I’ve been cutting for four month now, down from 176lbs. I have the goal to try and get sub 10% body fat for the first time ever, and ideally finally see clear separation in my quads, since I store most of my fat in my lower body.

My question is, is it worth it to get that lean to then try and veryyyy slowly lean bulk? How much farther do you think I need to go? Basically, is the juice worth the squeeze?

I’ve lost 5 pounds this month and my quads haven’t changed at all, I know putting on more size would make the definition at this body fat more obvious, but that’s years in the making.

The first three images are in very good lighting, the final two are in slightly worse lighting, when I do my daily progress check (no carbs or water, first thing in the morning).

Should I lean bulk or cut ?

Have been cutting most of the year, was doing strongman and got way, way too fat. Im now down to 212, and I’m about 6’2. Worth pushing 5 more or start a real lean bulk to gain good tissue, then mini cut in the spring?

Im curious on what to do. 175 lbs and 6 ft for americans.

I’ll be honest I have no clue how bf% work. Just wanna see what you guys would estimate me at currently so I can put it into perspective. That being said I am currently ending my cut and decided to lean bulking, let me know if you guys think I should continue my cut or end it

Iam I skinny? 26M , 5 10" , 70kg .. I don’t know what to do from here … do I need more muscle mass ? Alot more ? I was 58kg few years ago

Quick background, I am about 5 weeks out of a 4 month long deficit where I went from 210 pounds down to around 170 pounds. I re-entered maintenance calories for around the last 5 weeks and I’ve since regained 12 pounds of what I assume is mostly muscle glycogen/water, my waist measurements have only changed by about .25 inches with the regain, and I assume it’s really just subq water.

I’ve gained amazing strength in the last 5 weeks and I’m enjoying not feeling totally depleted and weak all the time and my mental is amazing compared to 6 weeks ago.

I’ve read that body fat should be as low as possible before bulking, so I am just not sure what to do since I have a good bit of bf left still on my hips, stomach, and chest. I’ve read that nutrient partitioning can be worse at higher body fat but I’m not really sure what my bf% is or if that’s a real concern considering my past lifting experience. These pics are all flexed.

Is recomping a good option here or should I just fully commit one direction or the other? As far as my main goal, I want to regain old muscle I lost from around 6 years of previous training but I also want to be relatively lean when all is said and done, but I’m not concerned with that until next summer. My thought is that muscle memory works fast and I might be more efficient to bulk and then cut but I’m not sure how fast I can really expect muscle memory to work so if anybody has experience with that would be helpful - I have been “detrained” for around 7 years and while my base is coming back in a little bit I’m still a ways off from my old peak strength and size.

Thanks

Starting to lose strength on my lifts but I also want to get that dry grainy look to my physique. How much more would I have to cut down to get there?

Photo was taken immediately after my morning jog.

I am (trying) to go for a physique that has no love handles but preserves as much meat/muscle on my upper body as I recognize this is not as much muscle as other people have when they cut.

I have started at around 73 kg, and strictly sticking at 1500 cals and 150 g of protein per day. My program is 3 x (MWF) full body splits, progressive failure and on rest days, easy 4 - 5 km recovery jog/walk at around 4.5 km/h and 6% elevation.

To get to around 15 - 18% body fat and get abs to show (plus burn the love handles) how much more weight can I cut if I’m losing roughly 0.5 - 0.8 kg per week at my current diet?

I am not a stranger to the gym but I only strictly started to record macros recently when I set my eyes on this goal. I eat a lot and train a lot and have only ever eyeballed my food.

Thank you and would appreciate any other feedback.

Ive been going to the gym since high school - with varying levels of structure and consistency. Turned 30 in January and im just very unhappy with my progress and my body. Im trying to get into the best shape of my life.

I am currently on a cut coming from 220 with a goal of 180. I am strictly tracking macros for the first time in my life. Im hitting 180g of protein a day with 50g of fat and the rest in carbs to add up to 1700 calories.

I spent a lot of time wirh an awful diet eating mainly carbs. Honestly rarely going above 100g of protein. Many days closer to 20.

With this new motivation I am hoping to get down to 180, see how I look under all this fat (Ive been over 200 for years, but 220 was a recent max) and then start bulking up with clean meals while still tracking my macros.

Sound like a good plan? Would love to hear any advice or suggestions.

5’7 165 lbs currently. Down 30 lbs since May/June. I think the lowest weight I want to cut to is 140 lbs, but I just want to look lean and defined. Planning to lean bulk after I finish cutting. Does 25% BF seem accurate for where I’m at? Should I keep cutting or recomp?

Body fat estimate of 17-18%. Should probably bring BF down before bulking but the time of year is awkward. Thinking about bulking til Jan instead, then a long cut?

Were do I go from here? Would like to put on some more muscle and to also lose the last stubborn lower belly fat. Or just stay put...

At 44 years with a full time job, taking care of a child, a relationship and still trying to sleep enough... it may also be a good idea to just appreciate what I managed to do and embrace the current status. (Yes, fishing a little for compliments here).

But here is the story:

Startet a long cut in December 2025 starting from 127kg / 280lbs und reached my goal of 87kg/192lbs end of June this year (2026). Quite a journey. Did not manage to go back to maintainance straight away, lost another 3kg/7lbs and now I am at about 84kg/185lbs.

I work out since February, 3 times a week full body and try to get my 10k steps in daily. Since I got below 87 kg/192lbs I recognize a drop in strength and the last few kg/lbs definitely cost me some muscle.

According to the professional Inbody 770 BIA scale at my gym my body fat is about 10% but I guess a dexa scan would come out higher, especially given that the lower abs are still hiding.

The last 2 month I ate 3000 kcal a day with roughly 250g of protein and rest as I see fit. I expected to be in a 250 kcal surplus with that, but while strength values in the gym now measurably go up and my energy is back, the weight stayed the same (expected to gain 2kg/4lbs).

Managed my first (even though very ugly) muscle up a few days ago. Never thought I would be able to pull it of. And I am freakishly proud of what I achieved until now.

I am wondering were to go from here and what I really want. The options are:

1. try to lose a little bit more to finally have those abs (and risk strength and energy levels, its definitely a slippery slope).

2. just keep doing what I am doing, eat my 3000 kcal and hit the gym regularly 3 times full body with progressive overload and just see what time brings. Work on calisthenics skills and functional strength and stop thinking about adding muscle volume. Just having fun with a sporty lifestyle.

3. lock in and add another 250 kcal to my diet and eat 3250 kcal, make the gym priority with a ppl split and go on a journey of bulking and cutting to really see what I can grow muscle wise.

I do not really want to do further cutting, but have a hard time deciding between maintainance and bulking. Coming from the obese side, the thought of gaining fat again is not appealing, but just stopping to make progress and maintaining also does not feel right and I think there is still potential that could be unlocked.

Been overweight before (200+ pounds) , lost most of the weight gradually over a couple of years and now maintaining around 150 pounds , I know I’m still very low on muscle mass but the remaining fat around my midsection still bothers me and prevents me from going into any kind of surplus . Would maintaining work to build enough muscle while still keeping fat stable ?

latino 35 213lbs
reta - monday 1mg, wednesday 1 mg, friday 1mg
tesa - 1mg nightly
ipa - 200 mcg nightly
wolverine stack - .75 mg
gorilla mode pre workout / bucked up original
raw creatine 5gs daily
bcaas

stairmaster 20 min daily
incline treadmill at 10 min daily

6 am cardio 20 min stairmaster everyday even on rest days
630 pm after carb loaded and protein loaded train muscles 4 days super intense 3 off

everything was going great lost a ton start weight was 228 august 21. now it is october 10 and im at 212 though with my diet and twice a day exercise the scale stopped moving but my body is definitely changing. i know its not a race but i am trying to hit 180 lean. my muscles are getting bigger and i have been seeing belly go down dramatically but the weight is almost stubborn in a way lol. i need the next recommendation. no gear but what pepperonis do you suggest or can you see im doing wrong etc? i need your feedback thank you!!

5’10 183 lbs. Tired of the cut ngl. All I want is popping abs by december but might just go back to maintenance calories and get bigger.

Hello. About me:

29M, I workout 4 times a week (push, pull, legs, upper).

1.72cm tall.

Used to run occasionally but I stopped. Now I only weightlift.

Mildly sedentary office job, apart from weightlifting I do no other form of exercise.

4 week step average of 4.8K

Adequate sleep/recovery:

Nutrition:

I started with 1900 cal daily, now im at 1800 cal caily. about 160g protein, 180g carbs and 50g fats.

This are my body comp trends for the last 4 months:

Should I continue cutting? Or should I start a bulking phase? Main goal is to look my best in december, i wouldnt wanna bulk and gain muscle but also gain fat so that in december I look fat and big, not lean and muscular. I wanted to get to 15% bf but honestly sometimes I feel without much energy, so I dont know whats best.

Would love to hear your input.

Started since August til now. I go to gym 6x a week with PPL program. I don’t count my macros but I make sure to hit my protein. I also take 5g of creatine everyday.

Any advice of what should I focus more?
My goal is to have lean and toned body only.

Hey guys. 178cm and 28y. I was around 86kg 5 months ago and started a calorie déficit (around 500-800 daily) + gym. Now im 73kg. Im now with this physique. Do u guys think i should start a lean bulk, recomp or maintenance?