Cutting progress pictures

Ollie · 01-10-2006 10:22 PM

OK, I thought I'd post some pics up. Partly for critique, but most importantly to keep me motivated as I keep losing track of things for one reason or another, especially on rest days.

I should have been cutting properly for about 6 weeks now, but realistically it hasn't happened. I've probably dropped about 1 % bf over that time as I haven't been following my diet very well, particularly on said rest days.

I'm going to post a couple of new pics up every week to keep track of my progress. I'm getting back into my running now, so I will be doing a lot of cardio from now on, although I'll keep the intensity low to keep muscle loss to a minimum.

As of 1/10/06, Accumeasure calipers (I don't trust them) say 13 % bf. Having gained a lot of lean mass between 2003 and 2005 (I was 9.5 stone, ended up at 11 stone and ripped this time last year), I've gradually put on some fat again (with some muscle gain) and ended up like this. Basically I want to get as lean as I used to be, then potentially bulk very gradually again. I'm going to attach an objective figure to that so I've got something to aim for as 8 % bf. If I feel and look like I want to at 10 %, I'll stop there...

Does that figure look about right? I think I might look a tiny bit leaner than that but I certainly don't feel it at the moment

Fat seems to distribute itself very evenly on me. I just want to add that my chest is a definite weak point but I guarantee it'll look a LOT better when I'm as lean as I want to be again...bring it on!!

**Aren_Tyr** · 02-10-2006 10:28 PM

Difficult to tell from the pictures, but 13% seems about right. Possibly a fraction less, in fact.

Are you sure you want to cut? You look reasonably nice and lean to me, I'd bulk and add more mass first, but it is up to you...

Aren.

Ollie · 02-10-2006 10:44 PM

Yeah I do want to cut at the moment. I've been undecided about it for ages which is probably why I haven't really committed to it properly until now, but I've decided I want to feel really lean again before I put on any more mass. Then I'm going to concentrate on eating VERY cleanly when I bulk again, because there's a disparity between how lean I look and how lean I feel

My ultimate goal is to be about 170 lbs at 10 % bf or below, which is probably quite some way off given my approach, but I'd rather continue and feel good/confident than spend time feeling crap but gaining mass more rapidly

**Karlos02** · 03-10-2006 12:16 AM

i think you should definitly bulk. imo, cutting now to lose a few percent bodyfat is time (and effort) consuming and ultimatly just pointless judging from your pictures!
bulk now and you might just find that when its time to really cut, it will be that much easier and much more worthwhile once youv got some new muscle to show off.
it will be very hard to keep your body fat low and put on some serious muscle too.
then again, as aren said its up to you.

Ollie · 03-10-2006 08:00 AM

What sort of bf% do you guys get to at the peak of a bulk?

**Karlos02** · 03-10-2006 02:58 PM

higher than that ^.
it would vary with the individual, i think 15-20% signals the time to begin a cut.

Ollie · 03-10-2006 08:09 PM

Yeah, I guess it depends on the person. To be honest if I was looking at someone else's pics I'd be saying the same things you are...i.e. "go on a bulk", but I suppose I've got to be comfortable with myself.

I'm going to cut for now then go on a serious bulk eating cleanly and with little/no alcohol (which i've never done before) to make some good gains

I went from 135 lbs at 7% bf to 154 lbs at 11 % bf in the space of about 20 months, so realistically if I aim for 25% of my gain to be in fat I should be able to reach a decent size without gaining too much fat... looking forward to it anyway