should i cut first or wait?

[Coldshot]

I'm at a crossroads right now as to what i should do. Currently i'm 180 lbs with body fat abt 18-19%. Started bulking 5 months ago at 154lbs.

My goal is to be ripped at 195-200lbs. So this would mean having to bulk to at least 210lbs. The thing is that i'm pretty conern abt my growing waistline. It seems that all the fat gained goes to my gut.

So should i cut until say 13-14% bodyfat then bulk or suck it in and bulk to 210lbs?

Thanks

 

[jerkbox]

i would say you'd best start cutting....19% bf is pretty high, and it's gonna be hard to lose weight if you keep getting fatter, not to mention all the muscle you will lose whilst you are doing that.

 

[Coldshot]

i would say you'd best start cutting....19% bf is pretty high, and it's gonna be hard to lose weight if you keep getting fatter, not to mention all the muscle you will lose whilst you are doing that.

Thanks for the advice jerkbox.

This is my first time bulking so it took me while to figure out my cals.

Anyways, how much do you think i shld lose before bulking again?

 

[MrMakaveli]

IMO, drop down to about 12% and resume bulking.

If you start using ALA with Carb-based meals and cutting carbs after 6-7pm when you resume bulking you should stay fairly lean. Good luck and congrats on the gains.

 

[Coldshot]

IMO, drop down to about 12% and resume bulking.

If you start using ALA with Carb-based meals and cutting carbs after 6-7pm when you resume bulking you should stay fairly lean. Good luck and congrats on the gains.

Thanks MrMak. What would be a good indication to tell when i'm at 12%? Presently, i can see my 2 top abs when flexed. Will a 6 pack be visible at 12%?

 

[ExtermiN8r]

Depends... For me personally it is even hard to see my abs when I'm at 8% because I carry most of my fat around my stomach. Are you sure you are at 18-19% that is pretty damn high. What where you when you were at 154? I imagine being that weight you were relatively lean. That means one of 3 things:

1. Your bulking diet sucked ass.
2. You are highly overestimating your current BF%
3. You were pretty chunky at 154....

 

[Cuts]

Cut bro, definitely. 19% is way too high to start bulking. Cut down to like 10% or so, then "bulk," and even then, don't go nuts with the cals

 

[Ceebs]

There's no way you should be able to see the top of your abs at 18-19% bodyfat, unless you carry most your fat in estrogenic areas (thighs, hips, butt), rather than androgenic (abs, waist). Even then, I doubt it.

Cut now. If you wait until you're fatter, you may lose too much muscle dieting down. Remember that you can always bulk later.

 

[Coldshot]

Depends... For me personally it is even hard to see my abs when I'm at 8% because I carry most of my fat around my stomach. Are you sure you are at 18-19% that is pretty damn high. What where you when you were at 154? I imagine being that weight you were relatively lean. That means one of 3 things:

1. Your bulking diet sucked ass.
2. You are highly overestimating your current BF%
3. You were pretty chunky at 154....

I was eating too much cals at one point so i guess that contributed to too much weight gain. I was pretty chunky when i started bulking abt 13-14%. But 95% of my bulk has been clean. Hardly had junk food or crap stuff.

 

[Coldshot]

There's no way you should be able to see the top of your abs at 18-19% bodyfat, unless you carry most your fat in estrogenic areas (thighs, hips, butt), rather than androgenic (abs, waist). Even then, I doubt it.

Cut now. If you wait until you're fatter, you may lose too much muscle dieting down. Remember that you can always bulk later.

i carry most of my lard around the chest and lower abdomen area. My upper abs are pretty lean but gets fatter as you go down south.