Training While Cutting

[BendtheBar]

Originally Posted by recarp82

i switched from 5x5 to a 8-12 reps since i started cutting.

That's not a big issue because we know you are progressing and the rep difference isn't huge.

I see guys every day who think they must go to 15-20 reps and drop the weight to "shred a muscle".

[AdamF]

So basically if you are on a "cut", as long as you are progressing in either weight or reps, or just not regressing at all, you can safely assume that you are keeping the muscle you currently have?

I ask because I am overweight and am trying to lose a lot of fat, but I did not alter my program at all and am still seeing rep and weight records. So is the weight I am losing primarily fat then?

I started adding in a bit of HIIT in the form of Kbell swings and BB complexes after lifting days just to kind of help things along. Am I totally wrong in any of this, or am I on the right track?

[Rich Knapp]

Originally Posted by AdamF

So basically if you are on a "cut", as long as you are progressing in either weight or reps, or just not regressing at all, you can safely assume that you are keeping the muscle you currently have?

I ask because I am overweight and am trying to lose a lot of fat, but I did not alter my program at all and am still seeing rep and weight records. So is the weight I am losing primarily fat then?

I started adding in a bit of HIIT in the form of Kbell swings and BB complexes after lifting days just to kind of help things along. Am I totally wrong in any of this, or am I on the right track?

Cutting is all cals in and cals burned by end of day. For your weight lifting the higher rep just use more cals. If you want to do power reps and a 5 x 5 set up just increase your cardio to burn the extra cals.

As long as you burn more cals by days end than you take in you use fat energy.

Personaly I don't change my work outs because of cutting for a comp show, I just lower carbs and add cardio.

[AdamF]

Thanks a ton Rich!! Quick question and not to hijack the thread in any way, how far do you cut your carbs and how big is the effect on your training sessions?

[Rich Knapp]

Originally Posted by AdamF

Thanks a ton Rich!! Quick question and not to hijack the thread in any way, how far do you cut your carbs and how big is the effect on your training sessions?

For my LBM I start at 150g and by the show month I'm down to 100g. With a re-feed once a week with a 100g carb increase. Slow drops to not shock the body.
I generally make PR's until the month before my show. This is because the body has been in deficient mode for so long all the stores are used up and the body goes into save its self mode.