Dilemma - To Cut or Bulk? Serious help needed

Hi, I've been stalking these forums for some while now, but only decided to register today.

I'll try not to type too much, so lets get straight to the point. In 2008 I weighed 16 stone and decided to make a change with my life. I shrunk right down 10 stone in 8 months. I never knew a lot about nutrition, so my calories where VERY low and my diet lacked protein - In result, I lost LOADS of muscle.

In 2009 I ditched the cardio and attempted to try and 'bulk up' in the gym as people told me I looked too skinny.

Fast forward to 2010 and I'm 5'9" and weigh 12 stone (no idea what my BF% is, I imagine its still pretty high). After 1 year of weight training under my belt, I think I've made good progress, I feel and look stronger than I ever have. I think my lifting stats are pretty impressive for a 12 stone guy.

The problem I have is, I still have a lot of excess skin around the abdominal area and my chest sticks out (moobs? lol). I also "think" I need to reduce fat around my hips and stomach. The reason I said "think" is because I'm not 100% sure whether it is fat or just excess skin! It's very hard to tell.

As you can tell form my stats, I'm not the biggest guy in the world. Should I attempt to CUT on a low carb diet, in order to "try" and get rid of remaining fat and reduce my Body Fat? or should I bulk, or even eat at maintenance to try and increase muscle size?

I'm very scared of losing muscle, so I'm swaying towards just eating at maintenance on a 40/40/20 diet.

Help is appreciated. Thanks.

PHOTOS IN POST 3

Get a pic up mate , best way to answer your question

Sorry, I should have thought of that in the first place lol.

Here's a few pics from 5 weeks ago. I weighed about 4lbs less than I do now.

hi, 

Im guessing your not ripped @ 12 stone otherwise i dont think you would be consider cutting. So i dont think you would have much room to manouver within a cutting diet, weight wise. You could easily dip into 10 stone territory in a quest to get lean. This is all speculation of course as BB says lets get a piccie up and we can have a look see.

ok piccies went up whilst i was posting!.

I would say you got a pretty good lean base there for a bulk mate.

Thanks for your help. I've gained a lot of muscle in the past 12-14 months since I began training, and I'm scared of losing some of if whist cutting.

I want to bulk up and get "bigger & stronger" but I also want to get rid of my gut! it's a catch-22 lol.

Also, what BF% am I roughly? I have no idea whatsoever.

Agreed.  You have a decent shape.  I can see a degree of separation in your delts, and can see you have been training.

Work on eating clean and adding muscle gradually.  If I had to guess your bodyfat I would say that you are mid to high teens.  With a decent diet and a focus on compound movements you should do well.  Just don't let that bodyfat creep over 20% and you should be fine.

sel

Bulk I'd say! You're in good shape, you've been training for roughly the same amount of time as me and you're in way better shape than me! F.ucker!

Yea agreed i would guess at mid to high teens.

I would advise getting a solid diet plan in order, carry on training hard, monitor gains and adjust as you need to. If the gains are coming on too fast cut back a little on the diet or throw in some cardio.

good luck

selector


Agreed.  You have a decent shape.  I can see a degree of separation in your delts, and can see you have been training.

Work on eating clean and adding muscle gradually.  If I had to guess your bodyfat I would say that you are mid to high teens.  With a decent diet and a focus on compound movements you should do well.  Just don't let that bodyfat creep over 20% and you should be fine.

sel

Cheers for that. Seems like the best option to be honest.

Do you guys reckon cutting at this point would be useless? as I'd probably lose muscle and size doing so?

J K D


Yea agreed i would guess at mid to high teens.

I would advise getting a solid diet plan in order, carry on training hard, monitor gains and adjust as you need to. If the gains are coming on too fast cut back a little on the diet or throw in some cardio.

good luck

Thanks mate, appreciate it.

'Do you guys reckon cutting at this point would be useless? as I'd probably lose muscle and size doing so? '

It depends on what you really want to acheive. If its a good set of abs be prepared to drop at least a stone. if you have diet nailed and dont take it too fast muscle loss should be minimal. Personally as said before i would be inclined to carry on and get the most out of your intial gains, put on a bit more size then think about cutting, it will be easier once you have a little more lean mass to assist you anyway.

Ye def bulk mate but do it slow and clean, dont make the mistake some people do at the start (including me) and go all out eat loads and put alot of fat on

In your shoes i think i would bulk in a sensible way. Not a full on dirty bulk having a chinese and a mcdonalds every week, but not worrying about being uberstrict.

You'll be keeping an eye on it and if you are laying down too much fat then maybe change things up a bit.

Careful bulk from where you are and then trim down to see what bulk you put on.

shields144


Ye def bulk mate but do it slow and clean, dont make the mistake some people do at the start (including me) and go all out eat loads and put alot of fat on

CitizenKane


Bulk I'd say! You're in good shape, you've been training for roughly the same amount of time as me and you're in way better shape than me! F.ucker!

J K D


'Do you guys reckon cutting at this point would be useless? as I'd probably lose muscle and size doing so? '

It depends on what you really want to acheive. If its a good set of abs be prepared to drop at least a stone. if you have diet nailed and dont take it too fast muscle loss should be minimal. Personally as said before i would be inclined to carry on and get the most out of your intial gains, put on a bit more size then think about cutting, it will be easier once you have a little more lean mass to assist you anyway.

Thanks all for the advice :)

essex_chris


In your shoes i think i would bulk in a sensible way. Not a full on dirty bulk having a chinese and a mcdonalds every week, but not worrying about being uberstrict.

You'll be keeping an eye on it and if you are laying down too much fat then maybe change things up a bit.

Careful bulk from where you are and then trim down to see what bulk you put on.

Cheers mate.