thanks for the motivation and advice guys! I want to clean up the diet and start cutting, should I be going on a maintenance period of 6-8 weeks before starting a cut? Or is it fine to start now towards end of cycle? Or should I wait till next cycle? I just don’t want to cut the wrong way and lose all my progress from this bulk.
I have been given a 2200 calorie diet plan for cutting (not sure if that is too much of a defecit or not) I will share below for thoughts on it:
Day 1:
Breakfast (approx. 400 calories):
- 2 boiled eggs (140 g) (140 calories)
- 2 slices of whole-grain toast (80 g) (190 calories)
- 1 medium avocado, sliced (120 g) (220 calories)
- 1 medium orange (150 g) (60 calories)
- 1 cup of unsweetened black coffee or tea
Snack (approx. 150 calories):
- 1 small Greek yogurt with mixed berries (150 g) (150 calories)
Lunch (approx. 500 calories):
- 4 oz. grilled chicken breast (113 g) (140 calories)
- 1 cup of cooked quinoa (185 g) (120 calories)
- 1 cup of roasted mixed vegetables (100 g) (50 calories)
- 2 tbsp. of balsamic vinaigrette dressing (30 g) (60 calories)
- 1 medium apple (150 g) (80 calories)
Snack (approx. 150 calories):
- 1 small apple with 1 tbsp. almond butter (150 g) (150 calories)
Dinner (approx. 600 calories):
- 6 oz. baked salmon (170 g) (300 calories)
- 1 cup of steamed broccoli (85 g) (30 calories)
- 1 cup of roasted sweet potato wedges (150 g) (150 calories)
- 1/2 cup of cooked brown rice (90 g) (100 calories)
Snack (approx. 200 calories):
- 1 small pear (120 g) (60 calories)
- 1 small handful of raw almonds (20 g) (120 calories)
- 1 string cheese (20 g) (60 calories)
Total Calories: 2,200 calories
Day 2:
Breakfast (approx. 400 calories):
- 1 cup of cooked oatmeal (40 g) (150 calories)
- 1 medium banana (120 g) (105 calories)
- 1 tbsp. peanut butter (16 g) (90 calories)
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk (240 ml) (30 calories)
- 1 cup of unsweetened black coffee or tea
Snack (approx. 150 calories):
- 1 small container of low-fat cottage cheese (100 g) (70 calories)
- 1 small peach (120 g) (40 calories)
Lunch (approx. 500 calories):
- 4 oz. grilled chicken breast (113 g) (140 calories)
- 1 cup of cooked quinoa (185 g) (120 calories)
- 1 cup of roasted mixed vegetables (100 g) (50 calories)
- 2 tbsp. of balsamic vinaigrette dressing (30 g) (60 calories)
- 1 medium orange (150 g) (60 calories)
Snack (approx. 150 calories):
- 1 small pear (120 g) (60 calories)
- 1 small handful of raw cashews (20 g) (120 calories)
Dinner (approx. 600 calories):
- 6 oz. baked chicken thigh (170 g) (280 calories)
- 1 cup of roasted Brussels sprouts (100 g) (50 calories)
- 1 cup of roasted butternut squash (150 g) (90 calories)
- 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa (90 g) (60 calories)
- 2 tbsp. of balsamic vinaigrette dressing (30 g) (60 calories)
Snack (approx. 200 calories):
- 1 small apple with 1 oz. of cheddar cheese (150 g) (170 calories)
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk (240 ml) (30 calories)
Total Calories: 2,200 calories
Day 3:
Breakfast (approx. 400 calories):
- 2 slices of whole-grain toast (80 g) (190 calories)
- 2 tbsp. of almond butter (32 g) (180 calories)
- 1 medium banana (120 g) (105 calories)
- 1 cup of unsweetened black coffee or tea
Snack (approx. 150 calories):
- 1 small container of low-fat Greek yogurt (100 g) (60 calories)
- 1 small handful of mixed berries (50 g) (30 calories)
- 1 small handful of raw walnuts (20 g) (60 calories)
Lunch (approx. 500 calories):
- 4 oz. grilled shrimp (113 g) (120 calories)
- 1 cup of cooked brown rice (185 g) (200 calories)
- 1 cup of steamed broccoli (85 g) (30 calories)
- 2 tbsp. of soy sauce (30 g) (50 calories)
- 1 medium orange (150 g) (60 calories)
Snack (approx. 150 calories):
- 1 small pear (120 g) (60 calories)
- 1 small handful of raw almonds (20 g) (120 calories)
Dinner (approx. 600 calories):
- 6 oz. grilled sirloin steak (170 g) (340 calories)
- 1 cup of roasted mixed vegetables (100 g) (50 calories)
- 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa (90 g) (60 calories)
- 2 tbsp. of balsamic vinaigrette dressing (30 g) (60 calories)
Snack (approx. 200 calories):
- 1 small apple with 1 oz. of mozzarella cheese (150 g) (170 calories)
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk (240 ml) (30 calories)
Total Calories: 2,200 calories
Day 4:
Breakfast (approx. 400 calories):
- 2 boiled eggs (140 g) (140 calories)
- 1 slice of whole-grain toast (40 g) (95 calories)
- 1 medium avocado, sliced (120 g) (220 calories)
- 1 medium orange (150 g) (60 calories)
- 1 cup of unsweetened black coffee or tea
Snack (approx. 150 calories):
- 1 small container of low-fat cottage cheese (100 g) (70 calories)
- 1 small peach (120 g) (40 calories)
Lunch (approx. 500 calories):
- 4 oz. grilled chicken breast (113 g) (140 calories)
- 1 cup of cooked quinoa (185 g) (120 calories)
- 1 cup of roasted mixed vegetables (100 g) (50 calories)
- 2 tbsp. of balsamic vinaigrette dressing (30 g) (60 calories)
- 1 medium apple (
Snack (approx. 150 calories):
- 1 small container of hummus (50 g) (90 calories)
- 1 small handful of baby carrots (50 g) (20 calories)
- 1 small handful of cucumber slices (50 g) (10 calories)
- 1 small handful of cherry tomatoes (50 g) (30 calories)
Dinner (approx. 600 calories):
- 6 oz. baked salmon fillet (170 g) (350 calories)
- 1 cup of roasted asparagus (100 g) (30 calories)
- 1 cup of cooked brown rice (185 g) (200 calories)
- 2 tbsp. of soy sauce (30 g) (50 calories)
Snack (approx. 200 calories):
- 1 small banana with 1 tbsp. of peanut butter (150 g) (180 calories)
- 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk (240 ml) (30 calories)
Total Calories: 2,200 calories