Not sure what to do.. (cut / gain question)

Hi Jordan,

I’m debating whether to gain some strength / muscle or continue losing some fat. Need a second opinion if anything as I feel more muscle would improve physique and look overall but worried about getting fat. I work in a hospital as a Dietetic Assistant, so I feel remaining slim is ideal.

Male
BW - 165lbs
Ht - 5’8
Waist - 34in
Calories - 2200kcal, 150p, 260c, 62f

Lifts - S (115kg x 6) B (75kg x 6) D (155kg x 6) - just started hypertrophy v2

Also running 3 times a week (working towards a 5k).

No idea of BF% I would guess (no visible abs, however I hold most of my fat in lower stomach / hips)

Do you have a suggestion or recommendation with what I’ve provided here? Thanks

You could do either, but it depends what you really want. There’s no right or wrong answer. What have you been doing lately and for how long?

Thanks for the reply Jordan.

I’ve come off a layoff for various reasons including mental health problems and only started back to consistent training for 6 weeks. Lost just around 10lbs as I was 174lbs in May (164lbs today)

So to not bullshit you, I’ve been doing a template from someone else in the industry more focused on bodybuilding but it isn’t really getting me stronger. I had good results from Hyp v2 last year despite being in a deficit and that’s the reason for going back to it.

This is far from my strongest self at the same weight, I was at S (135kg x 6) B (80kg x 6) D (180kg x 6) this time last year at the same if not lower BW.

Thanks for the reply. So, the question is what do you want to do in the next 10 weeks? Specifically, what do you want to accomplish?

Appreciate your swift response and the advice you offer here. I guess I don’t really have any pertinent goals other than get up to a 5k run which is trending to happen in the next 2 weeks of my running program. Sometimes my insecurities get the best of me.

I’ll just sit around maintenance for a bit, run and lift. Thanks again.

All the best.