difference with lean bulk and cutting?

[pblade]

I have been lean bulking for my current cycle, and the results have been very well. I've stayed at 190 throughout and just kept getting bigger, by dropping my bodyfat and gaining lbm. I am eating extremely clean and diet is spot on. I don't plan on cutting till next year, and I'm trying to grasp the idea of properly cutting. I'm currently eating very clean for my lean bulk, and trying to wonder if I were to cut, would I just drop the amount of calories i'm currently eating and continue eating the same types of clean food?

[Ritch]

Tough to define it exaclty. But here`s my take. Cutting is when you`re in a caloric deficit. Lean bulking you are very selective of your calorie sources, the caloric totals are above maintenance but not by 1000 cals... Often times what comes to play is a carb cut off. Lean bulking often cuts carbs anywhere from the last meal, to the last 3 or even 4, depending how insulin sensitive you are.

What I`ve found is when you cut the carbs for the last 2 meals, you look leaner even if your cals are close to or the same as when you have carbs in the last 2 meals. I even think it`s just smarter nutrition as for those last 2 or 3 meals, you don`t really need the carbs. So the meals are protein+fat meals. I think the fats contribute much more the growth and recuperation than the carbs and you`ll just look better even if the caloric totals are the same as a higher carb diet.

Plus limiting the carbs, I believe puts you in a more "insulin sensitive state" So when you do eat carbs, they go straight to the muscle so to speak... When you keep pilling carbs, eventually there`s a spill over. Lean buling avoids this, so there`s less fat gain.

Make sense?

[pblade]

I am grasping an idea yeah a little more clearer in my mind. When you mention limiting your carbs to put you in a more insulin state, would you incorporate that in a cut as well to help maintain muscle more efficiently; or more directed to lean bulking?

[Ritch]

I am grasping an idea yeah a little more clearer in my mind. When you mention limiting your carbs to put you in a more insulin state, would you incorporate that in a cut as well to help maintain muscle more efficiently; or more directed to lean bulking?

For sure. In a cut, the calories would be lower total, but the same principle. I`d strip the most amount of cals on the last 2 meals. I do this because I can get away with it as I`m a natural ectomorpth. Ideally, if your body allows it you`d have carbs pre workout, post workout and the meal follwing that. The rest are protein+fat meal. I`ve never gone lower than having carbs for 2 meals.

But going from a lean bulk to a get is a seamless transition as the lean bulk you are slightly above maintenance, the cut phase is sligtly below it. I`d say when lean bulking you are no more than 10lbs from the weight you want to be at when you`re done cutting. Give or take a few pounds.

That`s my perception, others could say different.

[pblade]

It makes more sense Ritch, really good way to look at it. I didn't want to go crazy with caloriess just to gain scale weight, resulting in putting more strain on my diet in the future when I wanna cut. I feel healthier lean bulking to, rather than packing in as many calories. Quality over quantity all the way. Thanks again Ritch.

[Ritch]

It makes more sense Ritch, really good way to look at it. I didn't want to go crazy with caloriess just to gain scale weight, resulting in putting more strain on my diet in the future when I wanna cut. I feel healthier lean bulking to, rather than packing in as many calories. Quality over quantity all the way. Thanks again Ritch.

Glad to be of assistance. In the end what I like best about this type of dieting is that if you have about 10lbs to lose, it shouldn`t take more than 6 weeks. From past experience dieting more than 6 weeks (especially natural) things get difficult and muscle mass is lost.

So now when you reach your goal after 6 weeks, you can either maintain your body fat levels (all the while not suffering much) or lean bulk again, repeating the process over again.

But for the person who wants the fastest results possible, something more extreme would be needed I think. I`m more at a point now where I`m fine tuning things and don`t feel like stuffing myself over long periods of time, to then go through periods of suffering...

Keep us posted on your results!