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Cutting regimen or slimming down

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Hey everyone. I'm a "thicker" guy. Stand 5'10" and currently weigh between 195-200 pounds. I have been working out pretty regularly for about three years. My weight number has gone up which I sometimes think is muscle growth but I have not been the best at watching my diet. I've decided to work on trying to be more conscious of what I eat and stick to a dedicated workout regimen. I am focused on a few things
1 - increase the size of my chest, neck, shoulders, arms2 - reduce my body fat % from about 20% today to about 17%3 - either reduce or stabilize my weight
I'm looking for feedback/input on how this works since I've never really focused on it in this way. Right now I am logging most of my food using the Livestrong My Plate app. I'm not 100% perfect in avoiding all junk and I do have the occasional beer because breweries!! Anyway, thanks for any input.

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RE: Cutting regimen or slimming down

Howdy to you both and the rest of this fine nude gang! I agree with the apple cider vinegar. Check out this recent article: What Happens When You Mix Apple Cider Vinegar In Water? - The Alternative Daily
https://apple.news/AQM70M4Z9QGiPA4a-Gc8yMA Saw it just yesterday. I'm back in a weight gain routine. Cut body fat to 8% BUT arms and chest shrunk! Never satisfied, are we? LOL. So gonna add 15 pounds, settle at 180 and live with the compromise. :-). Just did 3 mile nude run. Feeling great after some caffeine, so thinking I'll run another 3 miles! Nothing like swinging your way to fitness!!! Good luck and enjoy!!! Bob

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RE: Cutting regimen or slimming down

Cutting requires reducing calories...burning more than you take in. In order to do this, you can either reduce the amount that you eat and modify what you're eating a little, OR you can increase the amount of exercise you're doing by adding in some extra cardio, doing high-intensity interval training, or high-rep-low-weight lifting.At 40 and over (I'm 42) it is slower...although I've found it is much easier to put on muscle.Most sources will say that it is difficult - if nearly impossible - to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time. A traditional "bulk" takes you up over your goal weight, adding some muscle and some fat, then a cut takes off the fat to SHOW the muscle.Now...I'm not trying to be "mean" here :) but I've always been told that muscles are made in the kitchen, not the gym. While I am no angel when it comes to eating, if you don't plan your diet and eat "clean" it will be tough to make changes as quickly in your body. That said, one of the easiest ways to learn to cut is to taper your carbs. Eat most of them in the morning, 5-6 small meals spaced out during the day tapering down to NO carbs after 7pm. If you want a snack, make sure you have some cut-up vegetables, cottage cheese, cubes of chicken, nuts, stuff like that. Replace what carbs you DO eat with healthier stuff: oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain pasta.The occasional beer once in a while isn't going to kill you, in fact it is probably good for you.
Good stuff here. I have been using a food and exercise tracker that I can access online or on my mobile. It has been a great help. I have definitely been burning more than I put in but not by extreme amounts. I've also not been using junk to fill calories. I'll give myself the chance to splurge every once in a while because if I don't I will go to the store and buy every box of Oreo cookies on the shelf and eat them all in one sitting. :-) Anyway, it's been good. I am not losing the fat like I did, oh, 15 years ago but oh well, it's coming off which is nice.

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RE: Cutting regimen or slimming down

Im no expert, but here's my insightYou didn't get to where you are today overnight, so don't try to change it overnight either.Your body doesn't like change or new habits. You need to coax him calmly and positively.Fat is a WONDERFUL natural defense against lean times and it also stores your toxins. Be grateful for it. The problem is we have more toxins and less lean times than we were designed for. Lose it slowly.You may already have the perfectly toned body of your dreams, but can't see it under your protective layer. Work on it anyway in good faith.Protein right after you work out helps build muscle. Consider sugars (natural and artificial sweeteners, empty carbs like white flour and rice) the enemy. Read up on diabetes 2 diets to understand the chemistry better (which may consider artificial sweeteners benign but I don't)Try to switch out beer for wine and sweets for dark chocolate and keep it in moderation.Avoid hops (beer) and soy products because they have estrogen like qualities. If you need inspiration, see how soy transformed Paul McCartney from the "handsome Beatle" to Angela Lansbury.

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