# Cut, maintain, or bulk? **URL:** \ **Category:** Nutrition Q&A \[Moderated\]\ **Created:** [November 14, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995 "2018-11-14T15:38:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JXI115](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@JXI115](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/JXI115)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/1 "2018-11-14T15:38:58Z")
I’m on week 2 of the 7 week hypertrophy bias GPP. I’m 5’11", 230lbs around 20% body fat according to a handheld bf analyzer. I have been on maintenance calories for about 4 months now and was previously on a deficit. I don’t know if to go into a long term cut, mini cut, stay at maintenance or go into a surplus. I understand there is no way to provide an exact recommendation but I just want to pointed in the right direction. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/2 "2018-11-14T18:57:25Z")
What is your waist? ---
**Author:** ![JXI115](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@JXI115](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/JXI115)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/3 "2018-11-14T18:59:28Z")
My pants are a size 32" or 33" ---
**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/4 "2018-11-14T19:00:13Z")
No, I mean the measurement around abdomen about 1" below your belly button. ---
**Author:** ![JXI115](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@JXI115](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/JXI115)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/5 "2018-11-14T19:10:03Z")
Just measured and got 43". ---
**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 3:27pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/6 "2018-11-15T15:27:05Z")
> [@JXI115](#): > > Just measured and got 43". Right on. In that case I would estimate your body fat to be ~ 30-35% and I also think your waist is too high, which would be best managed by weight loss. ---
**Author:** ![JXI115](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@JXI115](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/JXI115)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 3:28pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/7 "2018-11-15T15:28:57Z")
Awesome, thanks! So time to lose weight. I’m assuming you’re referring to a 10 - 12 week cut correct? ---
**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/8 "2018-11-15T15:29:45Z")
The length of the cut depends on how rapidly you respond 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JXI115](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@JXI115](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/JXI115)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 3:30pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/9 "2018-11-15T15:30:14Z")
Understood. Thank you sir for your expertise! ---
**Author:** ![Starken\_starken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@Starken\_starken](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Starken_starken)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2018, 10:59pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/10 "2018-11-15T22:59:29Z")
Woah! Is there usually such a large discrepancy between pant size and actual waist size? ---
**Author:** ![KingKalifor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@KingKalifor](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/KingKalifor)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2018, 4:58pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/11 "2018-11-17T16:58:49Z")
> [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](#): > > No, I mean the measurement around abdomen about 1" below your belly button. I remember you releasing a vid on measuring the abdomen above the belly button. Is there a difference between measuring below vs. above? I know for me I have more below the belly button vs above. ---
**Author:** ![Grimtrigger](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/grimtrigger/32/264_2.png) [@Grimtrigger](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Grimtrigger)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/12 "2018-11-19T22:26:22Z")
I was in a very similar situation as you - 5’11", 235 with a 40" waist at the start of The Bridge. I went on a cut, finished the Bridge and ran through another 7 weeks of the hypertrophy template, and am now at 205 with a 36.5 inch waist. For me, 1gm protein per pound body weight was key to satiety and compliance. Good luck, you can do it! ---
**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/13 "2018-11-21T16:53:33Z")
> [@KingKalifor](#): > > I remember you releasing a vid on measuring the abdomen above the belly button. Is there a difference between measuring below vs. above? I know for me I have more below the belly button vs above. That’s not what I said. The measurement is based on the location of a few bony prominences on the hip. Depending on the location of your umbilicus it may be different. I have found for lean individuals it’s just below the belly button most of the time, whereas large individuals it’s usually above. Not necessarily a reliable rule of thumb, however. ---
**Author:** ![quark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5e9695/32.png) [@quark](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/quark)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2018, 11:45pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/14 "2018-11-21T23:45:39Z")
I’ve been monitoring my waist at my belly button for a long time. I’m a good bit below 40". Should I change to the bony prominence location (which is not that far off)? My main hesitancy is that the new data would not be comparable to the old data and I’m mainly monitoring for trend. ---
**Author:** ![Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.barbellmedicine.com/jordan_feigenbaum/32/1315_2.png) [@Jordan\_Feigenbaum](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/Jordan_Feigenbaum)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/15 "2018-11-22T16:47:08Z")
I don’t think you need to change, no. ---
**Author:** ![jjw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@jjw](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/u/jjw)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2018, 4:11pm UTC](https://forum.barbellmedicine.com/t/cut-maintain-or-bulk/3995/16 "2018-11-23T16:11:43Z")
> [@Starken\_starken](#): > > Woah! Is there usually such a large discrepancy between pant size and actual waist size? Two things there. Most people wear their pants especially jeans below the belly these days. If I measure where my pants usually hit I get 4 inches less than at my belly button. (I am at 29% BF so that is why). Also manufacturers list a size or two smaller than the actual inches around the waist. a 33" pant could measure 34" to even 38" inches depending on brand and cut. They call it vanity sizing in the industry. > **[The Average American Man Is Too Big For His Britches](https://www.npr.org/2014/07/25/332641840/the-average-american-man-is-too-big-for-his-britches)** > > Growing waistlines, a savvy clothing industry and good old-fashioned stubbornness have kept many men in pants that don't fit. It doesn't have to be this way.