Have you ever "cut"?

[Barbeque]

So, coach, I'm ready to start eating like a monster and lift like a beast.
But I'm afraid I'm still ignorant, and I have a question.
Have you ever gone on a "cut"?
How do you do that?
I can't stand the thought of working your ass off to gain muscle and then losing it because of aerobic exercise(which I guess is essential for fat loss).
So any recommendations? I'm fucking terrified of fat because of my cholesterol problem and knowing that it is the thing that will kill me makes me sad.

[Konstantinos Kavos]

I see Mr Rippetoe hasn't answered this yet and I'm not sure he will so I'll just put in my two cents worth. I am only going to address the cholesterol issue, because the rest about getting fat and cutting is just too insulting for a skinny guy like me, and also suggests that you haven't really read much on this board:

What cholesterol problem? How high is it? Have you done tests in a fasted state and when you have been eating normally? And how old are you? If you're 30 and not immensly fat, I'd say you're probably overreacting. If you're 75 and a fat bastard, then you probably have a legitimate concern. Are you on medication for your cholesterol problem?

Assuming you're not 75 and hugely fat (and considering you are "ready to start eating like a monster and lift like a beast" I'm assuming you're probably not), make sure you're getting in your olive oil and fish oil. Also, start exercising! That in itself will drop your cholesterol levels. You could even try one of those awful cholesterol lowering margarines, (though in my opinion margarine is proof of the existance of Satan). Get your levels checked every two weeks and see what happens.

Your absolute certainty that you're going to die because of your cholesterol levels is pretty fucking morbid though. Some studies show that one of the main causes of high cholesterol is stress, so stop worrying, do a workout, and have a couple of beers as your post-workout recovery drink.

[Joel Chapman]

I was just about to make a post about my "experiment of one", but I saw this question and I will reply with what I was about to post.

Male 33 years old

July 9, 2008:

Body weight: 204 lbs
Body fat %: 13.1%
Body fat weight: 26.6 lbs
Lean Body weight: 177.4 lbs

Bench 5rm: 250 lbs
Squat 5rm: 350 lbs
Deadlift 5rm: 355 lbs

I had been eating somewhat carefully, but not super strict. I would eat a bit more after workouts. I had just started doing the Texas Method after finishing SS.

September 17, 2008:

Body weight: 192 lbs
Body fat %: 7.5%
Body fat weight: 14.4lbs
Lean Body weight: 177.6 lbs

Bench 5rm: 225 lbs
Squat 5rm: 335 lbs
Deadlift 5rm: 335 lbs

I followed The Zone strictly, weighing and measuring my food. One week after starting I went on vacation for a week and that off-set the body comp changes from the first week. So, in effect, this was an 8-week trial.

I followed the Texas Method for a several weeks, but this was murder. I think I made myself sick (I actually got a fever, etc) from the combo of heavy training and calorie restriction. I was forced to take a recovery week where I just basically warmed up and called it a workout.

Then I shifted to four workouts a week: Squat 4X5, Press 4X5, DL 1X5, weighted chinup/pullups 4X5. Each of these workouts were followed by a 3-7 minute metcon workout.

Observations:

1) Though my lean body mass stayed the same, I am not as strong.
2) I "felt" best at about 10% body fat, though I didn't feel bad at 13%, and I feel bad at 7.5%. To be fair, I would need to stabilze at 7.5% for a bit to see how I "feel."
3) I am now confident that I can take two months and get back to a decent body comp (not necessarily as low as 7.5%). This allows a thirty-something lifter like myself to feel at ease going through a period of weight gain induced strength gains.
4) DO NOT calorie restrict and do the Texas Method (and I can only assume SS as well) at the same time. I know this may seem like common sense, but it always means more when you prove it to yourself.
5) I need to work on my DL.

[Paul Stagg]

Are you serious?

Body recomposition to "healthy" levels is a cakewalk compared to getting bigger and stronger.

What exactly are your goals?

[Konstantinos Kavos]

Coach,

I'm actually reconsidering whether I should have replied to this guy. I think his question slipped through the net in any case.

Anyway, I suspect he's either a troll, or someone who's beyond help. Certainly beyond my help. Maybe I am just bitter and jealous and pissed off that he went from 200 lbs to 150 lbs and is crying about it, when I've been struggling to get from 140 to 200.

[sergeant_81]

I think you need to re-read the books and research this forum in detail. You've missed more or less all the basic concepts surrounding getting big and strong, at least as far as nutrition. "Cutting" is something that is a very long way down the road for you...and honestly, that word is usually reserved for bodybuilding, a disturbing phenomenon that Coach does not think highly of.

And if you're terrified of fat, you're never going to get anywhere. Quit being a pussy.

-sergeant-

[Phil Stablein]

Pure. Comedy. Gold.

[Tom Campitelli]

There are a ton of threads around here on eating. Check them out and see if you can answer your own question.

[Mark Rippetoe]

This is one of those posts that somehow got approved before I was ready to reply to it. Dunno what I did, must be the liquor. At any rate, you guys handled it for me.

But here's my main problem with the post: "So, coach, I'm ready to start eating like a monster and lift like a beast." The kid hasn't even started training yet, and we are taking time to fuck with him.

Don't post hypothetical shit here. If you're not already training, anything you ask about is hypothetical. There is just no time to deal with people like this when there are lots of guys busting ass that have legit questions, made legit by the fact that they are busting ass.

[Barbeque]

I have been busy, so I couldn't reply to this, sorry.
Anyway, lets' do this.

What cholesterol problem? How high is it? Have you done tests in a fasted state and when you have been eating normally? And how old are you? If you're 30 and not immensly fat, I'd say you're probably overreacting. If you're 75 and a fat bastard, then you probably have a legitimate concern. Are you on medication for your cholesterol problem?

I have done tests in a fastened state (only reliable way), and when eating normally. I'm not stupid.
Used to be on cholesterol meds. The statins that the doctor prescribed me were fucking my liver up so I dropped 'em.

[QUOTE=knkavo;17243]Assuming you're not 75 and hugely fat (and considering you are "ready to start eating like a monster and lift like a beast" I'm assuming you're probably not), make sure you're getting in your olive oil and fish oil. Also, start exercising! That in itself will drop your cholesterol levels. You could even try one of those awful cholesterol lowering margarines, (though in my opinion margarine is proof of the existance of Satan). Get your levels checked every two weeks and see what happens.[quote]

I've been exercising non-stop for a year, and eating healthy.
I feel much better but I haven't tested my cholesterol since. I probably should.

Your absolute certainty that you're going to die because of your cholesterol levels is pretty fucking morbid though. Some studies show that one of the main causes of high cholesterol is stress, so stop worrying, do a workout, and have a couple of beers as your post-workout recovery drink.

Man, I know I shouldn't worry, BUT since most of my family died of heart attacks...it's a major concern of mine.

Are you serious?

Body recomposition to "healthy" levels is a cakewalk compared to getting bigger and stronger.

What exactly are your goals?

Getting as strong as I can, live a happy life, stay healthy, be happy with myself.

Coach,

I'm actually reconsidering whether I should have replied to this guy. I think his question slipped through the net in any case.

Anyway, I suspect he's either a troll, or someone who's beyond help. Certainly beyond my help. Maybe I am just bitter and jealous and pissed off that he went from 200 lbs to 150 lbs and is crying about it, when I've been struggling to get from 140 to 200.

Why? What was wrong with my question? I'm not fucking crying, I was 200lb, it's true, but since it was mostly fat, and since we're not living in a post-apocalyptic world were food is scarce and we need fat storages to survive, it's a pretty useless weight I think.
Cutting is the term I heard, call it body fat if you will. But thanks.

This is one of those posts that somehow got approved before I was ready to reply to it. Dunno what I did, must be the liquor. At any rate, you guys handled it for me.

But here's my main problem with the post: "So, coach, I'm ready to start eating like a monster and lift like a beast." The kid hasn't even started training yet, and we are taking time to fuck with him.

Don't post hypothetical shit here. If you're not already training, anything you ask about is hypothetical. There is just no time to deal with people like this when there are lots of guys busting ass that have legit questions, made legit by the fact that they are busting ass.

I'm not doing SS yet, but that doesn't mean I'm not busting ass.
I've been training every fucking day except Sundays for over a year, lifting weights that feel heavy to me. Very fucking heavy.
I learned a while ago that this is a bad approach. I'm trying to change that.

So, I'd say I'm busting more ass than a lot of people here.
And care to tell me why my question isn't legit?
I just wanted to clear some final doubts before doing anything to my body.

I don't know about you, but since I'm stuck with this body for a long time, I'd rather take good care of it.

You should ask before assuming anything. You were a beginner once too.
Thanks for your time guys and sorry if my lack of knowledge offended you or something.