Help me make up my mind!!!

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imported_etothepii

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All along, I've been planning to follow up this HST cycle with Madcow 5x5 training to see what kind of strength gains I can make, as well as possible continued hypertrophy. I've made good gains this cycle, as I have been eating very well -- in terms of gross calories, anyway.

But this leads to my problem: belly fat!!! Love handles too. Some shorts are even starting to get tight. I've gained about 8 pounds or so, with one week of HST left.

So now, part of my wants to go through some sort of cutting cycle instead of the strentgh training.

I hate being indecisive like this!!!

A few thoughts about cutting:

As a teacher, my school year is about to start up, and it would be nice to start the school year out lean, with comfortable-fitting clothes.

I don't quite know how to go about cutting. I've got experience losing weight, but never with the goal of maintaining muscle. In my last two HST cycles, I've lost weight in the 15s, so I thought about doing three or four weeks of 15s and cardio, along with a stight calorie deficit.

I really don't want to undo what I've accomplished so far!!!

Anything you can say to help me set a good goal?!?!?

Oh, is cutting and strength training simultaneously a possibility?
 
<div></div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE">Oh, is cutting and strength training simultaneously a possibility?</div>

My friend &quot;Slapshot&quot; has cut down into single digits with HST and is 10lbs short of several of his 5rm's. He lost around 35lbs I think and gained strength. I've never heard of any other program that can do that.
 
Ah. We have a friend with a fat problem and Slapshot sent him this formula that he used to get his results:
Lol...lots of cardio, lots of lifting heavy, strict-ass diet.

<div></div><div id="QUOTEHEAD">QUOTE</div><div id="QUOTE">Think about it. At my peak I was working out 11 to 12 times per week, 4 days per week of lifting twice per day, the other three days doing cardio, all the while adhering like white on rice to my diet. It was during those 8 or so weeks where I made the most progress. If you wanna look like I do (or better), you have to put your time in at the gym. No way around it.</div>
 
Chart your calories, keep a daily journal; that is critical. I used a 3x5 to cut and moved to a 5x5 routine and have not lost strength since counting calories. Without a journal it's a crap-shoot.

I absolutely hate cutting and can say the best thing I did to help was to start keeping a daily journal. Find your maintenance number of calories and drop about 300-500.
 
If you want to cut...just increase your frequency clean up your diet.

Then go a slow bulk...thats sounds like it would fit you more..instead of walking around all year too bulky?

Try hst increased frequency....or Waterburys 10x3 for fat loss.
 
Thanks for the input, everybody. I've made up my mind. I'm going to do what Joe said, cut and then slow bulk from that point on.

I'm glad I did this current cycle the way I have, that is, high calorie. I've made great size gains, and I have the experience of what I think is a true bulking cycle. I'll have this as a reference point for future cycles.

But the fact is, I'm lifting weights for appearance and health benefits. Being over fat, even temporarily, is contrary to those goals.

As far as strength training goes, I have increased my 5RM on all my lifts this cycle. I'm not training to be any kind of a competetive lifter or anything, so I am happy with the gains I get from HST, even though they may be less than a strentgh-specific program.

I'm going to start a thread on cutting in the HST area, just to attract a little more input.

Thanks again for the advice, guys.
 
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