Which direction would you suggest I go?

[jhawkin1]

I just flew back from Mexico from a 7 day vacation: all-inclusive (eat and drink as much as you'd like!). My diet went to shit, which I needed, but I flew back home here to Chicago, and need some guidance on which way I want to go.

I've been cutting for quite some time, and I think it may be time to up the calories a bit, but maybe try and maintain for awhile, while switching up my sets and reps with weights.

When cutting, I was on a 4-day split while doing 5x5 (set reps) and 3x8 also.

Next week, our track and field season starts with my students, and we will be running 3 miles 4x a week, which does not help my lean muscle mass much, but will hopefully get me into better cardiovascular shape.

My goals are to stay strong, keep lifting weights, and lean out while doing it. I know the concepts of bulking and cutting, and I also understand that you cannot achieve both things at once, and it's better to just focus on one or the other, but are there any benefits of trying to maintain calories while increasing activity?

 

[Hoglander]

albendazole or mebendazole

 

[jhawkin1]

albendazole or mebendazole

Is that some form of steroid that makes my package a little smaller than it already is?

 

[kyoun1e]

I'm very interested in the responses here.

It seems like you're either in the bulking or cutting camp everywhere. No middleground. When I look at the average dope in the gym, something tells me that 90% of these folks probably eat at their maintenance level vs. deficit or surplus. So is everyone wasting their time?

What can be acheived at maintenance?

What are the benefits?

There has to be some, because to be honest, flip flopping from caloric deficits to surplus...back and forth...can't be the healthiest thing in the world. Gotta think that if you workout hard and you feed your body EXACTLY what it needs, you'll benefit.

KY

 

[Hench]

I'm very interested in the responses here.

It seems like you're either in the bulking or cutting camp everywhere. No middleground. When I look at the average dope in the gym, something tells me that 90% of these folks probably eat at their maintenance level vs. deficit or surplus. So is everyone wasting their time? In a word, yes

What can be acheived at maintenance?

What are the benefits?

There has to be some, because to be honest, flip flopping from caloric deficits to surplus...back and forth...can't be the healthiest thing in the world. Gotta think that if you workout hard and you feed your body EXACTLY what it needs, you'll benefit.how do you define exactly what it needs? Exactly what it needs to maintain the muscle mass that you already have? Or exactly what it needs to take advantage of the lifting you have just done and facilitate new muscle growth?

KY

They questions go beyond the realms of BB. Your starting to get into evolutionary adaptations and your bodys quest to acheive homeostasis. Try google.

 

[Fezz]

So are you asking us whether you should cut or bulk?
Can you give me details on yourself?
Height? Weight? etc.
And for me there is benefits on maintaining while increased activities.. cuz that's what I've been doing, I go to the Gym and Mixed Martial Arts (soccer is finished for me)
I've been seeing great progress myself.

 

[kyoun1e]

Fezz...what are the "benefits" you see for maintaining vs cutting or bulking?

 

[Fezz]

Fezz...what are the "benefits" you see for maintaining vs cutting or bulking?

Just size/definition and strength. I know I would progress alot faster through bulking, both size and strength but Im enjoying my development so far. And I definitely don't need to cut thus the reason is im 5' 10" and 160 lbs.

 

[Fezz]

and kyoun1e, the main reason why this is happening is because I'm training smart.. my eating habits are good, but not strict like most people's diet. I got a precise understanding on nutrition and diet, therefore my food consumption choice is very well thought out. All it takes is patience and being smart, both in and out the gym.

 

[kyoun1e]

I could see someone benefiting from increased strength and definition on a maintenance diet. I would think many would be skeptical of "size" gains...that's where I'd think you need the caloric surplus.

KY

 

[Fezz]

I could see someone benefiting from increased strength and definition on a maintenance diet. I would think many would be skeptical of "size" gains...that's where I'd think you need the caloric surplus.

KY

You're right about that, definitely.
I'm just saying that I've created a bit more size throughout time, because different rep/weight ranges also affects size development. I would definitely create more size with a bulking phase but like I said, Im enjoying where I'm at.
Hope this helps you though

 

[jhawkin1]

Thanks Fezz and Kyoun1e for responding...I think the best thing for me at this point, is to at least maintain. Cutting for a long period of time (which I have been) is not so healthy for the body- and I have found this out the hard way.

I will continue to eat lot of clean, lean proteins, healthy fats, and carbs when I need them.

More importantly, I will pump iron to the best of my ability and train to my potential.

Thanks for the advice the both of you

 

[Fezz]

No problem buddy, that's why this forums here for