Cutting hard pre-cycle

[Happycamper]

31/F 5'7 160lbs 22% bf

I will be running my first var only cycle. While I wait for it to arrive, would it be a good idea to cut hard (psmf style) then eat at a slight deficit while I cycle?

I've just ended a pretty good strength training cycle after a long, hard cut, and I'm quite run down from the intensity and volume. I put on 10 lbs of mostly glycogen replenishment, butt gains and thankfully boob gains too.

My goals for the var cycle are to lean out, finally do some pull ups and bust through a nasty bench and squat stall. I have stubborn belly fat from pregnancy that overshadows some pretty awesome obliques. Hoping the var will help.

Any input on pre cycle prep regarding diet and during would be great. My diet is pretty on point, I just have trouble with containING my appetite with intense training.

 

[lucabratzi]

What's your diet now? What's you're planned diet on cycle?

What dosage?

Do you have a goal bf or look your tryin to get?

Are you having you're var tested? It's extremely important for women to have legit var

 

[MoneyShot]

Why cut hard pre-cycle if you're cutting on the cycle too? And you just finished a hard cut?

Take your time. What bf% do you want to be at when our cycle is said and done? I'd cut naturally first, maybe EC stack or something similar, then let var take you the rest of the way. Basically when you're done cycling hopefully you won't want to cut anymore.

 

[Big_paul]

What are your stats and previos cycle history. What does your training routine look like? From what you have given us so far I'm leaning more towards cardio for 3-4 months.

Are you sure your bf% is 22%. If so go with cardio. You are no where near running a cycle for a lot of reasons.

 

[RodgerThat]

What are your stats and previos cycle history. What does your training routine look like? From what you have given us so far I'm leaning more towards cardio for 3-4 months.

Are you sure your bf% is 22%. If so go with cardio. You are no where near running a cycle for a lot of reasons.

22% for women is not like 22% for men just an FYI but I do agree with leaning towards cardio and a 600 cal deficit until you are close to your desired % then incorporate the var so you can break the plateaus and finish the look off. If you start it too soon you won't be satisfied with the end result because you won't be close enough to desired results to get there in a cycles amount of time. Takes patients but you will get there with discipline and diet.

 

[Happycamper]

Just my background briefly:

Over the course of 4 years, I lost 115 lbs, finishing up at 148 lbs in Jan 2015. I was powerlifting from 2013-2015.


My diet to finish up my weight loss was a PSMF, while I did only the big 3 lifts for maintenance. Since Jan of 2015, I’ve been reverse dieting and going through a powerlifting/bodybuilding combination of training, 5-6 days a week. Bench is body weight, DL 2x body weight and squat is 1.5 bodyweight. I am an avid trail hiker and I do about 15 miles of strenuous hiking a week. I do met con workouts at the end of each lifting session.


The past year of adding calories back in and lifting a shit ton was like an amazing lean bulk. I put on some really good muscle while not having gained much fat.


I eat a mainly high protein, moderate carb, low to moderate fat diet at around maintenance of 2200 cals.


My plan is that the var will come in about 2 weeks. I can sit on it for a month while I cut hard (just get it done PSMF style) then up the calories to a slight deficit while I cycle.


My body: I’m pretty solidly muscle. I have loose skin around my belly from pregnancy and obesity. I have unflexed, lightly defined muscle. I get a great pump after lifting. From what others tell me, I know I look fit and strong. Just fluffy when I eat to maintenance in order to perform, yet extremely flat and slim when cutting. I lost my reproductive functions quite immediately when deficit eating to get under 22% body fat.


I am also reaching some lifting plateaus and can do a couple chin ups, but never a full pull up from a dead hang.


I want this var cycle to give me that edge as I’m physically burning out from lifting and dieting and spinning my wheels. I’m not expecting it to turn me into professional fitness model, just to tighten things up and move them forward.

 

[GearGodess]

What are your stats and previos cycle history. What does your training routine look like? From what you have given us so far I'm leaning more towards cardio for 3-4 months.

Are you sure your bf% is 22%. If so go with cardio. You are no where near running a cycle for a lot of reasons.

as RogerThat touched on this... to give you a better idea ...22% for women is equivalent to men being 13%... women shouldn't go below 15% as they risk some problems/benefits - possibly lack of period, hormonal imbalance, etc...some can go lower to 13% but that's pretty much a guarantee that the period is gone! (PS. I know this from personal experience and I don't miss my period) lol...competition level, women are down to 11% and very rare below that and not something you stay at for extended period of time.

 

[GearGodess]

31/F 5'7 160lbs 22% bf

I will be running my first var only cycle. While I wait for it to arrive, would it be a good idea to cut hard (psmf style) then eat at a slight deficit while I cycle?

I've just ended a pretty good strength training cycle after a long, hard cut, and I'm quite run down from the intensity and volume. I put on 10 lbs of mostly glycogen replenishment, butt gains and thankfully boob gains too.

My goals for the var cycle are to lean out, finally do some pull ups and bust through a nasty bench and squat stall. I have stubborn belly fat from pregnancy that overshadows some pretty awesome obliques. Hoping the var will help.

Any input on pre cycle prep regarding diet and during would be great. My diet is pretty on point, I just have trouble with containING my appetite with intense training.

Oh and I forgot to reply... I agree with others... there is no need to pre cut after and before a cut... just keep your diet clean and training mean and you will do great! Also stay hydrated.