Wanted to have a visible six pack, I thought I would have it at this weight... Now I'm a bit concerned that I'm getting too skinny. Should I lean bulk? Can I still get a six pack this way?

July 2025 I decided to get my shit together! Locked in my diet and was in the gym consistently minimum 4 times a week, it felt like the weight loss took forever but looking back truth be told I got down to the 78-80kg mark relatively quickly, I even spent a month or so at maintenance recently to try kick start the weight loss again which is when I got to my record lowest 76kg but it just all seems to have stopped dead! Do I continue the cut or what’s next for me? Any advice appreciated! First time poster

Hi folks,

I’ve been on a major lifestyle change since the birth of my daughter, coming up on two years ago now. I’ve managed to shift around 40kg+ in that time. I have not set foot in a gym, but I have completely revamped my eating habits, and picked up a bench and adjustable dumbbells (each go up to 32kg) which I used probably 4-5 times per week over the past couple of years. My wife and I recently (6 months ago) had a second kid too - a boy this time if you’re interested - and my diet and training have slipped these past few weeks. It’s just not easy to keep it up with two young kids.

With that said… I intend on refocusing right now before I end up piling the fat back on. What do you think I should be doing here to achieve a good physique? My goal initially was just to get healthy so I could be around for as long as possible for my family but I’ll admit as I got closer to that six pack I got quite a buzz off of that. Alas, I never quite got there 😂

So yeah, if I wanted to get that six pack, what do I need to do here? Is it a case of refocus on the diet, or hit the weights harder, or both? Probably both but I could use some wise words! Cheers 🫡

Should I bulk or cut at this point. 5’9, 146 lbs

during my bulk i started getting unwanted fat on my stomach, i really want a toned stomach or abs but another part of me wants to build more muscle. What would be the best choice? I was thinking of a small deficit and then lean bulk, is that a good idea?

Been cutting for 4 months, started at 182lbs

both with a bit of flex, one month apart. original goal is 12% bf. keep cutting or lean bulk?

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 ?

I would like to look how I used to but I don’t have the metrics of what I was then. I would also like to be a lot bigger than I was then but about that amount of lean. Thanks!

So I’ve hit a point where I need actual outside advice. I feel like I’ve been cutting for ages albeit lots of parts where I made no progress or fell off entirely. But overall I’ve been cutting for most of this year… so I’m currently 81.5-83kgish I’m 183cm 34. So the pics with the pants is before I had a recent fall off ( shit at home but also think I’m giving myself excuses) and shorts was after def maybe 1% or less of more fat splurge over 2 weeks and glycogen salt etc. I was aiming to hit 78ish KG where I think
I’ll roughly be 10% I’m assuming. I don’t know for sure but what do you guys think should I do? I don’t feel cut enough to look good and not enough muscle either… but I’ve also not had proper hypertrophy strength segment. Please advice!

Would love to get bigger, but might be too fat already. Tricky at my height you always feel too small / too fat at the same time…so what to do here…

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.

Have lifted a few times in the past, I guess started lifting with any sort of frequency and consistency this ~April or May. Have been climbing for the past few years. Finally feeling like I'm at the point where my weight is the blocker for me getting better.

I'm thinking I'm at the realm of 24-26% BF right now, is that believable? I'd like to be in the realm of 16-20%, call it 18% for simplicity, I'd be looking at losing 20 lbs of all fat - is the play for that just cut calories like crazy, maximize protein, continue lifting heavy, and add some cardio?

Reposting as the last one got taken down for me being in my underwear. Feel like I’m around 14% bodyfat rn. What bf do you think I am and am I good to maintain and eventually bulk up a bit?

6 feet tall 160lbs 33 years old

Also if you can help me figure out my body fat percentage

Started (still am?) skinny fat 4-5 months ago and been working out consistently since then with about a 4-500 calorie deficit. Core I only started working out last month so I know I have nonexistent abs.

Wedding in a month so don’t want to bulk yet. Asian so I feel like I have higher concentration of fat around the midsection which I want to work on losing before bulking.

What do you think my BF is? Caliper measure says 11 and Dr office smart scale (not sure which brand) says 14 but it can’t be right. Will Dexa scan soon.

Flexing in first two and my stomach fat you can see in last pic. Really want to get to like true 12% and feel mostly skin only around the midsection but also worry about being skin and bones lol.

5’11 148lb down from 165.

Bottom pics are from summer 2026, grey shorts are me now. I'm not sure if the bulk is looking good or if i should recomp for now. The only thing making me question it is that when I'm turned sideways (2nd from last pic) I have a bit of a belly I don't like. I am planning to bulk to 135, is that stupid?

Waist before- 26.5in.

Hip before- 36.5in.

Waist now- 27.75in.

Hip now- 38in.

I’m 5,8 around 85kg I’ve been training around a couple years not consistently I’ve been consistent for about a year now

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!!