[purenatural]

There's a big difference between cutting and wanting to lose a few pounds.

Cutting means reducing body fat and maintaining maximum muscle mass in preparation for a bodybuilding contest. Successful cutting is very complicated and is probably the first or second reason why you may win or lose a contest. No matter how much mass you add, now matter how much you've brought up your weak points, no matter how symmetrical you are, if you don't cut properly, you'll lose. Cutting involves reducing calories, adjusting your workout, increasing cardio, and as you get closer to contest time, reducing carbohydrates and reducing your water levels through various techniques. It takes most bodybuilders a few seasons to understanding how their body responds to these different elements to optimize them. It's somewhat of a trial and error process.

Wanting to lose a few pounds of excess fat is exactly that. All this requires is slightly increasing cardio or slightly decreasing calories over time. Reducing by just 200 calories per day over a period of time will gradually take off excess fat without losing muscle mass in my experience.

Why you should never cut.

You should never cut unless you're preparing for a bodybuilding contest, a movie, or some other endeavor where you need to quickly reduce your body fat level. For those of you who have been on a mass routine for 3 or 6 months, what exactly are you going to show when you cut? That massive amount of 5 pound pounds of muscle you've added? That extra ? inch on your biceps? If I read another post from someone who's been training for a year, who's 5'10" 150 pounds, and who wants advice on cutting, I'm going to need to check into a mental hospital because I'll lose it.

You should not cut without professional advice. Most people that cut without professional help lose all the muscle mass they've worked so hard to gain.

How long should I go before I cut?

I've seen guys trained guys who want to become bodybuilders who have not "cut" for 5 years. Obviously, they are in their first few years of training and are trying to gain as much mass as possible. I would not cut until you are preparing for your first contest. Cutting before then is just plain stupid.

Don't cut for the wrong reasons.

Maybe I'm still old school but cutting to get ready for summer or to get those 6 pack abs has always seemed silly to me. Most women I know want a man that can protect them, physically and economically. 6 pack abs don't convey either of these two signals.

[De_battre]

Haha the other day i spoke to a kid in the gym who told me he wanted to 'bulk' up by about 10 pounds and then 'cut back' about 5 pounds...

[U-GOD]

im confused, is this an article you found on the net? or did you write that up on your own? i mean i agree with it for the most part. although i think you have the right to do with your body what you wish. so if cutting makes you happy, do it. i dont think it should bother you if someone wants to get a 6-pack for the beach. personally, i could give a fuck. on the other hand there are competitive bodybuilders, its kind of a choice you must make. either to stay lean year round or bulk up for a few months then cut down for a competition. anyway, good article although some factual evidence to back up the claims would make it even better.

[MaKaVeLi]

Originally Posted by U-GOD

im confused, is this an article you found on the net? or did you write that up on your own? i mean i agree with it for the most part. although i think you have the right to do with your body what you wish. so if cutting makes you happy, do it. i dont think it should bother you if someone wants to get a 6-pack for the beach. personally, i could give a fuck. on the other hand there are competitive bodybuilders, its kind of a choice you must make. either to stay lean year round or bulk up for a few months then cut down for a competition. anyway, good article although some factual evidence to back up the claims would make it even better.

i agree wit you man... i wanna cut, not because of a contest but because I want to look better

[deadman315x]

excellent post man. exactly my thoughts. i've also seen those 150lb er's that need to "cut up"

[purenatural]

Don't get me wrong bros, I'm not saying my opinion cutting is law to follow. I just think you can still look good without having to cut.

[Lineski]

Originally Posted by MaKaVeLi

i agree wit you man... i wanna cut, not because of a contest but because I want to look better

I agree, honestly I've worked my ass off through several platues through my years of training and in turn have tried several different ways of bulking (I'll get to cutting in a second). This past year I wanted to reach an all-time high in weight and I did; I exceeded my previous high by 15lbs. Now, was this all muscle? Of course not! But I am now at the same weight I was at post-bulk last year and have the same bodyfat after I cut down.

Now, I've added roughly 65-70 lbs of muscle naturally since I started training and I haven't grown an inch height-wise. The farther you get in your training the harder it is to add weight so this year when bulking I consumed a ton of calories because it was what I had to do to put on muscle still. Although next year I am opting for a very clean bulk, I still feel that as a bodybuilder, especially a natural one, sometimes you need to add that little extra padding while putting on mass.

As someone with aspirations to compete someday, the temptation to not be natural anymore has crossed my mind but I realize I'm still not ready. I'm doing everything I can to keep putting on mass and sometimes that means eating excess calories. There comes a point where eating clean and taking just protein doesn't do it anymore. Because of this I do cut come summer time and I think it has its benefits. I don't do an extreme cut where I get down to 3%bf, but cutting also allows one to assess all their flaws and see what their physiques really have and what it doesn't. Plus, I do bodybuild for myself, but I'm very aware of my appearance from not only my own standpoint but at what others see as well. Cutting not only makes my physique look better, but also thins out my face which doesn't hurt either. At my age and my mindset, girls are on my mind (notice the Big Pimpin' theme?) and I don't mind if they notice that in the summer if I look better; why should I? Plus, the idea of bulking through most of the year and cutting for summer is good practice to see how your body responds to losing weight and what ways are more effective than others for you. Simply put, besides looking good you become more conscious of how your body works and looks. I can't see that as a negative at all

Originally Posted by purenatural

Don't get me wrong bros, I'm not saying my opinion cutting is law to follow,

Don't take what I said as an attack on you or your methodology. I'm just saying there's more than just one side to things and that as long as you know what you're doing, cutting isn't nearly as bad as you make it sound. Like I said, no hard feelings bro, just trying to show both sides.
Take care, God bless.

[purenatural]

naw don't worry about bro. Good reply tho. Your now starting to make me think.
But ya that's true there are both sides.

[pickle]

Pure natural who are you? You make so many claims like what u speak is gospel. Its good you've got your opinions but I dont see the point in trying to tell us theres one way for this and that.

lineskis point is very valid. You've gotta be cut to see your symmetry. But each to their own. Things that work for u wont work for everyone else and I think the only reason to not cut at least once a year would be if you were training 2 years full on for an olympia... Cutting and bulking is what shocks the system into fast growth. Bulking and bulking will end up as lard.

And as side not 90% of this site is probably "pure natural" We just dont go running around like we know everything for everyone. :P