Could someone please explain "cutting" to me??

Im pretty sure I know what it means; getting ripped, lean, etc? I see some on here post "Im cutting", so could someone explain to me what you're doing in this process?
 
Creating a deficit in the calories your expending and consuming.
 
I'm going to post on here, because I think something should be said.

Science has proven a lot of things. One of those things is that weight can only be obtained through calorie deficit. WEIGHT LOSS cannot only be obtained during calorie deficit.

Many people on these forums have found what is right for them is that they gain mass first, then cut the extra pounds. But, that is not how ever body works.

A lot of it has to do with timing. You can still technically be in a calorie deficit and STILL GAIN MUSCLE. It is all about nutrient timing.

Your muscles need the necessary vitamins, minerals, compounds, or whatever, when they are needed the most...after a workout. I've seen HUGE calorie deficits with clients but they still managed to see muscle growth.
 
I'm going to post on here, because I think something should be said.

Science has proven a lot of things. One of those things is that weight can only be obtained through calorie deficit. WEIGHT LOSS cannot only be obtained during calorie deficit.

Many people on these forums have found what is right for them is that they gain mass first, then cut the extra pounds. But, that is not how ever body works.

A lot of it has to do with timing. You can still technically be in a calorie deficit and STILL GAIN MUSCLE. It is all about nutrient timing.

Your muscles need the necessary vitamins, minerals, compounds, or whatever, when they are needed the most...after a workout. I've seen HUGE calorie deficits with clients but they still managed to see muscle growth.

That's true. But it's very hard for someone to dig themselves that deep into nutrition and training. And there is no premade way to do it if you want to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time. It will take a lot of time experimenting. That's why I usually just recommend a calorie deficit if someone wants to lose fat and a surplus if someone wants to gain muscle. It's quite simple (IMO) if they are asking a question like what to do to lose fat, then they are not ready to get into the advanced stage of experimenting and losing fat and gaining muscle at the same time (unless they are complete beginners, since we often see it happen in beginners, at least that's what everyone says..)

Also, don't you mean that "fat loss" cannot only be obtained through a calorie deficit? Since if you are in a calorie deficit you will lose weight and visa versa, but you can lose fat while in a small surplus if you do things right. Or am I missunderstanding you here?
 
Also, don't you mean that "fat loss" cannot only be obtained through a calorie deficit? Since if you are in a calorie deficit you will lose weight and visa versa, but you can lose fat while in a small surplus if you do things right. Or am I missunderstanding you here?

indeed, that is what I meant. you never misunderstand me.:cool3:
 
But to put simply for the OP; ‘cutting’ comes from the good old bulk/cut cycle that many people go through when trying to gain mass. The idea is that you gain muscle while in a calorie surplus and just accept a little fat gain along the way and when it comes to the summer (or whenever you want to get lean by) you ‘cut’. Which is just a fancy way of saying diet really; you lower the calories you consume to below maintenance in order to drop fat

I’m not going to go into whether it’s the best or only way to go as it’s obviously been proven that you can drop fat and gain muscle at the same time but the bulk/cut cycle is still adopted by many
 
"Cutting" simply refers to dropping Body Fat, to show case the muscle underneath. There is less fat between the skin and muscle, less fat within the muscle, which (when BF is low enough) will show the shape and genetic disposition of the muscle.

There is no such thing as a cookie cutter diet/training routine to get cut, it simply can vary per person, in what "it takes" to get the job completed.

No one wants to lose hard earned muscle when cutting, but, when one manipulates the diet, to solicit weight loss, there is a "high probability" this will occur, but one can have degree of control if there are smart with their diet/training approach. This "assumes" one is post their new to weight training period.

When faced with a calorie deficit (to keep it simple), the body has a couple of choices to obtain energy/need nutrients:

Muscle tissue and Fat tissue. Muscle tissue is very calorie dense (has a small amount of calories per gram, is made of primarily water, some proteins, and other nutrients). And, is one reason the muscle can look "flat" when manipulating carbohydrates lower, because it takes water out of the muscle (temporarily, when one returns to eating carbohydrates, the water returns).

Fat on the other hand, has a higher calorie count per gram/per pound, little water, and is less nutrient dense than muscle. And, like the Astronaut from Apollo 13 said: "Houston we have a problem". We have a rather obvious disparity. Muscle simply encompasses a quality source meal as compared to the composition of fat, and will turn to it, in time of need. The severity and brevity of this internal meal can be varied, but it is a close kin in how the person handles their diet and training.

IMPORTANT-->Some will tell you that cutting simply refers to lowering calories to reduce body fat. I take a different sort of opinion and position on this; however, and say simply it is NOT about the mighty calorie ALONE.

Yes, you read that right: It is simply not about the almighty calorie alone.

A cut can encompass a family blend (alone and together at times) of the following:

• Calorie Manipulation
• Macro Nutrient Manipulation
• Depletion of Glucose Stores

And, how the above three are manipulated "together" simply depends on the persons starting position (how high or low body fat is, personal goals, etc, etc).

For example: Notwithstanding a calorie deficit, the manipulation macro nutrients and manipulation of one's glucose stores can be PARAMOUNT for some wanting to dip into single digit body fat.

In addition, where manipulating calories simply by defining a deficit once worked (alone) when Body Fat was high. A person may stagnate (keeping things equal) at a certain point, and "may" be required to dip into manipulating the macro nutrients and/or reducing or depleting glucose stores, in order to obtain the desired-lower- level of body fat (such as single digits).

And, in some cases an educated approach in a "severity level" that is not "traditionally/commercially" recommended. When the body fights unfair, we fight back with unfair tactics, buddy.

While I advocate not changing ones weight training approach whether cutting or bulking, there is a time, I do recommend a change. And, this period (at least in my opinion) is when the primary purpose is to deplete glucose stores through manipulating the macro nutrients with the purpose to….solicit single digit (as an example) body fat.

For example, the rep ranges can change from what one was doing normally, as well as, rest periods, etc. To IMPACT energy as much as possible. Believe me, this isn't the greatest experience in the world, LOL. ;)

While it may not be the case (for everyone). Generally the lower your body fat gets (and wanting to get lower, such as single digits), the more one has to be concerned with what goes into the mouth, and the more manipulation it takes of the three I mentioned--to solicit the desired very low body fat.

The point, I want you to remember is this: Be wise in your diet, and learn how to manipulate the things you do have control over (assuming you are healthy). Always take the best and wisest route to your goal. Educate yourself. And, when the body tells you (such as when you plateau, or body fat is low), that something isn't right, you will be armed with tools to fight the winning battle.

It can be more than the mighty calorie, it is simply the totality of the diet as a whole unit.

Know how to use it.


Best wishes,


Chillen
 
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Its a lot more comprehensive then I thought. I greatly appreciate all of the info.

I do not know you current bodily disposition; however, it isn't that complicated. To the "average" person simply wanting to reduce fat issue, all one needs to do in the most basic sense, is set an adequate calorie deficit. If this is your "primary" goal, then learn what your approximated MT-Line is, and then set a reasonable calorie deficit. Watch your progress and adjust according to your personal feed back.

My other post was more general (then pointing specifically to you). Some get to one track minded when trying to cut (and I say this for one that is in the correct position: good muscle after a bulk, and wanting to cut fat, and then cut it some more to get to or close to single digits), when in fact their are two other components within ones diet they can use to battle body fat at the right time.

Have you determined your MT-Line?

What type of calorie deficits have you planned on?


Best wishes for your success,


Chillen
 
I do not know you current bodily disposition; however, it isn't that complicated. To the "average" person simply wanting to reduce fat issue, all one needs to do in the most basic sense, is set an adequate calorie deficit. If this is your "primary" goal, then learn what your approximated MT-Line is, and then set a reasonable calorie deficit. Watch your progress and adjust according to your personal feed back.

My other post was more general (then pointing specifically to you). Some get to one track minded when trying to cut (and I say this for one that is in the correct position: good muscle after a bulk, and wanting to cut fat, and then cut it some more to get to or close to single digits), when in fact their are two other components within ones diet they can use to battle body fat at the right time.

Have you determined your MT-Line?

What type of calorie deficits have you planned on?


Best wishes for your success,


Chillen


I will be honest, I have no idea what MT-Line is. I already eat rather healthy, but do tend to sometimes go for a hamburger once or twice a week. Going to be cutting that out real quick. Maybe a burger once a month.
 
Im pretty sure I know what it means; getting ripped, lean, etc? I see some on here post "Im cutting", so could someone explain to me what you're doing in this process?

Cutting comes from the root word cut, which means "to penetrate with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument or object"; straight from the dictionary.:sport: :yelrotflmao:
 
I will be honest, I have no idea what MT-Line is. I already eat rather healthy, but do tend to sometimes go for a hamburger once or twice a week. Going to be cutting that out real quick. Maybe a burger once a month.

Some things get misunderstood when calorie deficiting to lose tissue for the average healthy person with a lot of weight to lose (for example):

The diet does NOT have to be 100% clean--in the face of a calorie deficit.

In other words, allowing a so called bad item moderately controlled within one's diet, can work, keep sanity, and one can still lose fat tissue.

Example: If one were to eat three cheese burgers, and (hypothetically) there was "still" a 1,000 calorie deficit, one is going to lose "tissue". The body cannot pull energy out of nothing (since you didn't eat enough, hypothetically), and thus has no choice but to look at itself for food--despite the fact that one had consumed a bad food item so-to-speak.

I say this in its most basic and RAW sense, leaving out....other nutritional variables and methods.

Therefore, in its basic and raw sense, if you are going to eat food you like, that are not in line with being necessarily healthy, just account for it numerically within your diet boundaries. IMO, its best to eliminate bad foods, but I know we have many variables in personalities and life styles, where this can become difficult for some. For these, moderation within the rules.......are the key issue.

As one goes along (especially as BF get really low), the rules "can become different", in the sense of "what" to manipulate/eliminate in ones diet, so bare this in mind. Learn to adapt to "your personal feedback".

Within the Nutrition 101 thread you will find some valuable information on how to determine your "approximated" calories. Or you can use the ready made input web page in the 2nd link.

The MT-Line (as I refer to it), is the amount of calories "needed" in a 24 hour period, with "all activities" considered during the course of a day. It is this approximated MT-Line, that one would drop calories from to form a calorie deficit--in the attempt to solicit tissue loss.

Go here and read on some basic and fundamental information:


Nutrition 101


Delaware Consumer Health Information Services (Originally Posted by Wrangell)



Best wishes for your continued success,


Chillen
 
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