Cutting. General advice...discussion.

I think I've been "bulking" since I was 18. I was a skinny kid in high school. 6' 135 lbs. Hated it.

As I aged and got more serious in my training and diet I managed a pretty respectable muscular 195 lbs at about 13% BF natural.

At age 38, started adding some gear. Over the past 3 years I've added significant muscle. 6 months ago weight was at 235 probably %15 BF.

Current weight is at 228. BF...not good maybe %20. Covid 19 gym closing, injuries, and side effects of Hep C medication kind of fucked me up. We've all got excuses I suppose and they are just as useless as they've always been.

I've been taking drugs and lifting weights essentially. Not really bodybuilding. Just eating A Lot, taking PEDs, and lifting weights. I am uninterested in continuing this trend.

So.... any general advice is welcome.

Currently cutting on 2700 cals but some days I'm actually coming in low say 2400. Is this bad? TDEE at a guess probably 3500 cals.

Protein is 45% carbs 35 fats 20. Sometimes fats go higher and carbs are lighter. Tracking everything with fitness pal.

There is no rush to this. But I am unhappy with what is in the mirror. Not a total shitshow but theres plenty of muscle underneath a bit of fat right now and I'm ready to carve it out.

Have been cruising on 150 mg test c weekly for 6 months after last blast. When I started the cut decided to run 350 mg test prop a week along with 400 mg mast prop. The mast is just for AI benefits, upping free test, and quality of life benefits (maybe). Havent ran mast before so it's also a bit of a low risk experiment.

I'm not uneducated about diet and the idea of cutting but I am inexperienced. Any personal experiences, troubles, things to avoid, things not to avoid would be appreciated.

Can post diet and such if anyone is interested. Just tired of typing right now.

Thanks.
 
It sounds like you know how to diet and train so I'd say stick to your plan, see how things go, and adjust accordingly. I wouldn't trip about falling 400 calories short of your target on a cut at those dosages. Anecdotally, I have the best results cutting weight with macros at 45/45/10 and I never experienced the purported AI benefits running Mast. I do like Mast but would save it for the end of the run.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.
 
@sierrak1lo

I've decided to really make sure I hit the cals at the macros I have. That way I can ascertain if I have it just right, if I need to add, or if I need to descrease cals. Also, if the current macros are effective.

I've seen diets with only 10% fat and I salute you. I theoretically understand that it is possible. However, even when I feel like I am really using low fat protein sources I find myself hitting %20 or %25. Of course, I am eating some egg yolks, my ground turkey is the %93 and I am using a little ghee butter at times on potatoes.

12 days in and I'm down about 3 lbs on the scale l, but I think the increased test may have added a couple pounds. My face looks noticeably leaner, midsection looks better.

I've switched up training as my GF is doing some kind of challenge Nichole Wilkins posted and I am doing that with her to support her. I used to essentially run a bro split with some drop sets and progressive overload. Now, running 2 upper body workouts with about 30 sets, 2 leg days with about 30 sets, and a full body workout per week. I am enjoying it and it is a good change of pace. Body really seems to be responding. I feel like I'm getting a months worth of training every 2 weeks.
 
Maybe instead of coke and tren, I could run meth and var.

Solid stack
10/10
Add clen and you can power your electrical with all the shaking.

But in all seriousness, I used to cut hard..
But it ways backfired on me... slow metabolism after a while etc.

Now I just throw around a 300 cal deficit and cut longer term.

I might do a quicky 2 week hard cut, but I never go much lower.

I usually target carbs for cutting as I feel like crap without fats.
 
Solid stack
10/10
Add clen and you can power your electrical with all the shaking.

But in all seriousness, I used to cut hard..
But it ways backfired on me... slow metabolism after a while etc.

Now I just throw around a 300 cal deficit and cut longer term.

I might do a quicky 2 week hard cut, but I never go much lower.

I usually target carbs for cutting as I feel like crap without fats.
I always had that problem where I’d diet too hard too fast. My metabolism wouldn’t slow but I’d lose way too much muscle.
 
My best advice is to keep things simple and consistent. So no more up and down from 2400 cals a day back to 2700, no more pulling carbs out on certain days on a whim rt now.

You are far better off keeping things the same daily until the very end of a cut when you're trying to get to insanely low bodyfat (which honestly is not even worth it, I'm talking sub 7%)

I've found that the more you can stick to a solid daily diet and just DEAL WITH HUNGER, without necessarily responding to it with more food, the faster the results. Also, whenever I make changes to a diet during a cut, the changes are carefully planned and weighed out and gradual (ie: dropping my potato portions from 8oz a meal to 6oz a meal)
 
@Demondosage

Thanks for input and agreed.

Keeping things as similar as possible day in and day out to assess effectiveness.

12 days in BF is slightly lower. Noticed it first in my face. As the weeks move on, I'm just waiting to see if I've chosen to drastic of a cut. I feel like I've got it right but time will tell.

Maintaining consistency will give me good info. If I yo yo it, wont really be able to tell.
 
Also insanely low is really not the goal. 10 to 12 percent and I'm happy. Just trimming the fat and then reestablish stasis.

If I'm looking to "bulk" again later will do so more carefully. But that would be much later. 6 months or so.
 
Also insanely low is really not the goal. 10 to 12 percent and I'm happy. Just trimming the fat and then reestablish stasis.

If I'm looking to "bulk" again later will do so more carefully. But that would be much later. 6 months or so.
Always thought it was amazing how much more muscle we carry than we thought we had once it's visible
 
I'm midway through week 3.

Results have been, well, awesome so far.
The first couple of weeks the scale said I lost 2 pounds. However, upping the test may have added a little water weight. I dont look watery at all, just more muscle fullness. I think my body was just loving the extra test as I've been cruising at a lower dose than previously and I was completely off for 2 months as well during the 6 months between cycles.

I'm now down 4 pounds, so sitting at 224 lbs. Honestly, I dont give a fuck if I lose 0 pounds. Body fat, judging from a mirror, is vanishing in a hurry. This is what I'm after.

I had a gut and was working on some love handles. Stomach is now flat. Legs are leaner. Everything is leaning out. I didnt expect this to happen as fast as it did.

I'll post some pics eventually. Wished I'd taken some before I started, but didnt bother.
 
Midway through week 5.

Down 6 pounds on the scale as of this morning.... so sitting at 222. Im.guessing at BF% maybe 15 to 16. Abs are visible still a very small amount of fat sitting on the last 2 of a 6 pack.

I'm basically hungry all the time and I'm def stronger when I'm fatter.

Shits going excellent just need to keep grinding till I hit about %12. It's going to take as long as it takes.
 
Midway through week 5.

Down 6 pounds on the scale as of this morning.... so sitting at 222. Im.guessing at BF% maybe 15 to 16. Abs are visible still a very small amount of fat sitting on the last 2 of a 6 pack.

I'm basically hungry all the time and I'm def stronger when I'm fatter.

Shits going excellent just need to keep grinding till I hit about %12. It's going to take as long as it takes.

I’m the same way. I’m def stronger when I was fatter. But faster when I’m leaner. (I’m a ex boxer)
 
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