Could anyone explain the purpose/need for a maintenance phase between cutting and bulking please? Is it absolutely necessary or just something which will help?

Should the maintenance phase be used to work on CV fitness, while maintaining the same weight?

Matt
(Still cutting but hopefully almost there ;))

Do not maintenance. It's for lazy people, like a break or something. Gradually increasing/decreasing calories when moving from one phase to another is another thing though... Then you'll probably be a short time at maintenance :)

Could anyone explain the purpose/need for a maintenance phase between cutting and bulking please? Is it absolutely necessary or just something which will help?

Should the maintenance phase be used to work on CV fitness, while maintaining the same weight?

Matt
(Still cutting but hopefully almost there ;))

I suggest it. You, in effect, move your calorie intake, slowly back up the 500 or 1000 calories you haven't been eating for a long time. You will continue your weight training. It is a period of gradual change. Why supply your body with all the calories of a bulk, bang at once? No it isn't lazy, the increase in food is about the only change you should have to make if your exercise program was right,

I think it's less about taking a break and more about letting your body adjust to the new "set weight." If you've ever noticed, the body tends to prefer stasis over change. That is, it would rather remain at whatever weight you're currently at, as opposed to increasing or decreasing.

So maintenance is not a break from your healthy lifestyle or a relapse, it's merely allowing your body an adjustment period before moving on to a different phase.

Seems to me a lot of American bodies prefer to increase in weight. Just anecdotal evidence though.

Thanks for the replies, apologies for initially posting this in the wrong forum.

How long would you suggest to stay at maintenance? It seems like it would be quite difficult to pin point the exact amount of calories necessary to maintain weight.

I've lost 12 pounds so far in the 3 weeks I've been seriously cutting and I'm very happy with it. I've also become stronger so I don't believe I've lost much (if any) muscle mass, although I have only been very roughly estimating calories and macronutrients.

I'm not sure if accurately calculating intake exactly is something I want to do, due to large numbers of cafteria meals, time constraints etc, it seems very difficult to work out the nutrients if you dont have the packet in front of you heh.

Really I want to try bulking to see if its something I can do. While I've built up some muscle my biceps have been about the same size for a year (13.75 inch), as I've trained on and off. I just wonder if they'd actually get bigger if I ate enough calories to bulk.

I decided at the start of the year to do a 4 week cut, as I knew if I wanted to I could lose a lot of fat, although I never expected it to come off as quickly as it has.. now I'm not sure whether to continue cutting or not. I never have calculated my bodyfat perhaps its something I need to do before changing my routine, I can see 6 abs now when I flex them though, something I've never had before.

(and im not american ;))

Thanks for the replies, apologies for initially posting this in the wrong forum.

How long would you suggest to stay at maintenance? It seems like it would be quite difficult to pin point the exact amount of calories necessary to maintain weight.

I've lost 12 pounds so far in the 3 weeks I've been seriously cutting and I'm very happy with it. I've also become stronger so I don't believe I've lost much (if any) muscle mass, although I have only been very roughly estimating calories and macronutrients.

I'm not sure if accurately calculating intake exactly is something I want to do, due to large numbers of cafteria meals, time constraints etc, it seems very difficult to work out the nutrients if you dont have the packet in front of you heh.

Really I want to try bulking to see if its something I can do. While I've built up some muscle my biceps have been about the same size for a year (13.75 inch), as I've trained on and off. I just wonder if they'd actually get bigger if I ate enough calories to bulk.

I decided at the start of the year to do a 4 week cut, as I knew if I wanted to I could lose a lot of fat, although I never expected it to come off as quickly as it has.. I can see 6 abs now when I flex them though, something I've never had before. (and im not american ;))

I don't know how much you lost in cut, or what your age, height, weight is now or what exercise program you used. Have you posted pictures, anywhere?

I assume you have done things rights. You cut X amount of calories on that cut from a maintenance level. Add those back in slowly, continue to lift weights. Lets say you are back up to maint. level in three weeks, now stay there for three more weeks. During those 6 weeks you might gain more muscle with weights.

Ok a little bit more info. I'm 23 years old, 5'9.5, 160 pounds. For the cut I've been doing the last 3 weeks, I've lost 12 pounds. I do:

fasted cardio on mon/tue/fri/sat/sun morning
back/biceps/abs mon evening
legs/shoulders/traps/abs wed evening
chest/triceps/abs friday evening

I never calculated calories, I think I eat about 2000 a day spread between 6/7 meals/shakes.

At my worst, 2 1/2 years ago, I was 231 pounds. I lost most of that by cutting calories drastically, doing weights/cardio on same day, 2 hour cardio sessions, 80 mile bike rides daily, etc. Basically I was totally clueless, but somehow it worked.

I guess if I want to do things as efficiently as possible I'm going to need to start working my diet out accurately.

I dont have any pictures available atm, and dont have a camera.

Ok a little bit more info. I'm 23 years old, 5'9.5, 160 pounds. For the cut I've been doing the last 3 weeks, I've lost 12 pounds.

At my worst, 2 1/2 years ago, I was 231 pounds. I lost most of that by cutting calories drastically, doing weights/cardio on same day, 2 hour cardio sessions, 80 mile bike rides daily, etc. Basically I was totally clueless, but somehow it worked. .

Just add back about 500 calories, continue workout, after five weeks add another 500 for bulk. I am going to make a guess that 175 with muscles might be a good stopping point as far as weight. mirror will tell.

fasted cardio on mon/tue/fri/sat/sun morning
back/biceps/abs mon evening
legs/shoulders/traps/abs wed evening
chest/triceps/abs friday evening

camera.

small suggestion..I would move traps to your back days and shoulders to your chest/tri day and do legs by themself. YOur legs really are a huge group of muscles and really need one day dedicated to them