I’m 20, sitting at around 160lbs, just about 5”11. I’ve had lots of trouble with my body image growing up and even as a young adult. I feel like I’m pretty lean right now and just want to have that physique that really pops. Anybody have any advice, preferably someone who knows what they’re talking about on whether or not I just cut more to try and get super shredded, or if I should start a lean bulk?

5’7 currently 193, original plan was to bulk to 200. Feel like I’m still too DYEL to cut, but at the same time chunky and wanted a second opinion. Lifting numbers are solid/im happy with them, but visual wise still on the fence. Thanks!

The first picture is flexed. The second one is me post race. I’m thinking I’m maintain but I don’t know. I would love to get you guys as opinion on my body fat percentage as well. I’m thinking I’m sitting out between 12-15%

We analyzed a large dataset of our DEXA scans in order to examine body fat percentage trends across different demographics. For instance, among females aged 18–24 the average body fat is 30.5%. For males ages 25-29, it is 22.1%.

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Context I am 19 and I have been working out since I was 16 I am 5,9 and weigh between 66-64kg. I have been working out for 3 years and I have been taking it more seriously in the past year and I am finding that I am stuck in that skinny fat stage were I just don’t know what to do. My lifts keep going up and down and I just don’t know what to do advice would be very helpful. Also in the last two photos one was of me at 14 and the other 16

Was planning on cutting to 175lb and then lean bulking, should I continue with that plan or cut further?

just unsure whether to continue cutting or bulk or recomp or what. I would eventually like to get lean, but mass is more important to me right now, obviously i dont wanna get too fat (20% body fat max during a bulk) any help is appreciated. thanks

Feel like I'm plateauing and some lean mass would help cute further

I still have fat in my lower back and legs

Hey so I got pretty lean over the summer until I tried enjoying it with my partner where I binged a few times but I always go back to my deficit after. Now I’m less lean but at a lower weight than my leanest during this summer. I’m really confused why my body did this can someone please answer it has been really stressing me out. First pic is June and second was a week ago

Basically idk why I’m less lean after the cheat days cus I went back on my diet and weigh even less than before

Cut down from 86ish kg, 81kg now, feels like Iv lost a lot of muscle and stayed soft. 6.1

159lbs currently. 6ft. Reverse dieting my way back to maintenance. Calories today at 2250 so not too far away until I hit maintenance. Just want peoples opinions. Is a lean bulk the right thing to do. Little bit of fat round my belly and love handles has a mental grip on me.

Hey guys, I've been cutting from 87kg / 190lbs, do you think that I should keep cutting or go on a lean bulk?

Down to 100kg ( Today) on an empty stomach from 112 kg peak bulk ( 01.05.25). Should i cut further Down to get completly peeled or start my reverse diet already. Summer nearly ending in germany. And if i would bump up my kcal should i go by 100 a week or rather 50 a week. Just increasing carbs here ? Or a completly different approach. I would lessen my cardio by a bit from daily 45 -60 min on empty stomach to 30 for now.

Been lifting for 3 months, completely new to the gym. Does this look like good progress? Anything I should focus on improving in training or diet?

Ive been on the second phase of my cut for the last 7 weeks. Managed to maintain strength / performance on pretty much all my lifts minus bench which has suffered abit.

What would you estimate my BF % to be and how much more do you think I need to lose before going back into a surplus…conscious of getting too light but aware there’s no point bulking if I’m still high BF.

5ft 11 male Avg weight this week is roughly 165lbs.

Thanks,

Hey guys,

I just wrapped up a long cut and wanted to share my journey + current plan. I’ll attach pictures for context. Would appreciate feedback on my lean bulk strategy, especially regarding the right surplus.

My journey 2025 so far (lifting for years but more as hobby - mostly bad nutrition and too much alcohol):

• Jan 6 – May 24: Cut from 78 → 68 kg (–10 kg)
  • Avg 1,866 kcal (1,900, reduced after 2 month to → 1,800) this would be based on my weight lost an average of 500 deficit per day, since I lost pretty accurately 2 kg per month.
  • 4x/week lifting (upper/lower), incline walking as cardio
  • Got very lean, “peak look” after carb loads

Image: See before & after (First Picture) + Outdoor

Then I went on 3 week vacation and could actually maintain weight and form (brought my protein with me and worked out as well) This was in June as part of my maintenance.

• May 24 – Aug 5: Maintenance around 2,200 kcal
  • Stable ~68 kg
• Aug 6 – Sep 1: Tried 2,300 kcal “lean bulk”
  • Actually my weight

My Plan from now on:

• Starting weight: 67.5 kg (149 lbs)
• Calories: 2,400 (~+200 over estimated maintenance)
• Macros: ~170 g protein, 60 g fat, 295 g carbs
• Goal: +0.25–0.3% per week (~0.17–0.2 kg / 0.4 lbs)
• Target: 70 kg by late Nov/early Dec (+2–2.5 kg in 3 months)
• Plan: Adjust +100 kcal if no upward trend after 3 weeks

Image: Current form - other 3 Pictures

My concern:
Since 2,300 kcal felt like maintenance, I’m unsure if 2,400 will be enough of a surplus to actually move the scale. While in my diea it seems that I hit 500 kcal deficit perfectly 2200 seemed to be my maintenance. However, at 2300 I seem to have lost weight - at least I didnt gain. This, besides I track extremely precise and I dont cheat meal at all.

I often read 100 surplus is enough, but even that I track everything I eat with a scale I think its barely impossible to measure 100 kcal precise. I’d rather stay lean and gain slow than overshoot, but don’t want to spin my wheels either. Especially since I feel and actually am very skinny in a T-Shirt, which is annoying.

👉 Based on the pics I’ll add: do you think this plan makes sense, or should I push the surplus harder (e.g. 2,500–2,600 kcal)?

Thanks for any input.

27M, 5’11, went from 182 lbs to 163 lbs in 3 months. Still have some fluff around the waist for sure, but feeling quite tired of cutting. Do I keep going or shall I start a slow bulk, like 250 cal surplus?