531 and calorie deficit

[531hulk]

Hulk here. Anyone have any experience on fat loss and using the 531 template? I'm in need of dropping a good amount of body fat and wondered if I could while still being able to strength train while at calorie deficit . I know it's hard to increase strength and lose fat at the same time. Should I just train with a hypertrophy routine lose the fat and try and work my way back up to my strength gains?

[600@50]

Fat loss only comes from a calorie deficit. You can lose weight on any routine. How much strength you lose is based on how much you reduce calories. Cut calories a bunch, lose weight fast and lose more strength. Cut calories slightly, lose weight slower but lose little to no strength.

[zf2410]

I've done 531 a few times, both while trying to bulk or cut. You won't really gain strength by doing it while in a calorie deficit, but I was able to maintain more strength while still cutting. Time carbs around the workout so you can still hit the numbers needed, and be smart about the assistance work.

[Rozzyrat]

I've run it twice in a deficit - once on HRT and once pre-HRT. Both times, I was able to make strength gains while I was over 18% body fat. Pre-HRT, I slowed down once I got under 20% BF and hit a wall at 18%. Then I got injured and was out of the gym for a while. When I came back, I ran a linear program until I stalled then ran 531 with a surplus. Great gains, but I got fat. When I started HRT last January, I started a cut. I was at 230 with a DL of 435, Squat of 345, BP of 215 and Press of 155. I got my lifts (not training maxes, they were higher) up to 445 DL, 380 Squat, 230 BP, and 170 Press at 218 lbs and about 18% BF.

From that point forward, my lifts really took a beating. I maintained for a while, but once I got down to 210 and 16% BF, I had lost probably 10% of my strength. On the bright side, I look good