I’ve been lifting for quite a while and don’t have the results I’d like in terms of appearance.
I really want visible deltoids and I want abs. My chest has some development, but not too much.
My lifts are: Bench 180 x 5 Squat 235 x 5 OHP 105 x 5 I think.
I wonder if I’d get results like this if I cut:
https://images.app.goo.gl/KHxtcjiTzM7AKEFu5
Oh and I think my traps are better than his.
Edit: height 6’, weight around 175.
MoreAlfa 1y ago
Cut until you get the abs because abs are made in the kitchen.
Bulk in the fall and winter, then do another cut starting late winter.
fumbor 1y ago
Best advice ever.
whytehorse2021 1y ago
Keep your expectations real. If you're not on steroids, don't expect steroid results. The whole bulk/cut thing is a steroid user tactic mainly designed to win body building competitions. In the end, body building boils down to genetics. That being said, I think you're under weight for your height if you're lifting. Eat some eggs and oatmeal bro. Hit the gym when your testosterone is peaking(early morning wake up). Get plenty of sleep. Finally get your T levels checked.
NeoSpartan 1y ago
The dude is the pic is definitely not on PEDs. If he is.. then he's incredibly lazy and stupid, that body is completely achievable in less than 1 year at the gym if you don't have crap genetics.
Objetpetita 1y ago
Testosterone is not nearly this important, people have built impressive natty physiques with below average levels. Same with working out when your T peaks, I have never heard of this or seen any real evidence of it. T is about exposure over time anyway, not so much about your current levels. Guy in the pic is skinny btw
whytehorse2021 1y ago
Androgen receptor sensitivity is genetic so of course T levels vary. There are XY women with 100% androgen insensitivity but technically they're dudes.
Objetpetita 1y ago
Of course they vary, but as long as it's in the normal range (which is very broad), they're just not that important compared to training and nutrition. This T level obsession only started in the online lifting community since juicehead influencers like Doucette and MPMD started pushing it, influencers who also happen to have "testosterone boosters" and even TRT clinics to sell, interesting how that works isn't it. Before that people didn't give a single shit about their hormonal profile and built great physiques anyway.
whytehorse2021 1y ago
Nah male testosterone levels have been declining for decades due to endocrine disrupting chemicals, sedentary lifestyles, and poor diet. We're seeing young guys come in with very low levels. I came in at 267 and was declared "normal" because the test says anything over 264 is "normal". I'd agree that the majority of guys can just eat+sleep+exercise right to get gains, there's always the outliers like myself. I have a fucked up SRY gene that gave me lifelong low levels of testosterone. It's like being a woman body builder, it never really gets there. Think Bruce Lee, for example.
coolsocks00 1 1y ago
The rest is fine but just wanna chime in that this is not true. Bulking and cutting is the most efficient way to gain muscle and cut fat, steroids or not. But it is more intensive and requires more knowledge and discipline.
To your q OP: yes you should cut. Aim for 10 % bodyfat, then target a weight for clean bulking, rinse repeat. If you need pics for OLD or otherwise, get them while lean and with fitting clothes.
I am currently at the end of a bulk and looking kinda bloated in my usually fitted outfit right now..
NeoSpartan 1y ago
Bulking and cutting can be good... as long as you bulk correctly. Problem is most people don't bulk correctly, they do some degree of dirty bulking. And that is going to fuck you in the end. Sure, you might put on a bit more muscle on a surplus than you would have otherwise, but unless you are real disciplined about it a lot of that weight you put on is gonna be fat. And the worst thing is that when it comes time to cut, unless you train right a lot of that muscle you gained is going to be burned off with the fat you lose.
Best strat for most people, especially non professionals/non hardcore people is gonna be maingaining or shorter lean bulks.
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coolsocks00 1 1y ago
If you have that amount of muscle, yes you will. The quality of your cut decides how much muscle and how much fat you lose. Just use the myfitnesspal app, set your goal to a 250 grams of bodyweight per week cut, and it will tell you your calorie requirements. Then make sure your macros are set in such a way that you achieve 1 gram protein per pound of bodyweight. Follow this plan and keep lifting while cutting and you will barely lose any muscle.
Check out Renaissance Periodization's beginner series on YT for more details.
whytehorse2021 1y ago
It's only efficient if you're cycling steroids. I take testosterone every 3.5 days so almost like a natty type of levels and I bulk+cut 24/7. The only difference is I don't have to worry about peaks and troughs like a natty so no sets and no early morning workouts. Train like an athlete if you're natty, train like a body builder if you're juicing.
NeoSpartan 1y ago
I'm a natty and I have none of those problems. I don't even know what you mean by peaks and troughs and I go to the gym in the afternoon or evenings when I feel like it. You can totally get a prime body natty and clean without being a psycho and waking up at 5am. All you gotta do is lift hard and consistently with high intensity. PEDs will fuck up your liver and sex drive, unless you have shit genetics you should avoid them.
whytehorse2021 1y ago
There's a reason why they test T in the morning while fasted. It's a daily cycle for nattys. Highest in the morning, lowest in evening. I suppose recovery takes place while sleeping so it's a wash anyway.
NeoSpartan 1y ago
That is probably true, but I am definitely not a morning person XD I'd rather enjoy my life than 100% maximize my gains. I think the most important thing if your gonna do a training regimen is to enjoy it so that you keep doing it, it's a slow process and consistency matters a ton.
Ti123 1y ago
Yes always
NeoSpartan 1y ago
Probably would look similar to that with those lifts if you got down to around 11% like the dude in the picture. He doesn't actually have that much muscle, probably has similar lifts to yours.
One thing you should definitely do if you aren't already is lateral raises. You wanna hit the side delts specifically since OHP is mostly front and those don' contribute nearly as much to aesthetics.
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NeoSpartan 1y ago
Celebrities always lie lol, don't trust em. Calisthenics are alright but far from ideal. It's a lot easier and faster to just do regular bodybuilding stuff. I know from experience when the gym were all closed I had to do calis for months.. made like zero gains. Maintained what I had pretty well but definitely did not grow, the rep range was too high so I was mostly just targeting type I musce fibers.. which.. short version, are not very good for building size.
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NeoSpartan 1y ago
HAHAHA, yeah that's seriously retarded hollywood fakery. Calisthenics look cool, that's really their main benefit. For muscle growth, they are pretty shit. Okay for cardiovascular health but if your focus is on that you'd be better off doing actual cardio shit.