I'm 16 years old started lifting in very late August at 5'10, 170 pounds and 7.5~ body fat, now after four months of lifting I'm at around 190 with 10.5~ percent body fat. My plan was to continue bulking until mid april then cut down to almost competition shape for summer and see where I'm at from there.

I'm somewhat interested in entering a local competition eventually. Depending on how I look after my cut in summer I may think about checking into some although I'll probably wait a year or so and put on some more mass. I also like to lift on the heavier side because i lift somewhat for athletic performance although I don't play any sports.

Since my goal is to be 185 give or take with around 6% bodyfat I was wondering if bulking until april would be the best option, or if I should do a mini cutting cycle of 2-3 weeks in about a month and continue bulking from there? I've heard mixed things about doing mini cycles of say 6-8 weeks bulking and 2-3 weeks cutting and I was wondering if itd work for someone like me. I used to be pudgy and it seems like I put on mass easily enough that it may work, but I was wondering if you guys had any comments.

before

now

You're looking good. You have no reason to do any mini-cutting though. You don't look like you've gained any excessive fat so just keep adding mass until April.

Post a front shot if you have one.

Bulk away! Seems like you have a great chance in a teen comp, if you're serious. Post front and wheels shots, keep updating and some BB vets should take you under their wings.

Other than your latissimus dorsi and other minor cuts, I don't see any fat at all lol! Doin good man.

Dude, for 16 you look miles ahead of the rest of the kids your age. You sure as shit surpassed me when I was 16.

I say keep bulking, you arent fat at all.

Keep your hair and you'd do well do enter a Chad Waterbury Lookalike contest.

It looks like you're at the ideal off season bodyfat percentage. If you want to do a contest, then I think protocol is usually that you start dieting 16 weeks out.

P.S. what does your deadlift numbers look like? Your back looks thick as shit for a 16 year old, good stuff. And do you do many pullups in your workouts? Or do you attribute the nice width you have going to other exercises?

Was surprised when I saw these pics, you're not a skinny bastard! Look great man, sick cuts. Keep bulkin and you could be onto something

Your back got much wider. Keep up the great work.


-dizzle

Why would you cut down to competition shape this summer if you don't plan on competing for at least another year? You could spend that time gaining mass.


Also, post front and leg shots and do not do a mini-cut in a month...you do not need to at all.

I am impressed.
Couple other shots would be great to judge whether or not you should cut, because it looks from the back that you can see your abs for sure.

Dude, there's no need to cut right now - you look pretty lean already. I'd say follow your plan and gain as much mass as you can for the winter and spring, then maybe cut down for the summer. Anyway, great job so far - especially at 16.

That's a nice back you have, I'm jealous, that said keep gaining mass, you really have nothing to lose.

16??? Wow! You do look great.

Sorry for the delay guys I was going to wait until I had a camera to respond but it looks like thats taking a bit longer than I expected. My dog ate the charger for mine (lol) so I'll need to borrow a friends. Hopefully Ill have some by monday.

As for lift numbers, they aren't really impressive. Currently my bests are 265 in the bench 295 squat and a 360 deadlift.

Not to make excuses, just explaining a little, the reason my squat is so low is because up until around 3 weeks ago I didn't have a gym membership and there was basically no way I could preform the lift. I was lifting out of my basement and I didn't have any way to hoist the weigh onto my back. As for the deadlift, I feel I could probably pull a bit more but my grip gives out sadly. I'm thinking of getting straps for max effort lifts but well see how that goes as I dont like using them because for me theres no reason to be able to deadlift more than i can hang on to. (just my opinion, not saying you suck if you use straps or anything, just saying I don't like using them)

I've recently switched over to westside for skinny bastards, doing a 5rm 3rm 1rm rotation with a bit more volume thrown in after the max effort lifts. I just finished the first 3 weeks today, and I'll probably be squatting again for the next "cycle" to try to get that lift higher above my bench. Recently I got some CoC grippers and I'll be working on that.

I'm up to around 200 pounds with the sameish bodyfat (10.5-12%) and I think I'll be bulking 'till april. I don't have very visible abs but the top two and the middle line are definantly poking their heads out of my blubber. The reason I'm cutting in april is because I'm wanting to not look bad for any time I go swimming, yeah thats a pretty dumb reason but I honestly can't enjoy ding anything where I'm semi nude in public unless I'm in good shape, and also I'd like to see where I'm at and get an idea of how long it takes for me to get down in bodyfat.

I know thats probably not the wisest thing to do, but I do still have 3 months left bulking, you guys were right the mini cut was a dumb idea. I tend to get lean pretty fast as well, I got down to a pretty low bodyfat% defiantly in the single digits by simply eating less, so I'm sure with an actual diet the cut will only take me a month, two tops.

I'm thinking about going on the velocity diet really fast and depending where I'm at jump straight into another bulk, or finishing the cut up with another 3-4 weeks depending where I'm at.

Unless I'm really, really happy with the way I look in the summer (doubtful) I probably wont compete, or get into to contest shape, just pretty lean. Hopefully my physique will be up to par with where I want it to be in a years time, and I may compete then.

Does anyone have any info on what different age brackets there are for compititions, or how any of that works (id like to know how long I have until I am lumped in with the next group) To be honest, I think my goal is to win something big. I want to be the natural state champ before I'm 25, or maybe depending how the age groups work out I could try for being the teen champ if I have a few years still.

Well there was my life story once again sorry about the no pictures thing, I'll try to get some up as soon as possible.

Took some pictures today, any comments appreciated, negative or positive as long as they are constructive hit me with it.

Another back double bi.

Leg pics

More. Yes my calves are lacking pretty badly I recently started doing them for 3-4 sets to failure at the end of my workout and I walk on a treadmill on an incline at the end of my workout too.

Side chest..

I have no idea how to do this pose.

You are 16 and have great proportion. I wouldn't cut, just keep doing the WSSB with some volume work for calves and forearms, and if you can try to get some light cardio 30 min 5 days a week with a clean diet will get you ready for the summer.

If I was you I wouldn't compete until 18 and take this two years to attend the shows and see your competition, where they lack and where they are strong. That will also give you time to learn how to do competition dieting and see what weaknesses you have. Do your homework and you can make real damage onstage.

I can tell you that if you are looking to compete you need to work more on your legs in particular the hamstrings. Also your shoulders are dominant in the bench and need to focus on tricep mass.

I would say you're at 12% bodyfat judging by your front shot now. Your back looks great and if it looks that muscular now then don't start cutting just yet.

For your deadlifting issue, have you tried using an alternating grip? Your weaker hand should be the one that is supine. Your grip will get stronger the more you deadlift so keep doing it. Include grip-intensive exercises such as shrugs and pull-ups in your routine. I find doing that helped my grip more than doing wrist curls, but I have long arms so your mileage may vary.