your bf doesn't look bad maybe 12%
but ya dude I know what off days mean
. I am trying to say that if you are only giving yourself 14-21 days to make a change, and you aren't even going to the gym for some of those days, don't expect much.
I have been on a hardcore cut/recomp for a while now (will be 4 weeks total) and in order to effect a change in such a short period of time, I am going to the gym twice a day. It'll end up being about 50 workouts in 28 days. BIG changes are possible.
If you do like an 18 day mini cycle and only do like 13 workouts, not much is going to happen.
Maybe I should take this time to rant... ok nobody take offense cuz i'm just going to let it out ok...
Off days are complete pu$$y ****. Everybody cycling should be hitting the gym 7 days a week minimum. When I don't go to the gym 7 days a week, it's because i'm being lazy and not training seriously.
Ever since I got really serious about training, I've been going to the gym everyday. Every day that you're not lifting weights, just do cardio. Get an ab workout in. Or mix it up and do some HIIT. Your body can handle a lot.
Overtraining is OVERused. It becomes an excuse "nah i'll just take the day off, i'm feeling a little sore" sounds like a vagina crying a river. It's the worst when people are on cycle and start taking days off. There's almost always some muscle you can hit. And if there isn't; if you have succeeded in making every muscle group sore... then you still go do cardio.
If you are cutting or recomping, you need as much cardio as you can get. If you are bulking, cardio helps you stay lean. The only time you shouldn't do cardio is if you are such a skinny hardgainer that cardio actually hurts your progress.
I've actually been training weights 7x a week without overtraining, mostly by the virtue of keeping it light but still this is without being on some heavy oral cycle.
Anyone cycling has a window of opportunity to create as much change in their body as possible. This requires intense effort and hard work like crazy. Not lame ass excuses for people taking off days. The main method by which steroids work to promote growth is improved recovery so you can keep hitting everything without worrying about overtraining.
if your joints hurt, go lighter, simple as that.
Ok I think that about wraps up my rant. No one take offense. I realize some people are busy with life and can't make it that much.