Q: Please forgive my ignorance (im a beginner), but what is the difference between cutting and bulking and when should each be done?

A: Bulking and cutting are bodybuilding terms, but really they can apply to anyone trying to get more fit. Bulking means trying to put on muscle by gaining weight but in a controlled way that minimizes associated fat gains. Cutting means trying to lose the unwanted fat while preserving as much muscle as possible.

The distinction between muscle and fat is very crucial and is not recognized by most people. Most people think of it in terms of losing weight and gaining weight. The fact is that losing weight is only good when most of what you lose is fat. So a 20-pound weight loss is a spectacular success if you managed to lose 18 pounds of fat and 2 pounds of muscle. But it can also be a spectacular disaster if you lost 15 pounds of muscle and only 5 pounds of fat. The lack of understanding for this distinction is what's responsible for tens of millions of failed diets and exercise plans.