Article

Cutting After Bulking: How To Move To Cutting After Bulking During Weight Training

Topic: Fitness and ExercisePublished March 30, 2011

Legacy signals

Legacy popularity: 1,988 legacy views

Legacy rating: 5/5 from 1 archived votes

Reader rating

Not enough ratings yet

Aggregate average appears after enough eligible reader ratings.

Rate this resource

Sign in to rate this resource.

Sign in to rate this resource

Learning how to successfully perform cutting after bulking is going to be one of the key things that you must do to guarantee your success. After spending so much time on your mass building program aimed to help you build up lean muscle tissue, you're going to come off and want to lean down so that you can reveal all your hard work. It is normal to experience some fat gains during a mass building phase, so by transitioning to cutting after bulking, you'll help take care of any excess fat that's present and help to reveal the brand new you. Unfortunately though, many people make some big mistakes when moving to cutting after bulking and this causes them to begin to lose lean muscle mass tissue. rnLet's take a quick look at what some of those key mistakes are so that you can be sure you make the move from cutting after bulking correctly. Don't Decrease Calories Too Soon rnThe very first thing that you must make sure you do when moving to cutting after bulking is to make sure that you don't decrease your calories too soon. Many people will go from an ultra high calorie intake of between 3500 and 4500 down to a very low calorie intake of 2000 calories or less. This will immediately signal to your body that something is very wrong and it's going to get rid of the tissue that burns the most calories on a daily basis – your lean muscle mass. Instead, transition over slowly, decreasing your calorie intake by about 200-400 every two to four days. This will help you save all that lean muscle mass and keep your metabolism on high. Go Easy On The Cardio Training rnSecond, the next major error people make after finishing a mass building program and moving to cutting after bulking is to load up on cardio. They hit the gym daily and perform a full hour of cardio – on an empty stomach even. This in itself is a recipe for disaster. While some cardio can be beneficial to help you burn extra calories and get even leaner, be very careful about adding too much. This again will have your body dropping lean muscle mass quickly. If the truth is told, if you use a proper cutting diet then there really should be no need for cardio training as the diet will be doing much of the work for you. Focus On Maintaining Heavy Lifting rnAnother must-do when going to cutting after bulking is to make sure you maintain heavy lifting. Do not lighten the load to increase the reps. Again, this is what many people will do and it significantly costs them in results. Instead, maintain that heavy weight as this is what tells the body that it must keep that lean muscle mass tissue since it needs it to complete all your workout sessions. If you want to boost the intensity of the workout to spike the metabolism, rather than moving to very high rep training, think about decreasing the rest periods but keep the normal reps the same. This will create a similar effect and allow you to maintain the heavier weight. Don't Increase Workout Volume Too Much rnFinally, the last tip to remember when moving from cutting after bulking is to make sure your workouts don't start becoming far too high in volume. While it's tempting to add 40 sets per workout to burn calories, avoid this at all costs. Remember that you'll have an even lower recovery ability when on a fat loss diet so you really should do even less volume than you did on your mass building workout program. So make sure that you keep all of these important points in mind. If you do then you should have no problem moving to cutting after bulking while keeping your lean muscle mass in tact.

Article author

About the Author

FREE 30 issue muscle building and weight training instructional course available. Receive FREE information written by our experts sent straight to your inbox. To subscribe simply visit: www.buildupyourmuscles.com.

Further reading

Further Reading

4 total

Article

Carrying excess weight doesn’t just affect how you look — it can quietly reduce your energy, confidence, and bedroom performance. When a man gains too much belly fat, it can lead to lower testosterone levels, poor blood circulation, and reduced stamina. These changes may make it harder to maintain strong vitality, control, and endurance when it matters most. The good news? Small lifestyle changes can make a powerful difference. By focusing on better nutrition, regular mov

March 10, 2026

Article

Are You 40+ And Feeling…rnSlower metabolism? Stubborn belly fat? Low daily energy? Body stiffness or joint pain? You’re not alone — and you’re NOT “getting old.” Your body just needs a smarter strategy. Introducing The 40+ Fitness & Wellness ResetrnA simple, realistic system designed specifically for men and women over 40 who want to: ✅ Burn belly fat naturallyrn✅ Rebuild lean musclern✅ Boost energy levelsrn✅ Improve heart healthrn✅ Feel confident again

February 18, 2026

Article

Feel tired, inconsistent, or stuck on your fitness journey? This eBook is your gentle reset. rnMany people above 40 notice that weight gain, tiredness, and body weakness no longer respond to the things that worked before. rnThe truth is: the body changes with age, and health routines must change too. rnI recently came across a digital health guide on Selar, created specifically for people 40+, focusing on simple daily habits that fit our lifestyle. rnI shared the details here

February 14, 2026

Article

Movement is one of the most honest forms of self-connection. The body never lies. It holds stress, records emotion, and reveals when something feels off. For many, this is why exercise has always been more than fitness; it’s therapy through motion. But not all movement heals. Some styles exhaust, others distract. True healing often begins in the slow, intentional kind, the kind that lets the body lead and the mind follow.rnThat’s where precision-based training, such as re

November 6, 2025