Feeling stuck#1610
It’s been around 6 months since i’ve started working out and overall, yes i’ve made improvements, don’t really wanna name everything, but from not being able to do pushups to 20, 0 pullups to 3 however, i always get this feeling that i aint doing something right and i need human advice/opinion on this matter.
Also as I started working out i was kinda fat/skinny fat (honestly don’t know) but i will tell you that i’m: 6’2 feet tall and then was around 207lbs, this morning i weighed 197lbs, so it could be a matter of losing weight that i can do some pullups now but idk and i tried to lose weight being in a caloric deficit (intake 300-500kcal below the total amount of calories burned) and keeping high protein; for me about 170g of protein daily to “protect” my muscles, sleep, hydrating well..all of that.
However, i’m still in that caloric deficit and i’m wondering what to do next..for everything really; i feel stuck in my workouts…kinda progressing and then back some reps down, i’m kinda slimmer and less fat (my belly shrunk but i still have love handles) and overall just thought i would have more muscles, but i know it makes no sense since i’m in a deficit but still…
As for my workouts i do mix hybrid calisthenics + weights, (not gonna bother you with the exact workouts, but pretty much i hit everything unless maybe my shoulders and a bit of hamstrings)
The training is alright, i still keep training intensively and i rarely skip workouts (unless sick or similar), but you know like the reps aint going up it’s hard to progress, but again it could be cause of the deficit
My plan was to lose more weight so to be around 187lbs and then be in maintence for a couple of weeks and then boom..to go on a bulk. But what do you think? I think maybe being in a deficit makes it harder to grow muscles so it could be that, but i’m kinda scared to bulk in case of getting all that fat again, but idk.. I know probably a photo of me would be best but i don’t feel too comfortable sharing.
Any advice is appricated, thank you.
Heya, Chrys here—one of the trainers here at Hybrid! Six months in a calorie deficit will stall strength; bump to maintenance for 4–6 weeks, focus on protein and sleep, and let your reps climb while weight holds steady. If pull-ups and push-ups rise again, lean-bulk 200–300 cal over maintenance and watch the mirror; if fat creeps back, shave the calories down 100 a day.
Keep progressive overload simple: add one rep or an extra set only when all sets feel crisp, and sprinkle in weighted backpack push-ups and band-assisted pull-ups to push past the plateau. Love handles will tighten gradually once you alternate short maintenance/bulk blocks with brief, controlled cuts—no need to fear the scale as long as strength and waist measurements move in the right direction. Lmk if this helps
Yeah, so you say that I should go for recomp right away for like a month and then go for a lean bulk keeping protein and sleep in order of course. And overloading training as well, possibly adding weights for pushups/pullups, gotcha.
That’s what I kinda had in mind, but i wanted to lose more weight to like 85kg first, cause of the fat and then start upping the calories, but you feel like its a waste of time or that I will lose a lot of mass? Even tho my protein is very high?
Screw it, I’ve decided to show you a photo, you can see my upper body here (this was taken while i was training), so you can get a better estimate and be direct and brutal if you have to hahaha
Hey bro. So after taking a look at your photo, heres my quick take: drop the deficit now, sit at maintenance for 4–6 weeks, and push reps/strength there. If numbers climb, start a very lean bulk (≈ +200 cal) and watch the mirror; cut calories by ~100/day if fat re-adds. Losing down to 85 kg first will drag your strength further—better to recomp, then mini-bulk/cut cycles while monitoring waist and performance. High protein stays the whole time.
Understood, will do. Appreciate you taking the time to help me, Chrys. Thank you man, have a good one!
Of course! You too!