Getting Cut

[Legion Kreinak]

I'm just curious, if I was doing 3 sets, 8 reps, not to failure but enough so that my muscles are dreadfully sore the next day, and I felt I increased in size enough, how would I go about cutting my muscles off of that routine?

 

[gmanlax7]

i don't realy understand .. . ? "cutting my muscles off"?

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Get my muscles cut, by way of using that routine. 8 reps, 3 sets. Would I then change to 4 sets, 12 reps with less weight, or would I keep the same rep/set scheme and just use less weight... or more reps, less weight, same amount of sets?

 

[gmanlax7]

i think you mean you want to look more cut, so lower fat and such. High reps for cutting up, low reps for bulking for mass

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Yep, thought so. Sort of a dumb question but I wanted to clarify. So I'm guessing I should lower the weight as well, so I can have the strength for those increased reps?

Oh, and do I need bulk to get cut, or no? Because I do have muscle, just not very noticable when I wear a muscle shirt. I'm guessing I should probably add some bulk, then cut.

And final question, will I still gain bulk even if I burn more calories than I eat still?

 

[teen1216]

1. Getting cut is from your diet not your routine.
2. If you're not large then you might want to bulk first so you'll be bigger when you cut.
3. No.

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Dammit, so in order to bulk (I was going to go into a bulking phase in Winter, starting October, going to March) I have to do very little cardio, so I don't burn off all the calories, and I basically have to get chubby during this phase, don't I? Just great...

 

[McLurch]

I cut when I first started lifting just to see what all the fuss was about. When I first started I my stats were pretty decent. I was 5'8'' and 170 w/13% bf. I lifted about three months to get a decent base. I got up to around 190 then I cut for about a month and a half. I got down to about 183 w/7% bf. Then after that I just try and stay lean when I bulk so when I cut its not such a biatch. reps can do a little to get cut up, buts its mostly the sups you take, and your diet. hope this helps.

 

[mlomker]

Legion, I guess that depends upon what you consider "chubby." Some guys won't allow themselves to go over 10% and others will eat until they can't stand it. I think your strategy will depend upon how easily you can lose weight when you want to. Under-eating is the greatest sin when trying to gain size.

 

[Lord_Suston]

1. Getting cut is from your diet not your routine.
2. If you're not large then you might want to bulk first so you'll be bigger when you cut.
3. No.

now this kid has his shit together, probably will become a good lifter real soon.....

 

[teen1216]

Thanks Suston, I've been soakin up knowledege for over a year now. I just listen to you and all the other smart ones.

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Yeah, you seem to have a good deal of knowledge on this stuff too teen. So maybe you can anwser me this:

If I don't bulk, and just stick with burning more calories than I eat when I train to try and get that cut look, will I still increase in muscular strength? Or in order to get strength, does size have tp increase?

 

[teen1216]

You may very well increase in strength on certain exercises due to neural adaptation, meaning your nervous system gets more used to the exercise thus allowing you to move more weight. I doubt this would happen if you've been training for a while, but I can't say it wouldn't simply because I'm not sure. To sum up, if you are fairly new, yes I would say you could gain strength while cutting.

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Ah, very nice. That's all I needed to hear. I'll stick with my low-calorie, high cardio and moderate intese training routine. I've lost weight so far, I can see my abs alot, and seem to have increased slightly in strength with all my workouts. I suppose once I reach a plateau, I'll either bulk a little in order to gain strength, or if my physique/power is to my liking, then just go into a Maintenance Phase and continue doing what I was doing, same weights and all, so I retain that look. Sound like a game plan, or am I missing something?

 

[teen1216]

Depends on your goals. If you don't want to get any stronger or bigger after that then I guess it would.

 

[BigRedCat]

Legion, judging from the questions you've been asking I think you need a workout basics 101 class! You should get the Body for Life book, it would probably help you quite a bit since your starting out. It will get your eating and workout plan solid at least. Also read up on testosterone.net - many many great articles on there.

 

[Lord_Suston]

Take this as constructive criticism...

Getting stronger is about neurological adaptation and muscular developement. You CNS will only take you so far after that is muscle size...

If you keep burning more calories than you intake you reach a point where you cannot lose anymore bf, cause there isn't anymore to lose(your body has a natural set point where any less is unhealthy), and then you will start losing muscle mass, which in turn will make you strength decreas, a viscous cycle...

You are in your mid-teens, calorie restristion at that age is the most prominient factor in decreases growth, so if you have not grown to full stature then you might want to reconsider dieting to that extreme. I know I grew about an inch in college....

The you have to look at you goals, is maintaning what you are looking for, just the status quo, then go right ahead. But ask most great athletes in any sports if they want to maintain, the answer will be "NO"