what's your take on cutting phase?

[hockmasm]

Hey Mark,

Been talking to gym people and they say to bulk up for a while and then do a cutting phase to strip the fat.

What is your take on this?

I feel like i am gaining fat around my stomach while eating a lot and on your routine. Want to eventually look like a ripped model. Do you have to Cut Phase to do this? Or eventually i will get big enough to look that ripped?

[Mark Rippetoe]

My take: Quit talking to people in the gym. Quit wanting to look like a ripped model.