Cutting body fat, is it essential?

[GeoffBUK]

Lots to think about here, I don't want to seem like I'm jumping from one goal to another, It's definitely cutting time, but since I don't compete at anything and liftings a hobby, I'm kinda tempted to marry up cutting with some high rep training, not really try to hold onto strength so much, maybe try and clean my diet up, rather than track macros every day, I do enjoy 'exercise' as well as training, hill walks, cycling, right rep stuff, wouldn't it be easier to do that and then go back to more regular 'training' when my guts taken care of, blood pressure is borderline high so probably that should be top priority!

[DCR]

Lots to think about here, I don't want to seem like I'm jumping from one goal to another, It's definitely cutting time, but since I don't compete at anything and liftings a hobby, I'm kinda tempted to marry up cutting with some high rep training, not really try to hold onto strength so much, maybe try and clean my diet up, rather than track macros every day, I do enjoy 'exercise' as well as training, hill walks, cycling, right rep stuff, wouldn't it be easier to do that and then go back to more regular 'training' when my guts taken care of, blood pressure is borderline high so probably that should be top priority!

Depends on what you mean by high rep training. I’m assuming that you mean per set and, if so, sure the 6-8 range might be a nice break, or even 8-10 if you’re particularly conscientious with form. With limited exceptions, I don’t think going much over 10s accomplishes anything for a lifter who isn’t chemically assisted, genetically gifted, or already very big and strong. If someone told me that I had to work in the 12-15 range, I’d just not bother lifting weights at all, and go with a full bodyweight routine (which, if you want to go all in on cutting and don’t gaf about loss of barbell strength, would be the best thing to do).

[GlasgowJock]

I've been gradually piling the fat back on over the last two years though seem to store it in my arse and legs, it's ridiculous though I suppose slightly more preferable having my glutes encased in blubber than my organs. I'm 5'9 at 230lb yet still have a 37" waist, jumped up 25lb and 'only' a 2-3" gain to the midriff.

I think recomp is bollocks for *most* folk tbh, focus on one thing at a time. I also think doing *lots* of cardio purely to lose weight is pointless too, I'd rather adjust my calorie intake accordingly and increase my NEAT. I'm with the blokes who've stated that casual lifters shouldn't be fat even though I'm a fatty myself at present.

[Hardartery]

Lots to think about here, I don't want to seem like I'm jumping from one goal to another, It's definitely cutting time, but since I don't compete at anything and liftings a hobby, I'm kinda tempted to marry up cutting with some high rep training, not really try to hold onto strength so much, maybe try and clean my diet up, rather than track macros every day, I do enjoy 'exercise' as well as training, hill walks, cycling, right rep stuff, wouldn't it be easier to do that and then go back to more regular 'training' when my guts taken care of, blood pressure is borderline high so probably that should be top priority!

Nothing wrong with that idea, it will up your calories out without pounding the CNS on the cut. It won't make you stronger or give you bigger muscle necessarily, but it will help preserve what you've got and also push you towards your more immediate goal. Plus, it's a mental break from heavier stuff.

[GeoffBUK]

Lots to think about here, I don't want to seem like I'm jumping from one goal to another, It's definitely cutting time, but since I don't compete at anything and liftings a hobby, I'm kinda tempted to marry up cutting with some high rep training, not really try to hold onto strength so much, maybe try and clean my diet up, rather than track macros every day, I do enjoy 'exercise' as well as training, hill walks, cycling, right rep stuff, wouldn't it be easier to do that and then go back to more regular 'training' when my guts taken care of, blood pressure is borderline high so probably that should be top priority!

Depends on what you mean by high rep training. I’m assuming that you mean per set and, if so, sure the 6-8 range might be a nice break, or even 8-10 if you’re particularly conscientious with form. With limited exceptions, I don’t think going much over 10s accomplishes anything for a lifter who isn’t chemically assisted, genetically gifted, or already very big and strong. If someone told me that I had to work in the 12-15 range, I’d just not bother lifting weights at all, and go with a full bodyweight routine (which, if you want to go all in on cutting and don’t gaf about loss of barbell strength, would be the best thing to do).

Yeah, I was meaning 20+ rep squeadlifts, not high reps so much for upper body, I thought It might be the best of both worlds, cardio and some stimulus to maintain lower body muscle, could well be the opposite would be true and it'd better to keep lifts as lifts not cardio and do that separately, I suppose the most important thing is to do something and stick to it, would a bodyweight routine be like calisthenics? Pushups, pullups etc

[GeoffBUK]

I've been gradually piling the fat back on over the last two years though seem to store it in my arse and legs, it's ridiculous though I suppose slightly more preferable having my glutes encased in blubber than my organs. I'm 5'9 at 230lb yet still have a 37" waist, jumped up 25lb and 'only' a 2-3" gain to the midriff.

I think recomp is bollocks for *most* folk tbh, focus on one thing at a time. I also think doing *lots* of cardio purely to lose weight is pointless too, I'd rather adjust my calorie intake accordingly and increase my NEAT. I'm with the blokes who've stated that casual lifters shouldn't be fat even though I'm a fatty myself at present.

The general consensus seems to agree on the recomp,
My biggest downfall with regard to calories is Lager, my common sense says cut down on alcohol, but my inner idiot says drink whiskey instead

[GeoffBUK]

Lots to think about here, I don't want to seem like I'm jumping from one goal to another, It's definitely cutting time, but since I don't compete at anything and liftings a hobby, I'm kinda tempted to marry up cutting with some high rep training, not really try to hold onto strength so much, maybe try and clean my diet up, rather than track macros every day, I do enjoy 'exercise' as well as training, hill walks, cycling, right rep stuff, wouldn't it be easier to do that and then go back to more regular 'training' when my guts taken care of, blood pressure is borderline high so probably that should be top priority!

Nothing wrong with that idea, it will up your calories out without pounding the CNS on the cut. It won't make you stronger or give you bigger muscle necessarily, but it will help preserve what you've got and also push you towards your more immediate goal. Plus, it's a mental break from heavier stuff.

Thanks, Lots of interesting things to try here, good thing about high rep lower body work is I can do it in my garage, British winters probably the wrong time to get a mountain bike, since the clocks went back either I'm at work or it's dark! so maybe it'll be more practical wether it's optimal or not

[DCR]

Lots to think about here, I don't want to seem like I'm jumping from one goal to another, It's definitely cutting time, but since I don't compete at anything and liftings a hobby, I'm kinda tempted to marry up cutting with some high rep training, not really try to hold onto strength so much, maybe try and clean my diet up, rather than track macros every day, I do enjoy 'exercise' as well as training, hill walks, cycling, right rep stuff, wouldn't it be easier to do that and then go back to more regular 'training' when my guts taken care of, blood pressure is borderline high so probably that should be top priority!

Depends on what you mean by high rep training. I’m assuming that you mean per set and, if so, sure the 6-8 range might be a nice break, or even 8-10 if you’re particularly conscientious with form. With limited exceptions, I don’t think going much over 10s accomplishes anything for a lifter who isn’t chemically assisted, genetically gifted, or already very big and strong. If someone told me that I had to work in the 12-15 range, I’d just not bother lifting weights at all, and go with a full bodyweight routine (which, if you want to go all in on cutting and don’t gaf about loss of barbell strength, would be the best thing to do).

Yeah, I was meaning 20+ rep squeadlifts, not high reps so much for upper body, I thought It might be the best of both worlds, cardio and some stimulus to maintain lower body muscle, could well be the opposite would be true and it'd better to keep lifts as lifts not cardio and do that separately, I suppose the most important thing is to do something and stick to it, would a bodyweight routine be like calisthenics? Pushups, pullups etc

I love 20 rep squats and deadlifts, but doing them on a cut sounds like a near death experience.

Yes - pushups, dips, pullups, inverted rows, tempo BW squats, etc. Setting up a circuit will melt fat pretty quickly unless your diet is ridiculous. (Not judging… believe me.)

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone back and forth between beer and whiskey.

“I’m fat, time to switch to whiskey.”

“I think my organs might be rotting, time to switch to beer.”

Forever.

[Hardartery]

Lots to think about here, I don't want to seem like I'm jumping from one goal to another, It's definitely cutting time, but since I don't compete at anything and liftings a hobby, I'm kinda tempted to marry up cutting with some high rep training, not really try to hold onto strength so much, maybe try and clean my diet up, rather than track macros every day, I do enjoy 'exercise' as well as training, hill walks, cycling, right rep stuff, wouldn't it be easier to do that and then go back to more regular 'training' when my guts taken care of, blood pressure is borderline high so probably that should be top priority!

Depends on what you mean by high rep training. I’m assuming that you mean per set and, if so, sure the 6-8 range might be a nice break, or even 8-10 if you’re particularly conscientious with form. With limited exceptions, I don’t think going much over 10s accomplishes anything for a lifter who isn’t chemically assisted, genetically gifted, or already very big and strong. If someone told me that I had to work in the 12-15 range, I’d just not bother lifting weights at all, and go with a full bodyweight routine (which, if you want to go all in on cutting and don’t gaf about loss of barbell strength, would be the best thing to do).

Yeah, I was meaning 20+ rep squeadlifts, not high reps so much for upper body, I thought It might be the best of both worlds, cardio and some stimulus to maintain lower body muscle, could well be the opposite would be true and it'd better to keep lifts as lifts not cardio and do that separately, I suppose the most important thing is to do something and stick to it, would a bodyweight routine be like calisthenics? Pushups, pullups etc

I love 20 rep squats and deadlifts, but doing them on a cut sounds like a near death experience.

Yes - pushups, dips, pullups, inverted rows, tempo BW squats, etc. Setting up a circuit will melt fat pretty quickly unless your diet is ridiculous. (Not judging… believe me.)

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone back and forth between beer and whiskey.

“I’m fat, time to switch to whiskey.”

“I think my organs might be rotting, time to switch to beer.”

Forever.

Whiskey is keto. Just sayin'....

[Hanley]

I'm kinda tempted to marry up cutting with some high rep training

I'm pro-cut. And I'd encourage you to focus on work capacity & relative/bodyweight strength during the cut. Those goals are mutually reinforcing & can make the training period fun/motivating rather than a frustrating slog.

[GlasgowJock]

My biggest downfall with regard to calories is Lager, my common sense says cut down on alcohol, but my inner idiot says drink whiskey instead

Lager (and wine tbh) is my downfall too, I genuinely enjoy the stuff especially with a wee drop of lime cordial.

Never been a whisky fan tbh!

[Hardartery]

My biggest downfall with regard to calories is Lager, my common sense says cut down on alcohol, but my inner idiot says drink whiskey instead

Lager (and wine tbh) is my downfall too, I genuinely enjoy the stuff especially with a wee drop of lime cordial.

Never been a whisky fan tbh!

That just calls everything into question. From Glasgow and you don't enjoy a good Single Malt? I dunno.....Are you sure you're Scottish?

[Hanley]

Never been a whisky fan tbh!

Wtf, man?

[GeoffBUK]

I'm kinda tempted to marry up cutting with some high rep training

I'm pro-cut. And I'd encourage you to focus on work capacity & relative/bodyweight strength during the cut. Those goals are mutually reinforcing & can make the training period fun/motivating rather than a frustrating slog.

Would that be general conditioning type work, raise the heart rate and respiration or more like HVLF?, and bodyweight strength like @DCR said, calisthenics and such?

[GlasgowJock]

That just calls everything into question. From Glasgow and you don't enjoy a good Single Malt? I dunno.....Are you sure you're Scottish?

Never been a whisky fan tbh!

Wtf, man?

I think trying to drink the old man's cheap blended crap growing up scunnered me with the stuff for life. Most of my Scottish family are dead now due to our inherent lifestyle choices (cheap fried food nomnomnom) though having lots of living Italian and Spanish relatives I do appreciate decent red wine without being snobbish about it.

[Allentown]

My biggest downfall with regard to calories is Lager, my common sense says cut down on alcohol, but my inner idiot says drink whiskey instead

Lager (and wine tbh) is my downfall too, I genuinely enjoy the stuff especially with a wee drop of lime cordial.

Never been a whisky fan tbh!

Switch to light lager?

Thanks, Lots of interesting things to try here, good thing about high rep lower body work is I can do it in my garage, British winters probably the wrong time to get a mountain bike, since the clocks went back either I'm at work or it's dark! so maybe it'll be more practical wether it's optimal or not

30 rep push ups and 10 rep chin/pull ups are a good place to start for upper body.

[DCR]

If you can do more than, say, 15 legit pushups, I’d either make them harder in any number of ways, or have fun trying to progress to one arm pushups.

[GeoffBUK]

My biggest downfall with regard to calories is Lager, my common sense says cut down on alcohol, but my inner idiot says drink whiskey instead

Lager (and wine tbh) is my downfall too, I genuinely enjoy the stuff especially with a wee drop of lime cordial.

Never been a whisky fan tbh!

Switch to light lager?

Thanks, Lots of interesting things to try here, good thing about high rep lower body work is I can do it in my garage, British winters probably the wrong time to get a mountain bike, since the clocks went back either I'm at work or it's dark! so maybe it'll be more practical wether it's optimal or not

30 rep push ups and 10 rep chin/pull ups are a good place to start for upper body.

Light beers usually pretty low ABV, which should be a good thing, but I do like the buzz from beer, also light beer usually tastes pretty thin, there are some exceptions Kozel, I think it's a czech beer is nice and only 4 percent, but never found it in bottles/cans

I like the idea of chins/pullups but I can't drag my fat arse up once , I've managed 6 pullups without much training years ago but 60lbs lighter!

[Allentown]

If you can do more than, say, 15 legit pushups, I’d either make them harder in any number of ways, or have fun trying to progress to one arm pushups.

I'm pretty sure the number was 30, but it was pretty well correlated to significantly decreased all cause mortality. I like to think that was controlled for age, but who knows.
Regardless, 30 isn't a big number.

Light beers usually pretty low ABV, which should be a good thing, but I do like the buzz from beer, also light beer usually tastes pretty thin, there are some exceptions Kozel, I think it's a czech beer is nice and only 4 percent, but never found it in bottles/cans

I like the idea of chins/pullups but I can't drag my fat arse up once , I've managed 6 pullups without much training years ago but 60lbs lighter!

Being too heavy to do a pull up is probably a good sign that you are too heavy, I would think.

[DCR]

If you can do more than, say, 15 legit pushups, I’d either make them harder in any number of ways, or have fun trying to progress to one arm pushups.

I'm pretty sure the number was 30, but it was pretty well correlated to significantly decreased all cause mortality. I like to think that was controlled for age, but who knows.
Regardless, 30 isn't a big number.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I assume that it’s the ability to do the 30 push ups that correlates with decreased mortality, not the doing of them. Assuming that, no harm in progressing them in a manner other than total reps. I agree that 30 reps isn’t a crazy amount, but I get suspicious of the form on anything in that range.