I think the issue is people assume cutting requires a legitimate cycle. It doesn’t for anyone not competing. Therefore your cut can be your cruise can be your health phase. Then after the cut, when you’re primed for growth on an insulin sensitivity standpoint, you’re also ready from overall health/inflammation standpoint. So normal folks it can be just two different phases.

Cutting to stage lean requires drugs. Cutting to 8-9%, which is still leaner than most people ever get to, can be done with simple cruise dose of test and now the addition of things like Reta or tirz.

There’s plenty of reasons you need just a health phase reset after a competition level cut with drugs. You’re drained physically but also mentally.

I definitely think there’s a third phase. Call it a health phase, bridge, cruise… whatever you want.

Personally, I don’t think it’s about “resetting receptors.” That idea has been largely debunked. I think the reason people usually respond so well after a proper cruise is because they’re simply in a much better physiological state. Less inflammation, less oxidative stress, lower fatigue, better health markers, better insulin sensitivity… the whole system is in a better place to grow again.

For me, a proper health phase is just as important as the push itself. I’d rather spend 12–16 weeks getting healthy and then have an amazing offseason than keep pushing until everything starts going backwards.

I also think people mix up competitive bodybuilding with lifestyle TRT. Blast, cruise, offseason, prep… those are concepts that came from high-performance bodybuilding, where performance usually takes priority over longevity. That’s a completely different mindset than someone whose goal is simply to feel good, stay healthy, and enjoy training for decades.

Different goals, different strategies. That’s how I look at it.

There’s definitely some nuance here. I think maintenance is absolutely a legitimate third phase, right alongside bulking and cutting. There are also micro bulks, micro cuts, recomp phases, health phases, blasts, cruises, and TRT. They all serve different purposes.

I’ve never been a fan of the traditional bulk/cut cycle. Constantly swinging between large surpluses and deficits is hard on homeostasis. I’d rather spend a few months in a modest 100-200 calorie surplus, then transition back to maintenance while keeping visible abs and decent definition year round.

I think that’s where a lot of recomp happens. I continue building muscle, keep body fat in check, and end up with a physique that’s easier to maintain year-round. It may not be the fastest way to add size, but I think the tissue you build is more mature, sustainable, and healthier in the long run.