How Heavy Should One Lift on a Cut?

Bigger Stronger Leaner
1

I know that one should maintain as much strength as possible, but is there a good %—or better yet—range, of the one-rep I should aim for?

I also do powerlifting and realize that I don’t want to exhaust myself with PR attempts, which I learned the hard way at the beginning of my cut…

2

Go as heavy as your body will allow. That’s mostly what I pick up from articles on the web and on here.
From the last cut I managed, I did cut my calories a bit too drastically towards the end, but I kept my percentages around 75-80%, for lower reps.

How you gauge it is unique to your own abilities/current progress. Even if the weight feels unusually heavy for something you otherwise could hit for higher reps, I think is okay personally.

You can still add in accessory stuff but I wouldn’t add too much since you’re already in a deficit, and wouldn’t wanna burn yourself out.

1 Like
3

As heavy as one is able

3 Likes
4

Don’t change anything in terms of how you’re lifting. The dietary and cardio changes will drop the fat and the training (“what built it will maintain it”) will preserve lbm.

S

6 Likes
5

I have no idea why you don’t hear that more often.

1 Like
6

x2! Some people have the mindset that they need to “back off” and do everything 15-20 reps when on a diet, which wouldn’t be an ideal way to go, but purposely lifting heavier than normal isn’t going to help either. A well structured training plan should have you lifting in a variety of rep ranges, so keep that going and let the nutrition and cardio control your physique.

1 Like