New Ytest
Sign out
Bimmerpost
Login
BMW E39 5-Series Forum | 5Post.com
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read  
Go Back   BMW E39 5-Series Forum | 5Post.com > BIMMERPOST Universal Forums > Off-Topic Discussions Board > Health, Fitness, Martial Arts, and Nutrition

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      11-26-2016, 10:00 PM   #1
Germanauto
Major General
Germanauto's Avatar
United_States
9666
Rep
6,075
Posts

 
Drives: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Rosso
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: LA

iTrader: (0)

How to know when I should stop cutting?

Hello all,

I started cutting back in early August of this year. I was 175 lbs and 15.5% BF. As of now, I have come down to 161 lbs and 12.5% BF. I have eaten very clean, kept my protein up, lifted 4-6 times per week, and did HIIT Cardio to help get from 170 lbs to my current weight. Aside from my bench press lowering ~10 lbs, my lifts have not changed.

My goal has been to get my BF % down and get more definition in my arms, chest, hollowed out cheeks, etc. Now while I do have more definition, it's not like I can walk around shirtless and feel good about my physique. At the same time, everybody is commenting on how I've become "much smaller" and I think it's hitting me mentally. I'm starting to wonder if I should continue cutting and try to lose another 10 lbs to get the definition I seek, or just say screw it and start bulking. Has anybody been in this position before? And even if you haven't, what are your thoughts?

A friend suggested that maybe I just don't have enough muscle for it to show, but I am not buying that. Aside from bench press, my lifts are in a pretty solid range for all muscle groups. I can list some out if anybody feels it would be relevant.

Thanks.

Last edited by Germanauto; 11-26-2016 at 10:06 PM..
Appreciate 0
      11-27-2016, 04:58 AM   #2
antych
Lieutenant
United Kingdom
246
Rep
435
Posts

 
Drives: 2017 BMW M4CP SO
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2014 BMW M4  [10.00]
I would keep cutting until I'm happy with how I look. But I told you before, you're exercising too much and follow the wrong diet. Instead of giving up and bulking up, making things even worse, just try some other ways to get lean.
Appreciate 0
      11-27-2016, 05:29 AM   #3
HyeWarrior
Major
747
Rep
1,117
Posts

 
Drives: 2012 135i DCT
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: San Dimas, CA

iTrader: (1)

Funny saying I've read:

Bulk until you hate yourself
Cut until you hate life
Repeat
Appreciate 2
csu872134.00
BSM n54iS2684.50
      11-27-2016, 10:16 AM   #4
Grip Grip
Lieutenant
Grip Grip's Avatar
United_States
176
Rep
545
Posts

 
Drives: E92 335is
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Greenbrier, TN

iTrader: (3)

Looks like you're dropping as much muscle as fat, but I'm far from being an expert.

Starting at 175 lbs and 15.5% BF, a 3% fat loss should put you at 170 lbs, not 161. Right? I calculated you lost 7 lbs fat and 7 lbs muscle. That's not a trade-off I'd be willing to take. Muscle is just too hard for me to gain.

175 @ 15.5% BF = 27 lbs fat
161 @ 12.5% BF = 20 lbs fat

I need to cut some myself, but I don't want to lose any size. I'm 188 lbs with probably 20% BF (pathetic, I know).

Last edited by Grip Grip; 11-27-2016 at 12:51 PM..
Appreciate 0
      11-27-2016, 12:29 PM   #5
Germanauto
Major General
Germanauto's Avatar
United_States
9666
Rep
6,075
Posts

 
Drives: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Rosso
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: LA

iTrader: (0)

Thanks for the feedback guys. One thing I've learned in this journey is that it's all about making adjustments and it looks like I'll be doing that again. I could start by doing less Cardio. I've been doing ~15 mins of HIIT, 4-5x per week, for like 10 weeks now. I find it quite remarkable (and disappointing) that I have lost muscle despite my lifts non changing anywhere except my chest.
Appreciate 0
      11-27-2016, 12:42 PM   #6
antych
Lieutenant
United Kingdom
246
Rep
435
Posts

 
Drives: 2017 BMW M4CP SO
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: London

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2014 BMW M4  [10.00]
Where did you get 15.5% and 12.5% BF numbers from?
Appreciate 0
      11-27-2016, 09:29 PM   #7
Germanauto
Major General
Germanauto's Avatar
United_States
9666
Rep
6,075
Posts

 
Drives: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Rosso
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: LA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by antych View Post
Where did you get 15.5% and 12.5% BF numbers from?
Got it measured at the gym. They used the thing you hold with both your hands. It's probably not the most accurate but I got it measured both times using the same method.
Appreciate 0
      11-30-2016, 06:26 PM   #8
csu87
Banned
2134
Rep
3,555
Posts

 
Drives: 09 335xi
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Northern Colorado

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Germanauto View Post
Got it measured at the gym. They used the thing you hold with both your hands. It's probably not the most accurate but I got it measured both times using the same method.
Gives you a close enough estimate as to how much you are cutting.

As for when should you stop cutting, the answer is entirely dependent on you. If you like where you are at, stop now. If you want to get leaner, keep going. You wont see a huge difference from 15-12, but from 12-10 and lower you will definitely notice it. As your BF% drops, results are exponentially more noticeable.

As for bench, Ive found that is heavily dependent on size; at least for me. If I cut 10lbs, my bench drops quickly. If I gain 10lbs, bench goes up quickly. Eventually though, once you stop cutting and go from trying to lose to trying to maintain, those numbers will slowly creep back up.

Any cutting cycle where you are trying to drop BF quick is going to also lose muscle, although maybe not 1:1 as you are experiencing. The key is to have a real solid base and eat just enough/right to keep as much muscle as possible. Whats your diet look like? Also, you will need to change up workouts to keep as much muscle as possible. A high pump workout tends to keep the size there longer than anything else. Bodybuilder type workouts are what you want to follow. Whats your routine been?
Appreciate 0
      12-01-2016, 04:19 PM   #9
The Chaddening
Major General
The Chaddening's Avatar
11585
Rep
5,510
Posts

 
Drives: Bicycle - reducing carbon
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Kekistan

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Germanauto View Post
Hello all,

I started cutting back in early August of this year. I was 175 lbs and 15.5% BF. As of now, I have come down to 161 lbs and 12.5% BF. I have eaten very clean, kept my protein up, lifted 4-6 times per week, and did HIIT Cardio to help get from 170 lbs to my current weight. Aside from my bench press lowering ~10 lbs, my lifts have not changed.

My goal has been to get my BF % down and get more definition in my arms, chest, hollowed out cheeks, etc. Now while I do have more definition, it's not like I can walk around shirtless and feel good about my physique. At the same time, everybody is commenting on how I've become "much smaller" and I think it's hitting me mentally. I'm starting to wonder if I should continue cutting and try to lose another 10 lbs to get the definition I seek, or just say screw it and start bulking. Has anybody been in this position before? And even if you haven't, what are your thoughts?

A friend suggested that maybe I just don't have enough muscle for it to show, but I am not buying that. Aside from bench press, my lifts are in a pretty solid range for all muscle groups. I can list some out if anybody feels it would be relevant.

Thanks.
You stop cutting when you are shredded as f*** BRO.

/ THREAD
Appreciate 0
      12-03-2016, 08:04 AM   #10
BSM n54iS
Brigadier General
BSM n54iS's Avatar
2685
Rep
4,202
Posts

 
Drives: '11 335is | '16 Macan Turbo
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere

iTrader: (7)

No no no, you're satisfied when you find yourself dancing naked to "Goodbye Horses" in front of a mirror saying 'Would you fuck me? I'd fuck me....I'd fuck me hard'

__________________
'11 335is BSM MT "BMW Performance Editon" | '16 Porsche Macan Turbo
GruppeM CF Intake | AR Resonated DP | ER CP | Turbosmart RacePort BOV | Cobb FMIC | RB Inlets | RB External Mishi/Turner OCC | Michelin PS4 | BMW Performance Springs/Bilstein B8 + Dinan & M3 bits | BMW Brembo BBK | BMW Performance CF Spoiler | BMW Performance CF Lip | BMW Performance Alcantara | PS Designs GTS Armrest | AG H6-40 | Rear Seat Delete
Appreciate 0
      12-07-2016, 06:24 AM   #11
InternetFame
Banned
InternetFame's Avatar
United_States
553
Rep
228
Posts

 
Drives: '17 F80 ZCP 6MT, '11 R55 S 6MT
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: DMV

iTrader: (0)

Until you run out of blood, then put the knife down.
Appreciate 1
David0ff1055.00
      12-20-2016, 03:44 PM   #12
JoeyBananas
Lieutenant Colonel
692
Rep
1,517
Posts

 
Drives: NA
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: NJ

iTrader: (0)

Im starting my cut again but have really gained a lot of weight since my leanest. I had a solid 6 pack at 160 and now im at 185 and its really hard. at my leanest I was eating only 1500 cals and doing 30 mins of treadmill and lifting everyday. I think I really F
d my metabolism.

fwiw im 5'7
Appreciate 0
      12-21-2016, 04:39 PM   #13
squartus
Major
United_States
313
Rep
1,017
Posts

 
Drives: 2010 E92 M3 6MT
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Mississippi

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2010 E92 BMW M3  [10.00]
Get your BF etc done with a dexa scan, only way to get the true numbers. Gives alot of other data as well as exact ammount of muscle. For me about 11.5% BF "dexa scan BF%" is as low as I like to go and be able to carry on normal life, decent lifting/strength and not be to crazy with food. Still need to be very strict, but do not need to count macros etc at that point.

Now how you look is going to depend on the muscle and symmetry you have, not just BF %. Getting lean is easy, carrying decent ammount of muscle while staying lean is the hard part.
So I would just off the top of my head say you just more time in the gym, more food etc before worrying about getting to lean. Need a foundation, now you can "bulk" just fine without getting fat. Can pack on lbs of muscle while keeping abs, you just need 300-500 calories over your baseline. Not freaking 3,000 over, thats why guys get all feaking fat and puffy. They then need to sped tons of time and effort to remove that when they lean down, besides wastefull and pointless its not exactly good for your health eating bad like that
__________________


4.4L LC stroker/ESS VT2-625/Volk te37 sl's/AA exhaust/DSS Carbon Fiber driveshaft/ARH Headers.. etc

Last edited by squartus; 12-21-2016 at 04:44 PM..
Appreciate 0
      12-21-2016, 06:50 PM   #14
TheNus
Enlisted Member
39
Rep
48
Posts

 
Drives: 2015 BMW M3
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Dallas TX

iTrader: (0)

Here are my suggestions for you. Please read them as positive.

Most people greatly overestimate the amount of muscle that they have. Focus on building quality muscle. I am sure you don't have as much as you think.

Workout hard every time. Everyone thinks they workout hard but again, they probably don't. You shouldn't feel sore the next morning, you should feel like you were in a car wreck. It hurts to grow and you will love it.

Stop the bulk and cut. Eat 300 to 500 above maintenance on workout days and maintenance or slightly above on non workout days depending on what your body tells you. If you start to put on a little fat adjust your macros and training to take care of it. For big plateaus you might need to go a little shunky but once you break them you can take care of it.

Hide your scale and rely on the mirror and measuring tape. The scale messes with your mind just like people who tell you that you are getting small.

I have been through this whole thing and it is a journey. I took myself from 155 at 6' in my mid 20s to my current weight of 230 at age 36. I intend to slowly carve off about 10 lbs which should take me to a good place.
Appreciate 0
      01-14-2017, 10:39 AM   #15
PoorLurker
Custom User Title
PoorLurker's Avatar
No_Country
1135
Rep
675
Posts

 
Drives: a bicycle
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Orange County, CA

iTrader: (0)

Stop cutting at "sliced"

http://www.traindaly.com/train-daly/...fat-comparison
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:40 AM.




5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST