To Start Bulking or Cut More Weight?

[discombobulate]

I'm 160lbs, 5'10 and 25.

I've lost around 10lbs or so in the last couple of months through playing squash and eating better. My calories wouldn't be above 1500 i'd say on a normal day.

My aim is to put on a bit of bulk and muscle up but my problem is i've still got a noticeable beer belly although i've dropped a size on my belt.

What i'm looking for is advice on whether I would be better trying to lose the belly first before going up a bit in weight or will I still continue to lose it provided I keep up my cardio.

I'm going to up the weights training this week anyway as I bought a new bike after mine was robbed so I don't have the excuse of an hour round walk to the gym.

Also I have a pretty poor appetite; I heard somewhere that milk can be an alternative to shakes to use for bulking if you don't get all the food required. Is this true?

Thanks for any help

[Transform]

post diet and full training program in detail

[corkcomp]

unless your a pro body builder I dont see any reason to set yourself up for bulking + cutting cycles ... You could easily loose body fat by lifting heavy weights and eatting cleanly, around maintenance ... your body weight may stay the same or increase very slightly = result!

[discombobulate]

Originally Posted by Transform

post diet and full training program in detail

To be honest its been a bit all over the place the last couple of months with holidays and work. Things should be settled next week though. Usually Weetabix for breakfast, chicken/ham sandwich for lunch and then maybe chicken/steak/pork chop, baby potatoes / mash and carrots or similar in the evening. Fruit smoothie usually thrown in most days as well.

Training will now be gym or squash for an hour an evening (was playing squash 4 times a week probably down that to 2 and then gym 3-4 times. Gym workout needs a complete overhaul as i've basically been doing a light full body workout and want to up that.

[discombobulate]

Originally Posted by corkcomp

unless your a pro body builder I dont see any reason to set yourself up for bulking + cutting cycles ... You could easily loose body fat by lifting heavy weights and eatting cleanly, around maintenance ... your body weight may stay the same or increase very slightly = result!

Hey not looking to do it in cycles. Just to start off with I thought it would be best to go back to scratch lose the fat first before getting the calories up to a normal amount to build muscle. Probably going completely arseways about it......

Think I based what i'm doing on being told its not really possible to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time

[corkcomp]

Originally Posted by discombobulate

Hey not looking to do it in cycles. Just to start off with I thought it would be best to go back to scratch lose the fat first before getting the calories up to a normal amount to build muscle. Probably going completely arseways about it......

Think I based what i'm doing on being told its not really possible to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time

thats not necessarily true .. I managed to drop a waist size in the past and a lot of belly fat while staying at the same weight ... When you lift heavy you will require energy to repair muscle damage and there is no reason some of this energy cant come from fat stores?

[discombobulate]

Originally Posted by corkcomp

thats not necessarily true .. I managed to drop a waist size in the past and a lot of belly fat while staying at the same weight ... When you lift heavy you will require energy to repair muscle damage and there is no reason some of this energy cant come from fat stores?

Thanks for that. As a matter of interest too what would you base as lifting heavy. I don't mean weight wise but more number of sets and reps obviously pushing yourself. Would I be better with more reps less weight or less reps more weight?

[corkcomp]

Originally Posted by discombobulate

Thanks for that. As a matter of interest too what would you base as lifting heavy. I don't mean weight wise but more number of sets and reps obviously pushing yourself. Would I be better with more reps less weight or less reps more weight?

it depends on the exercise and / or body part involved but I try not to overthink the number of reps - for me it can vary between 5 and 15 reps per set and between 2 and 4 sets - the main thing is that I always lift to failure .. IMO if your lifting to failure you will probably stimulate muscle growth no matter how many reps - i am open to correction on this though?

[discombobulate]

Originally Posted by corkcomp

it depends on the exercise and / or body part involved but I try not to overthink the number of reps - for me it can vary between 5 and 15 reps per set and between 2 and 4 sets - the main thing is that I always lift to failure .. IMO if your lifting to failure you will probably stimulate muscle growth no matter how many reps - i am open to correction on this though?

Should failure be on every set or just the last one? I currently only go for failure on my last set. For the other sets i'd usually be about 2 reps away from failure.

[Degsy]

Originally Posted by corkcomp

is that I always lift to failure .. IMO if your lifting to failure you will probably stimulate muscle growth no matter how many reps - i am open to correction on this though?

I dont agree..lifting to failure the whole time is a very good way to hit a wall...especialy with benching.

[discombobulate]

Originally Posted by Degsy

I dont agree..lifting to failure the whole time is a very good way to hit a wall...especialy with benching.

I've found that happen to me myself before. Would you recommend doing similar muscle group exercises in a row or mixing them up. e.g.
Chest x 2\3 e.g flat, incline and decline
Shoulders x 2\3
Biceps x 2\3
Back x 2\3
Legs x 2\3

or do 1 exercise on each and then repeat with different exercises each part. Not my program just wondering whether its best to group similar areas in a routine or mix it up

[Colm_OReilly]

It's best to do things like squat, press, bench, deadlift, clean, snatch, pull ups, dips, push ups, skip, row, run, lunge, hanstands.

By heavy, it's generally taken to meant 3 to 5 sets of 3 to 5 reps.

[dioltas]

Originally Posted by Degsy

I dont agree..lifting to failure the whole time is a very good way to hit a wall...especialy with benching.

+1 I've found this too.

[discombobulate]

Originally Posted by Colm_OReilly

It's best to do things like squat, press, bench, deadlift, clean, snatch, pull ups, dips, push ups, skip, row, run, lunge, hanstands.

By heavy, it's generally taken to meant 3 to 5 sets of 3 to 5 reps.

Hi thanks again. What I was more wondering though is the order. For example if I was to do:
bench
pushups
squats
lunges

would it be better to do in the order just mentioned or something like
bench
squats
pushups
lunges

giving chest a rest before going back again then legs a rest before going back