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    • Should I bulk or cut?

    Posts: 30 Member
    edited November 2024 in Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
    Okay so here’s the dilemma, in my opinion I’m looking pretty skinny-fat and I’m just not sure if i should try to bulk or cut. I’m in between the recommendations for bulking and cutting. My BMI is 24.5, I’m 5’4 and 138 pounds. My measurements are; waist 29, bust 37, chest 32, hips 36, thighs 25, knees and calves 16, arms 15, & forearms 10. I attached photos for reference.

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    • Posts: 30 Member
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    • Posts: 30 Member
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    • Posts: 30 Member
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    • Posts: 1,058 Member
      edited July 2018
      I would recomp. Once you get a more defined look, then I would do a lean bulk.

      Btw,you're not skinny fat.
    • Posts: 35,719 Member
      i don't think you're skinny fat, you have very similar stats to me. you're just quite normal looking and not particularly lean.

      i agree with recomp.
    • Posts: 9,812 Member
      I don't see skinny fat at all, you are quite lean for your stats. I am the same weight as you but 3" taller.

      Let's start with your goals. What do you want to achieve? If you do want to increase your size/mass and run a bulk, I would cut a bit more to lower your bodyfat first. You could also recomp but keep in mind that does take time and it really depends on your ultimate goals. If you are not comfortable bulking, or just want to add a bit and lose a bit, are a fairly patient person, it could be a good option for you.
    • Posts: 30 Member

      TavistockToad wrote: »
      i don't think you're skinny fat, you have very similar stats to me. you're just quite normal looking and not particularly lean.

      i agree with recomp.

      What is the best way to do that? Sorry I’m kinda new to all of this!
    • Posts: 35,719 Member
      katereesekr9899 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      What is the best way to do that? Sorry I’m kinda new to all of this!

      there's a thread somewhere...

      essentially, eat at maintenance, lift heavy stuff.
    • Posts: 30 Member
      sardelsa wrote: »
      I don't see skinny fat at all, you are quite lean for your stats. I am the same weight as you but 3" taller.

      Let's start with your goals. What do you want to achieve? If you do want to increase your size/mass and run a bulk, I would cut a bit more to lower your bodyfat first. You could also recomp but keep in mind that does take time and it really depends on your ultimate goals. If you are not comfortable bulking, or just want to add a bit and lose a bit, are a fairly patient person, it could be a good option for you.
      I would love to have more muscle, but also lose fat around my midsection, so I’m really not sure what direction to go!
    • Posts: 35,719 Member
      here you are:

      https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177803/recomposition-maintaining-weight-while-losing-fat/p1
    • Posts: 9,812 Member
      Here is the thread on recomp:

      https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10177803/recomposition-maintaining-weight-while-losing-fat/p1

      So if you want more muscle and to lose fat over time, then this is a great option. However, it requires a significant amount of patience and trust in the process.

      Alternatively you can do things one step at a time. Cut and lower your bodyfat, then bulk to gain. This option is a bit more advanced and not for everyone, especially the gaining part as it can be very mentally challenging for many people.

      I would start with a very small deficit or maintenance and see how you feel.
    • Posts: 28,439 Member
      Lift heavy and eat at a small deficit (250 cals under maintenance). I didn't see anywhere if you mentioned what lifting program you are using.
    • Posts: 30 Member
      quiksylver296 wrote: »
      Lift heavy and eat at a small deficit (250 cals under maintenance). I didn't see anywhere if you mentioned what lifting program you are using.

      I’m not really following a program I’be just been trying to teach myself 😅 gradually increasing my weights each week but if I’m honest I really don’t know what I’m doing and would love suggestions for a program
    • Posts: 51 Member
      I agree, you don’t look skinny fat. Here is a program from a website whose workouts I follow.

      https://www.t-nation.com/workouts/the-ultimate-program-for-body-comp-improvement
    • Posts: 28,439 Member
      katereesekr9899 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      I’m not really following a program I’be just been trying to teach myself 😅 gradually increasing my weights each week but if I’m honest I really don’t know what I’m doing and would love suggestions for a program

      If you want visible improvements, you should really be using a progressive lifting program. Pretty much every good program ever is listed in this thread.

      http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1
    • Posts: 30 Member
      101810191020 wrote: »
      I agree, you don’t look skinny fat. Here is a program from a website whose workouts I follow.

      https://www.t-nation.com/workouts/the-ultimate-program-for-body-comp-improvement

      Thank you! Do you actually follow the twice a day rule or do you think I would be able to fit these workouts into one session? I’m too busy to do twice a day.
    • Posts: 30 Member
      quiksylver296 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      If you want visible improvements, you should really be using a progressive lifting program. Pretty much every good program ever is listed in this thread.

      http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1
      Thank you!!
    • Posts: 9,812 Member
      quiksylver296 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      If you want visible improvements, you should really be using a progressive lifting program. Pretty much every good program ever is listed in this thread.

      http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1

      This is a great resource. Definitely would highly recommend the programs in the thread above.
    • Posts: 763 Member
      Go to Reddit.com/r/fitness and check out the wiki there on lifting programmes. It's really comprehensive and lays out beginners through to experts. You'll start to understand the terminology like PPL, SL5x5, 5/3/1 etc. Once you delve into the resources available you'll feel more confident starting a programme on your own.

      Good luck!
    • Posts: 51 Member
      katereesekr9899 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      Thank you! Do you actually follow the twice a day rule or do you think I would be able to fit these workouts into one session? I’m too busy to do twice a day.

      I can’t do the twice a day, I’m a math teacher and barely have time to exercise but I do follow my diet religiously. If I have the time I will get a second workout with my resistance band at home but not all the time.
    • Posts: 1,058 Member
      Bulking and cutting will give you faster results, but can be a *kitten*...less for males, but more for women especially the bulking part, not many women I know are comftorble with that part. Recomp is more of a safe route. My personal preference is the bulk and cut method, but I usually recommend those who never did that either to learn more about the process, but to begin with a recomp first just to start somewhere.
    • Posts: 125 Member
      I agree with recomp..maybe (if you must) do a slight deficit as another mentioned and pick a progressive program from that list. Whatever you decide be consistent and give it time..and then reevaluate to see if cutting/bulking is more your route. But for me I would eat at maintenance and lift all heavy things...then cut at a small deficit while continuing to lift the heavy things.
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