Should I cut if I'm chubby?

Bulk vs Cut (or Recomp) FAQ. Should you bulk or cut first? If you are underweight, you should bulk. If you are overweight, you need to cut; however, the less training experience you have, the more likely it is that you will gain muscle simultaneously as you lean out (though you'll lose weight overall).

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Should I cut or bulk first if I'm fat?

Generally, it's better to bulk first and then cut if your goal is to build muscle. But, again, it all depends on your goals. Bulking first and then cutting allows you to increase muscle mass and then cut down excess fat or weight you gained during the bulk.

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How do I go from chubby to cut?

How to Cut Weight: 8 Tips for Success
  1. Set goals.
  2. Track progress.
  3. Schedule your workouts.
  4. Meal prep/plan ahead.
  5. Train to build muscle.
  6. Maximize Daily Calorie Burn.
  7. Focus on the timing of the cut.
  8. Drink plenty of water.

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At what body fat should I cut?

The cut off should be around 15-20% body fat for men and around 25-30% for females, wherein anyone who is above these body fat percentages should most likely start with a cut.

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Should I bulk or cut at 20% body fat?

Most experts think the appropriate body fat range for beginning a bulk or cut should be between 10-15% for men and 20-25% for women. This range is ideal as it provides enough energy to build muscle while allowing for visible definition. Once you hit the upper end of the range, start cutting.

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How To Fix "Skinny Fat" (3 Ways)

34 related questions found

Can I look fit at 20% body fat?

20-25% body fat: Normal/healthy level within the average. Slight muscle definition (shoulders and upper arms) is visible. The abdominals are not yet clearly visible. 17-19% body fat: Fit.

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At what point should I start cutting?

If you want to gain muscle and strength as quickly as possible and you're at or below 10% (men) or 20% (women) body fat, then you should bulk. And if you want to lose fat as quickly as possible and you're at or above 15% (men) or 25% (women) body fat, then you should cut.

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Should you bulk if you have belly fat?

You should bulk first if you are skinny fat. A 10% caloric surplus is optimal to build muscle while ensuring you don't put on a lot of excess body fat. Stay in a surplus for a minimum of 4 months and then begin a slow, gradual cut.

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When should I start shredding?

If you have 10 pounds or fewer to lose, you should start at least 2-3 months out. If you have more than 20 pounds to torch, begin your cutting phase 4-5 months prior.

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Why is it so hard to cut fat?

Why Is It So Hard to Lose Weight? Your body is designed to hold onto as much fat as possible to store for times when food may be scarce. That makes losing weight difficult for most people. Factors at play include genetics, age, race and ethnicity, diet, physical activity, hormones, and social factors.

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How long does it take to go from chubby to ripped?

You may be surprised that getting lean and ripped takes six to twelve months. More realistically, losing a significant amount of body fat takes two to three years. Nevertheless, six to twelve months is a reasonable timeframe to achieve a ripped body.

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How do you cut a dirty bulk?

If you've been dirty bulking, you're going to want to swap out the refined carbs for complex carbs such as vegetables, brown rice, legumes, and sweet potatoes. And when it comes to protein, you'll want to be sticking to lean stuff, such as chicken and turkey.

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How many months should I bulk before cutting?

Generally it doesn't matter a whole lot the frequency you choose what's important is to keep going until you achieve the desired results. However, for most I recommend bulking for 2-3 months, then cut down for however long you need to get rid of the unwanted amount of fat. Everyone will need a different amount of time.

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Should beginners bulk first?

The bottom line is that before you bulk or cut

This will guide your next steps. If you've only been training for a year and want maximum size, then keep bulking for another two years. If you're happy with your muscle size, then start a cut.

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Can you bulk and cut fat at the same time?

Is it possible to lose fat and weight and gain muscle at the same time? “Essentially yes, people are capable of doing both, but it's not a very easy thing to do,” said Briana Silvestri, a physician assistant with Banner – University Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute in Phoenix, AZ.

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Will I lose my abs if I bulk?

Bulking will not lead to you losing your abs, they will still be there. But they may not be visible. But you won't lose them if anything they will probably get stronger. Once you begin to lose weight (known in bodybuilding as a cut) your abs may be even more defined then they were before you started bulking.

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What body fat to stop bulking?

Always bulk if you are close to or below 8% or 17% body fat for men or women, respectively. Always cut if you are close to or above 18% or 28% body fat for men or women, respectively. If between 8-18% (men) or 17-28% (women), you can choose either, depending on how lean you want to be in 2-3 months' time.

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How can I bulk and stay lean?

How to Lean Bulk
  1. Eat at a caloric surplus but avoid excess fat. ...
  2. Consume protein with every meal. ...
  3. Perform light cardio during every session. ...
  4. Add nuts and nut butters to your diet. ...
  5. Perform compound lifts over isolations. ...
  6. Use carb timings to maximize workouts. ...
  7. Get plenty of rest. ...
  8. Understand your limitations.

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Is cutting for 3 months too long?

Most bodybuilders do not exceed cuts of 4 months but usually do at least 2 months. This is because you will need enough time to provide decent results but not overextend yourself with a long-term restrictive diet.

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What not to do when cutting?

The 9 Most Common Cutting Mistakes
  1. not giving yourself enough time.
  2. starting too far out.
  3. cutting calories too much, too soon.
  4. ramping up the cardio.
  5. drastically cutting a macronutrient.
  6. trying to eat in an unsustainable way.
  7. letting cheat meals become cheat days.
  8. not taking your new lower body weight into account.

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Are abs visible at 15% bodyfat?

The body fat percentage needed to see your pack of abdominal muscles falls somewhere around 14 to 20% for women and 6 to 13% for men. However, the ideal body fat percentage for abs can look slightly different per person, depending on how you carry weight, where you typically store fat, and your fitness routine.

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Why do I have an ab crack but no abs?

“Genetically, some people may have more pronounced grooves than others, but you'll notice in the photos of these models, who are very lean, they don't actually have very developed abs,” says Orbeck. “They just have the groove, which means they are leaner than they are stronger in their core.”

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