When should you stop bulking and start cutting?

Well, the ideal way to use bulking and cutting cycles would be to stop bulking once you’re at 15 \% body fat. And on the other end, you should’t go below 8 \% body fat unless you’re looking to compete in bodybuilding or fitness.

Can you reduce body fat percentage while bulking?

“Although many people claim that you cannot do it, it is indeed possible to build muscle and lose body fat simultaneously. This process is often referred to as ‘recomping,'” Ben Carpenter, a qualified master personal trainer and strength-and-conditioning specialist, told Insider.

How long should my first bulk be?

When looking to gain weight during a bulking phase, I like to think about a bulk lasting 8-12 weeks for most first timers (however this could be longer — I have done 16-week bulks plenty of times).

At what body fat should I start bulking?

While advice differs, it’s generally said that a bulk should begin when one reaches 10\% body fat for men and 20\% for women, or under. Of course, this is all up to you. If you’re comfortable putting on slightly more weight in fat to get some gains, then that’s up to you.

How long is a mini bulk?

Bulking refers to temporarily maintaining a moderate calorie surplus to increase body weight. A mini-bulk is simply a shorter-than-average bulk that typically lasts 3-to-4 months instead of the more typical 6+ month approach.

When should I start cutting?

For 10 pounds or less, start cutting 2-3 months ahead. For 20 pounds or more, start cutting 4-5 months ahead. Add 1-2 weeks for any major foreseeable obstacles. If such extended time is not on your side, I recommend at minimum six weeks for any cutting program.

How much should I bulk before cutting?

You should bulk first if you are skinny fat. A 10\% caloric surplus is optimal to build muscle while ensuring you don’t put on a lot of excess body fat. Stay in a surplus for a minimum of 4 months and then begin a slow, gradual cut.

Are you lean enough to start bulking?

The first step to a successful lean bulking phase is ensuring that you’re lean enough to actually begin such a phase. What I mean is, if you’re currently over a certain ideal range of body fat percentage, and you go into a surplus for the purpose of bulking, you’re going to go from “fat” to “too fat.”

How much fat should you cut off before bulking up?

(The most muscle you can reasonably expect to gain is about 1-2 pounds per month.) You can easily, however, lose 1-2 pounds of fat per week on a proper cut. That’s around 4x faster results. So the benefits of cutting a significant chunk of your extra fat off before bulking are:

Should you stop bulking up during a cut (tap)?

Since estrogen peaks around 25-27\% body fat during a caloric deficit (a cut) (Tap), women may want to stop their bulk before they reach this body fat level. This guarantees maximum muscle retention during the following cut.

When is the best time of year to cut and bulk?

My best advice for most people would be to cut until you’re lean enough to have some definition in your midsection, around 10-12\% body fat for men and 16-19\% for women. As for bulking season, the best time to start packing on size is almost always in the fall and winter.