JohnGafnea
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Is stength loss inevitable when cutting?
eh?
eh?
well, I'm not a powerlifter, but eh... who gives a **** if you lose some strength since you'll look so much better?
that's why I try to keep my cals as close to maintenance as possible, and use supps and cardio to help the process. I think there is a middle ground that can be met where strength isn't lost too greatly and cutting is still possible.I don't remember who posted it, Bobo perhaps. Said, while cutting, due to caloric restriction, usually see about a 10% decrease in strength.
well said. biggin, for me i want to keep my strength good and i figure i work hard to gain muscle so i dont wanna loose any...not even a poound or two if i can help it. middle ground (or balance as i like to call it) is important. btw...i've never used aas but have used ph when bulking and later in this cutting cycle i plan on using 1test and 3 aplha. after about 6 weeks i'm down 12 lbs and have about 15 more i wanna loose. believe me, if i can lean out, and gain strength, without the use pf ph or aas, anybody can. but its nice to get that extra little boost, too!
that's why I try to keep my cals as close to maintenance as possible, and use supps and cardio to help the process. I think there is a middle ground that can be met where strength isn't lost too greatly and cutting is still possible.
ahhhhhhh, see, *there's* the catch. It works for people with your body type, naturally big and bulky. Strength was never an issue. With that sort of physique, I'm convinced one can become very strong, even if they're cutting. In another words, I think you deserve mad props for slimming down, because it's hard to do when you're naturally that sort of ratio. However, I think strength is natural for you. For ME, and my body type, slimming down would be like takin a dump. If I'm not 100% careful to bulk 356 days, 24/7, I WILL lose weight....(not a good thing.) So, I deserve no credit if i lose weight, and when I actually "want" to cut, I will lose massive strength...cuz for ME, bulking is the challenge. THAT is where the trouble lies. Even when I bulk, I still will not retain a high body fat. My body just won't let me store fat (or too much muscle for that matter... So the gains come slow and cumbersome. Because of this I think people can have very opposite results depending on what body type they have and what they want to pursue.believe me, if i can lean out, and gain strength, without the use pf ph or aas, anybody can.
i agree.. i have done it as well when on a 'below bmr' style diet...No. Its all about your diet and training method. We had a comprehensive look at this awhile back. I have yet to figure out why anyone 'takes it easy' when cutting. People think because they do cardio they can do light weight in the gym. People tend to raise their reps for the aerobic properties, (ie. 12+ reps), I still have no idea why. My training when cutting as just as it is when bulking. Compound movements with integrated isolation movements. I have actually gained strength when cutting. To be honest, nothing greatly significant but it lets you know you arent losing muscle, but actually adding it. I wouldnt recommend GVT in a hypocaloric state, but I think you gather what Im talking about.
for me anyways, thats where you're wrong....its true i'm more mesomorphic (i think thats the right term) because i have to be careful because i tend to add body fat when i bulk. but its a learning curve. for someone my size (weigh 208) frankly i dont feel i'm as strong as i should be or you might think i am by lookin at me and its taken alot of hard work to gain it and the muscle size i have. in one sense i dont have trouble loosing weight....its more a mental thing with me...but once i decide i dont let anything hold me back. but i probably do have an easier time retaining my strength when cutting than an ecto body type. still, by eating correctly and all you should be able to kepp much of your strength when cutting...i know when i cut up a oupla years ago i dropped carbs way too much and lost alot of strength and felt generally lousy.Strength was never an issue. Because of this I think people can have very opposite results depending on what body type they have and what they want to pursue.
Ah, the power of thermodynamics. The etiology of burning triglycerides to synthesis protein, when you burn off a triglyceride, you also burn a glucose molecule, etc. Its possible, very difficult without AAS, your diet must be close to perfect, but possible.Hmmm...Interesting post. I was taught that an experienced lifter will always lose muscle mass and inevitably strength when losing body fat. That is was physically impossible to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time without AAS.
How's your diet? How well do you know your body? What supplements will you be using? What training routine will you follow? What cardio routine will you follow? As you can see, it depends on a few things. I cant predict that you will or wont lose strength, like Biggin said above, if you drop 5-10lbs off your bench, so be it. You will make it up and then some when bulking season rolls around. For me, its a mental thing, I never like to lose strength on my power lifts (isolation I dont care).I started the diet too fat so I should expect some size and strength loss. Shouldn't I?
I'm with yj on this one...plus this is the first time I've tried cutting slowly to avoid loosing as little muscle as possible. and as a rule, I dont do much isolation work anyways. I go more for the compound movements. I am also keeping my cals just under maintenance and have increased my cardio. Just to show how its worked for me, I weighed this morning before working out and weighed 206 (down 14 lbs since Feb 1) and when doing chest today did 105 lb db..first time in over a year. so strength is definitely improving...not drastically but still going up. I may not gain the proverbial six pack this way but I'll lean out pretty nicely and if I can keep my strength up then I'm not as concerned about the 6 pak...i think we all agree there's alot of variables involved...from things we cant control (like genetics) to things we can (like diet, supps) and imo it takes some experimentation and observing how your body responds...just my .02.For me, its a mental thing, I never like to lose strength on my power lifts (isolation I dont care).