Anyone else feel like they're spinning their wheels physique-wise?

[749KillXX]

I've been stuck in that in-between phase for a while. I'm not lean enough to look really defined, but I'm not big enough to look full either. Every time I think about cutting, I feel like I'll end up looking smaller. If I bulk, I'm worried I'll just add more fluff.
If you've been in this spot before, what worked better for you—a proper cut first or a slow lean bulk?

[JustinWLT8]

I was in that exact spot last year. I decided to do a slow lean bulk and after about 6 months I finally started looking like I actually lifted.

[RobbieWD]

I'd get lean first. Once you can actually see some definition, it's way easier mentally to commit to a bulk.

[Jjohnson]

Honestly, it depends on your body fat. If you're already fairly lean, I'd eat in a small surplus. If you're carrying more fat than you'd like, I'd cut first. Either way, don't bounce back and forth every few weeks.

[MarvinXX]

I made the mistake of cutting too hard. Ended up looking skinny instead of lean.

[JemiPack5]

The biggest thing that helped me was sticking with one goal for more than a month. I kept changing plans and got nowhere.

[GritTy5*]

If your strength is still going up, I'd probably stay around maintenance or a slight surplus. Building muscle takes time, and most people quit before they really see the changes.

[Jett-Muscle]

Been there, man. It's frustrating, but that's where consistency really matters. Keep training hard and trust the process.

[Luis-VIP]

I'd stop worrying about the scale so much and focus on progress pictures every few weeks. Sometimes you're making changes that the mirror hides day to day.