Thread: Going it alone

Having been with an online coach for around a year through lockdown and now back to gym had made the decision that the coach just wasn’t giving enough back.

completed the fat loss phase through lockdown which was relatively easy but once we moved into gaining phase I just needed a bit more reassurance than the same WhatsApp message “we go again” every week. He told me I needed to get comfortable being soft while building muscle but I just didn’t feel I was lean enough to even begin pushing up.

have included starting and end photos and my current position. Want to gain muscle but the added fat is having me in a head melt as to whether I need to pull back calories and drop fat and fall into that cut and look the same category. Working out 4 days a week upper/lower split. Current calories 3000.

6”1 81kg

any advice/pointers would be of value. Have started adding 3 cardio sessions 30 mins 140/150bpm.

Still not sure how to embed photos with only a few posts

Up to date photos in my progress gallery if anyone has a chance to look at them would be much appreciated

Originally Posted by ajloney

Having been with an online coach for around a year through lockdown and now back to gym had made the decision that the coach just wasn’t giving enough back.

completed the fat loss phase through lockdown which was relatively easy but once we moved into gaining phase I just needed a bit more reassurance than the same WhatsApp message “we go again” every week. He told me I needed to get comfortable being soft while building muscle but I just didn’t feel I was lean enough to even begin pushing up.

have included starting and end photos and my current position. Want to gain muscle but the added fat is having me in a head melt as to whether I need to pull back calories and drop fat and fall into that cut and look the same category. Working out 4 days a week upper/lower split. Current calories 3000.

6”1 81kg

any advice/pointers would be of value. Have started adding 3 cardio sessions 30 mins 140/150bpm.

Still not sure how to embed photos with only a few posts

Up to date photos in my progress gallery if anyone has a chance to look at them would be much appreciated

You don't have a lot of excess fat so id just keep building but keep measuring your waist at the navel. If that measurement starts growing much lower calories slightly to where you're still getting stronger but your waist isnt growing or at least by much

Originally Posted by Tommy W.

You don't have a lot of excess fat so id just keep building but keep measuring your waist at the navel. If that measurement starts growing much lower calories slightly to where you're still getting stronger but your waist isnt growing or at least by much

And with that. You have settled my head. I know deep down I don’t have enough muscle to even warrant a cut. Thank you for that man.

I know my waist isn’t great. Would there be any exercises I could use to strengthen these areas. Currently don’t deadlift due to laziness to be honest as form was never great on them.

Originally Posted by ajloney

I know my waist isn’t great. Would there be any exercises I could use to strengthen these areas. Currently don’t deadlift due to laziness to be honest as form was never great on them.

The point of the waist measurement is that it's a good proxy for overall fat level for men not for you to focus on it in how you train.

Originally Posted by TolerantLactose

The point of the waist measurement is that it's a good proxy for overall fat level for men not for you to focus on it in how you train.

Ah ok thank you for explaining that, appreciate that. I’m learning more from this forum than I did my coach.

Originally Posted by ajloney

And with that. You have settled my head. I know deep down I don’t have enough muscle to even warrant a cut. Thank you for that man.

I know my waist isn’t great. Would there be any exercises I could use to strengthen these areas. Currently don’t deadlift due to laziness to be honest as form was never great on them.

your waist is the best place to gauge how much fat youre losing or gaining. A 1” change either way is about 5-7 lbs of fat which is what i was referring to

Originally Posted by Tommy W.

your waist is the best place to gauge how much fat youre losing or gaining. A 1” change either way is about 5-7 lbs of fat which is what i was referring to

Perfect man, thank you for explaining that.