Bulk then Cut in one cycle?

[RickRock13]

I was told years ago that "You don't own it til you've worn it for a year". Now that's a bit of oversimplified bro science, but there's some truth to it.

It's this theory that has led me away from the traditional bulk then cut strategy.

Now this pertains to me and my experience and may or may not pertain to you. When we add muscle in a cycle, its far from permanent and it literally takes everything we've got to maintain it and stay in an anabolic state, especially after our cycle. Guys brag about how much of their gains they kept during or at the end of pct. But they rarely come back 2 or 3 months after pct and admit that continued to lose size or weight. Sometimes taking a break for 1 week is enough to lose the edge and the 1/2" gain that we worked so hard to achieve.

Taking into consideration how hard it is to gain actual, real, lean muscle - it seems illogical to immediately follow this achievement by moving toward a caloric deficit. In my mind, this would greatly increase the likelihood of losing some of the newly acquired (or rented) muscle.

So I tend to lean toward a constant focus of clean, lean mass gains and continually tweaking an adjusting things to prevent your body from adapting. I call it an anti-routine.

What you are saying is true to an extent. You are describing someone who bulks on cycle then immediately cuts after cycle in pct or soon after....which is a sure way to lose gains no doubt...but that is not what we are talking about here. We are talking about bulking and cutting in the same cycle which changes everything. While you are on s superphysiological level of exogenous hormones, your body will not lose any of the gains you made by going into a moderate cutting defecit while still on cycle. Hell, a lot of people still add muscle and plenty of gains while in a defecit on cycle.

On cycle cutting and off cycle cutting is apples to oranges

 

[dylangemelli]

What you are saying is true to an extent. You are describing someone who bulks on cycle then immediately cuts after cycle in pct or soon after....which is a sure way to lose gains no doubt...but that is not what we are talking about here. We are talking about bulking and cutting in the same cycle which changes everything. While you are on s superphysiological level of exogenous hormones, your body will not lose any of the gains you made by going into a moderate cutting defecit while still on cycle. Hell, a lot of people still add muscle and plenty of gains while in a defecit on cycle.

On cycle cutting and off cycle cutting is apples to oranges

Very well said bro... I think ive proven several times that muscle gains can be made on cycle while eating on a deficit and doing cardio 7 days a week... Its how you manage your intake and lifestyle that will determine your quality of gains...

 

[El Hefe]

What you are saying is true to an extent. You are describing someone who bulks on cycle then immediately cuts after cycle in pct or soon after....which is a sure way to lose gains no doubt...but that is not what we are talking about here. We are talking about bulking and cutting in the same cycle which changes everything. While you are on s superphysiological level of exogenous hormones, your body will not lose any of the gains you made by going into a moderate cutting defecit while still on cycle. Hell, a lot of people still add muscle and plenty of gains while in a defecit on cycle.

On cycle cutting and off cycle cutting is apples to oranges

I agree - you can run a caloric deficit on cycle and preserve muscle.

My point and opinion was that it makes more sense to find your sweet spot on cycle where on can add muscle and lower bf%. Rather than to go from caloric surplus to deficit.

 

[RickRock13]

I agree - you can run a caloric deficit on cycle and preserve muscle.

My point and opinion was that it makes more sense to find your sweet spot on cycle where on can add muscle and lower bf%. Rather than to go from caloric surplus to deficit.

Recomposition is the holy grail, and I agree its the ideal approach. However finding the caloric range and adjusting your training accordingly to make that happen is not easy. Anybody that REALLY knows their body and has enough experience can pull it off, but recomposition also has a price. You have to accept the fact that fat will be lost much slower and muscle will be gained much slower than if going for one goal or the other.

 

[moya]

I don't think you have to gain muscle slower if also cutting fat vs a traditional bulk... There is just no fat and water to fluff your gains...

 

[clintj83]

So for recomposition would I need to keep my calories at a deficit, surplus, or a maintenance level. Or is this something I'll just have to play with. I've been lifting for two and a half years and nutrition has never really been an issue for me. I've pretty much known what I've had to do get my body to respond the way I want it too, but now that I'm throwing gear into it, it seems to be throwing everything I've learned out the window. I have always tried to be at a surplus to gain muscle, but some fat has always inevitably came along with the muscle mass. I have just tried to make the most of my calories to limit the amount of body fat I gain. On the other hand when I cut I have always lost strength, being at a caloric deficit. I have never been able to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time, with maybe the exception of my first 6 months or so of training.

 

[RickRock13]

So for recomposition would I need to keep my calories at a deficit, surplus, or a maintenance level. Or is this something I'll just have to play with. I've been lifting for two and a half years and nutrition has never really been an issue for me. I've pretty much known what I've had to do get my body to respond the way I want it too, but now that I'm throwing gear into it, it seems to be throwing everything I've learned out the window. I have always tried to be at a surplus to gain muscle, but some fat has always inevitably came along with the muscle mass. I have just tried to make the most of my calories to limit the amount of body fat I gain. On the other hand when I cut I have always lost strength, being at a caloric deficit. I have never been able to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time, with maybe the exception of my first 6 months or so of training.

There are different methods people use to recomp. My favorite recomp strategy is to eat at a surplus of 20-30% over maintenance on workout days, and eat at a defecit of 20-30% under maintenance on non workout days or cardio only days. There are other methods that others have had success with as well, but this is what works best for me.