For clarification, I'm 6 feet (183 cm) 174/175 lbs (around 79/80 kg). I started at 165 lbs (75 kg) around 5 months ago.
I know I've packed a lot of fat, but I think I've made pretty good progress at the same time, and I think I could make more by just maintaining. What do you think about it? Should I cut instead?
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Bruh
With respect. I’m seeing a lot of fat gain with little to no muscle gain
My weights (especially the arms, a weak spot I've always had) skyrocketed, but Idk how much of that is effect of the fat or what. I just hope that with cutting some of that shows as muscle, but I'll see.
New lifters get quick "gains". It's not because you're getting bigger or stronger, your muscles are learning the movements.
I'm not really a new lifter tho, I've been training on and off, wrongly I guess?
It looks like you did put on a more fat. Just want to clarify, you're trying to gain weight and bulk.
The last two pics (older) do look different. In Pic 4, you look like you trimmed the hair on your abs (so it's a different look and not a criticism).
I agree you need to cut now and get the calories down.
What do you do to exercise? Your weight doesn't seem to be off for the height, just need more muscle than fat (which is my problem).
Totally something you can work at.
My program is (ideally) 4 times a week upper/lower, but lately with exams coming up I've been doing mostly upper (sometimes only 1/2 times a week, which maybe isn't enough) and skipping lower, so there's that. My upper schedule consists of basic lifts like dumbell incline bench press, lat machine, cable curls, chest flies etc... Sorry if I could not post pics more similar in terms of body hair, I tend to just trim it
Yes, being consistent on the training is key. I was at my chiro/massage therapist today.
On the hair, I'm OCD, because I dealt with a skin condition and had to do laser hair removal on several areas. I couldn't wait until it was gone.
You do what makes you feel comfortable. I just happened to notice it. Some people do it while training to monitor progress, but it is your choice and/or hair hides muscle.
I think you can turn it around quickly actually. Don't be down about it.
Thanks for the encouragement man, I hope I'll be able to turn it around
We all try hard. I think we can be our biggest critic. I've found I've tried things and sometimes we overcompensate one way or another.
I know I've never taken criticism well. If you were 30 pounds overweight, that would be different.
Also, you're a good height at 6' (I'm 5'8 at best) so harder for me and I'm Gen X (now over 50), so it's even harder.
I don't think you put age, but I would assume somewhere in your 20's... I went up and down with weight, et all my life.
Happy to answer any questions.
Why are you bulking?
Tbh because as you can see in the before pictures I was previously pretty skinny fat, so I've always been recommended to just choose between bulking and cutting. I have tried to cut a lot previously (like to 68/70 kg, which is around 150 lbs) but I always ended up getting too much skinny for my height and with no muscle. Also the belly area has always had fat that just won't go away, even at my lowest bf %. Maybe because I've been cutting wrong? I don't know. What is sure is that I didn't think this bulk would end up so dirty, and I was planning to cut either way after winter.
You shouldn't be bulking then, bulking is only for when you are around 10-12% bodyfat, when your body needs the extra calories, but for you, you definitely should have recomped, or cut then recomped, otherwise you are just putting unnecessary bodyfat, basically until you can see your abs you should not be thinking about bulking
Would it be possible to recomp at this weight if I keep lifting at maintenance in your opinion? Or is it really so strictly necessary to cut it all off? I mean, for my height I don't think 174 lbs (my current weight) is that much overweight (or overweight at all) and in my experience gaining the weight back after doing an hard cut would be really difficult for me.
Your weight for your height is not bad.
As a tall former skinny fat I did a cut and lost around 15kg and went from 94 to 79 and after that I gained 3kgs of pure muscle by lifting and eating a lot of protein and gained like 400g of fat
Cut asap
What to follow to cut aggressively?
Whatever you can stick with. 500cal deficit and increase cardio.
How much above maintenance were you eating
I haven't kept tracking it well, but I'd say around 500-1000 max. Not ideal, and at the beginning I was trying to strive for a leaner bulk but at the end I failed to do so and I know it
I would cut to 10% and then lean bulk at a surplus of like 250 tops… you got way too sloppy with the bulk my guy.
Not tracking macros and bulking a that high of bf from start is a disaster…. Stop bulking and track your macros.. 200 deficit until you get abs.. then lean bulk.. and still count macros
Bro just bulk and forgot to actually workout lol. It’s not about bulk or cut if you starting out not having any visible muscles. Be real, put in the work instead of worrying about the eating. Once you have some defined muscles , then post again