DaMayor

Okay, this is going to sound really stupid, but why change now, right?

Just a very general question regarding the effectiveness of diet when opportunity to train is minimal. I've gone back to a relatively strict low-carb/carb cycling diet....and let's just leave it at that for now because I have yet to put the macros on "paper". However, my ability to go to the gym is very limited at the moment, and might be for another week or so....just the nature of the business I am in.

Question is, should I be able to lose a reasonable amount of fat with such a meager training program? In other words, will diet alone do the job for the short term?

Built

Yes.

Can you make it twice a week for half an hour?

DaMayor

Yes, I should be able to. In all honesty, I could go almost every day, but this would eventually kill me, lol.

For a while, I was getting up at 5:45, going to the gym, then coming here to open....and would leave at 10:00 or 11:00 each night. I have since figured out that training plus an average of eighty hours a week here is more of a detriment than a benefit.

Half an hour twice a week? I quit doing marathon workouts a long time ago...but this? It would take me twenty years to get to 12%BF!

DaMayor

Okay, with my (lame) justification of (my) laziness out of the way....

Are there any tweaks that I might be missing that would make the low carb approach more effective? For example, Chromium Picolinate used to be considered a nice addition to "low carb" diets....or at least helpful in regulating blood sugar levels.....I could be mis-stating this, its been a while.
I also read somewhere that foods containing sodium nitrite(s) might be weight-loss inhibiting. Things like this.....I've tweaked so much I may have tweaked myself into a hole.

Built

Chromium Picolinate turned out to be a bust. Save your money.
Don't worry about nitrates and fat loss. They're not GOOD for you but that's another story.


On a low-carb, low-calorie diet, workouts should be brief and intense. Hell, on PSMF you only train twice a week. Low rep ranges, since you have very little glycogen.

Now. What is it specifically that you want? What are your current macros, are you losing now, and where are you currently?

Witchblade

Diet determines weight loss. Training aids your fat/muscle loss ratio.

My Linkdump [LSFW]
IM Official FAQ [WORK IN PROGRESS]

DaMayor

Good point.

DaMayor

Even though I know I should give this some serious thought before I respond with one of the typical, "Uh, I wanna get buff" type responses () I'll take a [condensed version] stab at it.

I've been visiting this site off and on for roughly six years. During this period, I have gone through varying degrees of fat/lean mass. While I have gained a lot of knowledge during this period (although I still have much to understand) the main issue I have had is a.)figuring out my metabolism. and b.)finding the right dietetic formula that consistantly works.

Problem is, over the past several years there have been a myriad of factors that have changed, (i.e., work, sleep, stress levels, etc.) resulting in drastically varying results.

This is why I am starting with diet first, and working on training soon after. (this involves time more than motivation or desire to train)

Make sense?

Built

Understood completely.

What are your current macros, and are you currently losing or maintaining at this level?

DaMayor

Macros are a disorganized mess right now. I've completely dropped the ball for the past couple of months. I'll get together some info. this afternoon.

I have gained "weight" very gradually over the past six months, (due to poor food choices that I was completely aware of..no mystery here) and have been maintaining the same avg. weight for the past month or so. Currently about 236...need to get down to a lean 200. This has been an average for the past twenty years...not really a chunky guy, just a little more dense than some, I suppose. (in more ways than one, depending on who you talk to, lol)

We'll get more details when the crowd clears out....thanks.

Built

Cool. Just track on fitday for a few days and post up an average. We start there, k?

DaMayor

This I will do.

One question, however. Caloric intake for "reduction" is 10 per lb. of bodyweight, correct? If so, my intake should be at or around 2350 cals. per day.....I haven't eaten that much in a while. Should I begin with this number? Or should I drop below the prescribed avg.?

Built

Actually, let's back up a bit. I need to know what YOUR maintenance is before we go anywhere. Just track what you're doing now as best you can, and run an average. If you pretty much eat the same thing every day, put in one "typical-ish" day and report back the average macros.

FitnessRubber

*nods* it's important to answer questions with all of the relevant information and details about your situation

Fitness Rubber
http://www.fitnessrubber.com

DaMayor

working..........................