fitness people- who is still making progress?

[1BadSn95]

I'm still at it.

I ended up at 195 lbs last April. Saw that I needed to get my upper body up to match my legs at that point so I quit being so stringent on the diet and halo-ed around 205. Decided to put more size on at that point, and went on a see-food diet. I smashed everything in my path, haha. I ended up going from 205-248 in 16 weeks.

Fast forward to now I've been cutting to see if I added some mass up top. I'm down 10.3 lbs over 6 weeks so far, so I'm right on schedule. I'm just finally starting cardio this week so I can maintain the same weight loss at the same caloric intake for a couple weeks longer before I start my first cut of calories.

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that is a LOT of weight to put on...hopefully you keep some of it during your diet phase. that type of diet worked pretty good for me last year. I actually gained a lot of BF but put on some good muscle in needed spots. was WAY harder to diet but was good...

This is deff a Noob question here but ill ask anyways. From what ive gathered, "bulking" is during the winter, put on muscle and dont be so concerned about cardio then in the spring "cut" aka diet and go harder on the cardio? Is that the schedule you guys follow? How much does your diet change from the two? For me, im trying to just lose a little stomach and put on muscle. As of now im doing the workout listed above but in the spring i plan to up the cardio to really lean up

 

[PaxNovi 5.0]

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This is deff a Noob question here but ill ask anyways. From what ive gathered, "bulking" is during the winter, put on muscle and dont be so concerned about cardio then in the spring "cut" aka diet and go harder on the cardio? Is that the schedule you guys follow? How much does your diet change from the two? For me, im trying to just lose a little stomach and put on muscle. As of now im doing the workout listed above but in the spring i plan to up the cardio to really lean up

Dom (LITTLEMAGS) is definitely more qualified to give you advice than I! But I would imagine since he competes that he tailors his bulks/cuts around his shows.

That said, as for me, I bulk or cut as I feel like it since I'm not doing any shows, as of yet anyway. But generally, yeah a lot of guys like to bulk during winter and cut during spring to be in shape for the summer... For cardio, I don't do much while bulking, even though I should do at least a little. Luckily when I'm cutting I don't have to do a ton of cardio.

Diet is where the majority of it all lies at. My diet between the two phases is drastically different, to say the least. I should do clean bulks, but I never do, lol. I just eat anything and everything and refuse to measure a damn thing... When I'm cutting down, it's a whole nother ballgame. I get OCD/Anal to say the least. I have a digital scale that is calibrated (lmao) and I measure everything down to the tenth gram or hundredth ounce. It's a little over the top for some, but I get so OCD that I wanna know exactly what nutrients I'm taking in. That way, since I treat is so scientifically and I log everything, it makes adjusting the diet as I go a lot easier. I know if I need to cut calories, or if I should add in more cardio to maintain the goal fat loss every week.

My advice is play with your nutrient partitioning ratios until you find what your body likes. Each person is very different. I tried the stereotypical high protein/low carb deal, and I couldn't maintain weight loss that way. I found out over a year period that my body responds to moderate protein and high carbs, and it's been a lot easier since. Other than that, make weight loss or weight goals short term (weekly), and watch as they add up over the long term! For performance in the gym, make goals on the monthly, because it's hard to make progression weekly!

 

[Doctor]

That's for sure!

any time you wanna learn how to squat or dead lift let me know pumpkin feels good to be back at it! My 10,000 calorie a day diet is working well.. lifts are coming back fast. Faster than expected...

 

[LITTLEMAGS]

any time you wanna learn how to squat or dead lift let me know pumpkin feels good to be back at it! My 10,000 calorie a day diet is working well.. lifts are coming back fast. Faster than expected...

10k a day!!!!!!!!!!!! holy crap....
I thought I ate a lot!

 

[LITTLEMAGS]

Dom (LITTLEMAGS) is definitely more qualified to give you advice than I! But I would imagine since he competes that he tailors his bulks/cuts around his shows.That said, as for me, I bulk or cut as I feel like it since I'm not doing any shows, as of yet anyway. But generally, yeah a lot of guys like to bulk during winter and cut during spring to be in shape for the summer... For cardio, I don't do much while bulking, even though I should do at least a little. Luckily when I'm cutting I don't have to do a ton of cardio.

Diet is where the majority of it all lies at. My diet between the two phases is drastically different, to say the least. I should do clean bulks, but I never do, lol. I just eat anything and everything and refuse to measure a damn thing... When I'm cutting down, it's a whole nother ballgame. I get OCD/Anal to say the least. I have a digital scale that is calibrated (lmao) and I measure everything down to the tenth gram or hundredth ounce. It's a little over the top for some, but I get so OCD that I wanna know exactly what nutrients I'm taking in. That way, since I treat is so scientifically and I log everything, it makes adjusting the diet as I go a lot easier. I know if I need to cut calories, or if I should add in more cardio to maintain the goal fat loss every week.

My advice is play with your nutrient partitioning ratios until you find what your body likes. Each person is very different. I tried the stereotypical high protein/low carb deal, and I couldn't maintain weight loss that way. I found out over a year period that my body responds to moderate protein and high carbs, and it's been a lot easier since. Other than that, make weight loss or weight goals short term (weekly), and watch as they add up over the long term! For performance in the gym, make goals on the monthly, because it's hard to make progression weekly!

yep...mine is based around shows...BUT i have to admit...2011 was a tough year. I wanted to do a national show again but just couldnt make things happen. Training was good, diet was good...just the focus wasnt where it needed to be. to many things on my plate...
2012 though....I plan hitting two shows...

 

[DetroitStyle]

Finally back at it.... feels good man.

Lifting is going to be secondary to cardio though. Training for more mountain climbing.

 

[webleedorange619]

Finally back at it.... feels good man.

Lifting is going to be secondary to cardio though. Training for more mountain climbing.

What are you doing as far as cardio?

 

[DetroitStyle]

What are you doing as far as cardio?

Right now, just running. 2-3 times per week, 3-5 miles each time. As soon as the snow flies, I'll be snowboarding and walking up the hill instead of taking the lift.

 

[webleedorange619]

Right now, just running. 2-3 times per week, 3-5 miles each time. As soon as the snow flies, I'll be snowboarding and walking up the hill instead of taking the lift.

Ive been doing uphill walks for 30-45 minutes at about 3.5 mph and im almost convinced its a better workout then running a few miles. Ive been doing that and usually 30 min on the bike (roughly 8 miles).

 

[DetroitStyle]

uphill is definitely a great workout. Throw a pack on too

 

[PaxNovi 5.0]

Ive been doing uphill walks for 30-45 minutes at about 3.5 mph and im almost convinced its a better workout then running a few miles. Ive been doing that and usually 30 min on the bike (roughly 8 miles).

That's all I do. 8* incline at 3.0 mph or better. I'm only doing 30 mins 3x a week right now.

 

[webleedorange619]

What diets do you guys use? Ive always done the no carbs and work out to burn fat quickly but it seems like all i eat are carbs. I have stopped drinking pop/fast food and have been eating alot healthier but I think im gonna have to diet soon to shed the pounds I want.

 

[webleedorange619]

That's all I do. 8* incline at 3.0 mph or better. I'm only doing 30 mins 3x a week right now.

Im at 10*-15* 6 days a week right now. Ive only been doing the walking for about a week now but before that I was jogging for 3 weeks. Obviously the walking is working well for you?

 

[PaxNovi 5.0]

Im at 10*-15* 6 days a week right now. Ive only been doing the walking for about a week now but before that I was jogging for 3 weeks. Obviously the walking is working well for you?

Yessir. I like the walking because it lets me burn fat without killing muscle. I also lift 5 days a week for about 75 mins at a time. I let my diet take care of the rest.

As for diet, a lot of oatmeal, chicken, egg whites w/ an occasional yolk, whole wheat/grain pasta, brown rice and protein powder when I don't feel like eating whole food. I've tried every diet under the sun, and it took me a long time to find what works for me. My body can't handle a ton of protein, I just end up getting fat. So as of right now my diet is at 55 grams fat, 450 grams carb and 210 grams protein in a day, split evenly over 6 meals. I'm currently losing an average of 1.75 lbs a week at that level.

 

[Golden]

I think my testosterone has lowered over the past year. Super tired even when I get enough sleep. I've been doing body weight exercises the past week or so, just trying to feel better.

 

[smooth]

I think my testosterone has lowered over the past year. Super tired even when I get enough sleep. I've been doing body weight exercises the past week or so, just trying to feel better.

It's possible, I noticed that around the age of 30

 

[Golden]

It's possible, I noticed that around the age of 30

I'll be 27 in a few months. Next doctor apt I will ask to check my levels.

 

[LITTLEMAGS]

I think my testosterone has lowered over the past year. Super tired even when I get enough sleep. I've been doing body weight exercises the past week or so, just trying to feel better.

AT 27...i highly doubt that much of a drop...BUT depending on what types of foods you are eating can cause drops in test due to estrogen buildup. (ie sat fats do wonders for raising estrogen in males...) I bet if you get tested your free test will be normal/high and serum level test will be low.

 

[LITTLEMAGS]

What diets do you guys use? Ive always done the no carbs and work out to burn fat quickly but it seems like all i eat are carbs. I have stopped drinking pop/fast food and have been eating alot healthier but I think im gonna have to diet soon to shed the pounds I want.

I do 4 weeks carb cycle...then 2 weeks LOW carbs high fats (EFA's) (ie. fish, natty PB, olive oils, etc)
then back to carb cycle...

 

[Birdie2000]

AT 27...i highly doubt that much of a drop...BUT depending on what types of foods you are eating can cause drops in test due to estrogen buildup. (ie sat fats do wonders for raising estrogen in males...) I bet if you get tested your free test will be normal/high and serum level test will be low.

Any suggestions on ways to naturally help testosterone? I noticed some of the same symptoms (I'm also 27) and got tested and I'm a "low normal" but still technically normal. Anything I can do to help myself out?