Cutting, worse before better?

[malfeasance]

My maximum depletion was 8 pounds lighter than my weigh in the evening before competition this fall. LOL! I took a selfie in the mirror. Stringy, skinny, POW look to me . . . A few days later completely different after filling out.

 

[Demondosage]

ALWAYS!! I call it the funky phase, where the first 4 or 5 wks you haven't lost enough fat to look that much different but you've lost volume/fluid.

Happens to me every time I diet strictly. You have to keep plugging away and ignore it, the second you stuff your face and worry abt strength loss you'll go rt back to average!!!

 

[missanabolic]

Absolutely. Muscles can’t be as full when we’re not eating as much carbs. This is why I hate cutting without gear. Even 5 mg of var makes a huge difference to me. Push through it if you have to cut without gear and you’ll end up looking better when you’re lean. Especially lean and filled out with more carbs.
Did you maybe lower your sodium intake as well? That can screw up physique as well.

 

[malfeasance]

hgh and testosterone help some with keeping muscles full while cutting.

 

[ergomaniac]

I

Interesting, good idea, will be throwing this in once in a while when needed.

Or even a "fast", but eat a couple high protein, low carb, low fat meals mid early and late. I always found it easier than cutting cals by a few hundred a day for the week.

 

[Sampei]

I'm in a cutting process as well and I have stalled completely, 3 weeks into a cycle right now I'm fighting between increasing slowly calories again because I could maybe have tanked my metabolism or continue to diet hard. I have done a very aggressive dieting in the last 3 months, done 1600-1800 kcal day + one cheat meal a week.

Went from 20-22% to 13% bf and then stalled. Weight didn't change much, I lost max 8 pounds in these months, I must have recomped hard (cut was done only on TRT).

I wanted to lean out a lot like around 10-11% and then slowly bulk but maybe I need a break, was thinking to add 20-25gr of carbs each week for 4 weeks and then start cutting again.

I have finally got a flat stomach, can see my abs (not shredded but they are there) can do a vacuum, compared to were I was I'm super happy, still not much muscle separation, a bit of vascularization here and there but I have done much better in the past.

So Burton it all depends, telling you the truth I have seen only good things while cutting, until now... Now that I have stalled I'm not seeing a thinner skin every day anymore plus I'm looking flat so the combination is a bit depressing.

Thing is you started cutting just after a cycle so it can be misleading with all the water weight you lose.

 

[adamcarpenter]

I’m at this point right now, started cutting after new year, lost about 8-9 lb. on the scale so far. Aiming at loosing 1 lb. week until April, then go back to eating big.

Its kind of a mind fuck trying to separate how you feel, with how you look. Unless your on something like a stimulant, your going to be felling a little down, and your mind is trying to find a way to alleviate the stress. Your perception is not to be trusted.

It sucks. Just stay focused on the plan. No pain no gain. You can do it and it will be worth it.

 

[TheH0517]

I'm in a cutting process as well and I have stalled completely, 3 weeks into a cycle right now I'm fighting between increasing slowly calories again because I could maybe have tanked my metabolism or continue to diet hard. I have done a very aggressive dieting in the last 3 months, done 1600-1800 kcal day + one cheat meal a week.

Went from 20-22% to 13% bf and then stalled. Weight didn't change much, I lost max 8 pounds in these months, I must have recomped hard (cut was done only on TRT).

I wanted to lean out a lot like around 10-11% and then slowly bulk but maybe I need a break, was thinking to add 20-25gr of carbs each week for 4 weeks and then start cutting again.

I have finally got a flat stomach, can see my abs (not shredded but they are there) can do a vacuum, compared to were I was I'm super happy, still not much muscle separation, a bit of vascularization here and there but I have done much better in the past.

So Burton it all depends, telling you the truth I have seen only good things while cutting, until now... Now that I have stalled I'm not seeing a thinner skin every day anymore plus I'm looking flat so the combination is a bit depressing.

Thing is you started cutting just after a cycle so it can be misleading with all the water weight you lose.

I think that’s a good idea, but maybe add 25g the first week and let your body somewhat adjust, then maybe another 25g the second week and see what happens after a week or 2, then add 25g for one more week or so. I think you need to add enough over that 4 weeks period so you have enough calories to pull to make the progress you want and get that last “stubborn” fat off. It may take some carb cycling and increased cardio.

You’re almost at a place where you pulled too much too quick and kinda screwed yourself, but you should still be able to get under 13% bf.

 

[Sampei]

I think that’s a good idea, but maybe add 25g the first week and let your body somewhat adjust, then maybe another 25g the second week and see what happens after a week or 2, then add 25g for one more week or so. I think you need to add enough over that 4 weeks period so you have enough calories to pull to make the progress you want and get that last “stubborn” fat off. It may take some carb cycling and increased cardio.

You’re almost at a place where you pulled too much too quick and kinda screwed yourself, but you should still be able to get under 13% bf.

I'll make it, maybe it will.just take more time because I'll have to increase again my calories before cutting it down.

I'll start adding 25gr of carb each week as I said so slowly raising the calories. I'll mantain fat and protein the same and see how it goes.

I'll probably keep a cheat meal every two weeks let's see how it goes.

 

[Spokeonawheel]

I'm currently on my 2nd real cut..... this one is going really well. Exceeding expectations. For the first time, I'm feeling really close to the physique I want. I'll tell you the biggest difference between this and the last.

Size. Size before the cut.

First cut, I was coming off of getting fat and sloppy during gym closures (about 3 months of no gym and occasional half asked home dumbbell workouts) from Covid. I think I weighed about 232.... probably %20 - 21 BF. So, I started from a depleted state of musculature. I even took a couple months off my cruise dose but was back on like 350 test for cut amd cruised after. But, shit, I cut down to about 216 probably made it to %14 BF. I looked pretty depleted and unimpressive. I tracked every calorie I ate. Did most of the cutting at 2700 cals. About 300 P 200 C and maybe 80 F...... yeah, I ate carbs. I didn't really know what the fuck I was doing. Still don't in a lot of ways.

Results, meh. But shit it was my first try at a cut.

What followed was the best bulk of my life on 350 test 350 tren A. Gained 20 lbs added about 3% BF.

Maintained most of that size.

This cut, I really didn't track that carefully. I've tracked cals and macros for a couple years... I mostly knew what I was eating. I focused on protein and very little carbs. Maybe 100 g a day. Protein about 240 g a day. I've been less concerned with fats. In short, I winged what felt right. I've started tracking a bit more lately.... just to see. It looks like I've been in the 2000 cal range daily.

I've been rededicated training wise to the point where I'm trying not to let lose primal screams in the gym. I made my biceps sore a couple days ago. Haven't pulled that off in 2 years. My lats are so sore I couldn't fuck properly last night.

I'm rambling.

The main point is this, I was significantly more muscular before this cut and it shows. I look a little smaller in my shirts. I look like a fucking monster in the gym.

 

[malfeasance]

I'm in a cutting process as well and I have stalled completely, 3 weeks into a cycle right now I'm fighting between increasing slowly calories again because I could maybe have tanked my metabolism or continue to diet hard. I have done a very aggressive dieting in the last 3 months, done 1600-1800 kcal day + one cheat meal a week.

Went from 20-22% to 13% bf and then stalled. Weight didn't change much, I lost max 8 pounds in these months, I must have recomped hard (cut was done only on TRT).

I wanted to lean out a lot like around 10-11% and then slowly bulk but maybe I need a break, was thinking to add 20-25gr of carbs each week for 4 weeks and then start cutting again.

I have finally got a flat stomach, can see my abs (not shredded but they are there) can do a vacuum, compared to were I was I'm super happy, still not much muscle separation, a bit of vascularization here and there but I have done much better in the past.

So Burton it all depends, telling you the truth I have seen only good things while cutting, until now... Now that I have stalled I'm not seeing a thinner skin every day anymore plus I'm looking flat so the combination is a bit depressing.

Thing is you started cutting just after a cycle so it can be misleading with all the water weight you lose.

My unsolicited advice:

Go get a cheat meal for dinner. Like 5 Guys, ask for a third patty (two thirds of a pound of beef) on your bacon cheeseburger, small fries (they are cooked in peanut oil, and a chocolate milkshake. Sleep in the next morning instead of doing your a.m. fasted cardio. Skip the gym, too (no weight training). Get something different for breakfast, maybe an omelet and two slices of bacon and toast instead of egg whites and oats. Bump your calories up to 2300.

Then resume your diet and cardio the next day after that.

I bet you fifty bucks you are no longer stalled for the next three weeks to a month.

 

[Sampei]

My unsolicited advice:

Go get a cheat meal for dinner. Like 5 Guys, ask for a third patty (two thirds of a pound of beef) on your bacon cheeseburger, small fries (they are cooked in peanut oil, and a chocolate milkshake. Sleep in the next morning instead of doing your a.m. fasted cardio. Skip the gym, too (no weight training). Get something different for breakfast, maybe an omelet and two slices of bacon and toast instead of egg whites and oats. Bump your calories up to 2300.

Then resume your diet and cardio the next day after that.

I bet you fifty bucks you are no longer stalled for the next three weeks to a month.

I had lasagna with pesto and strudel with Icecream for dessert on Saturday, then on Sunday polenta with beef and cheese and for dinner pizza and Icecream. Monday I went back to same diet but increased carbo and will keep increasing it every week, gonna probably cut again after end of the cycle just with the test for TRT. Let's see how it goes. Thanks for the advice, appreciated.

Btw I don't do cardio at the moment, gym are closed where I live and I Hate doing cardio outside ( yeah I know go figure) so I just diet and train with the iron at the moment.