When should I think about cutting?

[LiftHeavy123]

Hey I've been doing the Intermediate 5x5 for 5 weeks now. I'm 6'1 200lbs 15% bf. Since I started I've put on 3-4 pounds and my bf hasn't really changed (15.2 to 15.6). I'd like to be 8-10%bf by June. I wanted to gain until I was 210. Is that too soon? When should I think about reintroducing cardio and cutting my calories? I've read on some threads here that just introducing cardio back into my routine will be enough to drop the pounds without really changing my diet much. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[SgtSlaughter]

when you think your too fat.

you'll know when you see yourself in the mirror one day. Your BF right now is IMO at the perfect range for bulking and maintaining that % while adding muscle. Just watch your food intake.

You want others opinions... some people will tell you your a fat cow, cut down now.

It all depends on you though, If you making strength progress don't stop.

 

[LiftHeavy123]

Ok. But do you think just re-introducing a good amount of cardio into my 5x5 will be enough to cut to 10% bf if I maintain 15%bf while bulking? Or is that impossible? And of course getting rid of certain "bad" foods and meals 6,7,&8 that I eat sometimes to hit my calorie total.

 

[Kabeetz]

Ok. But do you think just re-introducing a good amount of cardio into my 5x5 will be enough to cut to 10% bf if I maintain 15%bf while bulking? Or is that impossible? And of course getting rid of certain "bad" foods and meals 6,7,&8 that I eat sometimes to hit my calorie total.

You will probably not lose 5.6% bf just from adding cardio, maybe u can hope to maintain current bf...

but, much more importantly long term, all the new muscle you'll gain on a 5x5 will make it that much easier to cut when it's time because of its caloric demands.

 

[YoungIntricateMuscle]

i would imagine more like 8% bf is the perfect bodyfat levels for lean bulking because your metabolism is faster and your body is more likely to store the calories as muscle, if compared to higher body fat levels when bulking your body stores more fat. But then again if you have a high bf % but you are really skinny, adding muscle in the process of adding fat may actually balance out any fat gain with muscle with no significant gain in bf%

starting a bulk with 8%bf is still much better because you want to look like a bodybuilder at all times. Bulk slowly untill you get to 12%bf and then drop back down again in repeated cycles.

im too scared to cut down to 8% bf because im 17 years old and metabolism is high and i don't want to lose a ridicolous amount of muscle in the process. So i started bulking at 10.4%. I think im like 12.5-13%bf right now