Asked this question in training and it never posted. Not sure if it was missed, too vague, or simply in the wrong section, so trying here with more specificity.
I’m very interested in the new Group Programming you guys put together (thanks, btw, the market really needed this option!), but am worried I won’t be able to “keep up” since I have to cut first. I realize that BBM programming is pretty supportive of mild/moderate calorie restrictions thanks to the nature of RPE and the fact you guys generally program more than average volume anyway, but I’m wondering if it makes more sense to clean up my body comp first and jump in when I don’t need to lose a significant amount of weight.
If I need to lose about 30 lbs to get myself in the right hormone milieu for building muscle back (15% bf) and I’m done with Novice LP, is Group Programming still an option? And if not is there a BBM template order that makes more sense (like Bridge while losing weight slowly, then GPP while losing weight more aggressively)?
I think that the evidence for their being a right hormonal milieu for building muscle is lacking, but that if you’re significantly overweight then perhaps a period of calorie maintenance or restriction (depending on context) may be useful.
The templates I’d use would be the Bridge first, then the hypertrophy template for a cycle. That’s 15 ish weeks and should get most people pretty close.
You told me to recomp on the SS forums to finish off LP and I gained 2 lbs while my waist went down a full inch. So I’m down to a 38" waist, but my bf% is probably about the same overall sitting at 23-25% Really appreciate the help! I realize I don’t necessarily have to cut that much and it may not even be optimal, but I’d like to be in better shape before I’m a father in August.
At 207 lbs, 23-25% bf, do you think shooting for 1.5-2 lbs/wk on the Bridge followed by GPP Hypertrophy is a good target, or overly aggressive? I really like the idea of going as far as those 15 weeks take me then refocusing on strength and mass.