto?
Why 6 months?
Will you take any diet breaks?
You can’t build muscle without fat!
6 months to lose 12lbs sounds like a long time.
Gaining 20lbs of lean muscle mass will take years!

How long should OP take to lose 12 lbs ideally? And I'm just asking out of curiousity because I screwed up last time I tried to cut so just wondering what an ideal time frame in relation to lbs lost should be?

It depends how lean you are. If you’re obese it could be 4 weeks, if your extremely lean you may want to make it 12-16 weeks.

So basically 3-4 months is reasonable? For me I'm not extremely lean, but I'm bulking now

I would go for 0.5-1 lb per week weight loss, so at a minimum, you could look for it to happen at 3 months, maybe a little bit less since the first few weeks, you will probably lose weight quickly due to the water weight being flushed out.

I see okay thanks!