Why do people here bag on cutting cycle's and low body fat %??

[CobraUTAH]

Is it because most can't stick with it long enough to get that lean (single digit bf or lower), or are they just not genetically gifted to look good when lean. Most of the guys here seem to pretend like they don't care about being lean and instead brag up being bulky and lifting heavy. Now I respect being strong, but are most of you serious when you say you prefer being bulky over being super lean. I know without pics I sound like an asshole, but give me another 2 months and I promise picks, that will hopefully show me at 5-6%. I must admit that I didn't know how hard dieting would really be, but the first three weeks have been tough and I'm finally learning to live with hunger and cravings. Swain, if those are truly his pics and I believe they are is about the only guy here who I have seen pics of that looks truly amazing. I know I won't look that good when I get cut but he is my personal inspiration for motivation. Most guys here are training solely for strength which is respectable I'm not a naturally strong person, but why do they at 15-20% bodyfat think it's lame to get really super lean, because they can't or just don't have the dedication to put up with what it takes. I never truly dieted before with the intention of getting lean and dropping bodyfat, and I must say it has taken a great deal of will power thus far and I can only hope to keep it up and achieve my goals. I just wish that there was a bit more support for the lean crowd because I feel we are all one big happy family.

 

[gettinlarger]

I don't think anyone is looking down on the "lean" look. It's just not people's top priority here on this board. Most guys on here strive to be bigger and stronger. Just their preference. When I reach my size goals, then I'll cut up.

 

[Thaibox]

I think there's ample support for the "lean crowd."

If it feels like there's not, its simply because this parallels the goal of the average american schmuck. There's so many weenies unwilling to work hard, that are only concerned at getting "cut" not building a body, that its annoying.

The majority of people on here are lifters, and I think people are beginning to grasp the idea of cutting as jumping the gun. The never ending cycle of bulking/cutting/bulking/cutting, is a waste of time based on temporary vanity while sacrificing future potential.

I had an 8-pack for years. Now, I could care less...I don't want one. The weights don't care what I look like, nor do I. But, I don't knock the bros in the "lean crowd"

We're all here to break our own physical goals and surpass them. Whatever they are...if you're doing it, you have my respect.

 

[jeremys]

I think there's ample support for the "lean crowd."

If it feels like there's not, its simply because this parallels the goal of the average american schmuck. There's so many weenies unwilling to work hard, that are only concerned at getting "cut" not building a body, that its annoying.

The majority of people on here are lifters, and I think people are beginning to grasp the idea of cutting as jumping the gun. The never ending cycle of bulking/cutting/bulking/cutting, is a waste of time based on temporary vanity while sacrificing future potential.

I had an 8-pack for years. Now, I could care less...I don't want one. The weights don't care what I look like, nor do I. But, I don't knock the bros in the "lean crowd"

We're all here to break our own physical goals and surpass them. Whatever they are...if you're doing it, you have my respect.

exactly

 

[CobraUTAH]

Is that why I've seen negative comments to cycles of both cutting and bulking. Everyone here just feels that bulking is the only thing to do and that bulking for 3 or 4 years straight is where it's at. I guess that's good and maybe I have different priorities than most here. I just feel that for me there is a limit to how strong and big I need to be and still have it be functional. My personal desire with weight training is to be big yet look damn good at the lake with my shirt off. I've never been one for the swollen football player look. That probably stems from the fact that I'm a 6'3" ectomorph that could never really look like that, and has no need to. I believe that most people work on building onto what they naturally have to start with. If your short and stocky or have a large frame you tend to become a power lifter and strive to achieve maximum size and strength because it comes more naturally. When your naturally tall and lean you want to add size to your skinny frame but always keep lean because you look good that way and it's nearly impossible to change much.

 

[louden_swain]

Actually, Cobra. . let me think about your question.

 

[gettinlarger]

because we all prefer questions that relate to training

if you are interested in cutting. . . check the diet board.

A little stern, but yeah. I agree.

I think there should be some kind of sticky on this board that will direct newbies of Elite to the Diet board when they have questions regarding cutting down.

 

[needsleep]

Different people have different visions of where they want to be, some want to be massive and scare the hell out of regular people, some want to be freakishly strong with little concern over size, some want to be fitness model type look others want to be big and ripped and many more want some combination of these.

Getting big is a drug and I found myself the bigger I got the bigger I wanted to be. People know that it is easier to lose fat than it is to put muscle mass on so they just concentrate on putting the mass on first especially as it is quicker to do so without worrying about bf levels.

I am 20lbs down on what I was yet it is surprising to me to find people telling me I am getting bigger, now I know I am not as big as I was, I can unbuckle my belt and see exactly how much weight I have lost from around my waist. I get told this by people who see me swim and see me with just swimming shorts on, getting better definition can aid in looking bigger, if I see two guys down the gym, one is a thick muscled hulk of a person and the other is a novice just starting out on fat loss and accruing muscle but is as fat as the other guy is muscled then you instantly think the muscled guy is massive whereas the fatter guy you don’t really view as big.

That said those who are bulking here aren’t fat by any standards, they just know that it’s quicker to put on muscle this way.

As I said, I’m cutting at the moment, I got too fat for my own liking and am just getting down to a respectable bf% before starting to try and bulk up again. I’d rather be big with some fat than cut and small, I just don’t want to be fat with a bit of muscle.

 

[CobraUTAH]

I appreciate the replys and I agree that the average guy knows nothing about what it truly takes to get big or lean. I'm not that average guy that wants to spend a few months in the gym and reach all his goals. I don't think that setting goals that easy is worth any effort at all. If you can be happy with working out after that short of a time why bother or why even set such measly goals. I've been lifting for years and I have made significant size and strength increases far above what I natually could have ever dreamed of. If I had never worked out I would be 6'3" and about 160 pounds max. I graduated high school at 135 pounds and just over 6 feet. Since then I've reached a max body weight of 230 which I feel was an incredible goal for such a skinny ass kid. My max bench is nothing astonishing but I'm damn proud to 1RM 290. I can squat 375 1RM to parallel, and dead lift 405 1RM. Compared to some of the giants here that is warm-up weight but to that skinny kid from high school that is god like. I've put in the time lifting big and being heavy now I want some time to cut and see what it all really looks like. I promise though that once I get there I won't spend to much time maintaining because the bulking and heavy lifting is way more fun.

 

[Scotsman]

Is that why I've seen negative comments to cycles of both cutting and bulking. Everyone here just feels that bulking is the only thing to do and that bulking for 3 or 4 years straight is where it's at. I guess that's good and maybe I have different priorities than most here. I just feel that for me there is a limit to how strong and big I need to be and still have it be functional. My personal desire with weight training is to be big yet look damn good at the lake with my shirt off. I've never been one for the swollen football player look. That probably stems from the fact that I'm a 6'3" ectomorph that could never really look like that, and has no need to. I believe that most people work on building onto what they naturally have to start with. If your short and stocky or have a large frame you tend to become a power lifter and strive to achieve maximum size and strength because it comes more naturally. When your naturally tall and lean you want to add size to your skinny frame but always keep lean because you look good that way and it's nearly impossible to change much.

I think you answered your own question here. You said people feel or think that. This is all opinion and each person will express their's much to the amazement of others. If YOUR goal is to be lean then pursue it with all of your ability. MY goal is to gain strength for competition. I have done both in my life as a sophomore in college I was 6'2" and 190 pounds with great abs and veins all over the place. Now I am 6'2" and 295 pounds without the abs but I am getting stronger day by day and that makes me happier than being lean ever did.

Try to be objective and if you think people are bagging on getting lean then ignore them and focus on the advice that will help you attain your goals.

Cheers,
Scotsman