Cut or keep at it?

[Destram]

Im getting a little frustrated. I've been trying to bulk for the last 4 months and so far have put on 12lbs then lost 3 of it so im down to about 9lbs of total gain since i started lifting. I've lost fat but not nearly enough. I belive im at somewhere between 15 and 18% bf and would like to get down to about 7%. For me its really easy to lose/gain weight and lose fat, but ive never tried to lose my gut before. Before i started lifting/eating right i would sometimes exercise but very little, and then id go have 3 double
cheeseburgers at Burger King. I cleaned up my diet a lot since ive started lifting but i get lots of simple carbs.

Ok anyways here is why im frustrated. For about the last month ive been fluctuating back and forth between 170-175 and have never gotten over the 175 hump. My calorie intake is at like 3000 somedays and then somedays itll be at 1500. I'm eating almost all the time and im never hungry, but i just cant put on anymore weight. I've been dropping down recently towards the 170 side and im afraid that pretty soon im gonna go under 170. I really DO NOT want to do this as my goal for myself is to be at least a lean 185 by this time next year. I don't like having a gut, but i figure that itll be worth it once i cut for the summer so ive been trying to shovel the food in my mouth and gain weight but its just not happening. So ive been thinking and wondering if i should go on an all out cut and shed this fat, then try to bulk again and see what happens or if i should just keep plugging away with my bulking diet? I've noticed very good increases in strength and muscle size/definition in the last month since i switched to high intensity training and not taking as long of rests as i used to during my workouts. I used to rest as long as 5 minutes between sets on even the smaller lifts and go get a drink or talk to my family or watch some tv or something during lifting, i wasnt focused. Well now im focused and have seen great gains, but i want to put on some weight.

Sorry for it being such a long read, any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

 

[bigss75]

I would say cut because long bulks can raise your cholsteral and other bad stuff. Do another bulk around winter when people dont have to look at your gut.

 

[david]

Once again, I'm actually going to agree with Bigss again!

 

[LAM]

if you haven't been down in single digit body fat before it's hardest to get there the first time around...

 

[Destram]

Originally posted by LAM
if you haven't been down in single digit body fat before it's hardest to get there the first time around...

Do you mean ever or recently? When i was about 13-14 i had abs and was really skinny, then i got put on a long cycle of prednisone and gained like 60 lbs and got really fat. Then i lost about 50 lbs and then gained some weight back as ive gotten older, but it hasnt been fat. I was always really lean until i started on the prednisone and ive just never shed that fat off. I dont think itll be hard for me to lose fat as ive already lost some and have been trying to gain weight. Im starting to see a chest outline and my ribs which i hadnt seen since before the prednisone.

 

[mama's boy]

Destram,

My advice- cut out the junk and get leaner.

Once you've gotten down to under 10%, you'll find it a lot easier to manipulate calories/workout splits, etc to gain a pound or two of LBM here and there and tweak things until you reach your ultimate goal of a lean 185.

Forget the "bulk" (read: get fat) and "cut" vernacular. I would also try not to focus so much on numbers, unless you're going to be competing in a particular weight class.

Focus on your overall goal of a LEAN muscular body.

 

[w8lifter]

Originally posted by mama's boy
Destram,

My advice- cut out the junk and get leaner.

Once you've gotten down to under 10%, you'll find it a lot easier to manipulate calories/workout splits, etc to gain a pound or two of LBM here and there and tweak things until you reach your ultimate goal of a lean 185.

Forget the "bulk" (read: get fat) and "cut" vernacular. I would also try not to focus so much on numbers, unless you're going to be competing in a particular weight class.

Focus on your overall goal of a LEAN muscular body.

Yeah....what he said!

 

[ponyboy]

I agree...it was a lot easier for me to manipulate my weight after I got below 10% BF...now I can make changes almost daily using the advice from people right here at IM!

Now if only I could get rid of these #@$! love handles. My six pack has handles on the side for easy carrying!