u/No_Area_5242

I’ve cycled through bulking and cutting a few times now, but I feel like I’m just spinning my wheels.

My muscle-to-fat ratio stays exactly the same; I gain both, then lose both, and end up right back where I started. It’s like my body composition hasn’t actually improved—I’m just a bigger or smaller version of the same physique.

BULK (weight / musclemass / bodyfatpercentage)

2025-04 : 154 lb / 70.6 lb / 19.8%

2025-07 : 156 lb / 71.0 lb / 20.3%

2025-10 : 163 lb / 72.6 lb / 21.5 %

2026-03 : 167 lb / 73.7 lb / 22.2 %

CUT (weight / musclemass / bodyfatpercentage)

2026-04 : 163 lb / 72.7 lb / 21.4 %

2026-05 : 161 lb / 72.1 lb / 21.1%

for example 2025-10 and 2026-5 doesn't have any difference.

i don't know if the bulking part went good or not. but the reason i started to cut was that i didn't want to stay in the 21-22% bodyfat percentage. i wanted it to get down in the 17-18% range.

I’ve cycled through bulking and cutting a few times now, but I feel like I’m just spinning my wheels.

My muscle-to-fat ratio stays exactly the same; I gain both, then lose both, and end up right back where I started. It’s like my body composition hasn’t actually improved—I’m just a bigger or smaller version of the same physique.

BULK (weight / musclemass / bodyfatpercentage)

2025-04 : 154 lb / 70.6 lb / 19.8%

2025-07 : 156 lb / 71.0 lb / 20.3%

2025-10 : 163 lb / 72.6 lb / 21.5 %

2026-03 : 167 lb / 73.7 lb / 22.2 %

CUT (weight / musclemass / bodyfatpercentage)

2026-04 : 163 lb / 72.7 lb / 21.4 %

2026-05 : 161 lb / 72.1 lb / 21.1%

for example 2025-10 and 2026-5 doesn't have any difference.

i don't know if the bulking part went good or not. but the reason i started to cut was that i didn't want to stay in the 21-22% bodyfat percentage. i wanted it to get down in the 17-18% range.

I’ve been meticulous with my cut—tracking calories and ensuring I hit at least 130g of protein daily. While I lost weight exactly as planned, my muscle mass dropped proportionally, leaving me right back at my starting physique. I kept my routine consistent and fought to keep my strength up, only losing about 5–10 lbs on my lifts. Is this level of strength loss normal, or am I missing a key factor in muscle preservation?