Hey all,

I am currently at 98kgs & 6'3" most days i am eating my 6meals with a good deal of protein (whey,eggs,salmon & chicken) and have seen improvements in muscle growth. However i am putting on fat around my waist even though i am only getting through 2800-3000 calories.

Should i go on a cutting diet for 8weeks to get down to around 93kg or continue with bulking?? (i might need to eat more, which could reduce the body from holding fat?)

I gym 3days a week and lift heavier each week. Just concerned that at 18%bf i have lit it slip too much for muscle growth

thanks

you must be miscounting calories, because I am eating between 3600-4000 and only weigh 178. If you are gaining too much fat, then id look at tweaking your diet. Just reduce your calories.

You'll still build muscle, but as NoSweat said, you need to adjust your diet. That way you'll put an end to putting on fat. Once you've bulked enough to have the amount of muscle you want, then you should start cutting.

BTW - what weight are you looking to bulk up to?

I personally would cut, 18% and bulking is kind of pushing it because once you hit 20%+ its not really cutting, but dieting.

I am hoping to be 100kg by year end, but around 11/12% bf

When my wife cooks i dont know what she uses in the way of butter on the vegies or oil in the pan as opposed to light use of cooking spray. unfortunately she isnt 100% supportive of my nutrition and gyming.

Would i be able to maintain strengh and muscle size by slowing dropping off the calorie intake?

sure why not, just lift heavy and get your protein for sure. You will lose some probably but you can keep as much as possible by doing the above two things.

What are you doing for cardio?

So set the standard for oils and such. Im sort of lucky my wife is a plant eater so I have control over my food.

Cardio was just a 40min game of indoor soccer on thursdays and 5min on the treddie or cross trainer before workouts

you should probably doin cardio 2,3 days a week about 20-30min at least that will probably help you cut some and allow a higher calorie deficit

drop your cals to 2500 and see how you get on.

Can somebody comment on this as the advice I've read previously is to lay off too much cardio when bulking?

Its just that I'm in a similar situation to what stated on this post in that I am bulking and in doing so seem to have in the last few weeks slightly increased my bf. I took the advice to lay off so much cardio and it seems to have been around this time when bf has increased.

The problem is it was around the same time I also took advice to increase calorie intake when bulking and so am a little confused as to whether I am now taking on too many calories or not doing enough cardio?? Or both??

Any advice.

If you want to minimize fat gains you need to be only in a 200-300 surplus.
You can reduce the amount your eating a bit, or eat the same and throw in cardio.

Thanks for the advice.

I really find it difficult trying to keep an accurate record of my calorie intake and 200-300 surplus doesnt really leave you much room for mistake!

Any advice on this?

Use fitday to record calorie intake

FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal