When to stop cutting?

[NeedMuscleMass]

I've been cutting for a month and a half now and I need to know when I should start my bulk.

I started at 5'11", 165lbs, 34.5 inch waist @ 17%bf (used online calculator. I'm not so concerned about the number be 100% accurate just to see progress).

I'm now 5'11", 157lbs, 32 inch wasit @ 11% bf.

There is still no 6 pack visible and I've been on a set cutting diet except for thanksgiving, xmas, and new years eve.

So is it time to start bulking? When I bulk should i eat the same food I do now except more? For example instead of 4oz chicken breast eat a 8oz chicken breast.

Thanks for all the help..

Jesse

 

[Mudge]

What kind of calculator, the generic measurements are not very worth your while. Calipers are the way to go, along with some practice using them.

How good are your abs to begin with? Feel them, if they are not very deep you wont have much of a 6 pack to show.

 

[HoldDaMayo]

I'd continue to cut until you've reached a level of leanness that you are satisfied with... you will then know what it will take to get you back to that state after you finish a bulk...

 

[NeedMuscleMass]

Originally posted by Mudge
What kind of calculator, the generic measurements are not very worth your while. Calipers are the way to go, along with some practice using them.

How good are your abs to begin with? Feel them, if they are not very deep you wont have much of a 6 pack to show.

I use a calculator by Timothy A. McElfresh, which is an Excel spread sheet. Do those numbers sound drasticly wrong to you?

My abs are hard when they are flexed but theres nodefiniton due to a small layer of fat. I'm thinking of incorporating HIIT 3 days a week.

 

[Mudge]

I dont mean how hard they are, I mean how big the actual muscle wall is. Feel between your abs, do you feel you should see your abs? 11% is pretty lean, I can see my abs reasonably well at even 13%.

 

[NeedMuscleMass]

Yeah, I feel like I should be able to see my abs.

Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[Jodi]

I think you should bulk. You will continue to lean out naturally providing you follow a clean bulk.

 

[HoldDaMayo]

5'11" and 157lbs does seem pretty thin... although body type makes a big difference... but I'm 5'11" and about 173 right now... I'd guess around 10-11% bodyfat...

 

[NeedMuscleMass]

Well I also just started working out about a month ago and am not naturally muscular.

How long do you usually bulk?

 

[Jodi]

Originally posted by NeedMuscleMass
Well I also just started working out about a month ago and am not naturally muscular.

How long do you usually bulk?

However long it takes to get the muscle mass you desire.

 

[HoldDaMayo]

At this stage in the game, the key is to learn what works for you... experiment, try different things... it could take years... you will see gains regardless of what you eat because you are so new to working out... just be consistent and you will see great improvements... ask this same question after you've been working out a year and there will be alot more to go on...

 

[NeedMuscleMass]

Thanks for all the help..

After reading everyones replies I think I'm going to cut for 2 more weeks and measure results. Then I'll try bulking to see what gains I make and go from there.

 

[ironMan0929]

I'm with Jodi..start bulking. I think i cut for too long , and got to the point of looking puny. I finally started my first bulk about five weeks ago, and like she said: I'm gaining mass - about 1 pound-1.5 pounds a week- and still feel like I'm leaning out.

I could've lost another 5-7 pounds and had a CLEAR six pack ( it was just slightly visible when i started), but would have been build like a little girl.

I finally decided that I would worry about the little fat I had left later..

I would recommend bulking, but like mayo said, you are gonna learn a lot if you stay dedicated.. and you will know how your body will respond.

 

[HoldDaMayo]

Originally posted by ironMan0929
I could've lost another 5-7 pounds and had a CLEAR six pack ( it was just slightly visible when i started), but would have been build like a little girl.

so what you're saying is 5-7 pounds of mainly bodyfat loss can make you look like a little girl? ouch... sorry about that...

 

[ironMan0929]

an exaggeration, but you get the point