Diet and Workout Routines

[AuxiliaryPie]

I'm interested in you guys opinions; do you think that what you are doing diet wise is healthy? I'm asking because Dave mentioned his diet was 'perfect' and it got me thinking.

I can see anecdotally that intermittent fasting might have health benefits (especially when compared to the health consequences of obesity etc) i have friends that have used it well to drop weight. It just seems like the cortisol spikes and other hormonal changes during the cutting phase might cause disproportionate fat gains during the bulking process.

To put my cards on the table im at the other end of the spectrum, i exercise so i get to eat what i want, i seem to have very little will power or motivation any more, just trying to keep the middle aged spread from the door

Dave obviously has more experience and more scientific knowledge on the subject than I do, but I do have enough to form my own opinion on the matter. I have heard bad things about the hormonal changes from too frequent of bulking and cutting cycles, but ideally when you end one cycle, you slowly transition to another. For example cut for 3 months, eat at maintenance for 1 week, eat slightly above for another week or two, then you're fully committed to bulking.

I.F. on it's own isnt some magic trick to lose weight, but it is most effective as a way to control hunger. Instead of being hungry at 7am and noon, i dont get hungry until 2 or 3pm, where i can eat a fairly large lunch (~1000cals) and follow it up with about 800cals for dinner at say 6 or 7pm and then restart my fast. Your body has stored fat for energy, and if you are constantly eating you make it hard on yourself to use that fat for energy. breakfast is stupid.

down to 175lbs, lost another 2 pounds. The gainz are crazy y'all

 

[Ruken]

what's your height/weight/bf%? if 1700 calories truely bulked you up and currently maintains you, you must be pretty small or you arent counting calories properly.

And like dave said, bodybuilding is most efficiently done in cycles. I wont always be in a deficit, and fasting all day helps make such a small amount of calories manageable. Id go bat shit insane if I ate every couple hours but still had to stick to 1800 cals or under. When i did bulk (and when i will in the future) i basically ate whenever, in order to get my calories in... both of these eating styles are plenty sustainable

I guess what is your definition of bulk? Im 5'10'' 5'11'' around 170. As far as bf I haven't had a measurement in awhile but I believe I am somewhere between 10 and 15 maybe? I went off the wagon a tad this summer as far as lifting so I am just now getting back to a regular schedule.

We may be having a disconnect here regarding size?

 

[AuxiliaryPie]

I guess what is your definition of bulk? Im 5'10'' 5'11'' around 170. As far as bf I haven't had a measurement in awhile but I believe I am somewhere between 10 and 15 maybe? I went off the wagon a tad this summer as far as lifting so I am just now getting back to a regular schedule.

We may be having a disconnect here regarding size?

im just wondering what the physics would be that enable you to maintain on 1700, because im 5'9 175 and probably around 14% and the last time i tried eating 1700 calories regularly i either had terrible mood swings or i just had a feral urge to devour everything in sight, meaning it wasnt nearly enough to maintain me (this is also backed up by my consistent weight loss eating @ 1850). Im not trying to put you down or anything im just genuinely curious because 1700 is not a lot of food, at all

 

[David.]

I wouldnt go as far as to say 'eat everything' when on bulk. THat just makes it harder and wastes time cutting.

I think 1700 is about 700 low for maintenance at that caloric level, i could be off on that.

Mood swings could come from not enough fat in the diet.

 

[Ruken]

I wouldnt go as far as to say 'eat everything' when on bulk. THat just makes it harder and wastes time cutting.

I think 1700 is about 700 low for maintenance at that caloric level, i could be off on that.

Mood swings could come from not enough fat in the diet.

Truth I cannot believe the difference healthy fats made when I started making an effort to include them in my diet. Keeps you full and happy.

 

[natedagg]

I wouldnt go as far as to say 'eat everything' when on bulk. THat just makes it harder and wastes time cutting.

I think 1700 is about 700 low for maintenance at that caloric level, i could be off on that.

Mood swings could come from not enough fat in the diet.

Yeah, I agree that 1700 is absurdly low for maintenance. I just calculated my basal metabolic rate (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/tools/bmr-calculator) and came up with 1800 calories if I slept all day. I would guess that I am at 2800 calories/day when I work out and go through my (non-stagnant) day.

I would also agree that the quality of the calorie is a big driver in the results one is looking for, but more importantly, avoiding processed flour and corn seems to be a universally good idea, whether shedding or stacking. At any rate, we can use me as an experiment as time unfolds. I am trying to get down to 170ish and my weight fluctuates from 182-185 after my workouts. I have less gut than the normal 33 year old, but that's really no excuse - there's plenty to get rid of.

I was going to post my daily workouts, but then I thought about it and nobody probably gives a damn, so periodic updates it is! I was also going to take selfies to document the process but it feels a bit self-absorbed when I want it to be momentum motivation.

Now, here's your Sweet Fix Delicious Probiotic Amazing Low Carb Nutrition Must: Kroger Carbmaster Cultured Dairy Blend.
Nutrition label:http://www.fooducate.com/app#page=product&id=AD51C3BA-7FA8-11E0-A55F-1231380C180E
Article about diff b/w yogurt and Cultured Dairy Product here: http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat...ltured_dairy_blend_what_s_the_difference.html
Nate's take: Sometimes a man needs something sweet to snack on before bed, yet he doesn't want the carbs. This is great for that. I enjoy the vanilla flavor. I can go through the tub pretty quickly but the calorie breakdown makes that OK. Highly recommend.

 

[AuxiliaryPie]

I was also going to take selfies to document the process but it feels a bit self-absorbed when I want it to be momentum motivation.

take pictures man, its the biggest motivator for me. at the end of every month i put a shirtless picture on instagram, it sounds douchey but really it is putting myself out there for all to see (well, my friends anyways) and getting rid of all the excuses. every month there should be a visible difference in my appearance, and if there isnt then i failed myself and everyone knows it (whether or not anyone cares is another story haha).

plus WHEN you succeed, youll be able to have progress pictures of it to show off your success. or if you are feeling down you can look back through them and reaffirm yourself that what your doing is working, you just need time.

 

[Shakalu M.D.]

So if I skip all my meals and have one serving of Chipotle I'm doing this whole diet thing right, right?

 

[AuxiliaryPie]

So if I skip all my meals and have one serving of Chipotle I'm doing this whole diet thing right, right?

 

[David.]

So if I skip all my meals and have one serving of Chipotle I'm doing this whole diet thing right, right?

Ill actually answer to help ppl that arent getting it and reading this

calorie wise? probably. Macros would suck and you would lose all your muscle. You would also starve during the day and not have enough energy to perform all tasks and stay awake.




new food to the group:
salmon patties.. a dollar each, 100 calories, 20g protein.. tastes great, takes 10 minute to cook.
celery with bbq sauce.. cheap, inexpensive, tastes good, easy to make and helps with cravings while you cook something healthy

 

[AuxiliaryPie]

ok so i fucked up and had two slices of pizza for breakfast which gave me a ton of calories and very little protein, right now im at my calorie goal of 1850 but with only 95g of protein (i usually shoot for at least 125)...

is it better to go over your calories to get the protein or just wait till tomorrow to get after it (this is on a cut, fyi)?

 

[David.]

It's not going to matter either way in the long run, miniscule difference

 

[Man Called X]

salmon patties. = full of mercury.

 

[AuxiliaryPie]

 

[SixPACK]

new food to the group:
salmon patties.. a dollar each, 100 calories, 20g protein.. tastes great, takes 10 minute to cook.
celery with bbq sauce.. cheap, inexpensive, tastes good, easy to make and helps with cravings while you cook something healthy

what the...?

I am going to have to try it now but holy shit that sounds awful.