Understanding the Ideal Weight: One Reddit User's Weight Journey

Determining the Ideal Weight

In a post on Reddit, one user asked for advice on what would be the ideal weight to achieve before starting a cut. The user posted his current photo, along with his height, age, and weight details. Relying only on a BMI chart, one commenter suggested aiming for 150 lbs before re-evaluating the goal weight. However, the original poster discovered that ideal weights are entirely personal and depends on what the person is comfortable with.

The Notion of ‘Normal’ Weight

Using the BMI chart, the user realized the range for normal weight for his height is 121 to 158 lbs. It also states that 159 to 190 lbs is already considered overweight, which prompted the user to ask if he should shoot for a weight higher than the ideal range for his height when bulking. The second commenter advised against it, saying it's a personal preference to find a weight the user is comfortable with. He even shared a personal photo to show that BMI is not an accurate way to determine ideal weight.

The Importance of Tracking Progress

As for the user's question about when to start cutting, he was advised to bulk for at least eight months of consistent and hard work before considering a cut. One commenter suggested gaining around 2.2 to 4.4 lbs a month, reassessing after 12 weeks if he wanted to continue bulking. The idea of slow bulking was also discussed, which is the process of gaining weight without getting excessively fat. The commenter advised eating healthily with more calories or about 250-350 calorie surplus every day.

When to Start Cutting?

The second commenter also advised the user to cut only when he has excessive fat. And that he would know when it's time to cut. He recommended bulking no quicker than 2-3 lbs a month for a year before cutting. That way, he would have added around 20 lbs of muscle before he would be due for a cut to get rid of excess fat.

Conclusion

There are no set ideal weights, so it's crucial to determine what works best for your body. Learning to bulk and cut safely without risking muscle loss is essential. It is also essential to track progress and reassess goals regularly. One thing everyone can agree on is that building muscle takes time, and it's a marathon and not a sprint.