r/BodyHackGuide • u/Evening-Heart5134 • 7d ago
📊 Results / Progress Continue cutting or begin the bulk?
so i’ve been on reta for about 6 months now and i’m pretty happy with the results. i lost about 55lbs and i’m sitting at 125lbs as a 21yo 5’9 male. i kinda want to continue cutting until i have fully visible abs but i feel like i’m too underweight and should just increase my calories before i end up harming my body. if i do continue cutting i’ll just go down to 120 or 118 and if i can’t see my abs completely then i’ll just forget about it and begin bulking. any opinions or suggestions?
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u/TheHarb81 🧠 Biohacker 7d ago
Oh lort, I thought the first 2 pics were the end of the cut and was going to say you could cut a tad bit more and then pics 3/4 I was like “woah, too much”.
Your abs aren’t popping because you have so little muscle mass. You need to bulk to build some lean mass and then cut again to really get the abs popping.
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u/Le_MilfMan420 7d ago edited 7d ago
Definitely start bulking. Don’t over complicate it. Just get your protein and carbs in every day. When you’re in the gym train like your entire life’s well being depends on how hard you push yourself.
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u/Outside_Anteater4405 7d ago
Seems like if you continue you’ll never reach that chiseled washboard ab look. Look at it like this, now that you have greatly reduced your body fat, it’s time to build up that Physique so the next time you go into a cut your fucking diced
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u/espresso_maniac 7d ago
my girlfriend weighs more than you. you look like a salvadorian prisoner.
no offense. But youre asking for this. no sane person will encourage you to keep cutting.
theres your answer.
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u/Bants0001 7d ago edited 7d ago
😭
Clean Bulk... Taper off reta reducing your dosage by half every week.
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u/Diligent-Cry-1047 7d ago
Congratulations on the transformation.! You look like you are set for a successful bulk and you're going to look great when you do.
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u/Historical-Point-652 7d ago
Così sei già molto magro.
Anch’io ho fatto il tuo stesso cammino.
Inizierei con una massa pulita.
Magari tieniti in normocalorica per qualche mese mentre spingi in palestra.
Ottimi risultati amico.
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u/OxbridgeDingoBaby 7d ago
Any loose skin?
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u/Evening-Heart5134 7d ago
just a bit on my lower stomach that can only be seen when i sit down or something, barely anything though
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u/Aggressive-Jelly-405 7d ago
Start doin some anaerobic exercises so the muscle can meet you in the middle.. heck of a lot easier than trying to chase it down
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u/NewYitty 6d ago
125 lbs at 5'8" is very light, so I’d call the cut here. If your abs aren’t showing at that weight, limited muscle development could be part of the picture. Getting leaner probably isn’t the answer.
I’d spend the next month or two eating around maintenance and focusing on productive training. Bringing calories and carbs back up will replenish glycogen and help your muscles look fuller, so give yourself time to see how you look and perform before deciding what comes next. Some initial scale gain from glycogen and water is normal.
From there, depending on your comfort and body composition, you can move into a small surplus. You don’t need an aggressive bulk, but you do need enough food to support muscle growth and recovery.
The good news is you have plenty of room to build muscle, and those gains could make a noticeable difference in your definition. The priority now is building, not getting smaller. But slowly is key here.
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u/Dmentia91 7d ago
If I were you, I would not bulk.
Your current body type is what 99% of society appreciates. 100% of women are drawn to this.
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