should i continue bulk or start a cut?

im 21yr old female. ive been on a bulk for a little while now.

Height: 5'8

starting weight was 117-118lbs, about 16% body fat (not sure how accurate it is. i went based off my scale. had minimal/no muscle)

current weight: 135lbs, about 20% body fat (again, going based on my scale)


i wanna continue building muscle but i feel like i'm starting to get a little soft, but i feel like i shouldn't be getting "soft" yet considering my weight isnt that high.

im not sure how to post pictures on here or else i would so u guys can get a better idea of my body composition

by yana999 via Bodybuilding.com Forums - Female Bodybuilding

Planning for Post-Partum - Need to create a plan!

I'm currently 22 weeks but trying to research and plan ahead for when I can get on track again. I was overweight most of my life due to careless eating and virtually no activity. However, about 4 years ago I remarried and that sparked a revolution. I dialed in my diet (mostly just protein, veggies and some whole grains) and started running. I went from completely sedentary to running around 3 miles 5-7 times per week. Overall I lost nearly 100 lb. and pretty much kept it off. I was in the process of losing more to get to my ultimate goal of 150 when I found I was expecting. I was down to 180 at that time. I've been very sick so pretty sedentary during the pregnancy but only gained 11 lb. total so far.
I'm feeling pretty huge right now and really down because I had such high hopes of finally reaching my ultimate goals. Instead of beating myself up, I've been reading here and researching to create a plan to reach my goals after baby gets here. This time I'm planning to still run because I've grown to love it but want to incorporate more weight training.
Are there any specific apps or diet plans I should look into to help track calories/macros? I really want to get that on point. Is there a specific weight/training plan or app I could use to help me create a routine? I tend to get into a rut on workouts and do the same things always so any plans that could be recommended would be helpful. What sups should I look into to help me get the baby fat down (I realize this won't be immediate and will go hand in hand with diet and workouts).
I'm open to any and all suggestions. I just want to be prepared to get back on track. Thanks!

P.S. - I noticed after posting that it says I'm 50...I'm not, I'm 39! I'll have to go in and fix that.

by DrZzz18 via Bodybuilding.com Forums - Female Bodybuilding

Hello and Introduction

Here I am reluctantly introducing myself. After spending a little time looking around, I decided to do some searches for topics of interest and was taken aback by the negativity towards wheelchair users. As a wheelchair user it was a little off putting!! That being said, I am hoping that is not the norm.

My name is Ann-Marie and I am from Florida. After a decade long battle to diagnose a disability, I am having to relearn everything that I knew before now that I am in a chair. Due to long periods of inactivity and more steroids that I care to count, I have put on an excessive amount of weight. My diet is back in check and no more steroids so I am ready to get back in the gym. I've been in my chair full time for 2 years and I finally have the freedom and independence to get back to the gym. So far everyone at my gym has just stared at me weird and left me alone.

I am currently only using the circuit machines to get back into the rhythm of regular workouts and to help me determine where my strength levels are before delving into real weights. I really hate circuit machines but almost no one goes into that area in the gym so I have it mostly to myself! I only plan to do a few weeks of the circuit machines.

I hope to be able to learn from everyone here and I would love to know if there are any other wheelchair users on this forum.

by rollsoftly via Bodybuilding.com Forums - Female Bodybuilding

this video will help

i trust this video and i finally do this

by adilraps via Bodybuilding.com Forums - Female Bodybuilding

Trying to find a competition prep coach

Hey everyone! So I am located in Surprise Arizona and am wanting to compete in a bikini competition for the first time. I started searching for a trainer a week ago and man I can’t find anyone that is not strictly online. If anyone knows of someone local to surprise or surrounding areas that is a in person trainer please let me know!

by PinupGirl93 via Bodybuilding.com Forums - Female Bodybuilding

Help with building legs

Ive been trying for a while to build my legs but I have a nagging knee injury which makes it difficult. I started doing mainly barbell squats and leg extensions ( I dont have access to a gym so cant use leg press which I love!)

Anyway I have had to go to single leg because my one side is taking over ( Im guessing because of my knee) and I was starting to get muscle imbalance...nothing crazy but I could see it.

So I changed to single leg extentions and Bulgarian split squat just until the imbalance goes....this is kinda working but my knee hurts when doing any type of lunge.....

My question is...as long as I put the muscle into hypertrophy will my legs grow? so if I could use leg extention ( which strangely doesnt seem to hurt it ) and something like bands and time under tension would that work or is it simply not enough? Do I need the weight increase to make the real bulk to the muscle or is there a way I can cut down on the weight but still get the growth?

Thanks in advance

by Bagpuss13 via Bodybuilding.com Forums - Female Bodybuilding

Does more lifting equal more calories burned/bigger muscles?

I do three hours of cardio per day, plus 5-6 hours of lifting per day, both free weights and cables. I take lots of breaks in between. I alternate legs and arms every other day. I am losing about 1.0-1.4 pounds a day so far and adding a lot of muscle. I was 445 lb. at my peak, and now am at 205 lb.


My schedule is (although I do mix it up too):

2 hours of cardio
2-3 hours of lifting
30 minutes of cardio
2 hours of lifting
30 minutes of cardio
1 hour of lifting

Although I love working out, I need to free up some more time to do other necessary things. What do I cut out and still lose the same weight each day? 30 minutes of cardio? An hour weight lifting session?

Thanks!

by mileena202 via Bodybuilding.com Forums - Female Bodybuilding

Pro Card

Can someone please briefly explain to me what it actually means to become a Pro? I know you have to qualify through certain shows and you get to compete in IFBB shows as a Pro.

Let's say I would get my Pro card, what would it actually mean for me? Would I get a sponsor or something like that? Will it be like a full time job?

by repgirl via Bodybuilding.com Forums - Female Bodybuilding

Will working delts help or hurt my physique?

Hi! 5'0", 110 lb, 24F here.

My upper arms have always been a problem area. The best way I can describe it is that my arm fat sticks out where my upper arm meets my back. I think it's because I have narrow shoulders but a relatively wide back. Basically, my lats push my triceps outwards.

I'm fully aware that excess fat is what's causing the problem. I know that if I cut down enough, there'd be no arm fat to stick out. However, I'm pretty happy with my composition. Even at my lowest weight (100 lb), my upper arms were slimmer but the bulge didn't disappear.

So my question is, would increasing the size of my delts improve the appearance of my upper arms? The first pic is what I look like right now. The second pic is photoshopped to what I want to look like. My ideal is a straight line from shoulder to elbow. Or would working delts just make my upper arms and shoulders bigger overall without changing the profile?

Attached Images

• have.jpg‎ (93.9 KB)
• want.jpg‎ (93.8 KB)

by arcserv via Bodybuilding.com Forums - Female Bodybuilding