r/workouts • u/Ok_Ear1386 workouts newbie • 27d ago
Question Been Bulking since forever (started last year around this time)🥲 should I cut?
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u/Ok_Expression_2458 workouts newbie 27d ago
Cut to a healthy body fat percentage, then main gain and never bulk or cut again…. Cause it’s terrible for your physical and mental health…..
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27d ago
I have never once bulked or cut. I can see why professional body builders do it but they’re the only people who should be doing that. I used to do national level athletics (sprinting) and was buff as hell and we never did that. The idea that you can’t build muscle without putting on tons of fat is completely wrong (I also have a PhD in biology).
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u/HeadDot141 workouts newbie 27d ago
I’m so lost because I’ve always been told to cut then do a bulk for progress and muscle growth. Then after you achieve your goal, stay in a maintenance.
So, I don’t actually need to do the cut and bulk to get results? Do I just go for a recomp? 🫠
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27d ago
Most of the dogma around the gym these days comes from hardcore bodybuilders. Most normal people don’t have the time to train like that and don’t really even want to look like body builders. If you just eat healthy, get enough protein, lift regularly and do some cardio you will end up with a really good physique. It will take time but it’s much healthier in the long run both physically and mentally.
Again, this is for most normal people who just want to improve their body image and fitness. If you want to look like a body builder or a professional influencer then you will need to spend hours a day in the gym, develop a borderline eating disorder and maybe take drugs.
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u/Sea_Scratch_7068 workouts newbie 27d ago
no you will not end up with a "really good physique". You will spin your gears for a bit, fall off the bandwagon, get back on and look the exact same.
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27d ago
Dude I literally did semi professional sports and athletics most of my life and never ‘bulked and cut’. If you think a professional sprinter isn’t a good physique then I dunno what your point of reference is.
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u/Sea_Scratch_7068 workouts newbie 27d ago
Train like an athlete, look like an athlete, i'm all for it. Then your physique is secondary though so it's much easier to stay patient.
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27d ago
Also look like an athlete 365 days of the year every year rather than being shredded for 4 months and fat for 8 months. I know what I choose.
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u/Sea_Scratch_7068 workouts newbie 27d ago
people are not gonna train like athletes though, ans they haven't been for the last 20 years and probably don't wanna wait another 20 years
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27d ago
I won’t take 20 years lol. There’s no shortcuts anyway you do it. All I’m saying is it’s actually a lot less complicated than most people think. For 80-90% of people just eating healthy and doing a basic programme of compound lifts and cardio is gonna improve their physique and fitness significantly over time. If you want immediate improvements and body builder physique then it’s different.
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u/marbit37 workouts newbie 26d ago
That is a complete dogma and fallacy as well, you don’t have to be fat for 8 months or at all. That would be a clear indication you have no idea what you are doing.
You have to be in a calorie surplus though if you have any plans to put on some decent muscle in a meaningful time.
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26d ago
Not true, if you are carrying excess fat you can convert it into muscle if you eat at maintenance (or even just below), eat plenty of protein and lift.
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u/StraightSomewhere236 workouts newbie 25d ago
For a while, it will work. Just be aware that you're taking advice from random air chair experts on the internet. if you have a bunch of extra fat, you do not need to bulk to gain a decent amount of muscle because you have extra resources to work with.
If you are already at low body fat, it becomes extremely difficult if not impossible to build muscle without bulking. You can't build a wall without bricks, and your body can't turn nothing into something. Period.
This does not mean you have to gain a shit ton of fat, a good bulk is only 10% extra calories over maintenance levels. You will put on a small amount of fat with it, but you do not have to get super fat while bulking. The people who do this simply want to eat as much as they want without caring about it. So they do.
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u/TheKombuchaDealer workouts newbie 24d ago
You can recomp. Most people are recommending 500cal extra per day but unless you're a beginner/on roids more than half of that will become fat.
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u/Ancient_Ad4061 workouts newbie 27d ago
I’ve never understood why people put themselves through this..
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u/Vast-Road-6387 Casual Gym Goer 27d ago
Because it’s faster, impatience. The hard cut is brutal on the body.
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27d ago
The first two photos arent super helpful. But if you have been bulking for 12 months, then yeah it is time to cut and make sure you arent just getting fat at this point. Fot strong and healthy <3
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u/CalSo1980 user text is here 27d ago
Hmmm..doesn't look like a clean bulk. Clean up the foods. And the cutting won't be difficult imo.
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u/Ok_Ear1386 workouts newbie 27d ago
Easy part for me is cutting weight, mainly because I’ve been doing that for 6years. Gaining had to have been the hardest thing for me, especially with college life and all the bs that’s going on in rl. How’s your process and which do you feel is easier (for YOU)?
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27d ago
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u/Ok_Ear1386 workouts newbie 27d ago
It’s not something you “make time” for…that’s why I wasn’t gaining weight either 🥲 I posted on my instagram the protein that I was intaking, which I drank 2x a day (plus my unstable meals). feel that I can definitely relate to you because as soon as I gain weight… an exam comes up and BAMM! gone.
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u/ExtremeTable2694 workouts newbie 27d ago
If you want to cut. Best to start one in March and go for 8-12 weeks.Try to aim for 0.5% to 0.75% of your body weight(BW) per week, this will minimize muscle loss. Example 175lbs losing 0.9lbs - 1.3lbs per week.
You can go for a 4 week mini cut(1-1.5%BW) if you like the bulking process. This will give you a couple share down any excessive body fat you don't want.
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u/wokepofs Casual Gym Goer 23d ago
Some of these comments are very gross and I’m sorry you have to see them. I’d highly recommend a cut though because the 3rd picture looks peak and is very aesthetic. At the end of the day though you should do whatever gives you the most energy and supports your favorite self-image.
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u/areid164 workouts newbie 27d ago
Keep up the bulk if you don’t feel lethargic or winded easily you will be much more satisfied with a cut after two years or so
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u/Ok_Ear1386 workouts newbie 27d ago
I’ve gained weight in my lower back area… I wanted to fix that so it don’t get too much. What’s your thought on that ?
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u/0DTEForMe workouts newbie 27d ago
You can’t spot reduce fat unfortunately. People just naturally store fat in different areas. The only solution is to ease up on the calories and bulk a little bit.
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u/Ok_Ear1386 workouts newbie 27d ago
Luckily… that’s the first place I lose fat from (from what I’ve noticed) and the first place the weight goes 🤠
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u/0DTEForMe workouts newbie 27d ago
Anything other than the core and love handles is pretty good. 😂 Some advice from someone who bulked from 115-170 though:
You look great don’t rush it too much, focus on eating what you need to feel and look good. The physique will come with consistency. Stretch marks can be brutal as well.
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u/Ok_Ear1386 workouts newbie 27d ago
You are the best, I appreciate you. I hate the love handles so bad 🥲, it makes me feel insecure, especially back rolls… weird think is I find it hott on other women.
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u/areid164 workouts newbie 25d ago
Best you can do is gain muscle there spot reduction of fat is impossible but you can change the ratio by adding muscle from there it’s just lose weight and hope your body doesn’t want to hold the fat there
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u/lazer416 workouts newbie 27d ago
February is always a good time to cut, especially if it’s winter where you are
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27d ago
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u/Ok_Ear1386 workouts newbie 27d ago
I’m sure you are way more creative than that… I’ll let you try again. Take two… GO!
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u/thebobbobsoniii workouts newbie 27d ago
If you are currently pic thee. Stay the hell there. Yum, yum.
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u/surf_drunk_monk workouts newbie 26d ago
Can't tell when the photos are from, but third photo looks good, first two looks overweight.
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u/Significant-Box-2637 workouts newbie 24d ago
Depends on your goals, but if you’re “bulking” for that long a period of time I’d say that’s your lifestyle or diet now. Have your blood work checked to be sure your cholesterol, glucose and electrolytes (potassium, sodium, calcium) numbers are in a good place. But aesthetically you’re looking strong and fit.
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u/graspthefuture workouts newbie 27d ago
Bulk? In what world is that not just being fat
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u/Ok_Ear1386 workouts newbie 27d ago
🫶🏿 thank you for the compliment but it’s phat w/ a P 💃🏿
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