‘The cut’ as an all-consuming feat
The word “diet” has become a somewhat dirty word. It carries unpleasant associations with restriction and compromise. In Filipino culture, food is often a conduit for emotional regulation or tied to celebration and social gathering, among other things.
In bodybuilding, going on a drastic dieting phase is known as a “cut,” and it’s an extremely demanding process. So much so that for the duration of a cut, everything else in life takes a back seat—social gatherings, events, and travel. Basically anything that involves food and drinks.
On my first cutting attempt, I realized just how challenging it is to undergo the process and actually succeed. So kudos to those who managed to. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to say the same for myself. I fell short, and I failed.
And although I’m not excusing failure, let me tell you why.
The stringent standards for striations
In a nutshell, a cut is a personalized diet where an individual’s calorie count, carbs, protein, and fat intake are precisely tailored to reach a physique goal—all within a certain timeline. Visually, the individual’s goal is to look defined, with striking muscle details like striations and insertions.
But more than visuals, it’s a numbers game.
Each calorie and macronutrient is accounted for, as well as the target body fat percentage (around 10 percent for men, 16 percent for women) and weight tracking. The nutritional profile of each food is considered. To get specific amounts to match one’s macros, each ingredient is measured down to the gram. To keep things consistent, a cutting diet has a fixed rotation of foods structured in a meal plan.
Weekly statistical records from body scans, weight check-ins as well as photos are all part of the cutting journey for consistent progression. Ideally, you preserve or even gain muscle mass in spite of a caloric deficit, but this is hardly the case. Oftentimes, those who go on a cut aim to lose as little lean mass as possible.
It’s a rigid, precise, and delicate process where one mistake can really set you back. For ordinary people, this isn’t very doable. But for those who have physique-based careers like action stars, bodybuilders, and the like, a cut is an inevitable, non-negotiable rite of passage. And to succeed, seeing a cut as a commitment is not enough—it’s a top priority.
Setbacks like a slap in the face
Although I understand what a cut entails conceptually, it’s a different game once it’s in practice. I was working with a coach who created my workouts and meal plans, so I thought all I had to do was show up and follow through.
But that wasn’t the case. I had not yet grasped the amount of compromise this journey entailed when I began, and as I went further, I realized how much of my life was a misfit for me to succeed.
The first thing I realized was my relationships—familial, social, and romantic—would make things harder, not easier. In my life, I’m the only one who subscribes to this lifestyle, so I was often out of sync with those around me.
Catch-up dinners, grabbing a drink, or trying out a new trendy cafe weren’t in the cards for me. I found coming along and not participating sad, so I’d rather just sit it out. How I would normally spend time with those I loved had to be reconsidered and, sometimes, that just meant not spending time with them at all. It dawned on me that conditioning seasons in my life would likely be a solitary process.
Next was making peace with the fact that to successfully go on a cut, it was in my best interest to stay put, so recreational activities like travel would have to wait until off-season. Rigid routines have to be followed, especially when there’s a certain timeline.
There were also targets within that timeline, so consistency is key. In my 100-day cut, I traveled about three times, and collectively had about 15 days where my diet and training weren’t followed. And although 15 out of 100 days seems like little, the setbacks in my progress hit me like a slap in the face.
(Apart from the 15 days, I also got sick for a week, so I broke off my routine even further.)
Every single moment of the cut mattered—every day, every bite, and every lift. Toward the end, I was in a mental rut. But little by little, I picked myself back up. Failure became an opportunity to learn, to get back on track to the path of success.
“Cutting” myself some slack
Other than cutting for fitness, I’m also cutting myself some slack. Although I’m also telling myself not to be too lax.
Now, I view my first cut as research and development. Having experienced it and discovered the obstacles—whether commonly experienced or personal—I now know what to expect. Even the mental rut I went through renewed my sense of resolve once I came out the other side.
My cutting journey first came off to me as a very physical journey. But as I went through it, it opened my eyes to a cut that was more a matter of the mind. One of the most valuable things I learned is that mental fortitude is required to commit, adapt, and get back on track regardless of the twists and turns.
And hopefully, next time I write about cutting, rather than sharing my reflections on my failure, I can share my insights on achieving success.
