...need help determinig what to do for challenge....

[juice]

....aight, here's the deal...i signed up for the Challenge under BULK....but after further analysis, I'm a fat-***....but I'm also not big in any which way form of fashion, so whether i bulk or I cut, i think I'll be hurting myself regardless.......hurting myself means, I'll get even fatter or I'll get even smaller.

...i signed up for the challenge although I'm still about 6 weeks shy of finishing my "cut"...which hasn't been a strict cut by no means, and it's lacked a lot of cardio due in part to my hechtic schedule....

...the factors I'm facing:

1.- A cut would technically be more challenging to me, since it's really really hard for me to follow a strict diet, that to me alone is a challenge!!! ...buuuuuuut, as you'll be able to see, i have no size at all, so when I finish cutting (assuming I'm successful), i hope on seeing a 6-pack or something close to it, but I'll probably be as tiny a Carrot-top.....

2.- A bulk would be cool, since i LOVE to eat!!! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif ....but, I'm fat.....so the fat will only get fatter....unless i clean bulk which was my intention....it'd actually be a semi-clean bulk.....gotta get me some KFC every now and then if I'm buling....

3.- I got a doc's appointment monday to get an MRI on my knee, so I might be sidelined from doing legs (hopefully it won't hurt my upper body lifting) for a while, that would probably include cardio.....sooooooooo...that might actually dictate something too!!!!

..anyways, here's some quick stats (not too accurate, since i took them myself on the fly), i didn't do any BB posing, just quick shots of my fat *** so as to get some feedback....

<font color="green">Chest: </font>43 1/8" (taken @ nip level)
<font color="green">Back: </font>50 3/4 "
<font color="green">Bi's (cold, R/L): </font>14" / 14"
<font color="green">Bi's (flexed, R/L): </font>15 3/4" / 15 5/8"
<font color="green">Waist: </font>36 5/8" (this what I'd like to see shrink greatly)
<font color="green">Quads: </font>25" / 25 1/8"

Options:

A) Join the challenge, CUT.
B) Join the challenge, BULK.
C) Don't join challenge, finish cutting, start bulk mid Oct.
D) ......aahhhhhhh, i don't know!

...and here we go.....Pics (http://www.81x.com/juice/progress)

[MansonOzz]

Hey buddy, lookin' pretty big! Major change from '01! (work on your traps, though!!)

But I think you'd be safe in bulking, you don't look too high in bf to have to worry about it as long as you eat clean. If you can't eat clean enough, then I'd think twice about it.

[Voldo]

I wouldn't cut as i feel your chests need more mass first, and if you said you like your food and find it hard to eat 'stritch' then why not go on a stritch bulk instead of a cut(like you mentioned). You could gain some impressive lbm if your diet and workouts were up to scratch.
But if you really want to make a mark on the competition then it would be better for yourself to list down your workouts and current diet for anyone to be able to help you.

I think you need motivating and with the help of someone who could look at your diet/workouts helping you step by step then you are destined for improvement, it's worked for me. /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[alanlws16]

A

[wWarriorWw]

B

i say cut...thats what i would do if i were you..just cut go down to a nice level of bf and then go on a bulk.

C

[k.e.n]

'A' or 'C'. Although 'A' might give you more motivation to stick to your cut and skip the KFC /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

The way I see it is this. If you're not happy with your current BF% then why bulk? Bulking will only add even more fat making it even harder to lose next time you cut.

Once you're nice and ripped you'll be ready to slowly add LBM.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

[Voldo]

I think it's better if we see his diet before making a decision.

[icecube]

Awesome progress from 01! It doesn't really matter what you do you cut you lose fat, you bulk you gain mass.. either way you win lol

So i answer E 'All of the above' (because ever multiple choice question needs and all of the above option)

-Matt

[soccerchick]

well, its about time /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ok your talking like your a tub of lard and your not. you could cut a little fat yes, but also a clean bulk would not be a bad option either. it is possible to eat at maintenance calories and eat cleanly and still lose bodyfat. over the last year i have done it myself and my lifts kept getting better.

overall, i think that you have the potential to put on some serious muscle mass. i can see your triceps are coming along!

as for which option and the challenge. what do you think you need to work on and will this challenge help achieve that? i can't honestly say whether a bulk or cut would be best as i think they would both be good options juice. either way you'll win.

[Voldo]

[ QUOTE ]
well, its about time /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ok but also a clean bulk would not be a bad option either. it is possible to eat at maintenance calories and eat cleanly and still lose bodyfat.

overall, i think that you have the potential to put on some serious muscle mass. i can see your triceps are coming along!



.

[/ QUOTE ]

I totally agree, i think the option that we have covered would be best suited. But the decision is down to you.

[Ditty]

Id go with option A...you have a decent amount of mass and a cut would just bring that out more....however if you can't strictly cut with your schedule then Id go with a clean bulk.

By the way, you shouldn't be talking like you're a fat-*** because you sure as heck aren't one.

Whatever your descision, just make sure you stick to it and try your best to only cheat once or twice a week, if at all. Use your muscle gains/fat losses to motivate you towards your goal.

Good luck.

[GetPsycho]

looks like the new digi cam takes some good quality pics.

as far as your options. the only 'problem' per say i see is the lower gut. but not enough of a problem to cut in my opinion.

my advice to you is to clean bulk through the rest of the summer and all the way through the fall/winter. then, come march '04 start your cut.

but, your clean bulk needs to be more organized than what your current eating habits are like. for example, get some idea of how many calories you are eating and slowly start to raise that just over maintenance and try to stay close to that every day. i understand this is the hardest thing b/c of your schedule though, but it is the most important whether cut or bulk. and its hard for you not to skip meals but by keeping quality nutrients flowing every 3 hours will keep your metabolism revved up and help keep you lean. i would recommend 2 hiit sessions per week to help ward off body fat while taking in calories over maintenance. this will also help speed up your metabolism and since hiit is short and sweet it should fit into your schedule.

as far as the challenge, that is your call. if you need the extra motivation then go for it. if not, then make a challenge for yourself with goals and rewards.

and no more going to the gym with ZERO hours sleep from the previous night. your body is using nothing but muscle mass for energy when you do this.

one thing that is helped me stay lean is to incorporate some of the principles in the following articles. just b/c you are clean bulking doesnt mean you have to follow all the bulk diet guidelines. read the following 3 articles and incorporate some of these princples, with that plus calories slightly over maintenace you should be able to gain but keep it clean.

http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/magazine/howtoanalysizeyourself2.htm

http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/magazine/dietiing%20to%20the%20next%20levlel.htm

http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/magazine/fatlossdiet.htm

[juice]

..first off, thanks to all the positive feedback i've gotten, i appreciate that!!!!

[ QUOTE ]
By the way, you shouldn't be talking like you're a fat-*** because you sure as heck aren't one.

[/ QUOTE ]

...ahhh, well thank you, i still think i am though....i think personal perspactive is the best perspective of all....encouragement from 3rd parties is always good, but the way you percieve yourself i think is the one that dictates the steps you take.....and i still think i'm a fat ***....but thank you for the positive thoughts though!!! /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif ....helps my ego just a bit....

[ QUOTE ]
looks like the new digi cam takes some good quality pics.

[/ QUOTE ]

...actually i didn't get the one from Dell that i told you earlier in the week that i'd be getting (the $400 one!), they had it on back order, and they weren't going to be able to ship it out until the 4th of Sept. (and i wanted it before i went on my trip), so i cancelled my order, went to Comp and got me a no name 2 Meg-Pixel one(for $80.00).....working pretty good in my opinion.....

[ QUOTE ]
and no more going to the gym with ZERO hours sleep from the previous night. your body is using nothing but muscle mass for energy when you do this.

[/ QUOTE ]

...yeah, i think i'm done with that!.....i'm actually cutting down to fri. and sat. @ Outback and only mondays @ Grumpy's.....after i get back from my trip...maybe a couple of week later...so sometime in early october i should be down to that schedule....

[ QUOTE ]
but, your clean bulk needs to be more organized than what your current eating habits are like. for example, get some idea of how many calories you are eating and slowly start to raise that just over maintenance and try to stay close to that every day. i understand this is the hardest thing b/c of your schedule though, but it is the most important whether cut or bulk. and its hard for you not to skip meals but by keeping quality nutrients flowing every 3 hours will keep your metabolism revved up and help keep you lean. i would recommend 2 hiit sessions per week to help ward off body fat while taking in calories over maintenance. this will also help speed up your metabolism and since hiit is short and sweet it should fit into your schedule.

[/ QUOTE ]

...i think that's more or less what i was leaning towards......clean bulk.....i believe it'll fit me best, i love lifting, i love eating, but i have to get it together and do it right.....my scheduel (work) sometimes hurts me in that sense, but i think once i get to weekends @ the restaurant, i can have a solid workout schedule from wednesday through sunday, if i can get my diet fixed, i belive i should be able to put on some clean lbs., and hopefully actually clean out some of my gut......

..i would love to get to the point where i can actually see a 6 or a 4 pack, but i believe that's goign to take more from me, since it will require a [*%#*%*#] load more cardio and a [*%#*%*#] load more commitment to my diet......which i don't think i'm ready to do, especially now that i'm setting lifting goals for myself.......

[ QUOTE ]
one thing that is helped me stay lean is to incorporate some of the principles in the following articles

[/ QUOTE ]

...i'll try to read them tomorrow (or later today better yet).....i'm kinda ready to hit the sack now.......and by the way, i'm probably not going in to work tomorrow, i'm hitting the gym after the doc and i got [*%#*%*#] to do @ the house afterwords....and of course Grumpy's later in the evening....hawler!!!!!

...I'll post what the doc said after i get done with my appointment......