Curious about refeeding after a cut?

Supercell

So I've been reading various articles about cuts and while they seem to go into great length about the cut they don't ever seem to mention the after.

My concern would be that if you go back to eating a normal (healthy) diet with moderate carb intake again that you'll just balloon up into a fatty in no time, kinda like the inevitable result of going on a certain power diet that shall not be mentioned...

Any of the regulars here any advice on this?

tribulus

It depends on your definition of cut. When most people go on a "cut" it's just cut back on bread, try and drink less!

However with actual cuts, the few people I know (G'em for one, I think Hanley also) said that they actually ballooned up (in a good way). They reported very quick increases in strength and size. All that's anecdotal of course but it makes sense if you're training consistently and then start feeding your body enough carbs and cals after restricting it for long enough.

Hanley

If you're training hard and dieting at the same time your body will be crying out for kcals. Once you stop restricting them you'll almost certainly put on a considerable amount of muscle in a short time.

This has happened me twice, early last year I dropped around 7-8kg over the course of as many weeks, after I started eating normal amounts again I got alot bigger very quickly.

Then late last year I was training ultra high volume and eating my normal amounts of food. I was struggling to keep my weight <92kg for comp purporses so I said screw it, it's time to go up a weight class. Once I started eating more I absolutely exploded. I think I was "due" this muscle but wasn't getting it since I was training so hard but not eating enough to support growth, just recovery. I was up over 101kg in about 3 months. Some of this was fat, but more than half of it was certainly muscle. I'm confident that I put on at least 7-8kg of pure muscle in the last year as a result of this.

Of course in all things like this you need to be careful and not go TOO overboard.

BTW: Trib, where ya been man?? Have you finally got that Thesis out of the way?? You back training yet?? Hercs misses you.

tribulus

Lol, I'll be back //said in best Austrian accent.

Yeah finished it last week, i've been training since then, be back in on the weekend!

amazingemmet

How you go back to eating normally depends on how you done your cut.

If you went on a low carb diet for it you need to introduce carbs slowly at first to avoid piling on the weight. For the first week you add in 50gms post workout, then the next week add 50gms pre. stay at that level for another couple of weeks then you can start adding in carbs with your normal meals.

Transform

I personally would favour adding no fat at all while adding muscle and while dropping fat just adopt a Low GI, good fats and protein at all meals plan.

There is no need at all to add on excess fat at any stage of training unless you are mucking up your diet.

I only see a very low carb approach necessary for those that are really struggling to drop weight and those that do not train hard enough and do not use weights.

Hanley

Transform wrote: »

I personally would favour adding no fat at all while adding muscle and while dropping fat just adopt a Low GI, good fats and protein at all meals plan.

There is no need at all to add on excess fat at any stage of training unless you are mucking up your diet.

I would challenge anyone who already has a good amount of muscle mass to add another 7 or 8kg a year without putting on ANY fat.

Besides, when it comes to powerlifting, it's all leverages. 1kg of fat isn't as beneficial as 1kg of muscle, but it all helps.

justsomebloke

Ok rather then offering an answer I would offer a question. What has the cut involved and what was the duration of said cut

Supercell

Thanks for all the replies guys.
I'm thinking of going on a 12 week programme after Easter and just wanted to be straight in my head as to the after effects.
Most of you probably know I did a certain shítty powder diet thing before and ballooned up afterwards and am/was very afraid the same would happen again after sticking to a proper cut, but seems hopefully not, any ballooning should hopefully be positive as long as I keep on track diet wise.

Hanley

Just don't go crazy. You can't expect to go from eating 2000kcals to say 5000 and for it all to be muscle. I'm sure you know that, but it's worth reenforcing.

justsomebloke

also remember that your maintence calorie level is going to change as well and should be lower come the end of the cut so don't just back back to eating what you where before the cut either

Transform

Would it just be good to get started doing something manageable rather than going bonkers on some crazy 'cut' - god i hate that term, just say drop body fat and get in shape.

amazingemmet

Transform wrote: »

Would it just be good to get started doing something manageable rather than going bonkers on some crazy 'cut' - god i hate that term, just say drop body fat and get in shape.

Come on Transform, you've been in the industry long enough to know that you can't justify a good eat everything in sight "bulk" if you don't do a cut first.

Transform

amazingemmet wrote: »

Come on Transform, you've been in the industry long enough to know that you can't justify a good eat everything in sight "bulk" if you don't do a cut first.

Yes it looks very like more talking about what to do and then thinking about what to do then ehhh no action just more talking then thinking etc.

John F. Kennedy:
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them".

arybvtcw0eolkf

OP, usually the people I've trained with over the year's (mostly competitive bodybuilders and fighters) talk about 'cutting' for competition and accept that its going to be temperary.

A good case in mind is Ricky Hatton, off season he balloons then comes in lean & hard. After his fight he's back up his weights. (I'm just using Ricky as most people would know him).

I think what your looking at is a lifestyle change, ie you want to drop to a certain weight either for health reasons, or just to look better - if thats the case your looking at a lifestyle change.

If you don't change your lifestyle for good you'll reach your wanted weight and start eating like old again, and you'll balloon.

Supercell

amazingemmet wrote: »

Come on Transform, you've been in the industry long enough to know that you can't justify a good eat everything in sight "bulk" if you don't do a cut first.

I'd so love to put that in my signature, any problem with that guys?

Supercell

Transform wrote: »

Yes it looks very like more talking about what to do and then thinking about what to do then ehhh no action just more talking then thinking etc.

John F. Kennedy:
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them".

Sticking to a diet where I can actually eat is going to be a cakewalk (!) compared to the powder crap one I did before.

I'm busy weighing foods, calculating nutritional values and calculating meals for consumption during the cut.

Kinda hard to hide here if it didnt happen.
Don't wrote me off yet!

Supercell

Mairt wrote: »

OP, usually the people I've trained with over the year's (mostly competitive bodybuilders and fighters) talk about 'cutting' for competition and accept that its going to be temperary.

I think what your looking at is a lifestyle change, ie you want to drop to a certain weight either for health reasons, or just to look better - if thats the case your looking at a lifestyle change.

If you don't change your lifestyle for good you'll reach your wanted weight and start eating like old again, and you'll balloon.

Thanks Mairt,

I hear you loud and clear.
However I'm a very different person to the one that put on a lot of weight after loosing a lot on a powder diet (do not speak its name...) .
I'm lifting and eating pretty well, and I'm loosing weight slowly which is all great.
I rather loose fat a bit faster and then focus on slow muscle and strength gains though!
I'm going on a cut and then back to the way i'm eating right now which should be fine, the days of donuts and chocolate bars for lunch are gone.

Your advice is spot on though and does help to keep me focused on the goal and i thank you for that.

My personal goal is to resurrect the before and after thread that was posted last year and post my new year pics and my end of year pics..
My ones from last year already look a lot different to me now

Hanley

Any ideas what bf% your at these days longfield?

Supercell

Hanley wrote: »

Any ideas what bf% your at these days longfield?

Don't know, too embarrassed to find out truth be told.
Thats gonna change too.

amazingemmet

Longfield wrote: »

I'd so love to put that in my signature, any problem with that guys?

You can quote me on that one alright