Not another cutting thread
Not another cutting thread
Author
Discussion

DownUnder.

Original Poster:

828 posts

206 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
Hi all,
Currently beginning my cut down from my winter bulk ready for the summer. During the bulk I estimate I went up to about 17-18% body fat (fat-fat-fattyyyy) and want to begin cutting now so i can do it slowly and steadily so as to try and prevent muscle catabolism.

I've started doing fasted cardio in the mornings which i'm doing around 45-60 minutes.

Couple of questions really.

Anyone had any experience of this? Advantages/Disadvantages?
Anyone had any experience of BCAA's or the likes to help keep my muscle mass?

Finally, should I still be doing my post weights cardio/HIIT after weights while doing this?

Cheers,

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

272 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
DownUnder. said:
Hi all,
Currently beginning my cut down from my winter bulk ready for the summer. During the bulk I estimate I went up to about 17-18% body fat (fat-fat-fattyyyy) and want to begin cutting now so i can do it slowly and steadily so as to try and prevent muscle catabolism.

I've started doing fasted cardio in the mornings which i'm doing around 45-60 minutes.

Couple of questions really.

Anyone had any experience of this? Advantages/Disadvantages?
Anyone had any experience of BCAA's or the likes to help keep my muscle mass?

Finally, should I still be doing my post weights cardio/HIIT after weights while doing this?

Cheers,
I can only say everyone is different. Some believe HIIT after weights is good because you can keep the sessions short which hopefully minimises muscle loss. The other benefit of cardio after weights is you're body should more readily burn more fat given your glycogen levels should be low.

As for BCAA's some swear by them as a way of maintaining muscle during a cut, me I'm not entirely convinced in this school of thought as its very difficult to quantify and a great deal of research is either done on rats or not for that purpose. Its cheap from Myprotein so I guess there will be no harm in using it.

I know too much cardio too quickly for me though tends to make me lose a fair bit of muscle so when I'm cutting I will go slow and steady but as I said everyone is different.

I'm about to start a longish cut ~3 months for a competition and plan to blog it here. I'm at about 20% bodyfat at the moment after a food and alcohol fueled xmas and also a bulk for the past 5 months.


jimbobsimmonds

1,824 posts

194 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
Similar position to me OC. Got myself into good shape before X-mas, and then the christmas budding, open works bars and meals got to me... Probably around 20% bf at the moment (83 kgs)

Now however I am riding a cycle to work 4 days a week (4 miles each way, maybe a little more) and running 1.5 to 2 miles 3 or 4 times a week and am continuing my 3 or 4 weights sessions a week... Plus trying to eat less and limiting to one night out a week (I know, I know, but compared to 2 or 3 a week smile ).

Begin my first weekend of TA training in 3 weeks and finish in mid July and go on holiday right at the end of July, so going to try and sort it out before then.

If you would give me some tips or a plan etc etc would be greatly appreciated. It worked for me last time pretty well smile

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

272 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
jimbobsimmonds said:
Similar position to me OC. Got myself into good shape before X-mas, and then the christmas budding, open works bars and meals got to me... Probably around 20% bf at the moment (83 kgs)

Now however I am riding a cycle to work 4 days a week (4 miles each way, maybe a little more) and running 1.5 to 2 miles 3 or 4 times a week and am continuing my 3 or 4 weights sessions a week... Plus trying to eat less and limiting to one night out a week (I know, I know, but compared to 2 or 3 a week smile ).

Begin my first weekend of TA training in 3 weeks and finish in mid July and go on holiday right at the end of July, so going to try and sort it out before then.

If you would give me some tips or a plan etc etc would be greatly appreciated. It worked for me last time pretty well smile
I can do either if you want. I will lay out what I'm going to do before the 1st of next month!

During the past 5 months I've added quite a bit of mass to my frame so my plan is based around not losing it and fat loss will be slow and steady.

jimbobsimmonds

1,824 posts

194 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
Ordinary_Chap said:
I can do either if you want. I will lay out what I'm going to do before the 1st of next month!

During the past 5 months I've added quite a bit of mass to my frame so my plan is based around not losing it and fat loss will be slow and steady.
Much appreciated!!!

I'm at the strongest I've been in about 18 months so similar aim as you I would imagine... Cycling to work, even though I've only been doing it for a week certainly seems to be making a difference but I am bloody aching all the time. Thinking maybe a protein shake before I leave in the morning and maybe another when I get home to give myself something to fix itself with...

DownUnder.

Original Poster:

828 posts

206 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
Yeah, i'd add that i'm in a similar position, been bulking since late august.

I do want to cut gradually as Ibiza isn't until september however the vain person in me wants results for june/july for tops of moments over summer!

Getting some T5's on May 6th (end of exams) so will see how I get on with them.

jimbobsimmonds

1,824 posts

194 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
DownUnder. said:
Getting some T5's on May 6th (end of exams) so will see how I get on with them.
Buying a Volvo T5 won't help you lose weight. Trust me, I know wink

Anyhow let us know how that goes, a bit weary of "products" but willing to give them a go if they genuinely work and don't have too bad of sides...

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

272 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
Jim T5's are ECA stacks.

LordGrover

34,147 posts

241 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
Similar position for me. Seriously considering UD2, as mentioned elsewhere here recently. Looks tough but starting Monday so may report back.

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

272 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
LordGrover said:
Similar position for me. Seriously considering UD2, as mentioned elsewhere here recently. Looks tough but starting Monday so may report back.
Heh that was me!

jimbobsimmonds

1,824 posts

194 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
Ordinary_Chap said:
Jim T5's are ECA stacks.
I know smile

LordGrover

34,147 posts

241 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
Ordinary_Chap said:
LordGrover said:
Similar position for me. Seriously considering UD2, as mentioned elsewhere here recently. Looks tough but starting Monday so may report back.
Heh that was me!
Have you actually tried it? The only thing I'm struggling with is the post workout meal for Thursday (I think?). Did you manage to source a high-carb shake? The best I can find is this one: click.


Apols OP, O/T

Ordinary_Chap

7,520 posts

272 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
LordGrover said:
Ordinary_Chap said:
LordGrover said:
Similar position for me. Seriously considering UD2, as mentioned elsewhere here recently. Looks tough but starting Monday so may report back.
Heh that was me!
Have you actually tried it? The only thing I'm struggling with is the post workout meal for Thursday (I think?). Did you manage to source a high-carb shake? The best I can find is this one: click.


Apols OP, O/T
It worked very well indeed.

I didn't follow everything to do with it but I tried to carb up when suggested and don't just use a shake to do so.