How do you "cut" when weight training?

Question

I often hear guys at the gym or on internet forums talk about bulking and then "cutting". I assume cutting has something to do with losing body fat.

I'm 5'11 and 170 lbs. I go to the gym to workout about three times a week and have been doing so on and off for about two years. I'm gaining strength, but my appearance is not really changing much, so I was advised to "cut" to make muscle show.

How do you "cut"?

Answer 1

It just means try to lose weight, keep up the training, but eat 500-1000 calories less than you burn daily, 500-1000 more than you burn to bulk or add 1-2 pounds.

Answer 2

You canot cut what isn't there. 5'11 and 170 is not real big. Follow the above advice ans start eating and stop doing exercises that waste time and energy (bicep curls, dumblell flyes, cable crossovers, any machines). Stay with free weights, do complex movements that allow you to use heavy weights. Squats are THE most important exercise tog ain whole body mass. Add in bench press, deadlifts, cleans, military press, pullups and bent over rows. Those are the ONLY exercise to focus upon. Up your calories over what you are eating now by 500. Get yourself a protein powder and some creatine.

When you get to 210 lbs then you can start cutting to get back to a lean and ripped 190.  

Answer 3

Getting big and cut is the goal of many lifters and this is what they seek out when looking for an ideal weight lifting workout program. This of course is wanting the best of both worlds: big muscles yet chiseled abs. Thus it takes a spot on weight lifting workout program to get it right. As many know, in order to get big muscles you have to increase your eating and focus most of your energy on a weightlifting workout and away from cardio based workouts. On the other hand in order to get cut you are supposed to limit your eating, while placing concentration on cardio workouts! So one can see that a weight lifting workout program must really dial it in to balance both of these goals at the same time. Some general rules to follow are the following:

1. Increase your calories. You are going to have to increase your calories and protein to get big. But it is possible to find a ''zone'' where you are able to keep your calories up, yet at the same time not too high where you are gaining fat. Further dialing into this personal zone you can figure what combination of foods you can eat in order to not only have enough to gain muscle, but also burn fat. Generally what most people find is cutting their carb intake and replacing it either with more protein or small amounts of fat will get them in their personal zone.

2. Lift heavy. In order to build muscle through a weight lifting workout program you are going to have to lift relatively heavy and generally to a point where muscular failure is achieved. Usually  

Answer 4

Cutting usually implies a calorie deficit.  Don't do anything too drastic though, eat just a bit under  maintenance or your muscles will be used for energy.