Not making progress on my cut...

[geek]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Instead of just running at 7-8 mph for 10 mins, I've started an HIIT routine and definitely feel a difference after my workout. I'll full on sprint for a minute, then speed walk for a minute, and keep doing that for like 5-6 cycles. I lift before Cardio but don't do as many sets...maybe 2-3 instead of 3-4. My workout doesn't take any longer, but boy is it more intense.

I've found this works in lifting too. When I was in college, I was a powerlifter and actually won a few meets. Training involved a lot of heavy lifting and a LOT of rest between sets and between heavy days. I was really lean (3.7%, hydrostatic weighing). Work hard for a few seconds, sit on my ass for 5-10 minutes, get stronger and leaner. It was like a miracle.

We did heavy squats, bench, & deads once a week; even our 21 year old bodies couldn't take any more than that. For the other 167 hours, they were burning calories repairing themselves.

Look at Usain Bolt (or any other sprinter). They look a lot better than distance runners, and it ain't because they do more cardio.

Good luck and keep working hard, in the gym and in school.

[BayMoWe335]

If you say you're 5'10, you're probably more like 5'8 so I think you have too much fat and need to get leaner. Don't get pissy...most guys overestimate their height by at least 2 inches.

I'd get under 10% body fat and then get serious about lifting. So many guys look pudgy even when they are building muscle because they never do cardio hard enough or long enough.

[InternetFame]

Originally Posted by BayMoWe335

If you say you're 5'10, you're probably more like 5'8 so I think you have too much fat and need to get leaner. Don't get pissy...most guys overestimate their height by at least 2 inches.

I'd get under 10% body fat and then get serious about lifting. So many guys look pudgy even when they are building muscle because they never do cardio hard enough or long enough.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by John Tanglewood

Side question, do you have a girlfriend? Would you post up some of your meal plans, snacks, and what a typical week might look like?

I ask about the girlfriend because for me that changes everything. It's fairly easy (kind of) to restrict yourself and your own diet, but when you have another person in the equation who you must eat meals with, etc, I feel like it becomes an infinitely harder task.

Add to that my girlfriend is a pescatarian, so I can never share my easy protein meals (chicken, turkey meatballs, etc.) with her.

Any advice is helpful. I have been really active in crossfit for a couple months. I'm almost 5'-10" but have been stuck around 185lb due to my sugar and late-night eating addictions. I also drink pretty regularly, having at least one drink every other night. I have seen some awesome gains in crossfit, but I think they are all hiding under the extra 15-20lb of fat I have been sustaining, so I really want to start seeing the results of my labor.

I'm married but my wife is into fitness in a big way too... it absolutely makes it easier.

I don't really have a meal plan. I track macros and calories only. Right now I'm eating at around 350g carbs, 185g protein and about 60g fat. When I'm cutting, I up protein to about 200g, drop fat to about 50g and have carbs for the balance subject to how many calories I eat in a cut (say, 2,100 per day).

I think people over think this. First, pick up and put down heavy weights 4-5 times a week. Get a couple of 30 minute HIIT sessions in if you want. Timing of when you eat is no where near as important as calories and macros. Timing matters around workouts to ensure you have energy and protein after but, otherwise, way less important unless you are entering a competition and every little thing matters. Likewise, low carb, keto, intermittent fasting, etc, etc... again, not saying they don't work but they aren't needed either. At the end of the day, they work because they restrict calories in their own way... if you eat more energy over time than you burn, you gain fat. If you eat less, you lose fat. If someone has a 2,600 calorie maintenance level and eats 3,500 calories on a keto diet, they gain weight. If they eat 3,500 calories of brocolli, they gain weight. The diet strategy (fad) is less important than the energy balance.

In order of importance to me...

1. Calorie balance (calories in/out based on exercise, age, bf%, metabolism, etc).
2. Macro nutrients

You could stop there if you want but if not...

3. Meal timing and other things like low carb, keto and other strategies.

To me, do what works and what has worked for me is tracking my macros and eating what I want. I eat very healthy, nutrient dense food 80% of the time. Have fun snacks and other stuff from time to time as long as it fits in my calorie and macro total (and sometimes I miss the macro target). I've been adding lean muscle and maintaining sub-10%BF for months and months without much struggle.

[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by InternetFame

Am I wrong? How many guys do you hear say they're 6' and they are 5'8 MAX? People ask me if I'm 6'6 and shit...I'm 6'3 if I stand up really straight and probably more like 6 2.5 and people I'm literally a head taller than say they are 6'.

Average male height is 5'8 for a reason. Most people are about 5'8.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by BayMoWe335

If you say you're 5'10, you're probably more like 5'8 so I think you have too much fat and need to get leaner. Don't get pissy...most guys overestimate their height by at least 2 inches.

I'd get under 10% body fat and then get serious about lifting. So many guys look pudgy even when they are building muscle because they never do cardio hard enough or long enough.

10% is pretty ripped. mid teens you look cut. its into the high teens/low 20s that you start looking pudgey

As for height... im guessing anyone that is into fitness is pretty aware of their measurements. If they are wrong, it is because they are lying, not because they over estimated by 2 inches...

[BayMoWe335]

Originally Posted by csu87

10% is pretty ripped. mid teens you look cut. its into the high teens/low 20s that you start looking pudgey

As for height... im guessing anyone that is into fitness is pretty aware of their measurements. If they are wrong, it is because they are lying, not because they over estimated by 2 inches...

Nah, I think people overstate shit like height all the time, knowingly. I see it all the time.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by BayMoWe335

Nah, I think people overstate shit like height all the time, knowingly. I see it all the time.

I only overstate my dick size. Works every time.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by jgoens

I only overstate my dick size. Works every time.

Dam so its not really 2 inches? So disappointing.

[John Tanglewood]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

•Eat 6 (six) meals per day - Breakfast | Snack | Lunch | Snack | Dinner | Snack
•Try to keep every meal ~100cal or less

I'm a math major and all, but doesn't that add up to only 600cal/day? At that level, I'm dead. I'm about the same height/weight as you, although apparently my Mexican wife's cooking adds about 10lbs more to my frame.

Sorry I absolutely meant 100cal for the snacks! Not the meals lol.

Originally Posted by BayMoWe335

If you say you're 5'10, you're probably more like 5'8 so I think you have too much fat and need to get leaner. Don't get pissy...most guys overestimate their height by at least 2 inches.

Haha that's not me bud. I'm over 30, I literally have nothing to gain by overselling my height while asking for advice about my body. But I would feel sorry for someone who felt they had to do that.

[jgoens]

Originally Posted by csu87

Dam so its not really 2 inches? So disappointing.

No, I tell them I have a 10 inches and when they find out its a solid 8, they are relieved.

[RABAUKE]

....I like the wings and beer diet.

[RABAUKE]

Originally Posted by jgoens

No, I tell them I have a 10 inches and when they find out its a solid 8, they are relieved.

....I've only got 4" but some women like it thick like that.

[Bt12]

1) change your cardio ...Walk on incline 120 heart rate do this in morning so you are fasted.
2) carb cycle add cheat days try to do this on heavy lifting days. carbs help restore leptine levels and help delivery of protein.
3) lift heavy weights make sure you are doing your compound lifts.
4)make sure keep your food intake at appropriate level, not just eat less. Unless you are a pro body builder you don’t need to do the 6 meals a day stuff.