How long is it safe to cut for?

Author: Noah Maggio II  |  Last update: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Most of the time, cutting phases are shorter than bulks and usually last 2 to 4 months. Here's how to start the cutting phase: Determine your maintenance calories. As when bulking, you'll want to calculate the number of cals you need to maintain your weight.

How long is too long to cut for?

The cutting phase varies per person, often cuts are around 8 - 16 weeks, dependent on your goals and achievements. Should you bulk then shred? If you have a lean physique then (10-15% body fat or less for a man, or 18-23% of body fat or less for a woman), you should definitely bulk and then shred down.

Can a cut be too long?

A good indication that a cut may be serious is if the cut is long and deep. Anything longer or deeper than half an inch that exposes fatty tissue and/or bone or is wide and gaping is evidence the patient will need medical attention.

How long should a cut normally last?

How long does it take for a cut to heal? Wounds heal faster when covered with a plaster, as this promotes moist wound healing. The actual time it takes for a cut to heal depends on its size and depth. Small cuts and scratches typically heal within 1-2 weeks, while larger wounds may take 2-3 months or longer.

Is a 12 week cut too long?

IMO a cut should ony last 8-12 weeks at most. any longer than that and you are risking muscle loss and start to feel like shit. I'd even go with 8 weeks. if i were you I'd stop and bump my cals back up to maintenance for 6-8 weeks then start again.

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Should I bulk at 20% body fat?

Most experts think the appropriate body fat range for beginning a bulk or cut should be between 10-15% for men and 20-25% for women. This range is ideal as it provides enough energy to build muscle while allowing for visible definition. Once you hit the upper end of the range, start cutting.

How long should a cutting last?

Most of the time, cutting phases are shorter than bulks and usually last 2 to 4 months. Here's how to start the cutting phase: Determine your maintenance calories. As when bulking, you'll want to calculate the number of cals you need to maintain your weight.

What is an aggressive cut?

What is an aggressive mini-cut? A mini cut is an aggressive style of dieting that drastically reduces calories for a few short weeks—usually 4-6—to lose weight quickly. This primes the body to begin growing muscle again.

How long can you leave a cut?

The doctor may want the cut to stay open the whole time it heals. This happens with some cuts when too much time has gone by since the cut happened. Or the doctor may tell you to come back to have the cut closed in 4 to 5 days, when there is less chance of infection.

Is 1lb a week good for bulking?

You want to build muscle but not increase your body fat—at least not to the point where it is unhealthy. The bottom line is that it is important to keep bulking in perspective. Aim to gain no more than one pound of body weight per week. If you're gaining more, it's likely due to a fat gain versus muscle growth.

Why do cuts get hard?

When your skin is cut, scraped, or punctured, you usually start to bleed. Within minutes or even seconds, blood cells start to clump together and clot, protecting the wound and preventing further blood loss. These clots, which turn into scabs as they dry, are created by a type of blood cell called a platelet.

Why am I getting fatter on a cut?

Your cut lasts too long

Reducing your caloric intake is a great way to lose body fat, but staying on a low calorie plan for too long makes your body produce cortisol, a stress hormone that increases blood sugar, which in turn leads to fat gain.

What not to do when cutting?

7 Things To Avoid When Cutting Body Fat
  1. DRASTICALLY CUTTING CALORIES STRAIGHT AWAY. ...
  2. COMPLETE CHANGE IN DIRECTION. ...
  3. DOING ALL THE CARDIO. ...
  4. RE FEED MEALS / DAYS. ...
  5. HIGH REPS / LOW WEIGHT. ...
  6. RELYING ON FITNESS & EXERCISE TRACKERS. ...
  7. TRACKING & DOCUMENTING, NOTHING.

How long should my cut be?

How long should you cut for? Many people suggest arbitrary durations (so many weeks or months), but here's the simple truth: You should cut for as long as it takes to reach your body composition goal.

Do you lose muscle when cutting?

Cutting is nothing more than lowering your fat percentage by adhering to a strict diet plan. This makes your muscle mass more visible. The difference between cutting and a regular diet is that with a regular diet you often lose muscle mass. Cutting is adjusting your diet so that the loss of muscle mass is minimal.

Are mini cuts worth it?

Key Benefits of a Mini-Cut

By intensifying the fat-loss phase, you see visible results in just a few weeks without the mental strain of prolonged calorie deficits. Muscle Preservation: Unlike extended dieting phases that can lead to muscle breakdown, mini-cuts are designed to preserve muscle.

How often do you need a cut?

Your hair type also comes into play when considering how often you should cut your hair. There is a general rule of thumb of 8 to 12 weeks between haircuts. This is generally for healthy hair and is a good enough time to maintain most hairstyles for most hair types.

How to cut correctly?

Here are 10 of our favourite cutting tips to help you shred body fat.
  1. Up Your Water Intake. ...
  2. Cook Your Own Meals. ...
  3. Avoid Catastrophising Cheat Meals. ...
  4. Increase Your Calorie Deficit With Cardio. ...
  5. Increase Lean Muscle Tissue To Help Your Cut. ...
  6. Avoid Sugar. ...
  7. Drink Caffeine – In Moderation. ...
  8. Cut Down On Cooking Oil.

Can you build muscle while cutting?

Studies have shown that participants can gain muscle, even while in a caloric deficit, as long as they eat enough protein. It's important enough that I'll say it again: If you don't want your body cannibalizing its muscles while you are in a caloric deficit, you need to eat plenty of protein.

What is dirty bulking?

There are other terms for this, such as build mode, but bulking is a common term for this caloric surplus. Dirty bulking is when an individual is in a caloric surplus to build muscle (build mode). However, the individual is eating foods that are carb dense, unhealthy, and ultra-processed out of convenience.

What does 10% bodyfat look like?

At 10% body fat, a man is just above his essential body fat level. At this body composition you will see muscle striations and definition, six pack abs, and look athletic and fit. However, you may not see as much vascularity as you would in single digit body fat levels.

Is cutting harder than bulking?

Unlike bulking, the most common misstep with cutting is eating too few calories. If you do, King warns it can lead to a decrease in muscle mass. Maintaining energy is also one of the most challenging aspects of a cut. “Since your calorie intake is lower, it's important to emphasize quality,” says King.

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