Gaining Muscle while cutting?

BlackCoat2k10

BlackCoat2k10

BlackCoat2k10

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4 Mar 2010
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Coventry
I've been wondering after reading through a few things if it is at all possible to still gain some muscle size/ strength while on a cutting period? I know the general rule is to build muscle you need an increase of calories, which a cut doesn't exactly offer. However if I were to work hard and eat well, yet still deficiting from my normal bulking diet would it be possible even if it was minimal?

I ask because since starting my bulk 4 months ago I've gone from a level where I found it difficult to shoulder press 17.5kg dumbells to now getting a good 6 reps up on 30kg dumbells. Looking back over the last few months I guess I just want to still keep gaining, however I really need to cut as I have to stick to my plans and my clothes are too tight :(
 
unless you are a genetic freak the chances of gaining muscle while dieting are slim to none. most people have to do one or the other.
 
It's absolutely possible to do. However, it's hard. It takes many many many months to get results. Dropping bodyfat and gaining muscle mass is possible, but don't be fooled into thinking you'll see dramatic changes in your body within a few months. 4 months is nothing. Aim for 4 years and that'll be a more realistic target.

It's taken me 3-4 years to put on over 2st whilst maintaining my BF as it is. And even then I'm not an expert, but have more of a clue than most.
 
Yes I have spent all of this afternoon reading up on it, it seems like a lean bulk is possible however I've always been chubby and it would be nice to get the bf% down quite a fair bit, currently 6ft2 and 15 stone, managed to put on a stone in 4 months but its obvious some of that is fat. However I have managed to pack on a lot of size. I used to do a lot of gym when I was 17 so I do understand that I wont get a lot of quick results like most people seem to think, I'm in it for the long run and enjoying every second of it!

I guess a Lean mean Cut is just gonna have to do and come new years see where I am and hopefully hit a bulk again :D! Cheers for the input guys much appreciated!
 
Just get a decent diet sorted together with a good lifting programme and hit it hard.

Don't worry about gaining mass until you've cut enough for it to show, as such. As already posted, you say you're chubby but you've probably got some butch underneath it so just work on cutting your body fat down.

Whilst you find you get an initial dip in your weight, depending on your workout you'll find this stabilises as you pack on more mass in your muscles.

Another key thing to remember is that muscle strength (and specifically expressed strength) will increase regardless of the size of those muscles...

Hit the gym, stick at it, enjoy those endorphins.
 
Freefaller said:
Amen brother.
Click to expand...

+1

Now its just sorting out a decent base for a cutting diet that I shall start getting into in 10 days, seems I didnt calculate my bulking diet correctly ( atleast to what I thought it should have been) so far it looks like pre gym meals are 50g protein and around 70g carbs (10g more protein then I had aimed for) for my bulking phase.

Any tips on what I should be looking at for a good base for each meal?
 
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