Cutting or Bulking help

Scottmufcrvp1
Scottmufcrvp1 Posts: 147 Member
edited November 27 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone, I need some help deciding what to do.
So I have been trying to cut for the past 2 months for vacation and now that I’m back I don’t know what to do, I have lowered my body fat slightly but I have still got quite a bit of body fat (especially my lower belly)
I currently weigh 11 and a half stone and I’m around 5 ft 11 / 6 foot, should I cut first and try and lose the some of the body fat I have? Or should I just start a bulk regardless of the body fat I have.
Any tips will be much appreciated and my most recent pic is the one with the chest tattoos (obviously lol)

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    You don't look lean enough to bulk, from that picture
  • Scottmufcrvp1
    Scottmufcrvp1 Posts: 147 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    You don't look lean enough to bulk, from that picture

    I don’t understand what you mean?
    The whole point in Bulking is so I don’t look lean..?
  • Scottmufcrvp1
    Scottmufcrvp1 Posts: 147 Member
    Bump
  • Scottmufcrvp1
    Scottmufcrvp1 Posts: 147 Member
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    In my understanding, if you start bulking when your BF % is still too high, you are more likely to put on fat and not muscle.

    You want to cut excess fat as much as possible (while still lifting heavy), down to ~12% for males, and then do a bulk.

    Okay thank you, so should I work out while eating at a maintenance or a deficit?
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Scottmufcrvp1 wrote: »
    quiksylver296 wrote: »
    In my understanding, if you start bulking when your BF % is still too high, you are more likely to put on fat and not muscle.

    You want to cut excess fat as much as possible (while still lifting heavy), down to ~12% for males, and then do a bulk.

    Okay thank you, so should I work out while eating at a maintenance or a deficit?

    Lift heavy, using a proven progressive lifting program, while eating in deficit. The amount of deficit is up to you, but I wouldn't go too steep because you have to have fuel for exercise.

    If you aren't currently using a progressive lifting program, use one. Pretty much every good program out there is listed in the thread I linked below.

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you

  • LiftHeavyThings27105
    LiftHeavyThings27105 Posts: 2,086 Member
    Typically, and there is a range here.....for guys you want to first cut down to 10% - 12% body fat. Roughly. Once you have reached that body fat percentage, then you are in a MUCH BETTER position to bulk.

    When you cut, you are eating in a caloric deficit. The size of the caloric deficit depends on several things (like how much weight you want to lose, how much you weigh at the moment, how much time you want to do this....generally speaking for a guy 1lb/week is okay, 1.5lbs/week is a bit aggressive).

    So, how do you know the deficit? If you want to lose 1lb/week then you need to be 3,500 calories under your maintenance (aka, 500 calories a day). If you wanted to lose 1.5lbs/week then you would need to be 5,250 calories under your maintenance (aka, 750 calories a day).

    Once you reach that 10% - 12% body fat level, then you can - if you so choose - begin to bulk.

    To bulk, you eat at a caloric surplus.

    You will be lifting heavy and eating to fuel that activity. You will put on muscle (from the training sessions) and you will put on body fat (because you are eating in a caloric surplus). That is why you want to start a bulk from the 10% - 12% body fat range. If you have 20% body fat and you put on another 7% because of the bulk you will likely not be happy with the results.....or, you will have to really really really work hard at the cut.

    Does this all make sense?
  • fb47
    fb47 Posts: 1,058 Member
    Scottmufcrvp1 wrote: »
    Hi everyone, I need some help deciding what to do.
    So I have been trying to cut for the past 2 months for vacation and now that I’m back I don’t know what to do, I have lowered my body fat slightly but I have still got quite a bit of body fat (especially my lower belly)
    I currently weigh 11 and a half stone and I’m around 5 ft 11 / 6 foot, should I cut first and try and lose the some of the body fat I have? Or should I just start a bulk regardless of the body fat I have.
    Any tips will be much appreciated and my most recent pic is the one with the chest tattoos (obviously lol)

    You have that skinny fat look. I used to be like that when I started lifting. How long have you been lifting? If it hasn't been long, you could either cut or recomp. If you've been lifting for many years which I don't suspect you have, I would definitely just cut. In the end, my suggestion to you is to continue to cut.
  • peaceout_aly
    peaceout_aly Posts: 2,018 Member
    Honestly, I would suggest eating at maintenance and getting on a heavy lifting program that will build muscle while also cutting fat (see: recomp). After this, you should be able to have a better idea of if you want to bulk or cut. Right now, you aren't a candidate for bulking and I think cutting would just make you appear skinnier instead of more muscular which is doesn't sound like is the overall goal.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    I aso vote recomp.
  • pinggolfer96
    pinggolfer96 Posts: 2,248 Member
    Body fat too high for bulking or even recomp in my opinion. I’d cut to a lower bf then start once you’re at a level where you can run a recomp/ slight surplus
  • Scottmufcrvp1
    Scottmufcrvp1 Posts: 147 Member
    Thanks for the advice guys, and that picture isn’t great, I do have a bit of muscle already so if I did do a cut like most of you suggest, I wouldn’t look too skinny would I?
    (I’ll try post another pic)
  • Scottmufcrvp1
    Scottmufcrvp1 Posts: 147 Member
    Bump
  • nexangelus
    nexangelus Posts: 2,080 Member
    I think you are looking for answers you want to hear, rather than what people are going to advise you. Since you posted another pic of yourself. You gonna do what you gonna do anyway, so do it : )
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Two major things you don't seem to have made clear....

    1/ Your goals. (Physique, sporting, exercise.....)

    2/ Your current and future training plans.

    For example if you just care about strength and not body composition then a bulk makes sense (if you are also training properly!). If you want to be leaner then bulking wouldn't be sensible.

    If you just care about BF% then cut (slowly).

    If you have no particular goals in mind and don't mind being quite light for your height then don't cut or bulk.

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