Thread: Continue to cut or start a bulk?

Looking for some advice as I currently feel stuck between two camps. Been cutting for about 10 weeks where I dropped 20 lbs and am at 155 lbs / 5'11 now.
I'm very happy with my overall weightloss but I feel as if I need to start building my frame, however since I used to be a big guy many years ago.
The thought of putting back on weight is messing with me mentally, as i'm still unhappy with how my stomach area looks. Still got a bit of a pouch around the stomach and I'm afraid I'd just quit after a few weeks of lean bulking. Attached is a unflexed vs flexed picture, I've been getting sporadic comments that I'm skinny and am hoping for some solid input!

Originally Posted by Luclin999

If it were me, I'd lose 5 more pounds and see if the midsection tightens up any and then switch to a 200 cal/day surplus for 12-16 weeks while stepping up my workouts to 4-5 days per week to start adding more lean mass.

Appreciate the input, I think the mental aspect is what is blocking me at the moment, I've never bulked before and still have that ''fat guy'' mentality.

Anyone else care to chime in? Any advice is really appreciated.

You definitely look lean enough to bulk. I'd say lean bulk for a good year following a proper program

Anyone have any experience on how significant weight can shift once going from a cut to a bulk? I'm currently on 1700kcal a day and a rough estimate of a lean bulk (200kcal) would put me at about 2300-2500kcal.
I'm worried that if I eat at 2300 / 2500 kcal for a week or so and see a sudden weight change (lets say 3 - 4 lbs) i'll panic and jump right back on a cut. I've noticed on days that i've ''given in'' that my weight tends to balloon quite significantly the next few days. Really appreciate all ya'll input!

Originally Posted by BangersnMash

Anyone have any experience on how significant weight can shift once going from a cut to a bulk? I'm currently on 1700kcal a day and a rough estimate of a lean bulk (200kcal) would put me at about 2300-2500kcal.
I'm worried that if I eat at 2300 / 2500 kcal for a week or so and see a sudden weight change (lets say 3 - 4 lbs) i'll panic and jump right back on a cut. I've noticed on days that i've ''given in'' that my weight tends to balloon quite significantly the next few days. Really appreciate all ya'll input!

It probably will go up 3 or 4lbs but just remember it isn't fat it is just water weight and glycogen

Originally Posted by BangersnMash

Anyone have any experience on how significant weight can shift once going from a cut to a bulk? I'm currently on 1700kcal a day and a rough estimate of a lean bulk (200kcal) would put me at about 2300-2500kcal.
I'm worried that if I eat at 2300 / 2500 kcal for a week or so and see a sudden weight change (lets say 3 - 4 lbs) i'll panic and jump right back on a cut. I've noticed on days that i've ''given in'' that my weight tends to balloon quite significantly the next few days. Really appreciate all ya'll input!

It's good that you're already prepared for this. I wasn't - my first ever bulk lasted for three weeks! You can definitely expect some bloating and water retention when switching from cutting to bulking - I was scared off my this and it stopped me from being able to bulk effectively. With a 250 calorie surplus, I would expect about a 2-3lb weight increase in the first week, maybe 1lb in the second, then half a pound per week goinf forward, but YMMV.

Originally Posted by Junsuiakai

As I normally agree with Luclin. I would advise you against continuing to cut. Here is why.

I just am finishing. 16 week cut and you go from feeling like Hercules to barely being able to function almost over night once your bf gets too low.

I do not recommend towing this line. You are plenty lean enough already. I would switch to lea. Bulk and just try and make sure you arent gaining more than 1 to 2 lbs a month.. just basically track it like you did for cut.

You did phenomenal losing 20lbs. Now you must slowly build yourself up.

Losing an extra 5lbs IE extra 5 weeks of cutting might push you over that threshold and I can tell you from my experience. The risk outweighs the reward.

Appreciate the solid advice !

Originally Posted by Camarija

While it's tempting to just say: "cut to 13% BF, then bulk"

Problem is that you're somewhere around Fat Free Mass Index of 18, borderline average weight for your height

You probably shouldn't cut or you risk going too light for your height

More to gain in bulk than cut at this stage

Good job and keep going mate!

Yeah, bulking has been on my mind for awhile now, its just somewhat demotivating once you lose all that weight and you're still unhappy with how you look !

Might be a weird question, but how will the stomach area look generally after a lean bulk of 12 - 16 weeks? I know I need to fill out my frame, I'm just afraid i'm just going to look fat again !

Originally Posted by BangersnMash

Looking for some advice as I currently feel stuck between two camps. Been cutting for about 10 weeks where I dropped 20 lbs and am at 155 lbs / 5'11 now.
I'm very happy with my overall weightloss but I feel as if I need to start building my frame, however since I used to be a big guy many years ago.
The thought of putting back on weight is messing with me mentally, as i'm still unhappy with how my stomach area looks. Still got a bit of a pouch around the stomach and I'm afraid I'd just quit after a few weeks of lean bulking. Attached is a unflexed vs flexed picture, I've been getting sporadic comments that I'm skinny and am hoping for some solid input!

Good advice among this thread. I'd also say to start lean bulking as cutting in to the rest of the fat you have left probably isn't worth it.

I tend to take way less photos and spend much less time looking in the mirror on a bulk. My mind is set on strength and progression in the gym. Cutting is when the mirror becomes more important while trying to maintain the strength gained on the bulk. I'm kinda stating the obvious here but I'm trying to say I def can understand the mental battle with it all. Good luck!