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Original post by BKS
I'm seriously considering my first sizable cut- only one before was quick fat control after I gained too fast. I'm thinking of cutting from 72 to 65kg. My body fat is a bit too far past 20% (if I guess based on how I look then say 23-25%) and while a part of me says suck it up and bulk a little more part of me says enough.

If I do it sensibly anyone able to make an educated guess at how much smaller I'd be? Or share experience from cutting? I'm thinking smaller in terms of chest and legs, obviously I want places like belly to be smaller.

Before anyone says I'm fat or anything like that my goal longer term is around 15%, I have no interest in having perfect abs. Also I'm short not skinny


Wouldn't you prefer to be ~15 all year round? That's a healthy fat level and I don't see why that can't be maintained during a bulk. If you don't mind 20%+ that's cool but otherwise it's just lazy.

People carry fat differently. Most common are thighs/ass, belly, chest and triceps/back of arms. Between the bit below lower back (waist), belly, ass, thighs, it's frankly astonishing how much fat one hides. When you see your waist dropping you'll be like wtf that was all fat not muscle :awesome: If you cut down to 15 there's a good chance you'll continue progressing during the cut anyway. Just cut slowly and you won't lose any strength. Best way to cut: eat less, keep your protein up and fill the rest with whatever. Weigh weekly. Adjust. Job done.
Reply 9341
good to flex up these muscles weekly, a bit of protein drinks :biggrin:
So I've asked this on and off since joining the fitness forum, who does kettlebell training? I've decided to give iit a shot. Pavel makes it sound amazing and out of all the 'experts' out there, this dude I probably admire the most and he's a beast. Love how he includes all those eastern martial art philosophies as well as his hardcore Russian training background. I do agree with Elliot Hulse that a lot of Western training is superficial.
Kettlebells look great for cardio, strength and explosiveness all in one. There doesn't seem to be anything else like it out there.

Anyway, bought Enter the Kettlebell book and got my eye on a 16kg kettlebell from Strength Shop. Any good quality alternatives would be welcome.

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(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by silent ninja
So I've asked this on and off since joining the fitness forum, who does kettlebell training?


Burning Nun(The troll toll) does a lot of kettlebell stuff as does Commandant...

Those guys would be the best ones to ask...
There is a good website for muscle building ques - uk muscle dot co dot uk. Check it out. I learnt a lot from there.
Original post by Motorbiker
Burning Nun(The troll toll) does a lot of kettlebell stuff as does Commandant...

Those guys would be the best ones to ask...


Cool. I've asked few times before how dare they not reply. Hope the 16kg bell isn't too heavy for all movements. It seems heavy...

Thinking of doing it in place of a cardio session and maybe as a finisher too end of workout.

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(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Motorbiker
Tried looking at all the common medium programs like Texas method, 5/3/1, madcows etc?


Nope I'll have a look :smile:




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Reply 9347
Original post by silent ninja
So I've asked this on and off since joining the fitness forum, who does kettlebell training? I've decided to give iit a shot. Pavel makes it sound amazing and out of all the 'experts' out there, this dude I probably admire the most and he's a beast. Love how he includes all those eastern martial art philosophies as well as his hardcore Russian training background. I do agree with Elliot Hulse that a lot of Western training is superficial.
Kettlebells look great for cardio, strength and explosiveness all in one. There doesn't seem to be anything else like it out there.

Anyway, bought Enter the Kettlebell book and got my eye on a 16kg kettlebell from Strength Shop. Any good quality alternatives would be welcome.

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The only Kettlebell work I've done is swings but I loved them. Can't wait to get back to uni and use them again
Reply 9348
Original post by Michael XYZ
Anal food weigher checking in.

Meh, it takes seconds to weigh food and then a couple of minute to log it all on MyFitnessPal. Spend more time finding porn to watch than that.


Exactly what I think.

If you're doing a slow/clean bulk and not counting calories/macros you're not doing it right.
Reply 9349
Original post by silent ninja
Screw counting calories. Nobody does it unless they're getting primed for competition or a holiday. Can't live like that all year round.


I think you'd be surprised. Where's the hassle? Honestly don't think it takes more than 5 minutes out of my day to weigh food, count calories/macros and log them.
I sometimes use kettlebells. Favourite exercises to do are swings and the clean and press. However I wouldn't make an entire week of workouts using them - maybe just for a day...
Original post by Danny.
The only Kettlebell work I've done is swings but I loved them. Can't wait to get back to uni and use them again


They look great for conditioning. I'm gonna order one today. My gym is rubbish. They don't have any, just about have enough dumbbells :\
Original post by Danny.
I think you'd be surprised. Where's the hassle? Honestly don't think it takes more than 5 minutes out of my day to weigh food, count calories/macros and log them.


Please tell me of a hassle free way of doing macros it seemed to take me forever.

(I know how to calculate my macros but fitting them into a meal plan was a real hassle for me)


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I just count calories and protein and still get good results. Counting macros is easy when you use stuff like myfitnesspal as it does all the numbers for you.
Reply 9354
Original post by silent ninja
Wouldn't you prefer to be ~15 all year round? That's a healthy fat level and I don't see why that can't be maintained during a bulk. If you don't mind 20%+ that's cool but otherwise it's just lazy.

People carry fat differently. Most common are thighs/ass, belly, chest and triceps/back of arms. Between the bit below lower back (waist), belly, ass, thighs, it's frankly astonishing how much fat one hides. When you see your waist dropping you'll be like wtf that was all fat not muscle :awesome: If you cut down to 15 there's a good chance you'll continue progressing during the cut anyway. Just cut slowly and you won't lose any strength. Best way to cut: eat less, keep your protein up and fill the rest with whatever. Weigh weekly. Adjust. Job done.


I would but I've never been 15% body fat. I've always been 20%ish so I decided I was fine with that for a while so I maintained that. Even if I don't properly cut I'll cut back down to it and maintain it some more because getting above that wasn't ok

I know I can cut if I want to and I know how to. It really is just the feeling small hang up. I'd still prefer to be more 15%. I'm still really going back and forth on what I'm going to do though I've started cutting today. It might end up needing to be one of seeing how it does
Exactly as Michael said it's not difficult lol, a few seconds if that
Kettlebells are the devil.

Have fun thinking your heart is going to explode.
Original post by ByronicHero
Kettlebells are the devil.

Have fun thinking your heart is going to explode.


Now I can't wait! I love that feeling when you're huffing and puffing.

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Original post by silent ninja
Now I can't wait! I love that feeling when you're huffing and puffing.

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I'm big and fat so I'm sure it is worse for me but I am still confident that after 30 mins of high intensity kettlebell stuff (assuming a reasonable weight) you will be dying inside.

Whether this is good or not is your judgment to make :tongue:
I'll expand and say screw counting carbs and fats. Just count protein and calories. It may get hard if you needed to fit in carbs/fats but if you just want to eat 3000 calories and 200g of protein then it's great to use MyFitnessPal and do that.

I will say that I don't vary my food a whole lot but then again most people won't. It's just a nice way to know I got all my protein and calories in. Plus it allows me to indulge without possibly feeling guilty (at least when cutting) or whatever.

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