Waist Measurement / Bulk/Cut Advice

Jordan,

Thanks for all of the wisdom you provide - it has certainly helped me a lot over the last few years.

I am looking for some guidance on where to go next with my nutrition. Asian male, 6’2, 192 lbs, 32" waist measured at the superior iliac spine.

I cut from around 215lbs to 192 lbs over the first 5-6 months of this year, with my waist measurement dropping from 37" to around 32.5-33". I then maintained for a few months as I wrapped up rehabbing some knee pain. I have been working through phase I of the new beginner template to transition back into lifting, and have regained some LBM while dropping the waist some more. A few questions:

  1. I have seen you make recommendations below the 40" standard that non-Asians should avoid going above (e.g. I think you have said anything above 37" leads to increased risk and that people should probably get their waist below 35" before bulking). Do those numbers translate similarly for Asian males (e.g. 37"/34"/32")? I am trying to figure out whether to cut a little more to give myself room to bulk, or if I am ok to bulk now without increasing risk to my health.

  2. I carry weight in my lower half. For example, my waist measurement is about a centimeter above my naval at 32". At my naval, I measure 33" and I still have a fair bit of fat below my naval. Would that change your recommendation?

Pitseleh,

  1. Yes, that is reasonable.

  2. Not at all. I probably wouldn’t gain weight just yet.

-Jordan

1 Like

Great. Thank you.