I really need some advice

[Aussie Juga naught]

The mirror DOES NOT LIE.....on the other hand those stupid fucking bodyfat machines do. Never used one in my life and I doubt I ever will.

 

[CAESAR7]

It is only my observation.. but some people need to grow gradually over time, adding lean muscle tissue takes a long time, not a month of stuffing your face with food.

Exactly, just take your time...I've only put on about 15 pounds in the last few years, but almost all of it has been lean muscle mass...

 

[needsleep]

I do think I look better, I've lost an inch and a half from my waist and my lifts have improved if only slightly. I was really psyched going to get my bf measured because I was certain I'd lost a fair bit of fat.

I keep a food diary for a couple days each week just to make sure I'm not slipping up. I've been living on protein shakes and fish/chicken/red meat with flax and fish oil thrown in.

This is Thursday 15th May:

7:45am Protein shake (48g pro) 2 fish oil capsules, 1 tblspoon flax.

11:00am Protein Shake (48g pro) 2 fish oil capsules, 1 tbl spoon flax.

13:00 2 chicken grill things (44g pro) (20g fat)

16:00 Protein shake (same as above)

18:00 2 quarter pounder 100% beef burgers, no buns, (30g pro) (21g fat)

20:00 (Training)

Post training 500ml grape juice (75g carbs), Protein shake (60g pro)

Before going to sleep 2 teaspoons of glutamine

I have been very strict on myself and am basing my diet around this:

http://www.testosterone.net/nation_articles/256beast.jsp

Similarly my training is split to 4 times a week, each body part once a week

Monday Off
Tuesday Biceps and triceps
Wednesday Off
Thursday Shoulders and Traps
Friday Off
Saturday Chest and Back
Sunday Legs and Abs

I am following this training plan

http://www.testosterone.net/nation_articles/257ovt.jsp

Seeing my body fat go up and knowing I lost a good 20lbs of muscle and may have actually gained a little fat has really destroyed my inner drive.

 

[Zander1983]

I do think I look better, I've lost an inch and a half from my waist and my lifts have improved if only slightly. I was really psyched going to get my bf measured because I was certain I'd lost a fair bit of fat.

Seeing my body fat go up and knowing I lost a good 20lbs of muscle and may have actually gained a little fat has really destroyed my inner drive.

An inch and a half off your waist while adding that much weight is a MUCH better indication than the test you were given. If you're looking better in the mirror, then that is further proof. You're lifts have gone up slightly and I doubt you've lost 20lbs of muscle and gained that much fat while you say you look better.

Maybe get another test, or just go by how you feel and look, rather than numbers. Don't be so down about it. It sounds like you're doing a lot right, rather than wrong, so I doubt things are that bad.

 

[sk*]

You lost 1.5inches from your waist and improved strength slightly, well my friend that's an accomplishment. Whenever you go up in strength that means you have added on muscle/water ... ALWAYS, so use your strength as the gauge.

-sk

 

[casualbb]

Also, please don't do OVT. There's absolutely nothing special about that program.

-casual

 

[needsleep]

26% bf, 5'11 1/2, 210lbs (taken a short while before I reached 218)

29% bf, 200lbs.

They look about right?

 

[casualbb]

It's really hard to tell because in the first pic you're covering your stomach. You really shouldn't trust bioimpedance devices...Scotsman is right on in his summary of how well they work.

7:45am Protein shake (48g pro) 2 fish oil capsules, 1 tblspoon flax.

11:00am Protein Shake (48g pro) 2 fish oil capsules, 1 tbl spoon flax.

13:00 2 chicken grill things (44g pro) (20g fat)

16:00 Protein shake (same as above)

18:00 2 quarter pounder 100% beef burgers, no buns, (30g pro) (21g fat)

20:00 (Training)

Post training 500ml grape juice (75g carbs), Protein shake (60g pro)

Before going to sleep 2 teaspoons of glutamine

From what I can tell, you had only 2 real meals per day, one being the chicken thingie and the other being the quarter pounders. How many calories did you consume total? It looks like it's way too little for a guy your size. If it did turn out that you lost muscle, that diet is probably the culprit. 500 calories below maintainance is a healthy deficit. Go any more than that and you risk losing more muscle along with the fat.

-casual

 

[Shark01]

The ONLY accurate and repeatable bodyfat measurement system is hydrostatic weighing. Honestly dude, all you need is a scale, digital camera, and a tape measure.

 

[c3bodybuilding]

I know you must feel very frustrated right now, but try to calm down just a bit. I know how it feels to think as if you've made no progress at all. Trust me, most of the time it's all in your head. Most of us into lifting, have a distorted view of ourselves. This can sometimes lead one to almost go crazy!


Take some pics, it's always easier to tell from pics, on how you look. Make sure you have a tan, and the lights are overhead, otherwise you will look smaller than you reall are. Also always go by mirror, and tape measure. If your waist went down, and arms, thighs, etc are going up, then you are making progress!

Lastly, it's tough to choose a good program these days. It's so hard to pick a program. There seems to be so many these days! It can make your head spin! All I can offer in that department, is to pick one program that is sensible (focuses on compound lifts, etc), and stick with it. Also it helps a whole lot if you 'believe' in the program.

Try to keep things in perspective, and know you are working hard towards your goals, and you are going benefit from it all. I am sure you progress is good, and it will only get better in time. Good luck, and keep with it.