I'm around 9.5-10.5%bf right now. I'm feeling small getting down this far, so I'm ready to put more muscle on now, which means I'll have to stop dieting (ckd diet). If I decide to slow bulk now without having visible abs, can a recomp cycle in spring/summer next year help uncover my abs.
Should I cut down even further until my abs are visible, then clean bulk? Or can I bulk up now with minimal fat gain and if I want to, cut easily in spring with a cycle to get ripped then? I'm really stressed to whether tomorrow morning I want to keep on the CKD diet or just go back to regular dieting. I want to be more ripped, but I also feel small being so cut up.
You have to battle the psychological effects of cutting... Especially being on a CKD.
You are gylcogen depleted, as you progress longer and longer on a CKD you will become more and more depleted. And if your re-feeds aren't done properly and aren't big enough you will never fully replenish glyocgen until you are off the CKD. This is a problem.
You likely feel small because you are so damn depleted. Please let me know what the specs are for your re-feeds and the training surrounding it. This is very very important.
If you start incorporating a good re-feed protocol, you will be fine.
Also I have found that Plasma Jet really helps keep me looking full when I am on the UD 2... which is similar to a CKD, but much more powerful. The time-released nature of PJ keeps me pretty full all day.
As far as philosophy goes. Mine is to always stay sub 10%... Then shred out to where I want to be in the spring/summer. Maintain as low as i can during the fall/winter... But always making sure not to exceed 10%.
I suggest you maintain your course, and tweak your diet/supplementation do you aren't banging your head against the wall with feeling small, depleted, and weak.