Where to go from here?

[NovaFlex]

Alright guys, I've been cutting / recomping like a mofo... Long, Slow ass process. I've obviously still got a bit to go, but my question is this: I really wanna fucking bulk (I'm not sure my BF% at the moment...still high) would I be good continuing to cut until fall, then start a bulk until spring? Or should I keep cutting until I'm low enough weight / BF to cycle?

I'm asking because im thinking of next summer. I feel I'm in a position to finally look decent in the summer and I'm wondering what the best route to take is?

Pic below is just a transformation pic from when I started last year, to now. I'm at around 238-245 right now


Anyway, thanks bros.

 

[Mr.B66]

Congrats nova, your making some really good progress, and trying to do what your doing takes a lot of commitment both to training and diet.
Out of curiosity, what does your WO look like? Also hows your diet? I ask because i think your at the point where you need to step up your intensity in thevweight room and do more cardio. Loose another 10 or better yet 20lbs before starting a cycle.please dont take this as an insult, i think your doing great, i just think you would be disapointed running a cycle while your BF is a bit high , and i know you can still make some really impressive gains without them, nothing beats a clean healthy diet and hard intense training.

 

[rigs03]

^ Agreed. The train is full steam ahead so why stop it now? You've done a great job so far. You will be far more satisfied with your results of a first cycle if you keep stripping that fat off naturally first.

 

[NovaFlex]

Hey B, thanks a lot bro.. For the last 3 or 4 months or so, I've been doing a bro split DUP program, focusing mostly on upper body strength, since that's been my weak point.

My diet is, admittedly, not being tracked. I eat 'clean' but I cheat a lot. Most of my meals consist of chicken and broccoli... I know to go sub 20% bf I need to get real serious with that.

I do maybe an hr a wk of cardio. O need to get on that as well. I've been trying to lose as much as i can without it haha.


Again, thanks for the reply man. Much appreciated!

Congrats nova, your making some really good progress, and trying to do what your doing takes a lot of commitment both to training and diet.
Out of curiosity, what does your WO look like? Also hows your diet? I ask because i think your at the point where you need to step up your intensity in thevweight room and do more cardio. Loose another 10 or better yet 20lbs before starting a cycle.please dont take this as an insult, i think your doing great, i just think you would be disapointed running a cycle while your BF is a bit high , and i know you can still make some really impressive gains without them, nothing beats a clean healthy diet and hard intense training.

 

[Jeremiahflex]

Nice progress man. I think you are at a sweet spot right now where you can pack on alot of muscle and still lose fat. Stay motivated and be diligent with your diet and you can expect great things even without a cycle

 

[NovaFlex]

Oh and I think u guys misinterpreted what I was asking... I don't plan to cycle until -20% bf. I was just asking if, by chance, I can get there in 2 months or so, should I bulk on cycle? Or continue the way I'm going? Idk. Lol. Hope I cleared that up

 

[Mr.B66]

Oh and I think u guys misinterpreted what I was asking... I don't plan to cycle until -20% bf. I was just asking if, by chance, I can get there in 2 months or so, should I bulk on cycle? Or continue the way I'm going? Idk. Lol. Hope I cleared that up

Oh ok!!!!! Yup i misunderstood you. Also one more suggestion. Start working lower body, you will deff burn more fat and add more muscle while increasing overall body strength. The increase in muscle will in turn help you burn more fat.
I hope you post up when you go sub 20, i get a kick outta seeing people reach their body transformation goals.
Good luck to you brother!!!!

 

[NovaFlex]

Oh ok!!!!! Yup i misunderstood you. Also one more suggestion. Start working lower body, you will deff burn more fat and add more muscle while increasing overall body strength. The increase in muscle will in turn help you burn more fat.
I hope you post up when you go sub 20, i get a kick outta seeing people reach their body transformation goals.
Good luck to you brother!!!!

I'll definitely post up. I have my log that's inactive right now, because im gonna continue it when i cycle.

I do legs.. squats, Rdl, press, etc. But my ratio to upper / lower strength was horribly disproportionate. . Squatting 425 while benching only 215 isn't a good look haha. Thats why i made upper my focus for a few months. Since I've started upping the intensity and focusing on bench strength, I've gone from not being able to hit 225x1 to hitting 260x1 and hitting 225x3x3.



However, i need to up the cardio i think.

And again, thanks man

 

[benchyourmom]

Yup, work the lower body more. The more muscle you have the more calories you'll burn. If I was you, I would focus on core strength. Tried and true compound lifts like squats, deadlifts, bent over rows, pull ups, standing overhead press, bench press, push ups, dips. To me those should be staples. I do every one of those excersises in my weekly routines, no matter what routine I'm running. Hiit cardio is where it's at. Jumping rope 1min in between sets can be killer too. Don't be afraid of the pain of muscle fatigue in sets, once I learned to push that line and quit counting reps that's when the magic really started to happen for me. I wouldn't concern yourself with amount of lbs you lift. Quality reps beats amount of weight in every way. Feel the squeeze bud, mind muscle connection for the gains!

 

[Xlgx]

Congrats on progress. However. You are nowhere near the point to talk about bulking imo.

 

[NovaFlex]

Yup, work the lower body more. The more muscle you have the more calories you'll burn. If I was you, I would focus on core strength. Tried and true compound lifts like squats, deadlifts, bent over rows, pull ups, standing overhead press, bench press, push ups, dips. To me those should be staples. I do every one of those excersises in my weekly routines, no matter what routine I'm running. Hiit cardio is where it's at. Jumping rope 1min in between sets can be killer too. Don't be afraid of the pain of muscle fatigue in sets, once I learned to push that line and quit counting reps that's when the magic really started to happen for me. I wouldn't concern yourself with amount of lbs you lift. Quality reps beats amount of weight in every way. Feel the squeeze bud, mind muscle connection for the gains!

Thanks for the reply. Compounds have always been the core of my workout. I tend to stay in the 5-8 range with compounds, and work bodybuilding style on accessories. Standing OHP is actually one of my favorites. I squat 5x5 or 3x3, depending on the day, with anywhere from 365-385. That's why I'm focusing on upper body, it's lagging...


@Xlgx thanks for the input. However, after looking around last night, I believe I'm somewhere around 25-28% BF. Once I get to 20%, I'll either bulk or continue cutting... I'm still an advocate for the fact that BF% means shit all when it comes to cycling... since growing muscle is proven to eat fat faster... low BF only helps the aesthetic portion, of your AI and everything is on point, gyno and Estrogen shouldn't be a problem. (Ex: NFL linebackers etc)

 

[lightspan]

Thanks for the reply. Compounds have always been the core of my workout. I tend to stay in the 5-8 range with compounds, and work bodybuilding style on accessories. Standing OHP is actually one of my favorites. I squat 5x5 or 3x3, depending on the day, with anywhere from 365-385. That's why I'm focusing on upper body, it's lagging...


@Xlgx thanks for the input. However, after looking around last night, I believe I'm somewhere around 25-28% BF. Once I get to 20%, I'll either bulk or continue cutting... I'm still an advocate for the fact that BF% means shit all when it comes to cycling... since growing muscle is proven to eat fat faster... low BF only helps the aesthetic portion, of your AI and everything is on point, gyno and Estrogen shouldn't be a problem. (Ex: NFL linebackers etc)

Great progress thus far. Id be careful with remarks like the one above re body fat means "shit all"' when cycling. Higher BF will affect aesthetics, but more importantly, higher BF (adipose tissue, the long lost love of estrogen) can make e2 management a challenge. Lower BF means simpler e2 management.ive observed this in my own cycles. Above 15%-ish BF and I seem to chase my numbers for a while before lining them out. I'd rather focus on lifting and my diet and not worry about chasing my e2 and being a whiny bitch when it goes high (or feeling like a 100 year old man when it crashes).

Good luck!

 

[NovaFlex]

Great progress thus far. Id be careful with remarks like the one above re body fat means "shit all"' when cycling. Higher BF will affect aesthetics, but more importantly, higher BF (adipose tissue, the long lost love of estrogen) can make e2 management a challenge. Lower BF means simpler e2 management.ive observed this in my own cycles. Above 15%-ish BF and I seem to chase my numbers for a while before lining them out. I'd rather focus on lifting and my diet and not worry about chasing my e2 and being a whiny bitch when it goes high (or feeling like a 100 year old man when it crashes).

Good luck!

I hear u on that, and I guess that statement was a little too concrete. I shoulda said that with proper AI, BF won't mean as much.