Thread: Need some dieting/cutting advice

Some information about me.

Two summers ago, summer of 2003, I started doing cardio and lifting a little bit, because I weighed 202 pounds (6'2") and I wanted to lose the fat. I did cardio about 5 times a week, and watched what I ate (soda, fried food, etc) but I didnt know as much as I do now about dieting. Over the summer and most of my junior year in high school, I managed to get my weight down to 165.

Over the next year (senior in HS and college) I stopped my good eating habits and went back to eating like I did before I weighed the 202. Needless to say, by the summer of 2005 I weighed 185.

I joined a local gym again, and started lifting weights, and moderate cardio. I also read up a lot on nutrition and what not. Ever since then, I started eating 6 meals a day, drinking only water, no more fast food, etc, etc. Needles to say, today I weigh 161.5, so I lost rougly 24 pounds in about 4 months.

Main concern---
2 months ago I started to really look at my intakes of calories, fats, carbs, sugars, etc. I am currently (moderately) cutting, trying to eat 6 meals a day, each consisting of about 300 calories. I try to eat every 3 hours. However, I usually only have the 3 hour window to eat, 5 times a day, so my bed meal is kind of my 6th meal (in order for me to take in 1800 cals). My question is, do I have to consume 1800 cals during the day + my bed meal, or can my bed meal be my 6th meal? I stay away from high fat foods, but started eating peanut butter before bed to get more fats in (not sure if I get enough). I also really watch my sugars, and stopped snacking. I eat lots of fruits, not too many vegetables, lots of protein (whey, lean meat, etc).

I stopped lifting weights a month ago because I found out I have a fracture in one of the lower vertabraes, so I do cardio 3 times a week, 30-40 mins each, burning around "350-500" calories (as on the ellipitcal display). I was just wondering, since I am burning those off, do I consume more than my 1800 to make up for the loss? I am trying to lose the 1-2 pounds a week. I am trying to go for a six pack. I am 6'2 but dont look sickly at my 161 pounds (some of you might bring that up) I have some fat to lose around my stomach, sides, chest, and butt- and thats what im trying to do. Once I hit the 150, I plan to start lifting seriously (if my back allows me at that point). I was just wondering about my meals, and if I should eat every 2.5 hours so I can have my 6 meals + bedtime meal.

Today I ate:

Breakfast:
Bowl of Kashi Golean + scoop of ON whey + nonfat milk + fish oil/multi vitamin

Meal 2:
Sandwhich (2 pieces of toast + peanut butter + 3 slices of turkey) (in school at this point)

Meal 3:
Chicken breast + half of liption pasta side + fish oil

Meal 4:
Rest of lipton pasta side

Meal 5:
3 pieces of thin sliced meat

Meal 6/Before bed:
Tuna and/or 2 tablespoons peanut butter

I dont eat the same thing everyday, but thats what today consisted of. That was rougly 1600 cals, and my bedmeal would make it 1800 cals + around 100 to count for the night. I had less than 3 grams of fat for breakfast, which concerns me a bit. I am 6'2 currently weighing 161.5 and was checked at 165 to have 13% body fat (on that handheld digital scale, my la fitness doesnt have calipers all of the time...)

Originally Posted by Emma-Leigh

Dieting (esp if you are doing low calorie with not enough protein) + doing cardio + not lifting weights is not a good way to cut - it is a good way to lose muscle.

I would bring your calories back up to maintainence (and esp increase your protein intake) and hold steady until your back recovers.

Alright, I will do that. I really didnt think I was going that low for my caloric intake, since I was eating garbage before and gaining weight, I estimated what "good" I should/was eating and then taking off 400 cals. I usually have 3 whey shakes a day, plus lots of chicken, meat, etc, so my protein (not sure) isnt 165grams a day, but its more than I used to eat. And cardio is only limited to 3 days a week.

I will however start eating more, and start lifting as soon as I can again.

What if I eat like 2,500 calories and up my protein a bit more, and do my 3 days of cardio, can I atleast go to 150lbs or I shouldnt do that unless I do a bit of lifting to combat muscle loss?