Hey guys. Been on a hard cut since the new year (probably too hard as I’ve lost 20 pounds as of today and also lost some strength).

Background:
36 years old
6’0 185

Recent Max (6 weeks into cut)
Bench 245
Front Squat 275
Dead Lift 365
OH Press 135

For the last 5 years, I have lifted intermittently, usually about 2x a week. I did a routine from bodybuilder.com, variation of greyskull. However, I was doing more distance running (half marathons,etc). I burned out on running and now doing strength training at D1 ( a local fitness gym that trains athletes but also has adult classes)

Current Diet (hard cut)
Breakfast - whey shake or eggs over greens
Lunch - 8oz lean protein + 2 cups low carb veggies (ex. broccoli, cauliflower, greens)
Snack - low carb protein bar or whey shake
Dinner- 8 oz lean protein + 2 cups veggies

No alcohol (boo), no fruit, no grains, no dairy

I do get 1 tbsp olive oil a day. Fruit exception is a banana before workouts. I take creatine day and BCAA while I lift to help slow muscle loss.

Total calories is about 1500/day

I’m cutting til my vasectomy in 2 weeks (pray for me) then I’ll reintroduce carbs during that 2 weeks off. Then it’s time to bulk but want to stay as lean as I can for summer.

Sorry for the wall of text.

That’s a big jump in calories, feel like he’d be likely to add decent amount of fat with that large of a jump (was probably on too low of an intake during the cut)

LSU7777, Why such low fat on lifting days?

Well you need to take a 4-6 week break where you reverse diet back up. Or atleast sit at maintenance for 3-4 weeks.

As far as why low fat on lift days, like dead said, you are replacing it with carbs for muscle building and performance. And it's not that low, it's 20% or above. You are bulking and at this time all studies show it virtually impossible to build muscle without carbs.

We are using a timed approach by keeping everything in the Peri workout window to help with glucose disposal a little.

Are you at the BF% you want to be at? If not, keep doing your cut and worry about the "bulking" later. Cycling the bulk and cut is not usually feasible for most. BBers do it because they are extremely strong willed.

Continue your cut until the BF% you want, adjust maintenance calories and then add 250-500 calories to it until you grow and get stronger, adjust maintenance, add 250-500 until you grown and get strong......

After you have reached your weight + about 5%-10%, cut again but do it a little slower.