When 2 Start Cutting?

[xxxkazxxx]

Okay guys. I have my brothers wedding August 5th. Then August 13th I fly to Fiji for a week. (My first time overseas). Obviously I want to look my best & not like some bloated whale come those dates. When should I change my diet to start losing fluid etc. Obviosuly I dont have much time. But its not for a competition etc, its simply a case of feeling happy & comfortable in a dress and then a bikini. So surely there is a crash method????? Please say YES!

[bad14u]

I would start now. Are you using any supplements to help cut or just cardio and dieting?

[xxxkazxxx]

Originally Posted by bad14u

I would start now. Are you using any supplements to help cut or just cardio and dieting?

Just cardio & dieting. I havnt been doing much cardio lately either. Im a bit puzzled as to how much cardio i should be doing whilst trying to gain muscle size. I have been doing 30 minutes x 3 a week, alternating between walking and jogging on the treadmill.

Does my weights routine have to change, or does that stay the same & it's just my diet that changes?

I was going to go along the lines of what RS suggested in this thread if it ended up a mad rush. Bloated Help!!

But I do still have 5 - 6 weeks. So thats why I thought changing my diet somehow would help. I'm in a mad rush right now, but i will post what I shovel into my mouth later today

[fog_hat1981]

Originally Posted by xxxkazxxx

Just cardio & dieting. I havnt been doing much cardio lately either. Im a bit puzzled as to how much cardio i should be doing whilst trying to gain muscle size. I have been doing 30 minutes x 3 a week, alternating between walking and jogging on the treadmill.

Does my weights routine have to change, or does that stay the same & it's just my diet that changes?

I was going to go along the lines of what RS suggested in this thread if it ended up a mad rush. Bloated Help!!

But I do still have 5 - 6 weeks. So thats why I thought changing my diet somehow would help. I'm in a mad rush right now, but i will post what I shovel into my mouth later today

Post everything you have - pictures (not just legs), previous diet, current diet, previous workout/cardio routine, current workout/cardio routine...

We can wait for RS to come along for a day or two and then I will give you my two cents if she doesn't pop her head up....

P.S. Red laid out a basic salt/water/carb manipulation plan but YJ reposted a much more detailed one here - 7 Days to Ultimate Leanness

[xxxkazxxx]

Okay, talk about embarrassment with the pictures. But it’s all for the bigger picture isnt it (repeat to self over & over).

Stats: 5ft7, 133 pounds, bf% unknown (my stupid gym dosnt have callipers, so i am going to buy some)


PREVIOUS DIET
Breakfast - Cereal, with full fat milk & 1 banana.
Mid Morning – 2 pieces Toast with butter
Lunch – Leftovers from dinner
Dinner – This could be anything from Stir Fry chicken with noodles or rice, to lasagne, beef casserole, and crumbed chicken & vegies.
Then i'd eat Pizza once a week, M'cdonalds probably once a week, have cake if I wanted to & drank too much red wine.


CURRENT DIET
8am Meal 1 (Blended shake of 1-cup low fat milk, ½ banana, ½ cup oats, protein powder)

9am Meal 2 (3 egg whites + 1 whole egg)

11am Meal 3 (½ cup ham or tuna, ½ cup brown rice, 1 cup of green vegies)

1pm Meal 4 (Protein Shake with water, 1 small banana)

2pm Gym

4pm Meal 5 (3 egg whites + 1 whole egg, ½ cup tuna, ½ cup cottage cheese)

8pm Meal 6 (200g chicken, 2 cups vegetables)

I only drink water or soda water. Occassional glasses of red wine (i know they have to go). Snacks are usually almonds & lately it’s been the Natural PB on cruskits. Addicted!! Obviously this is a basic day. Notihng really changes except the meat. I'll have either chicken, ham, tuna or fish. And Friday night is pizza night. I can give that up if I have to.


PREVIOUS WEIGHT TRAINING
Training each body part twice a week, Sundays off!
3 – 4 exercises per body part
12 – 15 reps with moderate weight
30-minute run x 5 times a week


CURRENT WEIGHT TRAINING
Training each body part once a week, Saturday & Sunday off!
8 – 10 reps with heavier weight

Monday – Triceps/Calves/Hams (french presses, dips, tricep pull downs, seated calf presses, standing calf raises on smith machine, dead lifts, hamstring curl)

Tuesday – Chest (bench press, incline db presses, incline db fly’s, pec deck machine)

Wednesday – Biceps/Back (BB curls, alternate db curls, bent over rows, lat pull down)

Thursday – Shoulders (BB presses, DB side raises, DB front raises, upright rows)

Friday - Legs (squats, step up’s holding DB’s, leg extension, leg press)

Abs is 3 times a week. I do 15 crunches followed straight away by 15 lower leg raises with a weight between my feet & then straight back to 15 crunches. I do 3 sets, so 45 reps each set & then a 4th set of 20 leg raises with the weight, then drop the weight & do them to failure.

Cardio is 30 minutes x 3 a week, alternating between jogging and walking on an incline.


Okay, now hit me with it

I put in a picture of the bit that pi$$es me off on my stomach, so you can see the dreaded fat. Thats what i want GONE!

[infiniti1982]

honestly you look very good there--i really dont see any fat there that you need to lose.

as far as your diet and training go, again they look stellar to me, no changes needed there. one thing you could do is drop the pizza night starting at maybe 3-4 weeks out from the wedding and trip. im not really too worried about the calories, you have to have some 'bad' food every once in a while, its just that it has a lot of sodium. i think cutting that out will make a difference, certainly in the way you look in the day or two after eating the pizza. again related to sodium, another thing you could do is cut out things like tuna (canned im assuming) and ham (packaged, im assuming). go with fresh sources of protein like fresh fish, chicken, turkey, lean beaf. another thing that has a lot of sodium (and people often dont realize it or even taste the 'salty-ness' in there) is cottage cheese. if you are eating that, you could limit your intake a little bit.

again though, these are going to be more like finishing touches for your physique, you look to me like your already at a very good place.

[xxxkazxxx]

Originally Posted by glowalla

honestly you look very good there--i really dont see any fat there that you need to lose.

as far as your diet and training go, again they look stellar to me, no changes needed there. one thing you could do is drop the pizza night starting at maybe 3-4 weeks out from the wedding and trip. im not really too worried about the calories, you have to have some 'bad' food every once in a while, its just that it has a lot of sodium. i think cutting that out will make a difference, certainly in the way you look in the day or two after eating the pizza. again related to sodium, another thing you could do is cut out things like tuna (canned im assuming) and ham (packaged, im assuming). go with fresh sources of protein like fresh fish, chicken, turkey, lean beaf. another thing that has a lot of sodium (and people often dont realize it or even taste the 'salty-ness' in there) is cottage cheese. if you are eating that, you could limit your intake a little bit.

again though, these are going to be more like finishing touches for your physique, you look to me like your already at a very good place.

Thanks glowalla & your absolutely correct. I buy Canned tuna & packaged ham. And I buy a particular low fat cottage cheese because it does indeed taste saltier than the others. I used to be terrible with the salt. I am the type who puts salt on Pizza & carried the salt satchels in my bag. I gave the salt shaker up, however like you say, I'm buying things now that have a high salt content to compensate obviously. I hereby declare I will swap to tuna in springwater & buy more turkey rather than pre packaged ham.

[fog_hat1981]

You look great - all you need to do in the long term is add more muscle. Your shape and lean body mass seems to be right where it needs to be. I would be more than happy if I were you but of course we never seem to be happy with ourselves do we?

Diet and training looks good and I agree with what Glowalla had to say...

P.S. I wouldn't try to go any leaner than you already are for just one occasion unless you are competing. You seem to be in the 12%-15% range and for a woman that is about as low as you can go without getting into problems....

[xxxkazxxx]

Originally Posted by fog_hat1981

You look great - all you need to do in the long term is add more muscle. Your shape and lean body mass seems to be right where it needs to be. I would be more than happy if I were you but of course we never seem to be happy with ourselves do we?

Diet and training looks good and I agree with what Glowalla had to say...

P.S. I wouldn't try to go any leaner than you already are for just one occasion unless you are competing. You seem to be in the 12%-15% range and for a woman that is about as low as you can go without getting into problems....

Im so happy now It's a relief to know i'm on the right path. I will do something about the sodium issue & report back in a few weeks as to how I feel. No doubt thats why I always feel like a bloated whale, I just didn't want to blame it on salt because then I knew I would have to give it up. It's different though when others tell you.

Thanks for the advice & kind words guys

[infiniti1982]

make sure the tuna you buy is the low sodium version if you are going to continue with that. as for the turkey, i would stay as far away from packaged meats as you can.. even the low sodium versions are kinda high. deli meat is convenient, but its packed with chemicals and salt that fresh raw meat doesn't have.

[xxxkazxxx]

Originally Posted by glowalla

make sure the tuna you buy is the low sodium version if you are going to continue with that. as for the turkey, i would stay as far away from packaged meats as you can.. even the low sodium versions are kinda high. deli meat is convenient, but its packed with chemicals and salt that fresh raw meat doesn't have.

It's just so much easier & cheaper to buy Tuna in a can. I'll check out the labels & read the sodium levels to buy the lowest one. It would be the Tuna in springwater wouldnt it? Ive been buying the Tuna in Brine. Naughty Girl!!

[SonofBone]

Originally Posted by xxxkazxxx

It's just so much easier & cheaper to buy Tuna in a can. I'll check out the labels & read the sodium levels to buy the lowest one. It would be the Tuna in springwater wouldnt it? Ive been buying the Tuna in Brine. Naughty Girl!!

You could also rinse it and help remove a good bit of the salt.

I think you look very nice. You could've warned us about the undies shot.

Keep up the good work, and I'm sure you'll reach your goals.

[xxxkazxxx]

Originally Posted by SonofBone

You could also rinse it and help remove a good bit of the salt.

I think you look very nice. You could've warned us about the undies shot.

Keep up the good work, and I'm sure you'll reach your goals.

They are bikini bottoms, do I have to warn about them?
I was actually more concerned that people would see my pathetic lack of calf muscles & would not realise what undies I had on!

[redsquirrel]

Sorry...went to the lake for a couple days.

In all honesty, kaz- you do look great. I'd kill to look like that again! I'm almost starting to think that I'll never look like that again...I just seem to be having a terrible time losing these 10 lbs of baby fat. I feel like I'm spinning my wheels to maintain my weight, not lose it!.

But back to you- I don't think you really need to change much. The only thing I would recommend is making meal 1 a combo of your meal 2...Eat the 4 eggs, and 1/2 c oatmeal for meal 1...then have your shake w/ a couple strawberries at meal 2. You really need to eat something solid for your first meal to get you metabolism going. If you want to get leaner, I would say maybe add another 30 min of cardio per week for a total of 4 days/wk.

As for not coming in all bloated: I wouldn't worry so much about your salt intake right now. If you're drinking enough water throughout the day, you shouldn't be holding water due to salt intake. The detailed carb/salt/water manipulation YJ laid out is what you can do a week before the wedding...It really only is good for about a day, or until you start to drink water again.

[xxxkazxxx]

Originally Posted by redsquirrel

Sorry...went to the lake for a couple days.

In all honesty, kaz- you do look great. I'd kill to look like that again! I'm almost starting to think that I'll never look like that again...I just seem to be having a terrible time losing these 10 lbs of baby fat. I feel like I'm spinning my wheels to maintain my weight, not lose it!.

But back to you- I don't think you really need to change much. The only thing I would recommend is making meal 1 a combo of your meal 2...Eat the 4 eggs, and 1/2 c oatmeal for meal 1...then have your shake w/ a couple strawberries at meal 2. You really need to eat something solid for your first meal to get you metabolism going. If you want to get leaner, I would say maybe add another 30 min of cardio per week for a total of 4 days/wk.

As for not coming in all bloated: I wouldn't worry so much about your salt intake right now. If you're drinking enough water throughout the day, you shouldn't be holding water due to salt intake. The detailed carb/salt/water manipulation YJ laid out is what you can do a week before the wedding...It really only is good for about a day, or until you start to drink water again.

Sweet RS. Thanks for the tips. And the carb/salt/water manipulation will be pretty much done just for that one particular day then, because i'll be alternating one drink of water per drink of alcohol at the wedding so I dont end up the Grooms drunken mess of a sister. But as long as I feel good when I show up, thats all that matters

I'm happy to add another day of cardio. I just worried it would be burning up my muscle, but Ive realised now the importance of eating enough so that dosnt happen.

Eversince giving birth RS, my problem has revolved around 10lb also. Originally I was always 127lb. Eversince baby its been a juggle up to 137lb & a fight to get back down. Then an absolute battle to keep it there. It was as if my body found a new comfortable weight. So eventually after 6 years I accepted i'm gonna have to deal with 135lb or so & just do something with that. I think I read or heard somewhere once that women add a certain amount of pounds per decade. It's just the natural science of the body. I can't remember what it is though. So even if you are just maintaining a weight, well it's still better than putting it on. Still frustrating though. I think we are all too critical of ourselves. Perfectionists in our own rights.

[fog_hat1981]

Originally Posted by xxxkazxxx

Sweet RS. Thanks for the tips. And the carb/salt/water manipulation will be pretty much done just for that one particular day then, because i'll be alternating one drink of water per drink of alcohol at the wedding so I dont end up the Grooms drunken mess of a sister. But as long as I feel good when I show up, thats all that matters

I'm happy to add another day of cardio. I just worried it would be burning up my muscle, but Ive realised now the importance of eating enough so that dosnt happen.

Eversince giving birth RS, my problem has revolved around 10lb also. Originally I was always 127lb. Eversince baby its been a juggle up to 137lb & a fight to get back down. Then an absolute battle to keep it there. It was as if my body found a new comfortable weight. So eventually after 6 years I accepted i'm gonna have to deal with 135lb or so & just do something with that. I think I read or heard somewhere once that women add a certain amount of pounds per decade. It's just the natural science of the body. I can't remember what it is though. So even if you are just maintaining a weight, well it's still better than putting it on. Still frustrating though. I think we are all too critical of ourselves. Perfectionists in our own rights.

I would be VERY carefull with the whole "drinking after a sodium manipulation attempt" if I were you sweetie. I know that it is not quite the same as an actual contest diet/prep but they're similar and damn, even too much food/water makes some people sick let alone adding alcohol to the mix. I suppose I just wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you so BE CAREFULL...

As for the weight gaining thing it is more complicated than that but yes, everyone's body composition changes drastically as they age (especially women).

[xxxkazxxx]

Originally Posted by fog_hat1981

I would be VERY carefull with the whole "drinking after a sodium manipulation attempt" if I were you sweetie. I know that it is not quite the same as an actual contest diet/prep but they're similar and damn, even too much food/water makes some people sick let alone adding alcohol to the mix. I suppose I just wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you so BE CAREFULL...

As for the weight gaining thing it is more complicated than that but yes, everyone's body composition changes drastically as they age (especially women).

I will take that into complete consideration. Now that I actually think about it, I feel sick even thinking of drinking under those circumstances. Maybe I should just be happy with how I am doing and go and enjoy a few glasses of wine under current weight status, rather than stress myself out with trying to slim down to pull off some dress. No-one is going to give a shit really. I didnt even think about what state i would be in if I drank after putting my body through that. Id end up head down a toilet within 3 glasses of wine wouldnt I!

So all would be fine if I continue on my set diet, but lets say I make sure sodium is at its lowest for the next 5 weeks and i cardio 4x week. There should be no reason why i am a bloated fish at the end? And I can still enjoy a few drinks with water in between?

I appreciate the warning Fog. There is NOTHING worse than being sick on alcohol half way through a night. I have always drank & could drink till the cows come home. But I havnt mixed drinking with diets & such.

[SonofBone]

Sounds like everybody's truthful opinion about you looking nice is starting to sink in. I believe everyone that chooses to improve their body is their own worst critic. Others will think you look great if you're working out and doing what you can to improve, but you'll always see areas that need improvement or could be better. It is almost if everyone that chooses this lifestyle has a touch of Body Dysmorphic disorder but at a very healthy level.

I think the bottom line is for you to do or put in the amount of exercise that you think you'll need to make you happy at the wedding. It is a mental game, so the more beautiful you believe you are...the more beautiful you will appear to others. I'm sure you'll be feeling good and will have a good time.

[xxxkazxxx]

All true true true. I think after all the nice things you guys have said & the positive replys, I can ease up a bit & not be so paranoid. This week I am happy that I know I am doing all the right things. It has changed my perception of myself somewhat. For the better. Im not so frustrated this week. All is good