How do you deal with the mental aspect of cutting?

[NVR2BIG1]

Yes, the more often you do the easier it gets to deal with the changes though. The one thing that I go through during every diet, is a phase the first month where I dont really think I look more defined, but dont think I look big anymore either. It's this goofy phase were in my mind nothing is working and I look like a swimmer rather than a bodybuilder. I just stick to the grind and keep going, then when I'm in the 6th-7th wk of my diet things start coming around good, people start saying stuff about my definition. From this point on, the changes come faster, wk to wk I begin to look twice as good. The last few wks, just when I dont think I can get anymore leaner, I keep going for more. So in my mind I'm small w/ a shirt on, but I'll walk past a mirror in my tanktop or something and think "Damn man, is that really me?" When your definition starts becoming an illusion and people begin asking you how much you weigh, it looks like your getting bigger, this is when you know your doing shit the right way. I'll actually look bigger 40 lbs lighter believe it or not. I was about 210 lbs in my avatar, I'm 240 lbs right now, and I looked way bigger in my avy than I do right now. So stick to it and keep pushing bro, pics dont lie

[jbran23]

Thanks for some reassurance guys. Igi, from some of the techniques and supps you utilize when you cut it makes me more confident that I have my bases covered. I am basically doing everything you stated almost to a tee which makes me feel better.

NVR2BIG the phase you talked about where you dont see a whole lot of definition change but you feel like you are still getting smaller anyway is the phase I am at. More than anything Im afraid Im going to end up looking like an Abricrombie and Fitch model at the end and then I would have to kill myself!! haha. Seriously though I see little changes in my arms and things like a little more vascularity and a little more definition coming along. I know belly fat is the last to go so I need to just be patient and keep pushing.

I think more than anything my doubts come from a piss poor self image that I have always had. I have always relied on people telling me Im getting bigger and being able to see the numbers on the scale go up to let me know what Im doing is right. This is new territory for me so I just need to get used to it I guess.

[Bossman]

Yes, the more often you do the easier it gets to deal with the changes though. The one thing that I go through during every diet, is a phase the first month where I dont really think I look more defined, but dont think I look big anymore either. It's this goofy phase were in my mind nothing is working and I look like a swimmer rather than a bodybuilder. I just stick to the grind and keep going, then when I'm in the 6th-7th wk of my diet things start coming around good, people start saying stuff about my definition. From this point on, the changes come faster, wk to wk I begin to look twice as good. The last few wks, just when I dont think I can get anymore leaner, I keep going for more. So in my mind I'm small w/ a shirt on, but I'll walk past a mirror in my tanktop or something and think "Damn man, is that really me?" When your definition starts becoming an illusion and people begin asking you how much you weigh, it looks like your getting bigger, this is when you know your doing shit the right way. I'll actually look bigger 40 lbs lighter believe it or not. I was about 210 lbs in my avatar, I'm 240 lbs right now, and I looked way bigger in my avy than I do right now. So stick to it and keep pushing bro, pics dont lie

^^^very well put! IN my avatar Im 206 lbs down from 240 last off season. I reached 260 this off season and Im currently 235 on my way down to 210-215.