Cutting, bulking, and maintaining are the three main phases of bodybuilding but they can be applied to any athlete's regimen. Cutting is the process of reducing body fat while retaining muscle mass. Bodybuilders in the cutting phase reduce their caloric intake and increase cardio to burn off fat while retaining muscle. The focus is on losing weight while keeping muscle mass, definition, and symmetry intact.
Bulking is the process of increasing muscle mass and size by consuming more calories than burned. This phase is used by bodybuilders who want to increase their overall muscle mass, especially in areas that may have lagged. During this phase, bodybuilders will eat a high-calorie diet and lift heavy weights to build muscle, but some fat gain is inevitable. The focus is on building muscle mass, not on losing fat.
Maintaining is the phase of bodybuilding where you are trying to maintain your current muscle mass and body fat levels. Bodybuilders in the maintaining phase eat just enough calories to cover their daily energy needs and perform enough cardio to maintain their current body composition. This phase is ideal for bodybuilders who have achieved their desired physique and want to maintain it for a long period of time. The focus is on eating a balanced diet, lifting weights regularly, and performing enough cardio to maintain your current body composition.
Each of these phases has its own challenges and rewards, and the best phase for you will depend on your individual goals and body type. Cutting requires discipline and patience, bulking requires hard work and dedication while maintaining requires consistency. Understanding the differences between these phases and working with a knowledgeable coach or trainer is crucial to achieving your bodybuilding goals.
The Lift League offers coaching with the primary goal of helping you understand and run the training blocks in the most effective manner. But league coaches can also assist you in game-planning your next cut or bulk. Schedule a consultation today. We can help you maintain as well, but we like to call it, gaintaining. 😉