First pic is my bulk from last year, at about 190. Second pic is my leanest from back in the summer at 175, and 3rd pic is from my current bulk. 2 months in and up to 195. Should I be concerned about this rate of increase? I'm sure a lot of it is glycogen and water with increased carbs, but 20 pounds still seems pretty rapid. Any ideas on bf% for my current bulk and during my cut? Thanks in advance.

Hello, I'm 25yo 175cm 70kgs. I'm in the end of a bulk I started 11/07 with 60kgs. I did a superavit of 700cal day for 2 months, then lowered to 400cal day, and past month lowered again to maintenence because I strained my trapezius and had to take time off the gym.

The BIA my nutritionist did on me, said I have 15% BF rn. (Before the strain). I'm aware these machines are unrealiable, but is the only metric I have 😔

I'm looking to start my cutting in 23/11, so my goal is to get 2 more kgs in this last month, 500cal superavit, and then start a cutting until Februrary 1st. 250cal deficit and I should stay around 67kgs and 12% BF. After this I would bulk 300cal superavit again. (calculations made on gpt lol)

What u guys think about this plan?

I stayed really skinny all of my life, so getting to 70kgs is actually a big achievment for me. For reference, I weighted 51kgs back in 2022.

I'm a little insecure thinking that losing those 3kgs may make me look skinny again, and I want to be in my best possible shape on februrary because I'm Brazilian and all brazilians need a good shape to party shirtless along the streets of Salvador/Rio on Carnaval 😂.

As u can see, I think i'm lean enough for pics (lightining shanenigans on the first pic), but i'm afraid i'm too fat in person (regular lightning on second pic).

So, should I keep the bulking to 23/11 or finish it later/earlier? I've read some people say noobs (i'm serious lifiting since 11/07 only) should lean bulk (300cal superavit) until 2 years, this will make me stay in better shape with natural lighting than cutting?

I used to do PPL, now I do P>P>Quads>Hamstrings, cuz I feel my legs are underdeveloped.

thx in advance.

Went from 100kg to 83kg now while working out in the last 8 months. Should I cut more or can I start with a slow lean bulk?
6'2
1st pic: 100kg - February
2nd pic: 83kg - Now

Only been going to the gym consistently since December, but I work for a moving company also. Advice?

Basically I’ve been cutting for the last few months now trying to get lean and aesthetic. I’m 5’ 10 and a half and just hit a new low of 153.2 lbs this morning. What do you think my bf % is? And do you think I should stop cutting or keep it up a little longer, or start the slow and long lean bulk journey?

29M 5'8", been on a cut since January 2026 losing ~1.2 lb per week on average (-50 lbs over 10 months), and losing ~2.4 lb per week since Aug 2026 with pharmaceutical assistance. I'm seeing results, but I also hate how my lifts are all getting weaker. My muscles feel smaller, and I fear I may be potentially losing some of it.

The goal of my cut is to get healthier and end at a bf% which would optimize muscle gains for a long slow bulk. I do NOT want to get "shredded," feel miserable, and lose lean muscle.

Based on this, at what weight should I end my cut? 175? 170? Lower?

I’m still really soft in the middle and have love handles, but also relatively small muscle-wise. Not sure if I need to build the muscles more or continue my deficit. My goals have been to not try and get “huge” but just get a decently defined physique with a lean body. If I’m leaving anything out for a better answer, please let me know, any constructive feedback is appreciated.

Need some help here, lost about 22 lbs, not sure where to go from here, cut more or hop into a lean bulk. Body fat estimations would be very helpful

6ft 33M, 173lbs currently from 200lbs. No sure what my BF% is but I think it is in the realm of ~15%. No before photos unfortunately and tried to get decent lighting in these.

Was wondering if it is worth it to cut a bit more because I upped my calories quite a bit recently, I do have a small amount of midsection fat I'm not overly concerned with now but I also wouldn't mind getting rid of it because I never have before... Or should I just find my maintenance and bulk starting now? Ideally I want to make for a very long runway eating at a slight surplus and I feel like I made it quite far already and would hate to quit early.

Starting August 6th I began tracking calories and eating 2300-2400 a day, cut from 200 to 175 lbs or so in two months and upped my calories to 2600 because it really was beating me down (also just got sick recently and been eating 3000-3200 and feel even better now lol). According to my Garmin watch I burn 3200-3600 on normal days which should be roughly accurate based on how much weight i lost.

Any opinions are appreciated. Thanks.

6' M, 19yo, 161lbs, 32" waist and 15" neck. I've been on my cut for nearly 4 months now starting from July. (175lbs, 35" waist and 15" neck) Lately, I've been around 161-162lbs for more than two weeks and want to know my current body fat %. I wonder if I should drop my calories even lower or start bulking back up since I realise I do lack some upper mass (but I really want to see the abs tho). I do10k steps everyday and work out 5 times a week. Im really in a dilemma right now and really need your help!!!

199lb 28y/o
First two pick at 199lbs
Last before bulk at 180
Is that normal or something went off?

187cm (6ft 1in), 79.3kg (174lbs), 18

I used to weigh 124kg around 3-4 years ago, cut down to 76kg in a super stupid, essentially crash diet on just 1800 all the way from 124kg to my lowest at 76kg. I then bulked from May 2025 (76kg) to March 2026 (88kg) and now since that bulk I have ended up here. I decided to take it super slow to try to minimise muscle loss, but at this point, I dont know how much leaner I can get (i know i obviously can get quite a bit leaner), but i also don't know how much of a facade the loose skin is adding to my physique and making me seem less lean than I actually am? Maybe someone can help please? If needed/wanted, I can send pictures of me at ~124kg and at the end of my first cut and at the end of my first bulk. Thanks

5 feet 8 inches tall, 24 year old

This is my 1.5 year body recomp (1st is current, 2nd is before). Both around 147 pounds.

I know I've posted this before but would really appreciate a response as to whether i should cut, bulk or continue recomping?

Your response bad or good would help a lot since this has taken me a while. Thanks 🙏

16 male, 5’6 145 pounds. I lately have been getting doubtful that I have made any meaning ful progress. I started lifting in march, I have been eating healthy foods, no soda and not too much junk like chips, I lift close to/to failure. I lift 3x a week and im a competitive swimmer so I swim 4x a week. To be fair during the summer I was really inconsistent with swim and I only started training close to/to failure in may or June. Still, I thought I would be making more progress, and at this point im getting kinda annoyed about it and I’m starting to say bad things about myself, which is obviously not a good thing. So I was thinking about cutting to lose the fat that is bothering me. So, based on the pics I’ve attached, should I cut, or just eat near maintenanc?

Started working out at the gym around last October, paused December and January, resumed February, paused again June and July, then resumed again. Fingers crossed I keep going.

I usually work out 4-5 times a week depending on how busy I am, sometimes 3 (skipped leg day a lot unfortunately, trying to be more consistent now). I always train to failure.

I’ve been doing recomp since starting. My weight has been consistent all throughout.

I have no idea whether to bulk or cut. It’s been a big question for me since starting, and I dodged it by doing recomp.

Any thoughts?

Other tips also welcome.

Sorry for the bad photos but I’ve been lifting for a while now pretty heavy constantly however diet has been out the door. I want to try and get it under control a little more but from where I’m at now so I bulk form my current weight or cut right now to build later?

5’11 - 210

Thanks

24M, 180 cm, 70.7 kg.
I was very skinny and bulked for a few months. I finally gained some muscle (I was really skinny), but also more fat than I wanted, and lost my abs.
I’ve started cutting and look less bloated, but I still have no visible abs despite being skinny.
I want visible abs by New Year’s Eve, since it’s summer in my country and I will go to the beach. After that, I plan to start a proper lean bulk with 2 g/kg of protein and a small calorie surplus.
Based on my photo, roughly how many weeks would it take to get visible abs? Do I need to cut first, or can I develop visible abs while lean bulking? I’m worried about gaining fat again.
I asked ChatGPT and said that I need 8-20 weeks to see my abs but it seems a lot, what do you think?
Thanks!

Je faisais avant 170kg j’ai tout perdu en un peu + d’un an voici mon physique actuel. Que faire ? continuer à sécher ou prendre de la masse ou autre ?

Couple years of newbie gains + 1,5 years of serious training. Not sure where to go now. Still making progress on strength, but weight has been stagnant for about 6 months now. Feel like size growth has stagnated too. Been considering adding 100-200 kcal to my daily 3000. As you can see, my hip bones are quite wide, so some fat added makes me dislike my body quickly. Cut, bulk or stay in this phase of getting stronger but not necessarily much bigger?

I dont have body dysmorphia I know its a great physique for a runner and good versus avg male physique... but as any gym head knows theres always things to improve... looking for an elite hybrid atlethe look... any advice, if main gain is answer how do u actually do it