How to Properly Enter the Cutting Phase for a Shredded Physique

Don’t dive head first into the cutting phase

Summer is coming up fast, which means people are looking to get ripped! Getting a shredded physique is more than just lowering your caloric intake all at once, as it requires careful planning, discipline, and consistency. The cutting phase is a critical step in this process, designed to reduce body fat while maintaining as much muscle mass as possible, but you can’t just go right into it blindly. Whether you’re preparing for a bodybuilding competition, a vacation, or simply aiming for a leaner look to hit the beach, this guide will walk you through how to enter the cutting phase effectively.

Our team at Generation Iron is going to break it down.

Understanding the Cutting Phase

A cutting phase typically follows a bulking phase, where the goal is to build muscle. The primary objective of cutting is to reveal muscle definition by shedding excess body fat. This involves creating a calorie deficit, adjusting macronutrient intake, maintaining strength training, and incorporating cardio.

When Should You Start Cutting?

Knowing when to begin your cutting phase is essential. Consider the following factors:

1. Body Fat Percentage: Start cutting when your body fat percentage is around 15-20% for men and 20-25% for women. This ensures a solid muscle base and makes the cutting process more effective.
2. Timeline Goals: Plan your cut based on any upcoming events. A 12-16 week period is generally sufficient for most individuals to achieve noticeable results.
3. Post-Bulk Assessment: After a bulking phase, assess your physique. If you’ve built considerable muscle and gained some fat, it’s likely time to cut.
4. Physical and Mental Readiness: Ensure you’re mentally prepared for the discipline a cutting phase requires. Reduced calorie intake and increased training demands can be challenging.

How to Properly Enter the Cutting Phase

Let’s take a look at how to properly enter the cutting phase.

Step 1: Establish a Calorie Deficit

A calorie deficit is the foundation of any successful cut. Follow these steps to calculate yours:

1. Determine Your TDEE: Use an online Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) calculator to find your maintenance calories.
2. Create a Deficit: Aim for a moderate deficit of 10-20% of your maintenance calories. For example, if your TDEE is 2,500 calories, reduce your intake to around 2,000-2,250 calories per day.
3. Monitor and Adjust: Track your progress weekly. If fat loss stalls, consider reducing calories further or increasing cardio.

Step 2: Adjust Your Macronutrients

Proper macronutrient distribution is essential for fat loss while preserving muscle. Use this guideline to structure your diet:

• Protein: Consume 1.2-1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight daily to maintain muscle mass.
• Fat: Allocate 20-30% of your daily calories to healthy fats.
• Carbohydrates: Use the remaining calories for carbohydrates to fuel your workouts and maintain energy.

Step 3: Prioritize Strength Training

Strength training is critical during a cutting phase. Focus on compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and pull-ups. Aim for 3-5 workouts per week, maintaining heavy weights and lower reps to preserve strength and muscle mass.

Step 4: Incorporate Cardio Wisely

Cardio can enhance fat loss by increasing your overall calorie expenditure. Consider these options:

• Low-Intensity Steady-State (LISS): Great for longer, moderate-paced sessions, like brisk walking or cycling.
• High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): Efficient for short, intense bursts of activity followed by rest periods.

A mix of both types can maximize results without risking muscle loss.

Step 5: Track Your Progress

Monitor your progress by tracking your weight, body measurements, and progress photos weekly. Additionally, pay attention to how your clothes fit and your energy levels. If fat loss slows down, adjust your calorie intake or increase your cardio.

Step 6: Stay Committed and Patient

Consistency is key when it comes to cutting. Fat loss may not be linear, and fluctuations in water weight are normal. Stay committed, follow your plan, and trust the process.

The Best Supplement for Entering the Cutting Phase

While diet and training are essential for entering the cutting phase, a good supplement to go along with that is great. A fat burner is always one of our recommendations.

Burn Lab Pro

Burn Lab Pro is an all-around great fat burner on the market with an innovative design and research-backed benefits to really enhance your results as you seek to burn belly fat, making it perfect for entering the cutting phase. This is not your typical unhealthy, stim-driven formula. Instead, Burn Lab Pro is 100% natural, safe, and caffeine free to give you an effective supplement without any fear of jitters or crashing.

Burn Lab Pro allows you to shed more body fat from every workout, gain more lean muscle, see better results from diet and exercise, and give you a safe and natural fat burner supplement to tackle any issues, like muscle maintenance and a lack of an energy boost. With 5 powerful and research-backed ingredients, this advanced formula is designed to target all of your weight loss needs from one of the best fat burners.

Final Thoughts

Entering a cutting phase effectively is all about balance. By establishing a calorie deficit, optimizing your macros, maintaining strength training, incorporating cardio, and tracking progress, you’ll be well on your way to achieving a shredded physique. Stick to the plan, stay patient, and enjoy watching your hard work pay off.

Good luck on your cutting journey!

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