To Cut or To Bulk?

Hi,

I've read these forums for quite awhile now, but finally decided to make an account.

The thing is I don't currently have a lot of muscle, but I have some fat around my stomach - which I find unsightly.  Is it easier to burn off this fat and then bulk?  or should I bulk and then try to burn it off?  I'm just worried about gaining too much weight when I bulk and then having a real hard time burning off the fat later..

Here are some stats!:
Height: 6'0
Weight: 180 pounds

Current work out:
6 days a week cardio (jogging, 20-30 minutes straight).
3 days a week major body group muscle work out (chest, back, biceps / triceps, etc. just an overall general work out - usually 3 reps of each, 10 reps until the last I jump up ~10%-20% and do a rep series of 8).

Currently I consume about 2000 calories a day.  I think based on my height/weight I should consume around that amount, plus I burn a lot during cardio (~400 calories each time).

Here is a picture... of my stomach.


[image]local://22248/4F2211095BFC4C4385BCDB6D6B1954A1.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

most people on here will probably tell you to bulk while incoorporating some cardio i'm sure.

you mentioned that you don't have much muscle.  the only problem with cutting when you have little muscle.. is just that, once you trim all the fat away, you'll be like "where's my big muscles".

anyways.. my vote is to do just what you are doing,  cut.  do cardio just like you are while lifting, and you'll get rid of a good portion of that fat.  you can bulk once you're done cutting, but i see no reason to bulk just yet and have an insanely high BF%.

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

ORIGINAL: TheSilverFox

most people on here will probably tell you to bulk while incoorporating some cardio i'm sure.

you mentioned that you don't have much muscle.  the only problem with cutting when you have little muscle.. is just that, once you trim all the fat away, you'll be like "where's my big muscles".

anyways.. my vote is to do just what you are doing,  cut.  do cardio just like you are while lifting, and you'll get rid of a good portion of that fat.  you can bulk once you're done cutting, but i see no reason to bulk just yet and have an insanely high BF%.

Ok, great thanks a lot :)!  Eh, I don't mind having no muscle for a little while ;) as long as I look trim - haha.  But, after you get a low BF%, just hit the gym hard and bulk up and that lack of muscle image shouldn't last too long.

2000 calories is pretty low for your size and activity level it seems to me at least.
 
what is your body doing with 6 days of cardio, 3 lifting, and 2000 calories? are you currently gaining or losing weight or the same?  sounds like a lot of activity and not enough calories unless that is ur intention?

bulking/strength training

soon to begin bill starr's 5X5

current maxes: 
squats: 255
deadlifts: 300
bench: 185
oh press: 125
goals for jan 1:
squats: 300
deadlifts: 350
bench: 210
oh pressL 145 

ORIGINAL: edrice2

2000 calories is pretty low for your size and activity level it seems to me at least.

what is your body doing with 6 days of cardio, 3 lifting, and 2000 calories? are you currently gaining or losing weight or the same?  sounds like a lot of activity and not enough calories unless that is ur intention?

My goal is to lose weight, actually so far I've gained weight.  I gained about 15 pounds in a month.. which seems like a lot.  But, overall I think my body (fat size) has decreased.  My overall goal is to reduce my BF% and then bulk up.

wait, you gained 15 lbs in a month on 2000 calories and that much activity???
 
are you sure its 2000 calories, that seems crazy to me haha.
 
regardless, thats a good increase if you did reduce bf.
 
my question is tho, how are you going to cut from where you are already at? 2000 calories and 6 days cardio is already low, it might be hard to do

bulking/strength training

soon to begin bill starr's 5X5

current maxes: 
squats: 255
deadlifts: 300
bench: 185
oh press: 125
goals for jan 1:
squats: 300
deadlifts: 350
bench: 210
oh pressL 145 

How often do you drink?  Sounds like the culprit to me...

ORIGINAL: NBSFighter

How often do you drink?  Sounds like the culprit to me...

Rarely drink. Maybe 3 times a year (seriously I don't like alcohol). I use to drink a pop a day , I think that did it :p

edrice, I'm not sure I'm following.  Do you mean I need to reduce my calorie count more? or increase it?  I calculated it out, everyday I eat approximately 2000 calories.  Should I be eating more?

Something just isn't adding up.  If you're taking in 2000 and putting out 400 most days,  with your stats it's impossible for you to be gaining weight.  You're just not eating enough to.

ORIGINAL: NBSFighter

Something just isn't adding up.  If you're taking in 2000 and putting out 400 most days,  with your stats it's impossible for you to be gaining weight.  You're just not eating enough to.

This is what I thought too, so I went to my doctor.  It was confirmed, my weight went from about 165 to 180 in a 1 month period. 

I am not lying, I was confused too.  She said we would watch my weight monthly to see, because it didn't make sense to her either.

This is the first time I've really started to work out though, could be it just initial muscle mass gain?

not trying to scare you, or blame it on something easy..

but keep in mind that an underactive thyroid gland can cause a person to gain weight excessively.  that's just something i thought of off the top of my head.  is this reason likely?? no probably not.  but, it is possible

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

ORIGINAL: TheSilverFox

not trying to scare you, or blame it on something easy..

but keep in mind that an underactive thyroid gland can cause a person to gain weight excessively.  that's just something i thought of off the top of my head.  is this reason likely?? no probably not.  but, it is possible

No, we did a thyroid test.  I do have some bowel issues which cause me to not intake enough nutrients, causing rapid weight loss.  For instance last year I weight 150 and couldn't seem to get my weight up.  Then suddenly it increased to about 170.  It's probably related to this, but since this is the first time I've worked out before I found it a bit weird to still have a jump.

Edric/NBSFighter/Silverfox: Is my current calorie intake at a good enough level?  I'm a bit worried about under eating since I have such little muscle mass to begin with..

hmm.. it's really hard to say about the calorie level.     you didn't post how old you are (that i saw), but 2000 calories for a person around 20 years old doing cardio 6 days a week seems a bit low.

what are your meals like?   are you eating 3 main meals, or more like 6 or 7 small meals.

eating more meals every 2 or 3 hours (small ones) will crank up your metabolism.     when you give the body the bare minimum, it goes into starvation mode and starts to store everything it can (yes, even fat) b/c it thinks it's not getting enough and wants to prepare for the future.

My name is FOX.... and I approve this message.

ORIGINAL: TheSilverFox

hmm.. it's really hard to say about the calorie level.     you didn't post how old you are (that i saw), but 2000 calories for a person around 20 years old doing cardio 6 days a week seems a bit low.

what are your meals like?   are you eating 3 main meals, or more like 6 or 7 small meals.

eating more meals every 2 or 3 hours (small ones) will crank up your metabolism.     when you give the body the bare minimum, it goes into starvation mode and starts to store everything it can (yes, even fat) b/c it thinks it's not getting enough and wants to prepare for the future.

20 is a good guess :) just turned 21.  I only have time to eat 3 main meals a day, although I usually aim for 4.  6 or 7 is really hard for me because I'm very busy during the day.  Can you be eating anything during the 6 or 7 meals or should it try to be somewhat balanced?

yeah thats strange to me, good idea to contact a doctor about it. the other thing that came to mind, u mentioned u lost weight, did u gain that weight right after losing weight? it could be your body balancing back out or somethng from the bowel issues. strange situation.
 
i would think that 2000 is not much to be eating given your size and age. im 20 and 5'9, to maintain my weight at like 147 (where i tend to be at if i dont try to bulk or cut) i need around 2500-2800 calories on just lifting 3-4 days no cardio...i guess i do a lot of walking and general activity tho, but still i would think you would need more.
 
i mean, if you keep gaining weight tho with 2000 calories something is wrong i would guess...you should at least stop gaining at some point since you would theoretically plateau anyway, confusing i dunno
 
about the meals, yeah try to balance them as best as you can, but i would say better unbalanced than long periods of time with nothing.

bulking/strength training

soon to begin bill starr's 5X5

current maxes: 
squats: 255
deadlifts: 300
bench: 185
oh press: 125
goals for jan 1:
squats: 300
deadlifts: 350
bench: 210
oh pressL 145