Should I be cutting and bulking?
First off for those of you that don’t know…
Cutting– A phase where you’re likely in a caloric deficit in order to shed body fat yet maintain muscle mass as best as you can. These workouts generally include more cardio and high intensity interval training.
Bulking– A phase where you’re likely in a caloric surplus in order to build more muscle mass. These workouts generally consist of lifting a bit heavier than usual combined with longer rest periods.
So should I be doing either of these consistently? My personal opinion (many may disagree)…
No.
Constantly changing your body composition and fluctuating in weight in hopes to look a certain way depending on the season is just unnecessary and can be unhealthy. If done correctly over a span of time it can be perfectly fine, however most people put their bodies through hell to get a certain look. They feel drained or bloated every day and are uncomfortable.
Now I’m not telling you not to do this. If you’re someone who just wants to lose fat and gain muscle, then yes you’re technically going to be cutting. And if you’re someone who is skinny and wants to build muscle mass, then yes you’re technically bulking.
However, if you’re the wannabe bodybuilder who wants to bulk up in the winters and get extremely lean for summer, it’s just not necessary.
I believe in training for health over looks. Of course everyone wants to look good but looking good is icing on the cake. If you want to be healthy, once you find a weight you feel good at then you should maintain it and just continue to work on getting stronger physically and mentally. If you want to get a little leaner or thicker here and there you can make small tweaks, but NO DRASTIC CHANGES! Again, this is for people who are already at a solid fitness level and not for newbies.
Will bulking get you stronger? If done right, yes.
If I cut after a big bulk, will I maintain more muscle-mass than before bulking? Maybe a little yes.
Is it worth it? For some people, maybe. In my opinion, no.
Stop worrying so much about this and just train to be healthy and to feel good every day when you wake up and when you go to bed. If you can do that and find a way to maintain it that works for you, then you have figured it out!
That’s all there is to it so don’t overcomplicate things!
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