Bulk or Cut?

[LtL]

Great post Fazc. I'm already trying to lean out a bit so that I can fill out my frame with more muscle but ultimately if I'm looking to win world championships I may have to cut down to 90kgs to compete which would mean walking around at 93-94kgs most of the time.

One caveat I would put on this is something that Matt Rhodes once said:

If you are not looking at breaking records, don't worry about cutting weight. Just eat and get stronger.

Dave Tate has a quote that is similar:

Eat until you stop getting stronger, then drop a weight class to make yourself more competitive.

Both quotes are not 100% serious but my take home message from them is that too many lifters shortcut their strength gains by worrying about staying at a certain weight or in a certain class. Get yourself strong first, then worry about which class you need to be in for that strength to win championships.

LtL

[MonsterMike]

LTL hit it perfectly.....If you aren't going for records, or a world championship, or money....cutting is worthless, especially since powerlifting is really about yourself and your own personal goals at the end of the day.....I would just keep getting as strong as you can....likely scenario is you will put on some weight just from training hard....I would also say, as much as you would like to watch the top guys and see how they do it (get bigger and stronger) you cannot compare yourself to them bc you are not them...I dont mean that in a bad way, I mean you have to do what is best for you and where you lift best....I got pretty big about a year ago (big for me anyways, about 178) and I was TERRIBLE! I just didnt hold the weight very well...I felt weak and was unhealthy....for me personally, if I train around 160-165...I am VERY strong and can usually diet down and cut the weight in water before the meet for 148.....You just have to keep trianing, not worry about it, do your best, and see what works for YOU.