Bulking/ Cutting vs. Gaintaining: Which Is Best?
video description
Date: 2019-11-06
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 9
Mark Handberg
Wonerful video Jeff. Love to see more likethat. The recomp/gaintain style seems fitting for me personally. I've spent about 4 years to build up somewhat decent athletic size but at 5'9, 160, and about 10 percent bodyfat, I want to cut down a bit (more) to get very light for basketball, where speed and explosiveness is a must. So for the last 6 weeks, I've split up my week where I'm basically cutting from monday til friday, where I do 16-8 fasting and mainly eat a modified keto diet, then I train heavy on friday and saturday and stay in a caloric surplus for about 2-3 days to achieve a bit og gains in areas I'm lacking in - mainly chest, abs, hammies and side delts - as well as enjoying some nice high carb meals. I've lost about 4 pounds and gained strength this way during these 6 weeks as well as adding about and inch to my vertical leap. Not saying this is the perfect way or the right way for others, but it definately works for me.
reply
Wonerful video Jeff. Love to see more likethat. The recomp/gaintain style seems fitting for me personally. I've spent about 4 years to build up somewhat decent athletic size but at 5'9, 160, and about 10 percent bodyfat, I want to cut down a bit (more) to get very light for basketball, where speed and explosiveness is a must. So for the last 6 weeks, I've split up my week where I'm basically cutting from monday til friday, where I do 16-8 fasting and mainly eat a modified keto diet, then I train heavy on friday and saturday and stay in a caloric surplus for about 2-3 days to achieve a bit og gains in areas I'm lacking in - mainly chest, abs, hammies and side delts - as well as enjoying some nice high carb meals. I've lost about 4 pounds and gained strength this way during these 6 weeks as well as adding about and inch to my vertical leap. Not saying this is the perfect way or the right way for others, but it definately works for me.
reply
Francois Kruger
Hi Jeff and Everyone, shout out from South Africa: )I need some advice on Nutrition / Calories etc. etc. My goal is lean muscle gainWhen I started to exercise I weight 231. 45 pounds (about an year ago, exercised 3/5 times a week but mostly cardio / running obstacle sources etc. but I kind of stop 4 months ago cause I didn't see any desired results (Lean Muscle Gain) when I stopped my weight was 176. 37 pounds, I looked way to skinny and I didn't like it at all, being kind of more informed now I realize that your diet is very important if not the most important and you can't cut carbs out of your diet, I'm currently 202 pounds, 6. 07 foot, with body fat % of 24, Age 30, Do I cut and drop my body fat % to 13-18 with more cardio related exercises (including Weights) before starting to build series muscle or just go with building?
reply
Hi Jeff and Everyone, shout out from South Africa: )I need some advice on Nutrition / Calories etc. etc. My goal is lean muscle gainWhen I started to exercise I weight 231. 45 pounds (about an year ago, exercised 3/5 times a week but mostly cardio / running obstacle sources etc. but I kind of stop 4 months ago cause I didn't see any desired results (Lean Muscle Gain) when I stopped my weight was 176. 37 pounds, I looked way to skinny and I didn't like it at all, being kind of more informed now I realize that your diet is very important if not the most important and you can't cut carbs out of your diet, I'm currently 202 pounds, 6. 07 foot, with body fat % of 24, Age 30, Do I cut and drop my body fat % to 13-18 with more cardio related exercises (including Weights) before starting to build series muscle or just go with building?
reply
Matt Jobone
To your bit there at the end: I am around that mindset currently of is it worth a harder cut for maybe a lb or two of muscle gain? This will probably be my last traditional bulk. I am starting to see more value in focusing on my week points with recompositioning or even bulking shorter and then recomping or even just staying in a very very light surplus. Cutting in the later stages of bodybuilding requires more and more strategy and hard work it takes so much out of me now compared to a few years ago. My motivation in my next cut might not as be as good as it was in my last. If so then it's like 'well what did I really gain then? ' So I'm starting to see the value in just keeping my body around my goal rather than making my goal to get back around my old body.
reply
To your bit there at the end: I am around that mindset currently of is it worth a harder cut for maybe a lb or two of muscle gain? This will probably be my last traditional bulk. I am starting to see more value in focusing on my week points with recompositioning or even bulking shorter and then recomping or even just staying in a very very light surplus. Cutting in the later stages of bodybuilding requires more and more strategy and hard work it takes so much out of me now compared to a few years ago. My motivation in my next cut might not as be as good as it was in my last. If so then it's like 'well what did I really gain then? ' So I'm starting to see the value in just keeping my body around my goal rather than making my goal to get back around my old body.
reply
Jarett Tigges
I trained pretty heavily for 2-3 years in high school and the beginning of college. At a certain point I just stopped lifting (gasp, I know) and I didn't train consistently for about 2 years. I gained a decent amount of fat in that time and in Nov of last year weight 171 (5'10. I decided to do a cut and I slashed my calories pretty hard. I trained consistently for 6 months and got my weight down to 162 lbs. During that time, I made progress in the gym, and definitely gained muscle, even though I lost some weight. I think the most important thing is to keep your protein as high as possible during a cut. This will limit muscle loss and help with fat loss for sure.
reply
I trained pretty heavily for 2-3 years in high school and the beginning of college. At a certain point I just stopped lifting (gasp, I know) and I didn't train consistently for about 2 years. I gained a decent amount of fat in that time and in Nov of last year weight 171 (5'10. I decided to do a cut and I slashed my calories pretty hard. I trained consistently for 6 months and got my weight down to 162 lbs. During that time, I made progress in the gym, and definitely gained muscle, even though I lost some weight. I think the most important thing is to keep your protein as high as possible during a cut. This will limit muscle loss and help with fat loss for sure.
reply
Philip Brossard
Hey Jeff, I love your videos and have seen a lot of progress through your back hypertrophy and chest hypertrophy programs. I have a question about leg training. Recently I have injured my knees while doing gymnastics (the pain seems to be in the ligaments just around the kneecaps) and it just doesn't go away. It waxes and wanes and even though I'm monitoring it I can't find the variable that seems to cause this. I have been doing some rehab work, too. How can I train my legs without causing undue strain on my knees? I know you've probably got a lot of different videos to do, but it would be great if you could show how we might train legs with knee injuries.
reply
Hey Jeff, I love your videos and have seen a lot of progress through your back hypertrophy and chest hypertrophy programs. I have a question about leg training. Recently I have injured my knees while doing gymnastics (the pain seems to be in the ligaments just around the kneecaps) and it just doesn't go away. It waxes and wanes and even though I'm monitoring it I can't find the variable that seems to cause this. I have been doing some rehab work, too. How can I train my legs without causing undue strain on my knees? I know you've probably got a lot of different videos to do, but it would be great if you could show how we might train legs with knee injuries.
reply
R K
Hey jeff Im at 28% BF and 250 lbs down from 440 from doing (water fasting) I have dexa scans showing me gain muscle in every part of my body while losing fat but ive lost muscle ONLY in my arms. So i have some data i can show you that shows my ongoing transformation with all the stats and data to back it up. I found it interesting how i was able to gain muscle while doing extreme deficits by using my fat as a fuel source for energy as well as gaining muscle. I also thought it was interesting how i could gain muscle everywhere except my arms lost significant muscle of 25%. I didnt even supplement with BCAA's pure water and still gained muscle.
reply
Hey jeff Im at 28% BF and 250 lbs down from 440 from doing (water fasting) I have dexa scans showing me gain muscle in every part of my body while losing fat but ive lost muscle ONLY in my arms. So i have some data i can show you that shows my ongoing transformation with all the stats and data to back it up. I found it interesting how i was able to gain muscle while doing extreme deficits by using my fat as a fuel source for energy as well as gaining muscle. I also thought it was interesting how i could gain muscle everywhere except my arms lost significant muscle of 25%. I didnt even supplement with BCAA's pure water and still gained muscle.
reply
Joshua Smith
I think that most people that aren't looking at building AS MUCH muscle as possible, are those individuals that also don't take their training too seriously either. Therefore; not consistent, may have an inferior program, little or no progressive over-load, low intensity in sessions, lack of volume etc. The average gym goer (which is actually my situation. Just think that this is another reason to 'gain-tain'. I think people also over-estimate how much of a surplus you need to be in for optimal gains. I think I remember reading an article where you may actually see diminishing returns if going over 150 cals + of a surplus
reply
I think that most people that aren't looking at building AS MUCH muscle as possible, are those individuals that also don't take their training too seriously either. Therefore; not consistent, may have an inferior program, little or no progressive over-load, low intensity in sessions, lack of volume etc. The average gym goer (which is actually my situation. Just think that this is another reason to 'gain-tain'. I think people also over-estimate how much of a surplus you need to be in for optimal gains. I think I remember reading an article where you may actually see diminishing returns if going over 150 cals + of a surplus
reply
Paul
I am currently getting back into lifting with a body re-comp plan. It has been 3 years without any serious lifting. In the past I've done the traditional bulk/cut cycles and I struggled with the switch from caloric surplus to deficit. I have already made noticeable changes after 2 weeks. I am 186 lbs at 18% body fat and I think this plan will be more successful than a bulk/cut. I am currently running a 6 day lift schedule and eating at a 20% deficit with one off/rest day. My long term goal is overall health more than building as much muscle as possible. Any recommendations?
reply
I am currently getting back into lifting with a body re-comp plan. It has been 3 years without any serious lifting. In the past I've done the traditional bulk/cut cycles and I struggled with the switch from caloric surplus to deficit. I have already made noticeable changes after 2 weeks. I am 186 lbs at 18% body fat and I think this plan will be more successful than a bulk/cut. I am currently running a 6 day lift schedule and eating at a 20% deficit with one off/rest day. My long term goal is overall health more than building as much muscle as possible. Any recommendations?
reply
iMuluc-
yo jeff i read that your human growth hormone and testosterone levels actually increase when fasting. The idea being that your body does this when it is burning fat to maintain muscle. I also read that your body only starts to use muscle tissue for energy when your bodyfat reaches 4% or lower. The book The Obesity Code described this and so my thought was the following: Is it better to not eat anything at al (and only consume a multivitamin daily and also keep drinking water) in stead of doing a traditional cut by progressively lowering calories?
reply
yo jeff i read that your human growth hormone and testosterone levels actually increase when fasting. The idea being that your body does this when it is burning fat to maintain muscle. I also read that your body only starts to use muscle tissue for energy when your bodyfat reaches 4% or lower. The book The Obesity Code described this and so my thought was the following: Is it better to not eat anything at al (and only consume a multivitamin daily and also keep drinking water) in stead of doing a traditional cut by progressively lowering calories?
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
