Somewhere in the middle of a cut?

[Speg]

So i've been cutting down pretty well.. originally it was from just under 200lbs to 180.. I stayed at 180 for a while and decided to see just how far I could go.. after several weeks I weighed in today at 166 (im 5'10" fyi). I still see areas that can lose fat and im wondering how far I can go.. my body-pincher-thingy says im 8.0% bodyfat but that just doesnt seem right to me... but what do I know /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The weight is coming off easier than it ever has with my new knowledge on cutting and my new "tricks"/meals. I eat 7 times a day and I workout 5 days a week (soon to be 7) and cardio sat/sun.

I havent trained my forearms hardly at all and im kinda feel what was once one of my 'best' parts is now really lacking.. I am trying hard to catch my left-side body parts with my right as im very uneven looking.

So heres some pics.. and tell me what YOU feel my bodyfat% really is and how much you figure I could still lose (fat wise).. and also any pointers on what you feel I need work on.

ps: I know it looks like my love handles are huge, but unfortunately thats my hip bones. They're very wide =c( I do still have some fat on the fronts/backs of them, but the width of them cannot be reduced any further.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n221/Spegtacular/singlebi.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n221/Spegtacular/backflex.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n221/Spegtacular/side01.jpg

[amino]

No, you can tell that those are your hip bones and not love handles. Looking pretty trim. But how about a better shot of your abs? That's where the last of the fat resides. That would be the best indicator of BF% to me.

[Speg]

[ QUOTE ]
No, you can tell that those are your hip bones and not love handles. Looking pretty trim. But how about a better shot of your abs? That's where the last of the fat resides. That would be the best indicator of BF% to me.

[/ QUOTE ]

no problem. I'll send those today. I have been a fatty all my life and I dont even know if the things im seeing are abs tryin to peek through or not.. you guys will have to be the judge =c)

[Mr.Jack]

Pretty good definition you got there. Add some pics of the legs as well if you can.
You don't seem to have a lot of fat left , the pincher might not be off by much.

[Dzoni]

You do realise how low 8% is? With 8 % body fat you should CLEARLY see the abs with not much fat blocking them and your quad separation should be very clear. If you have those characteristics then you may as well be pretty close to 8 %.

Now as far as your overall look, you look good for 166, I personally am not a big fan of cutting and getting shredded if there is not enough mass to pop out.

I am by no means putting you down at all, it is just my opinion. But I can see on this website a lot of guys like to stay lean all year around and enjoy cutting.

Good work on the cut, are you going to add some serious size next bulk or just plan to stay around the similar size?

Good luck with your goals

[Speg]

again, i'll get up some ab shots and leg shots when I get the chance. kinda running around quickly at the moment.

Dzoni - I honestly want to see just how low I can go.. once I reach that 'stopping' point.. I plan on taking quite a few pics of myself and saving them for myself.. then im going on a true bulk.. i've bulked before but its never really been the 'correct' way. I think now with my increased knowledge of how its done, things should go well and I should see excellent results.

I wish I had more pics of the 'ex-me'. I used to weigh around 200 lbs most of my life and had zero muscle. What little muscle I have now is a big accomplishment for me as i've been lifting only a couple years and probably only a year of it has been correct =c) lol

[Speg]

k heres some more.. keep in mind the wide hip thing!!! lol

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n221/Spegtacular/pic1.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n221/Spegtacular/pic2.jpg
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n221/Spegtacular/pic3.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n221/Spegtacular/pic4.jpg

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n221/Spegtacular/pic5.jpg

[Speg]

heres one of my 'before' pics just to see where I was two years ago. I dont think there is much difference.. but in THIS pic im about 4-5lbs heavier than in the first pics.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n221/Spegtacular/before01.jpg

[amino]

What do you mean not much of a difference??!! I'd roughly place you at 20% bf before and 10% bf now. Great job!

And your definition on your limbs is probably as good as it will get for the mass you have now.

Your abs are staring to look decent already. But if you're going to cut more, this is where you'll see the changes. Start a rigorous ab plan (intense sets with lots of flexing) and you'll be ripped. Chicks love that hipbone that stands out from the muscle wall.

Good luck bulking when the time comes!

[Mr.Jack]

Agreed with amino about the amount of bf before and after , there's a huge difference right there.
When you do start bulking keep it clean and you should add quite some mass easily. Great job so far!

[Trench]

****, you got skinny as hell. I can definitely see more cuts, but personally I'd go back on a clean bulk. I like the thick look with a tight mid section.

[Speg]

[ QUOTE ]
****, you got skinny as hell. I can definitely see more cuts, but personally I'd go back on a clean bulk. I like the thick look with a tight mid section.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah im honestly dying to bulk.. but at the same time im very curious just how low I can go... so I am trying very hard to 'stay strong' and not cheat and keep going on this insanely awesome diet i've worked out for myself.

Once I do decide to bulk im 100% positive im going to start looking SICK in no time... at least I hope.. haha :P

[Trench]

Personally, I won't sacrifice my size for sake of getting ripped. I've always been size first and lean up slowly. The lean look seems to last longer too if done gradually instead of done quickly.

I don't think I'll ever go lower than 175ibs again. I'm currently sitting at around 183ibs, and if I can just get past the fat around my mid-section, I'll be very happy.

[amino]

[ QUOTE ]

I don't think I'll ever go lower than 175ibs again. I'm currently sitting at around 183ibs, and if I can just get past the fat around my mid-section, I'll be very happy.

[/ QUOTE ]

Trench, I used to think the same way. I could never see myself going below 200. But then I had a few stressful years in my life and fond myself getting fat (not bulky, genuine fat) while I lost weight at the same time. I freaked and took the path that got me to where I am today.

But now that I am armed with such great knowledge from this site, I can only imagine what my 1st bulk will result in. But for now, I'm enjoying the site of those rippling abs while I've got them. I worked **** hard for them. =D

[Dzoni]

I may be seen as the devil on this site /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

You guys do realize that abs will be there at 200 lbs, same way they are there at 180lbs. You just need to work hard to gain size, keeping body fat gain minimal, put effort in to do the cardio even on your bulk and drink plenty of green tea.

A few dudes had their abs at 180, now they are 220 and they still have visible abs /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif

For me, if you're 180 with 8 % bf, you go on a bulk and get to 205 with 14% bf, your making it extremely difficult to gain lbm.

Cut back down you may be 184-185 with 8% bf again. So in 6 + months you gained 5 lb? That could have been 10-15 lb if the bulk is done right.

Stay strict with diet, eat a ton of body building food, pay your dues with cardio, green tea and carb control (remember, you can gain size with FATS and keeping carbs controlled) and slowly build that body and within 6+ months you will not have to go through 2 phases of bulking and cutting and you could stay pretty close to your bf (10-11 %) with a good 15-20 lbs on your body. Minus the bf, you're back at 8ish % and with a lot more mass on your body /forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I said it before and I will say it again, you look great and I think sticking with this goal and don't stop now. Nothing worse than breaking a goal and never achieving that feeling of success.

[lifting4life]

I agree with Donzi... like he says "it takes years to build muscle and months to strip fat"

I've been bulking for about 3 1/2 months now. I'm around 205-208lbs and have done the best job keeping the bf gain down to a PERSONAL minimum. Not saying I'm competition shredded by any means, but for being up a good 25-30lbs above contest weight I'm personally proud and happy.

Just takes being on a strict clean diet, little cardio done properly, and training intelligently and REST!

Donzi- I started a "mini cut" (brought my cal's back into mid maitance range) to see what happens. It's only been 1 week but I'm going to take pics on Saturday to show you my "end of FIRST bulk" pics!

[Dzoni]

Sounds good. Are you competing anytime soon? Just wondering why you're on a cut.

To relief yourself from all the cals for a bit? Or is it just to reduce some fat.

You've learned a lot about nutrition man. Good to see, you used to be so confused about it all not long ago. Well done.

[amino]

Didnt wanna hi-jack this thread. So I started a new one at:
http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/forum/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/1269086/an/0/page/0#1269086

[Speg]

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n221/Spegtacular/jc01.jpg

Lets see if this stupid thing works.. I've spent like two days tryin to get this friggin pic up on here... Don't know if you all remember me posting here. It's been quite some time since I have.. I feel like I've made some progress since I've started so I wanted to share. IF this pic works I'll try and post more.

[joneser3eb]

Nice job man. i see you are gaining some size and staying trim. getting some chest size and good ab seperation.

[rootb33r]

nice shoulder/bicep/chest growth... keep building that frame!