Diet is everything .... need some assistance

[iHulk]

I've been on and off my diet as far as how strict I get but I pretty much stick to the high protein, mod carb, very low fat diet year round --only switch it up a bit depending on if I'm bulking or cutting. Right now I'm maintaining but I'd like to cut a bit of water.

Currently I'm trying to lose a bit of water weight without catabolizing / atrophying muscle.

Goals:
Stay around 215lbs
Keep BF% under 10% -- around 8% is usually attainable for me.
6' 1"

Current diet:
Meal 1:
1 packet oatmeal mixed with 1.5 cups of oats with 1/3rd cup low fat skim milk 60gram protein shake
6000 mg Flaxseed Oil

Meal 2
40gram Protein shake

Meal 3
Albacore Tuna (0 carbs, 35 gram protein)
(sometimes I just eat 4-5 hard boiled eggs instead)

Meal 4
Chicken wrap w/ lettuce, tomato, onion, bell peppers, light sauce

Pre-workout
Thermogenic drink
Workout is usually 3 hrs after meal 4

Post-workout
Meal 5
60gram Protein Shake
6000 mg Flaxseed Oil

Meal 6
usually 3 Chicken breast with Rib meat (each breast has 30gram of protein and 0 carbs)
Side of vegetables and 1 cup of brown rice

Meal 7
40gram Protein shake
3000mg Fish Oil

Before bed
Meal 8
Geen Tea
Choc. Chip Cookie or some other treat

I usually feel like I need some carbs at the end of day so sometimes I'll eat cheese n' crackes or some ANPB or something with some fat in it since I barely take in any fat on most days.

So far this diet has kept me relatively lean and strong but I'm still carrying a bit of water weight that I'd like to squeeze out. It could be that I drink about a gallon of water per day but its hot here in the tropics.

I'm going on vaca to see all my family and old friends for a nice homecoming. I've been away from like 7 yrs.

I have 4 weeks till I leave. I just want to keep my weight, lose some water so I look good for my trip. I'll probably be way off the diet as soon as I get settled in with old friends but figure I can look good / freaky going in

Any suggestions on diet, or training that I can incorporate to drop some water without losing my lean muscle mass. My avi is a very recent pic but I'll admit I was taking albuterol and that shit leaned me out. I'm not on it anymore and want to do it naturally with proper diet.

Any help is very appreciated.
thanks
ihulk

 

[poysyn]

Well, I notice a few things off hand that could be improved, imo.

For one, I think you are waiting far too long to lift after you eat..I normally like to have something in me to be as anti-catabolic as naturally possible.

Secondly, your PWO should not really contain any fats, but rather a moderate to high gi carb source with whey.

Lastly, you are picking the absolute worst time of the day to have a 'treat.' Instead of eating cheese and crackers or chocolate chip cookie have some ANPB or something..

 

[iHulk]

Well, I notice a few things off hand that could be improved, imo.

For one, I think you are waiting far too long to lift after you eat..I normally like to have something in me to be as anti-catabolic as naturally possible.

Secondly, your PWO should not really contain any fats, but rather a moderate to high gi carb source with whey.

Lastly, you are picking the absolute worst time of the day to have a 'treat.' Instead of eating cheese and crackers or chocolate chip cookie have some ANPB or something..

okay, thanks poysyn.
I've been thinking about the fatty/sugary snack as the last meal and was thinking that too - that its probably not the optimal thing to do. I just have these cravings at night that are hard to ignore.

I need to find some other alternative to kill that for now and maybe incorporate a 'treat' during the day. Any suggestions on a good last meal before bed that isn't too heavy?

I'll try to bring the workout time closer to my Mid day meal. Just hate working out on a full stomach. I feel like I want to puke when I go super heavy. lol!

But K your way bro.
thanks.

 

[poysyn]

instead of the full meal before the workout, you can try taking in a whey shake 30-45 min before, I find I don't get a sick feeling like I would with a full stomach

as for a late night meal, definitely some type of casein protein with healthy fats

 

[iHulk]

instead of the full meal before the workout, you can try taking in a whey shake 30-45 min before, I find I don't get a sick feeling like I would with a full stomach

as for a late night meal, definitely some type of casein protein with healthy fats

roger that

 

[Burning_Inside]

take some hoodia at night if youre having raving issues, may work.

 

[markshark]

poysyn has a good point but also i like the way iHulk does it too when it comes to eating around workout time. i usually wake at about 8-830 am and have a shake with glutamine and then a half cup of oatmeal with banana and honey then i go back to sleep. by doin that ive gotten well over 500 cals in me and i workout around 2 1/2 to 3 hours later. this way ive got something still working in me but at the same time its been 3 hours so now my pre workout drink will work much better. doing it this way is making me hang on to muscle well and stay lean...at night i always finish out with 12 egg whites and one tbsp of ANPB. this is just how i do it and it works great for me

 

[iHulk]

take some hoodia at night if youre having raving issues, may work.

what the heck is hoodia?

 

[iHulk]

poysyn has a good point but also i like the way iHulk does it too when it comes to eating around workout time. i usually wake at about 8-830 am and have a shake with glutamine and then a half cup of oatmeal with banana and honey then i go back to sleep. by doin that ive gotten well over 500 cals in me and i workout around 2 1/2 to 3 hours later. this way ive got something still working in me but at the same time its been 3 hours so now my pre workout drink will work much better. doing it this way is making me hang on to muscle well and stay lean...at night i always finish out with 12 egg whites and one tbsp of ANPB. this is just how i do it and it works great for me

wow, 12 egg whites before bed, and that's maintenance for you! you must be a large dude. I usually do something like that but only when I'm bulking & want to gain 15-20lbs.

But you know what, I think I might just start doing like 5 boiled eggs and add them to a flaxseed bread sandwich and munch on that before bedtime. Move the treat back a meal or two.

 

[Clintro]

Cottage cheese is always a good nighttime snack and to kill that nighttime sweet tooth add a little sugar free rasberry jello packet to it. Man it changes the taste so much try it and see.