I Had To Get Lean in 40 days, So I Did This

Summary

The video details the creator's fitness journey, focusing on bulking to overcome insecurities about being skinny. After years of inconsistent training and nutrition, they experienced setbacks during the 2020 lockdown, losing muscle mass. By 2022, they bulked to 189 pounds but struggled with excess fat and gym plateaus. To reset, they implemented a 6-week mini-cut, reducing calories and training volume to shed fat and resensitize their body to bulking. Despite strength loss, the mental and aesthetic benefits outweighed the downsides. The video concludes by offering a fitness course for optimal training and nutrition guidance.

Takeaways

• 💪 The speaker has been focused on bulking since they started their fitness journey, aiming to avoid being skinny.
• 📉 Despite inconsistencies in calorie tracking and training, their goal has always been muscle growth.
• 😔 The 2020 lockdown caused significant setbacks, resulting in a loss of 20 pounds of lean mass and a major decline in physical and mental well-being.
• 🏋️ By 2022, they reached a peak weight of 189 pounds, but it came with challenges, including hitting plateaus and needing to consume over 4,000 calories daily.
• ✂️ To address fat gain and reset their progress, the speaker decided to try a 'mini cut,' which involves a short, drastic reduction in calories.
• 🍽️ The mini cut allowed them to trim fat, resensitize their body to training, and recover their appetite for bulking.
• ⚖️ The mini cut requires reducing training volume to focus on muscle maintenance, not progression.
• 🥵 Although initially successful, the speaker experienced strength loss and hunger spikes after around four and a half weeks.
• 🔄 After the mini cut, they transitioned to a lean bulk and noticed better arm definition, despite slow strength recovery.
• 🎯 The speaker advises using mini cuts strategically and recommends them after solid growth phases, especially for those on long-term bulking journeys.

Q & A

What was the speaker's primary concern at the beginning of their fitness journey?

The speaker's primary concern was to get less skinny and overcome their insecurity about being underweight.

What was the impact of the 2020 lockdown on the speaker's fitness progress?

The lockdown led to a significant loss of progress for the speaker, with almost two months of barely eating and not exercising, resulting in a loss of 20 pounds of lean mass.

What is the main goal of a 'mini cut' in the context of the speaker's fitness journey?

The main goal of a 'mini cut' is to trim off excess fat accumulated during a bulking phase, resensitize the body to training, and recover appetite for further muscle growth.

How does a mini cut differ from a regular cut in terms of calorie reduction?

A mini cut involves a drastic drop in calorie intake from the start, unlike a regular cut which gradually lowers calories in increments over months.

What was the speaker's daily calorie intake during the mini cut phase?

The speaker reduced their daily calorie intake to around 3,000 to 3,200 calories during the mini cut phase.

Why did the speaker decide to reduce their total training volume during the mini cut?

The speaker reduced their total training volume to focus on muscle maintenance instead of progression due to the lack of sufficient calories for intense training.

How long did the speaker's mini cut last, and what was the result in terms of weight loss?

The speaker's mini cut lasted for six weeks, during which they lost 18 pounds, going from 189 to 171 pounds.

What was the speaker's strategy for recovering from the mini cut?

The speaker transitioned to a lean bulking phase, adding around 500 to 700 calories to their diet to refill and regain strength.

What were the mental benefits the speaker experienced during the mini cut?

The speaker experienced increased focus, improved work efficiency, and a reduction in brain fog due to eating less during the day.

What advice does the speaker give to those considering a mini cut in their fitness journey?

The speaker advises that a mini cut should be considered after a solid phase of serious growth and not rushed into after just a month of bulking.