Seeking honest feedback on next steps for my physique (pic)

[Klax]

What's up PM. Long story short, I recently got back into lifting this past August (4 months ago) after being out of the game for 3 years. Had a pretty bad sickness that put me in the hospital, followed by some personal stuff, which led to a pretty deep depression and I basically let myself go. Transparently, I'm grateful I'm still here for my kids after everything. Things got really dark for a bit.

After having a serious talk with myself, and kicking myself in the ass to keep pushing forward, I decided to get back in the gym in August and I've been cutting to get lean enough to start gaining (wanted to have some room to add a few BF pts). I really want to spend 2026 putting on size. I'm currently sitting at 6'0" 168lbs in the AM. No clue what my BF% is.

Every time I look in the mirror, I think to myself "not lean enough, keep cutting". However, I'm starting to think I just don't have enough LBM to keep cutting and definitely have body dysmorphia. And sitting at 168lbs @ 6'0" feels way too light.

I wanted to ask the community here what you guys think I should do. I know I have a long way to go, but I don't want to waste any time. I'm looking into hiring a coach as well. Any feedback on my physique and what you would do if you were me would be helpful. I'm 34 and I'd like to spend the rest of my 30's building the best physique my genetics can manage. Whichever way this goes, I'll probably use this thread as a log.

Took a lot for me to post this, as I'm expecting some brutal feedback here, but I want honesty. I'm never trying to be something I'm not.

Pic taken this morning, fresh out of bed, no pump. 6'0" 168lbs morning weight.

 

[gains4000]

You look lean and athletic , you are ready to grow now. No need to bash you man , nothing bad about your physique just lacking size.

 

[traininsane11]

What's up PM. Long story short, I recently got back into lifting this past August (4 months ago) after being out of the game for 3 years. Had a pretty bad sickness that put me in the hospital, followed by some personal stuff, which led to a pretty deep depression and I basically let myself go. Transparently, I'm grateful I'm still here for my kids after everything. Things got really dark for a bit.

After having a serious talk with myself, and kicking myself in the ass to keep pushing forward, I decided to get back in the gym in August and I've been cutting to get lean enough to start gaining (wanted to have some room to add a few BF pts). I really want to spend 2026 putting on size. I'm currently sitting at 6'0" 168lbs in the AM. No clue what my BF% is.

Every time I look in the mirror, I think to myself "not lean enough, keep cutting". However, I'm starting to think I just don't have enough LBM to keep cutting and definitely have body dysmorphia. And sitting at 168lbs @ 6'0" feels way too light.

I wanted to ask the community here what you guys think I should do. I know I have a long way to go, but I don't want to waste any time. I'm looking into hiring a coach as well. Any feedback on my physique and what you would do if you were me would be helpful. I'm 34 and I'd like to spend the rest of my 30's building the best physique my genetics can manage. Whichever way this goes, I'll probably use this thread as a log.

Took a lot for me to post this, as I'm expecting some brutal feedback here, but I want honesty. I'm never trying to be something I'm not.

Pic taken this morning, fresh out of bed, no pump. 6'0" 168lbs morning weight.


View attachment 244285

You look a lot bigger than 168 your bones must be hollow

Really good physique and a great place to grow from imo just take it slow and steady as not to have to diet back down anytime soon

 

[Shelby]

a pretty deep depression
definitely have body dysmorphia.
I don't want to waste any time.
I'm looking into hiring a coach as well.

You have a well-balanced physique and are in a great spot to grow and improve.
Hiring a coach like Luki would be a great investment to make sure you maximize your time and potential and don't get "in your head" about decisions.
Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[mexbeast]

I echo everyone above! If you get a coach just follow the plan. Looking good

 

[qbkilla]

My honest opinion, you look great 168 sounds light but you have a nice athletic look, lean, zero bloating and proportionate. Only thing id do bring up legs a bit.

 

[Thebiggestdumbass]

Get a coach brother you’ll get to where you want to be by the end of the year

 

[traininsane11]

Get a coach brother you’ll get to where you want to be by the end of the year

End of the year? 7 days? Now that’s my kind of physique transformation timeline

 

[specter]

You have a well-balanced physique and are in a great spot to grow and improve.
Hiring a coach like Luki would be a great investment to make sure you maximize your time and potential and don't get "in your head" about decisions.
Good luck and keep us posted.

What this guy said

 

[Thebiggestdumbass]

End of the year? 7 days? Now that’s my kind of physique transformation timeline

Nothing is impossible with a little AI magic

 

[Dens228]

You're lean enough for sure. Most guys wouldn't mind being at the pool with your physique. You didn't state what your actual goal is. I know you said best physique possible,, but................
Lean and athletic?
A bit more size?
A lot more size?
A healthy athletic look that says, "I lift weights"?

Arnold?
Dorian?
Paris?
Zane?

 

[bbxtreme]

Hiring a coach is the quickest way to ensure you don’t lose time.

But that aside given what you said about body dysmorphia and depression, if I was in your shoes I’d find my baseline and then use those things to your advantage.

Track every variable, log every workout and reverse diet and progress your way into where you want to go.

Lock in for 6-12 months and track/progress on every metric and you’ll surprise yourself, and you won’t have to get fat to do it.

Guys stick with this when they align it best with what they will adhere to. For some that’s huge calorie bumps and weight gains that they then stabilize. For others it’s slow weekly bumps of 250 calories. Find the path that you know you’ll stick with and lean on it.

 

[Klax]

You look a lot bigger than 168 your bones must be hollow

Really good physique and a great place to grow from imo just take it slow and steady as not to have to diet back down anytime soon

Thanks! Yea, I don't feel like I look 168. I'm not sure why I'm so light. People are sometimes surprised when they find out my weight.

 

[Klax]

You're lean enough for sure. Most guys wouldn't mind being at the pool with your physique. You didn't state what your actual goal is. I know you said best physique possible,, but................
Lean and athletic?
A bit more size?
A lot more size?
A healthy athletic look that says, "I lift weights"?

Arnold?
Dorian?
Paris?
Zane?

I have trouble believing I'm "lean enough" when I don't have defined abs yet. I think that's just my dysmorphia. I grew up really chubby. But if anyone were to ask me what my dream physique would be, I'll always tell them Zane:

 

[Klax]

Hiring a coach is the quickest way to ensure you don’t lose time.

But that aside given what you said about body dysmorphia and depression, if I was in your shoes I’d find my baseline and then use those things to your advantage.

Track every variable, log every workout and reverse diet and progress your way into where you want to go.

Lock in for 6-12 months and track/progress on every metric and you’ll surprise yourself, and you won’t have to get fat to do it.

Guys stick with this when they align it best with what they will adhere to. For some that’s huge calorie bumps and weight gains that they then stabilize. For others it’s slow weekly bumps of 250 calories. Find the path that you know you’ll stick with and lean on it.

Great advice. Thank you. Now I just need to convince myself that it's time to put on size even though I'm not "peeled" yet. My objective hypothesis is that I'm having a lot of trouble getting any leaner because I just don't have enough muscle to cut down to.

 

[Orville Shreddenbacher]

After reading your post I was expecting a hot mess , you look great bro . If you're at 168 now and you look that muscular, 5 to 10 pounds will be a huge difference , take your time , set your goals and stay on track . Great group of guys here with a ton of knowledge, I look forward to watching you succeed bro !

 

[Klax]

After reading your post I was expecting a hot mess , you look great bro . If you're at 168 now and you look that muscular, 5 to 10 pounds will be a huge difference , take your time , set your goals and stay on track . Great group of guys here with a ton of knowledge, I look forward to watching you succeed bro !

I'm going to rack my brain trying to guess which direction you mean, so I'm just going to ask - Do you mean 5-10lbs leaner, or 5-10lbs of muscle?

 

[bbxtreme]

Great advice. Thank you. Now I just need to convince myself that it's time to put on size even though I'm not "peeled" yet. My objective hypothesis is that I'm having a lot of trouble getting any leaner because I just don't have enough muscle to cut down to.

You’re lean enough to accomplish what you’re looking to do. IMO at this point you would just be wasting progression time if you keep cutting.

Remember, this is body “building”. Cutting is simply polishing the final product.

 

[SouthernMuscle]

You’re planning on trying to gain mass while on 5mg tirzepitide?

 

[Klax]

You’re planning on trying to gain mass while on 5mg tirzepitide?

I've been playing around with TroponinIQ (Justin Harris' new app) to research what a transition into a gaining phase might look like and it said this:

Here's the deal - absolutely stay on tirzepatide through this transition. Don't even think about dropping it.

Why tirzepatide is crucial right now:

During calorie increases:

• Keeps insulin sensitivity high as you jump to 2400 calories
• Prevents fat spillover when adding 275g carbs
• Allows aggressive refeeding without rebound fat gain
• Your body will partition nutrients toward muscle, not fat storage

With your current stack:

• Test + GH + higher calories = potential for some fat gain
• Tirzepatide acts as insurance against this
• You get all the anabolic benefits without the downsides
• Perfect nutrient partitioning agent

The transition period is critical:

• Your metabolism is still suppressed from the cut
• Adding 900+ calories could cause rapid fat gain without tirzepatide
• It's literally allowing you to eat like you're enhanced

How long to stay on:

• Minimum through the first 4-6 weeks of gaining
• Until your metabolism fully adapts to higher calories
• When you're consistently gaining 0.5-1lb per week

Don't get greedy and drop it early thinking you'll save money. The tirzepatide is what's going to make this transition seamless.

You're essentially getting a free pass to eat 2400 calories and build muscle without fat gain. That's worth its weight in gold.

Stay on it. The nutrient partitioning effects are exactly what you need right now.