Hi folks,
I have been bulking and training consistently for about a year now. When i first started out, i was a skinny kid weighing at 145 pounds. I am now at 190 pounds and i think in a month or so, i am going to cut. My bodyfat is getting a tad bit too high and i think i've done enough bulking so it's time to cut down the food bill and my bodyfat.
Thing is, this is my first time doing a cutting diet. I am not a bodybuilder and i do not plan on doing any competitions. My goal is just to cut down until i feel like i look ripped enough to satisfy my needs. I just have a few questions.
1) I know the general rule of thumb is to cut down 500 calories of what you normally have been eating. I have been eating 500 calories over my maintenance level so should i cut down 500 and go back to maintenance level or should i cut down 500 from my maintenance level? (this would be a 1000 calorie cut down if i do this).
2) I have very rarely done any cardio. What form of cardio should i be doing and how often should i do it a week? HIIT? Moderate pace? Sprints? 2, 3, or 4 times a week? What's ideal?
3) What foods are an absolute must in a cutting diet? I know oats, eggs and veggies are absolutely necessary but is there anything else? What do i need to avoid eating that i typically would eat on my bulking diet?
4) I do not have calipers, so where can i get them?
5) What supplements are absolutely needed that i may not have taken while on my bulk. The only supplements i have taken is ON Whey and creatine.
6) Anything else that i need to know that is relatively important
Please note that i have read the stickies and i am setting up a plan right now and preparing for the end of July - early August. I am asking these questions because i am worried i will lose a lot of muscle if i don't do this correctly. I worked very hard to get what i have since i am one of those hardgainers because i've always been an extreme ectomorph.
Thanks for your time
I have been bulking and training consistently for about a year now. When i first started out, i was a skinny kid weighing at 145 pounds. I am now at 190 pounds and i think in a month or so, i am going to cut. My bodyfat is getting a tad bit too high and i think i've done enough bulking so it's time to cut down the food bill and my bodyfat.
Thing is, this is my first time doing a cutting diet. I am not a bodybuilder and i do not plan on doing any competitions. My goal is just to cut down until i feel like i look ripped enough to satisfy my needs. I just have a few questions.
1) I know the general rule of thumb is to cut down 500 calories of what you normally have been eating. I have been eating 500 calories over my maintenance level so should i cut down 500 and go back to maintenance level or should i cut down 500 from my maintenance level? (this would be a 1000 calorie cut down if i do this).
2) I have very rarely done any cardio. What form of cardio should i be doing and how often should i do it a week? HIIT? Moderate pace? Sprints? 2, 3, or 4 times a week? What's ideal?
3) What foods are an absolute must in a cutting diet? I know oats, eggs and veggies are absolutely necessary but is there anything else? What do i need to avoid eating that i typically would eat on my bulking diet?
4) I do not have calipers, so where can i get them?
5) What supplements are absolutely needed that i may not have taken while on my bulk. The only supplements i have taken is ON Whey and creatine.
6) Anything else that i need to know that is relatively important
Please note that i have read the stickies and i am setting up a plan right now and preparing for the end of July - early August. I am asking these questions because i am worried i will lose a lot of muscle if i don't do this correctly. I worked very hard to get what i have since i am one of those hardgainers because i've always been an extreme ectomorph.
Thanks for your time
