It is the question that keeps gymbros awake at night: ‘Should I bulk or should I cut?’ If you bulk, you risk losing your abs. If you cut, you risk looking small in a t-shirt. The struggle is real. Here is the ultimate rule of thumb to end the analysis paralysis. If your body fat is over 18% (for guys), it is time for a mini-cut. Get down to a lean baseline around 10-12% so your body is primed to partition nutrients efficiently. Once you are lean, enter a controlled, lean bulk. Aim for a surplus of just 200-300 calories over maintenance. This ensures you build quality muscle tissue while minimizing fat gain. No dirty bulks allowed unless you want to look like a bloatlord. Track your lifts, hit your protein goals, and trust the process.
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