Cutting for first time

[Pleonastic]

I need some help, advice whatever. I know the choice is mines but tell me if youve been through the same thing or just got opinions.

I been cutting for like a month or so and suprisingly the fat is comming off really easy and my abs are commin in. However my arms are shrinkin down and those are like my claim to fame, so to speak. Im not the biggest guy but I got a great pair of guns. Only now they look leaner and im not sure I like it. Its like im trading arms for abs. I knew this would happen to an extend but hmmm is it worth it?

Thinkin about just going back to bulkin but still eating better than I used to. Maybe im overtraining too with all this cutting... not over doing cardio tho i know that. But im doing a lot of weights and carb cutting a ton.

**** what should i do?

[Pleonastic]

Probably wont get many responses, guess i just needed to vent...

[Rodja]

It most likely glycogen depletion. As you carb-deplete, you lose not only your glycogen, but also extra water within the muscle cell. This results in your "flat" state.

[goonstopher]

How are you training?

Are you doing any refeeds?

[goonstopher]

It most likely glycogen depletion. As you carb-deplete, you lose not only your glycogen, but also extra water within the muscle cell. This results in your "flat" state.

I think it is and it isn't

For me my arms were always my worst part (they still aren't great) and always seemed to show glycogen loss first but when I got them to grow now my chest shows when I am flat first.

What I am saying is when there is more actual muscle the glycogen loss is less noticable... So most likely he needs to work on actual tissue growth during his next bulk and this shows glycogen was a large portion of the size there...OR - He is training with bullSSS "light weight, high reps to cut"...

I am a bit jacked up on fat burners sorry if this doesnt make a ton of sense

[nynone]

So most likely he needs to work on actual tissue growth during his next bulk and this shows glycogen was a large portion of the size there...OR - He is training with bullSSS "light weight, high reps to cut"...

Sounds like it could be the issue here. I can't see the workout routine, so maybe or maybe not.

OP, you need to stop focusing on what you're losing, and focus on getting the bf% down... this is a cutting cycle, so you will lose some size due to water retention and fat loss. Secondly, you can't over train and lose muscle. I've yet to see it happen to anyone, and I've seen guys gain muscle while cutting (not using steroids if you want to through that factor into it). If your protein intake is too low, then I suspect that to be the culprit. Regardless of what the main factor is, your bicept will shrink when carb cutting, no matter what you do. Whether the culprt is glycogen, water retention, decreased weight in the workout, or protein decrease... it's all the same result bud.

[goonstopher]

Sounds like it could be the issue here. I can't see the workout routine, so maybe or maybe not.

OP, you need to stop focusing on what you're losing, and focus on getting the bf% down... this is a cutting cycle, so you will lose some size due to water retention and fat loss. Secondly, you can't over train and lose muscle. I've yet to see it happen to anyone, and I've seen guys gain muscle while cutting (not using steroids if you want to through that factor into it). If your protein intake is too low, then I suspect that to be the culprit. Regardless of what the main factor is, your bicept will shrink when carb cutting, no matter what you do. Whether the culprt is glycogen, water retention, decreased weight in the workout, or protein decrease... it's all the same result bud.

Could not disagree with this more. 5x5 or 4-5 sets of low reps for cutting. All you want to do is signal the muscle that it is still needed and thus cannot atrophy. As little muscle tearing as possible should be done. Frequency should go up, reps down and sets down.

[Moeller]

Secondly, you can't over train and lose muscle. I've yet to see it happen to anyone

I have to disagree on this point. Muscle gain on a calorie restricted diet is going to be minimal even without overtraining. If you tear the tissues down with too much volume/intensity/frequency you WILL loose muscle due to the fact that there arn't enough raw materials to repair the damage.

My suggestion would to let the calorie defecit do the cutting, and focus on keeping your weights the same as pre-diet while hitting everything once/week. A consistant drop in weight will let you know that you are cutting too fast, or overtraining in terms of volume/muscle group which can be easily remedied by a reduction in either.

[nynone]

My suggestion would to let the calorie defecit do the cutting, and focus on keeping your weights the same as pre-diet while hitting everything once/week. A consistant drop in weight will let you know that you are cutting too fast, or overtraining in terms of volume/muscle group which can be easily remedied by a reduction in either.

Thank you for pointing out what you did, as it was more my intention for what I was saying. I kind of get a little jumbled when I fail to edit my writing

As for "over training" I started a thread a while ago that debated the idea. I've yet to personally see a person over train to where muscle loss occured, and workouts became catabolic. There are many times I've trained one body part for 2-3 hours a day, for 3-4 times a week. I never noticed any atrophy in my muscle tissue. I know my body adapts faster than most people being a young man, but still. Everyone's body adapts. How do you expect guys in military boot camp to do PT 6 times a week, for most of the day, and not become weaker? The only reason they get smaller is because of decreased food portions (mainly during events such as The Crucible, The BEAST, etc.). At least, that's my take on it. I could go on with examples.

I know it's getting off topic, but I don't believe in over training causing muscular atrophy, only severe mood abnormalities, the need for excessive sleep, and things of that nature. Here's what I say: take the advice you believe to be true and use it. Everyone's bodies react differently to everything. If your body responds negatively to heavy training on this diet, then don't train heavy on the diet. If it were me, I'd stay heavy, as that's what I've heard pro trainers advise for cutting diets.

[goonstopher]

Thank you for pointing out what you did, as it was more my intention for what I was saying. I kind of get a little jumbled when I fail to edit my writing

As for "over training" I started a thread a while ago that debated the idea. I've yet to personally see a person over train to where muscle loss occured, and workouts became catabolic. There are many times I've trained one body part for 2-3 hours a day, for 3-4 times a week. I never noticed any atrophy in my muscle tissue. I know my body adapts faster than most people being a young man, but still. Everyone's body adapts. How do you expect guys in military boot camp to do PT 6 times a week, for most of the day, and not become weaker? The only reason they get smaller is because of decreased food portions (mainly during events such as The Crucible, The BEAST, etc.). At least, that's my take on it. I could go on with examples.

I know it's getting off topic, but I don't believe in over training causing muscular atrophy, only severe mood abnormalities, the need for excessive sleep, and things of that nature. Here's what I say: take the advice you believe to be true and use it. Everyone's bodies react differently to everything. If your body responds negatively to heavy training on this diet, then don't train heavy on the diet. If it were me, I'd stay heavy, as that's what I've heard pro trainers advise for cutting diets.

I think reading comprehension is your problem not editing. He WAS suggesting staying heavy, just not doing long workouts. Everyone here is in agreement on heavy, length seems to be the issue you disagree on.

[Pleonastic]

How are you training?

Are you doing any refeeds?

Im training with heavy weights, decent volume I go about an hour with supersets here and there.

My cardio is really low like 30 mins worth 2-3 times a week.

The fat came off so easy for me I was shocked.

Yes I do refeeds, I think i need to do more.

I knew I would lose some muscle theres no way to save it all. I guess im just realizing this isnt as big as i want my muscle to be I still want them bigger.

Anytime you cut, and i knew this all along, you are wanting to get smaller. You are saying "my muscles are big enough and I want to be smaller". If thats what you want go for it, if not then dont.

I think im gonna take a few days off. Start eating more again and gain some more muscle. But im not gonna eat all the garbage I used to eat when I was bulking.