Hi Jordan/Vanessa,
I am a 37 year old male, been training for strength for roughly 3 years now (and body building, not consistently or with any great direction for 6/7 year previously). I am 6 foot 2 inches, waist 36.5 inches and weigh 94kg as of this morning. I am currently cutting weight to try and get to a better body composition before trying to gain weight again. I’ve slowly cut from 100kg to 94kg over the last 12 weeks…I plan on taking a week diet break now at maintenance before cutting to below 90kg. Last time I weighed 95kg last year my body fat was at 21% (got it checked on a free DEXA scan for a study).
The reason I write, is that the last two times I’ve gone from 94/95kg to over 100kg…I’ve noticed some growth in my chest and small bit on my legs…however it mainly seems to go to my belly…first time my waist (at navel) got over 39 inches @ 100kg…last time out it still got just over 38 inches @ 100kg. My caloric intake was between 3700-4000 (roughly 500C, 80-90F, 270P) a day and I just did this from the moment I stopped dieting…ie no gradual increase. (I was either running the hypertrophy or strength templates at the time)
Am I on the right track in now cutting a bit further than before (below 90kg)…get my bodyfat roughly in the mid-teens…before gradually adding calories back and gaining in a more gradual manner? I train 5/6 times a week and my diet is pretty good, keep my fibre intake above 30g a day, freshly prepare 90% of my meals.
My goal is to get to ~105kg without my adipose tissue becoming an issue again. Any advice would be on how to proceed would be much appreciated.