so i've been digging through reddit and just searching the web for a solid answer to this but honestly every thing i find just contradicts itself or doesn't even actually answer the question lol. i get that there probably isnt one perfect "magic" answer for everyone but there has to be some kind of general formula thats considered the most efficient way to go about it right?
also i need some specific advice for my current situation- my goal is to look as aesthetic as i can by july (not expecting to look like a pro or anything but i want to see real progress). right now im definitely in that "skinny-fat" zone and if im being honest its more fat than skinny. im pretty flabby especially around my hips and thighs which is super annoying.
ive been lifting since february and my strength has actually gone up a ton mostly cause my mind-muscle connection is getting better. im trying to figure out a bulk/cut plan for the next 4 months but i have literally no clue how to split the time up. like do i bulk for 2 months then cut for 2? or what?
i attached some pics from about a month ago- i've filled out a tiny bit more since then and my muscles are starting to pop more but i think i also put on some extra fat in the lower stomach area too. hopefully all that makes sense and someone can point me in the right direction
honestly you’re not crazy, this question confuses pretty much everyone at first lol. i was in the same spot last year — skinny-fat, lifting consistently, getting stronger but also like “why do i look softer??” 😭
if july is the goal, i wouldn’t do a hard bulk at all. you’ve already got some fat to work with, so a slow recomp or very small surplus makes way more sense. keep lifting hard, keep protein high, and don’t rush the scale. the “pop” you want usually comes from leaning out a bit, not adding more size fast.
also lower stomach/hip fat is always the last to leave, so don’t let that mess with your head. if your lifts are going up and your muscles look fuller, you’re doing something right. i’d probably eat around maintenance for a month or two, then do a short cut closer to summer instead of bulking now and panic cutting later.
tbh you sound like you’re on the right track already, just overthinking it (which we all do). consistency > perfect plan every time.
honestly man the biggest mistake people make in your spot is trying to do too much at once. if you’re already skinny-fat, a hard bulk just makes you feel worse and a hard cut makes you look flat. i’d honestly just eat around maintenance or a tiny deficit, lift hard, and let your body recomposition do its thing for a bit.
4 months isn’t that long, so chasing some perfect bulk/cut split usually backfires. if you tighten up your food, keep protein high, and train consistently, you’ll look way better by july without needing some crazy plan. also that lower stomach fat is stubborn for everyone, don’t let that mess with your head.
you’re already seeing progress, which means you’re doing something right. just don’t rush it or overthink it too much. consistency beats any “optimal” strategy.
yeah i get what you mean, been there too. honestly, for skinny-fat it usually works better to forget hardcore bulks or cuts and just focus on a slow recomp—eat around maintenance, hit your protein, lift heavy-ish, and really focus on form and mind-muscle connection.
4 months isn’t a ton of time, so switching between bulking and cutting could just make you feel bloated or flat without giving you real progress. lower stomach fat is stubborn for everyone, so don’t let that freak you out. if you stick to consistent training and decent nutrition, you’ll see way better changes by july than chasing some perfect split.
honestly man, i was in the exact same boat a few months ago. what helped me was doing more of a “recomposition” style instead of strict bulk/cut—basically eat at maintenance-ish calories with a tiny surplus on training days and a tiny deficit on rest days. lifts still go up, muscles fill out, and you don’t pile on too much fat. it’s slower than a clean bulk, but your midsection doesn’t explode and you actually see definition. also focus on compound lifts and keep those mind-muscle connections strong—it really makes a difference.
honestly you’re not crazy at all, this exact spot is where most people get stuck lol. “skinny-fat” is the worst because you feel like you’re doing everything right but your body’s just… confused. if you’ve already been lifting since feb and your strength is going up, that’s actually a really good sign. i wouldn’t even think about a hard bulk right now. personally i’d just eat around maintenance, keep protein high, and train hard for the next couple months. your body can recomp more than people give it credit for, especially if you’re still kinda new.
also yeah, lower stomach/hips holding fat is super normal, that’s usually the last place to lean out so don’t let that mess with your head. if your muscles are starting to pop even a little, you’re on the right track. by july you’ll look way better just from consistency alone. honestly the biggest mistake people make is rushing the bulk/cut cycle instead of just letting their body adapt. you’re doing better than you think.
Honestly you’re overthinking it a bit, which is super normal. If you’re skinny-fat and only been lifting since Feb, I’d honestly just aim for a slow recomp instead of hard bulk/cut cycles. Slight calorie deficit or even maintenance, high protein, lift hard, get stronger. You’ve already seen strength go up so that’s a good sign.
Trying to bulk now usually just adds more fluff to the exact areas you already hate, then you rush a cut and feel flat by summer. I’d keep it boring: train consistently, eat mostly clean, hit protein, walk more, sleep. By July you’ll look way tighter even if the scale barely moves.
Also that lower stomach fat is stubborn for almost everyone, it’s usually the last thing to go. Doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Just stay consistent and don’t panic change the plan every two weeks.
honestly i’d skip the hard bulk/cut split for now. since you’re skinny-fat and only been lifting a few months, a slow recomp might be way smarter—eat around maintenance with solid protein, lift hard, focus on getting stronger, and add a bit of cardio if you want. you’ll fill out muscle without putting on too much extra fat, and that stubborn lower stomach stuff usually starts looking better once your overall body fat drops a little naturally.
the “bulk for 2 months, cut for 2” approach works if you already have a solid base, but right now consistency and learning your body is more important than chasing a perfect timeline. plus, your mind-muscle connection is already improving, so keeping the focus on form and progression will pay off more than obsessing over the scale.
totally get where you’re coming from—skinny-fat is tricky because you kinda want to build muscle and drop fat, but doing both perfectly at once is tough. a short bulk/cut cycle like 2 months each could work, just keep calories and protein dialed in
ngl at your stage, a “recomp” approach might actually make sense—eat at maintenance with high protein, lift hard, and you’ll slowly gain muscle while losing a bit of fat
ngl if you’re skinny-fat I’d prob lean cut first. small deficit, keep lifting hard, you’ll look way better by july than trying to bulk right now
4 months isn’t that long so I wouldn’t do a full bulk/cut cycle. just eat around maintenance or slight deficit and let newbie gains do their thing
honestly chasing “aesthetic by july” = don’t overcomplicate it. train consistent, hit protein, sleep, and keep calories controlled
I made the mistake of bulking too early when I was flabby and just got fluffier lol cutting first helped way more mentally too
strength going up is a good sign btw. if lifts are moving and waist isn’t blowing up, you’re probably on the right track even if it feels messy
