Fitness activity in France has risen 6% since 2018, with one in four people now exercising regularly, according to figures released in 2023 by the Institut national de la Jeunesse et de l'Éducation populaire (Injep). Bodybuilding is among the most popular sports, prized because it can be practised both in a gym and at home.
While health and relaxation remain the top two reasons the French take up sport, the third is a desire to change or improve their physical appearance. One widely used method for doing so is known as the muscle cut, or "seche musculaire."
What the cut actually means
Nicolas Aubineau, a dietitian and nutritionist, told the sports newspaper L'Equipe that to cut means to lose weight and fat, but above all not muscle. In other words, this very strict regimen aims to define the muscles as much as possible while keeping the athlete at their optimal fighting weight, the condition that keeps sportspeople in peak physical form.
The key to a successful cut lies in nutrition, specifically calorie deficit. The principle is simple: to lose fat and therefore weight, a person must burn more calories than they consume. That means adjusting both diet and training around this idea.
The recommended approach favors protein, carbohydrates and fats, combined with plenty of hydration to avoid water retention. Foods low in nutritional value, including fats, sugar and alcohol, should be avoided.
Short, intense workouts over endurance
Training during a cut should stay regular and intense. Lucas Jaron, a dietitian and nutritionist, told Le Journal des Femmes that the exercises involved are mainly short sessions done in intervals, with noticeable rest periods built in.
Jaron also advised avoiding long-duration activities such as running or endurance training, saying they work against the goal of optimizing a muscle cut.
Cutting yes, supplements no
The cutting method is natural and poses no health risk for people who are regularly monitored by a doctor, but the same cannot be said for every technique linked to bodybuilding. Dietary supplements marketed to athletes who want to reduce body fat and improve their appearance are a different matter.
These products can carry health risks. According to a July 2024 report from the Agence nationale de securite sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (Anses), France's national food, environmental and occupational health safety agency, such supplements can cause tachycardia, palpitations, or even cardiac arrest.
