Bulk or Cut - 5'10" 182lbs.

[xcubedx]

Age 18: I'm 5'10", 182lbs. have been working out this last week arms and legs. moderately active, did comp swimming for a year, soccer...

goals: not exactly sure, I want to look big and cut.

So is my workout to bulk up muscle mass then cut or should I cut and then clean bulk??

thanks for the help guys. I'm really looking to get into this for the first time and this community looks like a great place to get motivated and fulfill my goals! lol...I just need to know what route to go.

[DannyT]

Originally Posted by xcubedx

Age 18: I'm 5'10", 182lbs. have been working out this last week arms and legs. moderately active, did comp swimming for a year, soccer...

goals: not exactly sure, I want to look big and cut.

So is my workout to bulk up muscle mass then cut or should I cut and then clean bulk??

thanks for the help guys. I'm really looking to get into this for the first time and this community looks like a great place to get motivated and fulfill my goals! lol...I just need to know what route to go.

to bulk or cut, it doesn't depend on your workout, It's all about your diet. as you just started, go on a beginner's routine for 12 weeks. Try eat 5-6 small frequent meals throughout the day with 2-3 hours gap between.

[Dakoders]

Clean bulk with some cardio.

[Perseo]

You need to bulk in order to show some muscle when you cut. The new muscle will also raise your metabolism.
Good Luck and keep us posted!

[Davidb]

I have the same height and weight as you. Now I have not seen 18 in quite some while . For what it is worth, you will gain some BF when you bulk. In my opinion you should find out your BF % from Dougs BF thread and make a decision off of that. For example, my decision, although I wanted to add some muscle was to cut as the BF % I started with was high, a little over 30%. I am at 28% and will not start a bulk until I get to around 15 - 17 then monitor as I bulk and not let it get over 20. Now you are young and do not look like you have nearly the BF I have, but I thought I would share my thought process when deciding to bulk or cut. Hope that helped.

[Toroso]

I think you should start eating better and pumping some iron. You say you want to look big and cut. If you cut now, you will have neither of those things. Get your diet and routine worked out and put on some muscle.

[Jarvis]

Time to bulk!

[cameren06]

I'm gonna have to say bulk.

[IvanTheTerible]

Bulk--(Middle)---Cut

My advise is to search the site for info in Diet and exercise , follow the beginners routine-

Train Hard , eat hard and rest up & you will get some great results !

Try looking at : http://www.muscleandstrength.com/too...alculator.html

As well as : http://www.muscleandstrength.com/workouts/beginner.html FIND SOMETHING that fits your activity level and fits in your time constraints

You should see a plethora of gains within the first 3-4 months once you get accustomed to lifting and eating right you can then make a conscious choice weather to bulk or cut , at the moment I think its to soon to say either. So go strait down the middle !

[CptKnuckles]

I'm actually going to have to disaggree with everyone here and say to cut. I mean by no means do I think your fat but from the fact that you covered your face out It would seem like you might not have very great confidence and I think you will gain more confidence if you cut than if you bulk. Also while on a bulk you gain muscle and fat, and to other people it may just seem like you're gaining fat since they can't see the muscle and it's pretty discouraging to have people telling you if you're watching what you're eating or whatnot when you know perfectly well what you eat, how much you eat and know exactly what you're doing.

One more reason I can think of for cutting first is that with a shirt on your exterior image would improve more than if you bulked (your face would be slimmer, your jaw would show more, shirts would fit nicer, etc..). I'm assuming you just want to look good and feel confident and my opinion is that you would accomplish this quicker if you cut first. And I have no problem with people disaggreeing with me at all, but since you asked for our opinions I thought I should give mine.