Training while cutting is frustrating

[triggerfinger]

I have been training all out balls to the wall for the last 4 weeks. I have also lost 10lbs and have done no cardio. Im 6' 1/2" and am now at 200. I eat about 1800 cal per day, moderate carbs. BF is about 16% and abs are nowhere in site. Figure I have another 10lbs to go.

I am very sore and have many aches. My workouts last about 1 hour and 15 mins. Heavy weight, failure on every set 6-8 reps, 4 exercises per body part.

My body is telling me that this is too much. I feel like I am cheating my self if I do any less ( 20 or 30min workouts).

Heres the thing... I am not gaining size because I am not eating enough. Have I been wasting my time and energy? What would be a disadvantage of doing a 30min workout ( 2 excersises per body part 3 sets)?

If I don't stray with the killer workouts will I lose more muscle while cutting?

Cutting sucks, Bulking is much more fun

 

[FitnessFrk]

some things 2 remember while cutting...

due to the restricted caloric intake recovery is lessend. forget about trying to increase lifts and make strength gains focus on the mind-muscle conection and hitting the target muscle(s).

up the intensity and lower the volume. there is no reasone why you can not train 2 body parts 1 big and 1 small in 45 minutes.

Personally, when I hit the 45 minute mark while cutting I put the weights down and hit the treadmill for 20 regardless if I'm finished the routine or not. I mark it in my training log, I know I need to either turn up the intensity or cut an exercise or lower sets to 2 vs 3.

 

[bignate73]

wow, 1800??? careful at that low of a calorie intake, you run the risk of going catabolic very easily. i would recommend upping the cals to at least 2200. i have a few clients that go down to 1800 and it works for them, but the things you said in your post indicate that it might be too low for your training style/ energy output.

make sure your larger meals are around your workouts and the smaller snacks are spread evenly through the day. if having energy/strength is important in your workout you will really need to adjust the bulk of your carb intake to before and after your workout.

just think about upping the cals a bit, maybe every few days just to trick the body and to allow for a bit of glycogen buildup.

 

[Vortexx]

Switch to german volume training in a cutting phase, this will amintain mass while releasing more GH that helps to burn fat

Also increase calories to fuel the weight workouts AND include daily pre-breakfast cardio, this will prevent storage of excess calories as fat....

After 4 weeks (when you have adjusted to this kind of regime) start to include a daily HIIT session after weights workout . Now peaking will happen REALLY fast (maybe even within 3 weeks), When you peak, cut back on your HIIT to three times a week and maintain slow pre-breakfast cardio on a 3 on 1 of routine.

This will allow you to stay in a very good shape for a couple of months....

 

[triggerfinger]

bignate73, FitnessFrk

I have heard that it is best to do cardio 1st thing in the morning. I can't get it together in the morning. I work long hours and can just about fit it my workouts.


FitFrk-- Is it ok to do cardio on the end of a 45 min workout. I am worried about catabolic muscle loss.

bignate- I would prefer to up cals and have not because I am not doing any cardio. If I can tag cardio onto the end of my workoutout that would compensate for the extra cals and I should still be dropping BF. Its seems that 1800 was a good number for me. I have dropped BF and had minimal muscle loss. I have 1 cheat meal a week when I eat whatever I wan't.


Thanks for the input. This is my first cutting cycle and I am on a mission for abs.

I have also heard that after I am done cutting and start eating again that fat goes back to the locations it came from. My problem is in the stomach area. What would be the best way to avoid or slow the accumulation of bf? This is proably a stupid question but I gotta ask it anyway.

more stupid questions. When I bulk again should I set a BF limit ( lets say 20% and then cut. Or bulk all Fall,Winter( no matter how much fat) and cut all Spring and Summer

 

[FitnessFrk]

no problem with the cardio...keep it mild at the low end of your heart rate for fat burning..

 

[kmh63xl]

i have recently been on a cuttin phase for summer and i have lost 13 lbs...but i still got the luv handles and gut....only thing i notice is my shoulders, back, and legs getting cut....ne suggestions to get more definition in my midsection? also my bench has gone up significantly 10 lbs while dieting im really happy with this...i advise you to use fairly heavy weights with 4-6 reps cept for back 10-12

 

[triggerfinger]

Vortexx

GVT sounds insane----seems like much to much. My workouts are killing me now. I did chest Tuesday and my chest and shoulders are still sore

What do you mean by peaking?

I could see trying it as a plateau breaker for 3 or 4 weeks. I would love to do morning cardio but check out my sched

630 - wake, shower, eat, and travel to work
6:00 - Hit the GYM
8:30 - return home, unwind
9:30 - eat dinner
12:00- Bed

Has anyone seen my personal life???

I am not looking to gain mass while cutting. I personally think its impossible. Maybey on a Keto Diet but thats another discussion.

I think I am gonna cut the volume on my workout enough to fit 1 large and 1 small ie ( Chest/Tri) into 30-45 min and then hit 20 min on the treadmill at the propper heartrate for fatburning and see how that goes.

Chest/tri
Back/bi
rest
Legs/abs
shoulders/traps
rest
rest


ie Chest/tri

4( 1 warmup + 3 sets)) sets Flatbench
4 sets Incline Press( switch every other week with flys)

4 sets dips
4 sets pressdowns

right now for Chest/tri

4 sets flat
4 sets incline
4 sets weighted dips
4 sets cable cross

4 sets close grip press
4 sets skull crushers
4 sets pressdowns

 

[triggerfinger]

I/m in the same boat

i have recently been on a cuttin phase for summer and i have lost 13 lbs...but i still got the luv handles and gut....only thing i notice is my shoulders, back, and legs getting cut....ne suggestions to get more definition in my midsection? also my bench has gone up significantly 10 lbs while dieting im really happy with this...i advise you to use fairly heavy weights with 4-6 reps cept for back 10-12

I am not trying to cut for contest. I want to get my abs out. I have lost the fat everywhere but my abs. I am going to try a product called lipoderm-y from avant labs. I have heard good reviews.

I am a typical ectomorph. I look pretty dam good without a shirt( except for the lack of a six pac) but in clothes I look skinny.

I was 218 at the height of my last bulking phase and still had some cuts but my stomach was huge. I wish there was a way to just lose fat in the stomache area because I was happy with the way the rest of my body looked. I was getting compliments on size when wearing clothes, Now people say " looking good, looking real thin" That is not a compliment to me

from 218 to 200 I lost about 1/2- 3/4 on my arms.

 

[coolcolj]

your doing it all wrong

see my diet thread for tips

I've been able to train hard, gain size and strength, recover and get lean and still be able to eat junk food. You just gotta know how.

I started off with a 40 inch waist 210lbs at 20+% bodyfat and weak as hell 5 months ago.
Now I have a 31.5 inch waist and getting smaller everyday, 184lbs at around 12% bodyfat. A bit stronger and I can faintly see my abs now.

My goal is 5-6% bodyfat and most probably a 27 inch waist.