- classthetics
- Apr 15, 2019
- 2 min read
It’s that time of year again. Our bulks are coming to an end and whether you’re prepping for a show, want to look good on the beach, or just reset before your next gaining phase, these cutting essentials will help you get ready.

1. Don’t Go Too Hard Too Fast
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when you begin your fat loss journey is cutting your calories too fast. If you are used to consuming 4000 calories a day, immediately dropping to 2000 calories a day is probably not your best bet. This style of crash dieting can lead you to get burnt out fast and probably without reaching the level of leanness you were hoping for. Try to start by assessing your maintenance and dropping calories 300-500 to start and shoot for .5-1lb loss per week.
2. Incorporate Cardio
Going off of the information stated above, you’re probably not going to want to be doing 1hr+ cardio straight out the gate. If you’re not used to doing any cardio, try 25-30 min a couple times a week just to get started and increase time and frequency as you go. Whether you choose HIIT or LISS is up to you and your personal preferences/lifestyle.
3. Increase Protein
When you’re bulking, you can typically get away with less protein. When you’re cutting, and getting more and more depleted by the week, you’re going to want to increase your protein intake to around .8-1.2 grams per pound of bodyweight. You’ve worked hard for your muscle and this added protein will help you to hold onto it!
4. Do Your Best to Retain Strength
Increasing your protein is a big factor in retaining strength but a lot of it comes down to your approach and mindset. Many people think you want to go low weight, high reps when you’re looking to lose fat but this is not the case. Your training should not change whether you are bulking or cutting so it is just as important to lift heavy! When you are starting to drop fat and get depleted, it is inevitable that you will lose some of your strength but don’t let that deter you from pushing yourself.
5. Don’t Get Discouraged
Losing fat can be hard! We’re all built differently and can expect to see different results. The largest factor contributing to lack of success when dieting is giving up too soon. It is a long and difficult (at times) process so even when you think you’re not seeing any results, you have to keep pushing. When you start to get really lean, consider incorporating refeed days or cheat meals accordingly as well.