TOPIC: results after 4 weeks of serious diet/training

Most brands' pants run big. I have a 29.5 inch waist and wear 27s. If you are still losing weight then you don't absolutely have to drop your calories. It is up to you really but once you stop losing weight or losing it very slowly you will either have to lower calories or train more.

Congrats on your results. You look like a new man after 8 weeks. Do not drop your calories - your weight is dropping nicely as is and you're already saying you're discouraged and losing muscle. That feeling is only gonna get worse if you drop the cals.

I think 12% is being generous, you look more like 15% (which is not bad either).

looking good dude.Don't reduce the calories.Keep at it.Let the fat slowly go from ur body.Hope ur eating lots of fibrous veggies to fill u up and prevent hunger pangs.If u crave anythig sweet go for stuff like berries but don't play around and eat a bunch of chocolates.I would say another month and a half to two months and u will be diced.

Terminator wrote: Congrats on your results. You look like a new man after 8 weeks. Do not drop your calories - your weight is dropping nicely as is and you're already saying you're discouraged and losing muscle. That feeling is only gonna get worse if you drop the cals.

I think 12% is being generous, you look more like 15% (which is not bad either).

Okay then, I'm keeping the 2k cals for two-four more weeks then reevaluate.

yeah like i'm really starting to appreciate the patience it takes for shredded guys to reach this level, esp if natural. and if do reach a shredded state, i guess that means another cycle of bulk to recover lost muscle, which means even more time. i've given up a lot in terms of social life (thank god for online dating/no need to club, and for close friends who are meatheads too),realized it takes a lot of willpower and sanity to stay the course

Thanks bro. The words of encouragement really help.

phoenix2327 wrote: looking good dude.Don't reduce the calories.Keep at it.Let the fat slowly go from ur body.Hope ur eating lots of fibrous veggies to fill u up and prevent hunger pangs.If u crave anythig sweet go for stuff like berries but don't play around and eat a bunch of chocolates.I would say another month and a half to two months and u will be diced.

yeah i'm eating 200g of broccoli a day. didn't realize that it was that fucking much haha not really a fan of broccoli but i get by. taking also fat burners (hydroxycut elite atm) and drinking black coffee (i know you're not supposed to do them both simultaneously, but i think my tolerance to fat burners has peaked. dunno if that's a good thing)

it's really the damn subcutaneous fat on the skin that's driving me nuts

just a disclaimer tho, i do have carb refeeds every [other] sunday which aren't exactly perfect (i.e. i still eat some fat). i DO still drink, but no beer anymore (except occasionally a bottle on carb-up sundays). the rest of the days are spartan. i've gotten used to this lifestyle and i think it's okay since like you guys said i've been losing weight/looking better, but if you think i still need to keep these cravings under control i'd appreciate your thoughts

Nah dude its fine.Anything to keep ur sanity during a cut.Good to know that ur eating 200g of broccoli a day.That is one power packed cruciferous vegetable.How have ur lifts been?..

phoenix2327 wrote: Nah dude its fine.Anything to keep ur sanity during a cut.Good to know that ur eating 200g of broccoli a day.That is one power packed cruciferous vegetable.How have ur lifts been?..

I spread the broccoli throughout the day tho with the other meals. lifts have fallen quite a bit but i always try to lift as close to my previous maxes as possible. i won't lie to you, the diet + training have made me a crankier person haha

yeah esp the social life part but i gotta say, there's a certain charm to suddenly cutting out going to bars/clubs EVERY weekend and seeing the same faces doing the same things. i won't say i don't miss it -- i certainly stopped seeing a lot of my friends except really close (meathead) ones, and i've forgotten already how it is to interact with social-circle girls -- but somehow i feel like i'm doing something really important

The last month you've made great progress. your face looks A LOT leaner. grats

Terminator wrote: Congrats on your results. You look like a new man after 8 weeks. Do not drop your calories - your weight is dropping nicely as is and you're already saying you're discouraged and losing muscle. That feeling is only gonna get worse if you drop the cals.

I think 12% is being generous, you look more like 15% (which is not bad either).

Yeah, like I said it's really hard to estimate but 15% is probably closer.

And I agree don't drop the cals unless you have to. You're still losing weight so it really isn't necessary.

UPDATE : At the end of 12 weeks (84 days).


My weight :

1 September 2014 : 159.7 lbs
29 September 2014 : 148.6 lbs
26 October 2014 : 142.0 lbs
23 November 2014 (today) : 143.0lbs *(see comment #3)

height : ~5'6
_{that's never gonna change is it}


Some questions/comments :

1) Can anyone give an estimate of current BF % ?
2) to me it looks like i'm pretty much the same as last time
3) I dropped to 139.6lbs yesterday, first time to go below the 140-lb mark. TBH, i bounced back up to 143 today only bec last night I did an unplanned cheat night out (i never go out anymore, last night was the first time i've seen my friends/normal people in such a long time), so i kinda let loose. i'd say i feel kinda bad, but not so much i'd beat myself over it bec i know it's back to the grind anyway. besides, the 139.6-lb record I think was more due to fluctuation; the previous days before yesterday, i was averaging ~142.0lbs
4) i feel leaner-- but not lean enough. everytime in the gym i always pose now lifting up my shirt and shorts, don't care if i look like a dbag; it's the first time i've even seen abs on myself, i couldn't believe it but i look pretty fucking great -- flexing and good lighting notwithstanding. so yes, it's not enough. i'd like to one day look sexy as fuck without the need for photoshop or good lighting
5) most important question now, do you guys think it's finally time to cut to 1800 cals/day ? (was doing 2000cals/day for the past ~3 months). i don't see any difference from the month before (maybe you guys do ?), and weight loss has more or less stalled

first four photos taken earlier after getting up before eating after shitting (unflexed)
last two photos taken a month ago for comparison (unflexed too)

comments HIGHLY appreciated

Looking good man, definitely a huge difference from when you started. Just keep it up and you didn't lose any weight this past month so I would drop the cals.

Logan wrote: Looking good man, definitely a huge difference from when you started. Just keep it up and you didn't lose any weight this past month so I would drop the cals.

always glad to hear your words of encouragement bro ! yeah i think it's time to finally drop, man the next few weeks will be interesting/scary...