T Nation

Advice for My Goals

Beginners
#1

Hey guys just want some opinions on the best route to achieving my goals…

I am currently 160 lbs, around 16-17% bf at 5ft11

Age 26

I have spent the last few months cutting down from 20% bf @ 185 lbs but starting to feel really skinny but still got the stubborn belly fat.

I am now thinking am I best bulking up to a certain weight before cutting down again at hopefully a higher weight next time with more muscle or do I continue the cut until I am around 10% and bulk properly from there?

My concern if I decide to bulk is that within a month my belly fat will get worse and be very demotivating again!

But reading a lot of stuff on here from PX etc I feel like I shouldnt be cutting until I have a much better base, hence the skinnyfat situation where I dont think I even look like I goto the damn gym.

My main goal is to get massive if that helps, but preferably without being fat, but if it takes getting a little fat to get there then so be it!

What would you guys do?

#2

how long have you been training?

#3

about a year half assed and a month properly

I read my natural potential would be around 196 lbs @ 15% bodyfat so this is my long term goal

Am I best just bulking as high as I can keeping an eye on the bodyfat?

#4

[quote]Iron.Dan wrote:
about a year half assed and a month properly

I read my natural potential would be around 196 lbs @ 15% bodyfat so this is my long term goal

Am I best just bulking as high as I can keeping an eye on the bodyfat?[/quote]

In that case, I would just suggest you eat a lot of clean food, and go easy on the carbs. Just eat a big serving of meat (or eggs), a vegetable, a pice of fruit, and if you’re still hungry a carb source, 3 to 4 times a week. Train hard and don’t worry about it.

At your stage (pretty much just starting out) you can definitely gain muscle and get leaner without getting too complicated with the diet.

#5

[quote]Iron.Dan wrote:
I read my natural potential would be around 196 lbs @ 15% bodyfat so this is my long term goal
[/quote]
You based your plan for your body on an internet comment?

#6

[quote]Just_Matt wrote:

[quote]Iron.Dan wrote:
I read my natural potential would be around 196 lbs @ 15% bodyfat so this is my long term goal
[/quote]
You based your plan for your body on an internet comment?[/quote]

Forgot to address this. OP, don’t ever listen to these people. They have no fucking clue what the hell they’re talking about. They base their calculations on absolute crap. You can and will get much larger then 196 pounds.

#7

It’s going to take time and consistency to get massive buddy. You don’t know your full potential until you actually try. For all we know you can end up being over 200 pounds.
What I would do is have a clean diet, and continue to train hard.

#8

To be fair it was more a minimum target than a maximum target but I am in this for the long game so I am not setting any upper limit.

Do many people get over 200 lbs (fairly lean) naturally?

#9

Fuck that natural potential bs. Lift harder than everyone else, eat, sleep, repeat, become apex.

#10

[quote]Chris87 wrote:

[quote]Iron.Dan wrote:
about a year half assed and a month properly

I read my natural potential would be around 196 lbs @ 15% bodyfat so this is my long term goal

Am I best just bulking as high as I can keeping an eye on the bodyfat?[/quote]

In that case, I would just suggest you eat a lot of clean food, and go easy on the carbs. Just eat a big serving of meat (or eggs), a vegetable, a pice of fruit, and if you’re still hungry a carb source, 3 to 4 times a week. Train hard and don’t worry about it.

At your stage (pretty much just starting out) you can definitely gain muscle and get leaner without getting too complicated with the diet.[/quote]

So you think I should just focus on getting the protein in, upping the weights and seeing if the scale moves in the right direction? sounds so obvious when I type it back out haha.

Thanks everyone, especially chris for the help so far.

Would be great to add another mass monster to T-Nation in the long distance future!

#11

[quote]Iron.Dan wrote:

Do many people get over 200 lbs (fairly lean) naturally?

[/quote]

Hell yes. Just about everyone can if that’s their goal, unless they are super short.

The reason you here people saying it’s hard to be over 200 pounds natural is because they are generally talking about contest condition bodybuilders (who are usually shorter), and that’s a whole different ball game then an average or tall guy being 200 pounds and just fairly lean instead of contest ready.

#12

[quote]Iron.Dan wrote:

[quote]Chris87 wrote:

[quote]Iron.Dan wrote:
about a year half assed and a month properly

I read my natural potential would be around 196 lbs @ 15% bodyfat so this is my long term goal

Am I best just bulking as high as I can keeping an eye on the bodyfat?[/quote]

In that case, I would just suggest you eat a lot of clean food, and go easy on the carbs. Just eat a big serving of meat (or eggs), a vegetable, a pice of fruit, and if you’re still hungry a carb source, 3 to 4 times a week. Train hard and don’t worry about it.

At your stage (pretty much just starting out) you can definitely gain muscle and get leaner without getting too complicated with the diet.[/quote]

So you think I should just focus on getting the protein in, upping the weights and seeing if the scale moves in the right direction? sounds so obvious when I type it back out haha.

Thanks everyone, especially chris for the help so far.

Would be great to add another mass monster to T-Nation in the long distance future!
[/quote]

Yep. I wouldn’t be too focused on the scale though. Go by the mirror and how your clothes fit.

#13

does this routine look okay?

Chest, Shoulders, Triceps

  • Incline press - warm-up sets, 1 work set
  • Flat flyes - 1 work set
  • Millitary press - 1 warm-up, 1 work set
  • Lateral flyes - 1 work set
  • Rear delt machine - 1 work set
  • Tricep pushdowns - 1 warm-up, 1 work set
  • Lying tricep extensions - 1 work-set

Back, Bis

  • Lat pull down - warm-ups, work set
  • Bent-over rows - work set
  • Shrugs - work set
  • Standing BB curls - warm up, work set
  • Concentration curl - work set

Quads, Hams, Calves

  • Squats - warm-ups, 1 work set
  • Leg press - work set
  • Leg extension - work set
  • Leg curl - warm-up, work set
  • Standing calf raise - work set

1 day on - 1 off, repeat

Reps 6-8

#14

If you want a push/pull/legs split, search “do this routine instead of that dumb one”, there are several good ones in there.