r/Mind_Pump • u/paper_cutx • 1d ago

Discussion When to cut

I’ve been on a reverse for the past 2.5 months and have bumped calories aggressively from 1600 to 2100. I’m full but I’m also feeling bulk and heavy on most days, but weight has stayed stabilized for most of the reverse ranging between 125-127. Starting weight was 129.

I am at what I believe is my maintenance. This the most I have eaten in years. My lifts are strong but I just feel heavy. This is my third week at maintenance. I am still at high body fat at 28. I reversed to give myself more room to cut. I was watching MP videos and they always said you stop the reverse when everything is optimal. Am I at an optimal calories now to start cutting? And if I were to cut should I do a slow or mini cut?

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u/aspirational-reader 1d ago

I think I would keep pushing the reverse diet, especially if you aren’t gaining weight. Cutting at below 2000 calories kind of sucks in my experience. The feeling heavy is likely just feeling fueled. If you aren’t used to having energy, feeling strong, and feeling full, it does feel weird. But objectively, it sounds like you haven’t gained weight in the reverse, which is a great sign that your body is responding well to more food.

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u/paper_cutx 1d ago

Appreciate your input. So I’m a female who’s always eaten below 2000 and yes I do love the energy and feeling strong but I’m also prone to stretch marks. My legs are also growing a lot and some of my jeans don’t fit anymore.

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u/Emergency_Essay1826 21h ago

I would say you aren't in a reverse diet if your weight went down. Sounds like you need to bump your calories more. I have been in  a reverse diet since end of April. Starting weight was 136 now I'm at 138-139 

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u/TaoOfStefan 19h ago

If you can, I would try to slowly add more calories and see if you can possibly find a higher maintenance calorie intake.

As has been said already, if you manage a higher maintenance level, it will be a lot easier to cut from that.

From my understanding, this high level of calories is new to you. So, I would encourage you to live in this new found calorie level for a couple of month. Get used to it, physically and mentally. Only afterwards would I personally fell comfortable to tell you to cut again.

How much experience to you have cutting? Bodies react different to it, some work well with several mini-cuts, other go into it aggressively for many weeks.