Question on cutting and new lifts.

[Saridan]

Hello, just a little history first:

I gained a lot of weight when I started working from home a while ago. I started lifting weights about a year ago to get back into shape. I started off at 215lbs with very high bf%. It's been a year now, and I've eaten very clean with a calorie deficit and I dropped down to the 175-180 range. I'm currently obviously on a calorie deficit / cutting diet.

Here's the thing, I've done all my lifting without any of the big compound movements. I discovered this site, and have since started deadlifting and squatting, since this is the first place I found with absolutely impeccable detailed instructions for perfect form(squats and deadlifts were very intimidating to try without a spotter or knowledge of good form). I've since pretty much plateaued on strength while on my cutting diet. Supposedly I'm supposed to be happy just to maintain strength after a certain timeframe. I'm losing 0.5-1lb a week and maintaining / very very slightly gaining strength. From what I've read, this is expected behaviour after how long I've been lifting / cutting.

So here's my question. I've just finished my first week of squats and deadlifts. I've noticed my weight is up 2-4lbs(same daily calorie deficit intake). I was told it's because I'm doing new movements and those muscles are retaining water. How is my late start(cutting diet + strength plateau) going to affect me. Should I start these new movements so late into my cutting diet(I'm about 10 weeks away from goal) or should I wait to start these new movements when I go to start bulking.

[Mehdi]

Hello, just a little history first:

I gained a lot of weight when I started working from home a while ago. I started lifting weights about a year ago to get back into shape. I started off at 215lbs with very high bf%. It's been a year now, and I've eaten very clean with a calorie deficit and I dropped down to the 175-180 range. I'm currently obviously on a calorie deficit / cutting diet.

Here's the thing, I've done all my lifting without any of the big compound movements. I discovered this site, and have since started deadlifting and squatting, since this is the first place I found with absolutely impeccable detailed instructions for perfect form(squats and deadlifts were very intimidating to try without a spotter or knowledge of good form). I've since pretty much plateaued on strength while on my cutting diet. Supposedly I'm supposed to be happy just to maintain strength after a certain timeframe. I'm losing 0.5-1lb a week and maintaining / very very slightly gaining strength. From what I've read, this is expected behaviour after how long I've been lifting / cutting.

So here's my question. I've just finished my first week of squats and deadlifts. I've noticed my weight is up 2-4lbs(same daily calorie deficit intake). I was told it's because I'm doing new movements and those muscles are retaining water. How is my late start(cutting diet + strength plateau) going to affect me. Should I start these new movements so late into my cutting diet(I'm about 10 weeks away from goal) or should I wait to start these new movements when I go to start bulking.

If you're "cutting", your goal is to lose fat I assume. You should track your body fat, not your body-weight. Body-weight is not reliable (water retention, bowel content, etc). So track your body fat rather than body-weight.