Cutting back - help pls

[JonnyStead]

Hey guys

I could do with some of your combined wisdom on Cutting Back please - I think I have grasped that I still need to lift weights whilst finding the balance of calorie intake to cut? (hope I got that right) but can you recommend whether I should be:

A) Lifting the same weights / reps as before but with more cardio
B) Lifting lighter weights but higher reps
C) Exactly the same routine/weights/reps as before

Sorry for the noob like question but I have been training for 18 months and want to cut properly for the first time - so advice would be great - thanks all!

 

[CowPimp]

Usually I like to keep things about the same and just start by cutting calories. If you start to hit a plateau at some point, then adding in more cardio is a viable option if you really don't want to cut any more calories.

It is my opinion that you want to lift pretty heavy so that your body is forced to maintain as much muscle mass as possible.

 

[Pedigree]

I agree with CP - diet controls fat loss. A program should stay pretty heavy even through a "cut".

Here's Dave Tate at 6'1", 296 pounds with 18-20% BF.

And here's Dave currently at 6'1", 265 pounds with 8-10% BF.

Dave used to compete in PLing, but his diet was literally killing him. Plus, his joints are in bad shape from years of heavy singles.
He has continued to lift heavy throughout this lifestyle change. He transformed himself with his diet, not high reps.
P.S. - Dave is freakin' huge!

 

[CowPimp]

Tate is an animal. I would love to see him speak in person.

 

[rmcfar]

any idea how long it took him to drop all that fat?
looks enormous but his chest is kinda strange lookin

 

[CowPimp]

any idea how long it took him to drop all that fat?
looks enormous but his chest is kinda strange lookin

They chronicled some of it on www.t-nation.com