|
beemk, the formula for losing fat and keeping the muscle that you recently gained is pretty specific in my experience. If you don't follow a strict regimen pretty exactingly you could end up losing too much hard earned muscle along with the fat or you will simply not lose as much fat as you could. It pays to do it the most efficient way otherwise it can be discouraging.
When cutting you basically need to lower your caloric intake to just below maintenance levels (which you have to figure out with a formula) while keeping up your 3-4 day per week intense weightlifting regimen and adding 2-3 days of cardio per week to burn fat. And most importantly you have to eat very cleanly. I try to have some very low carb days in a week on the days where I do just cardio alternating with some medium-low carb days on weightlifting days.
Try to eat nothing but low fat protein and green veggies in the evening with some small amount of good fats. No starchy carbs, grains or bread after dinertime, eat those in moderation earlier in the daytime if at all. I also enjoy hot tea with caffeine between meals to help keep my metabolism revving.
If you don't count your calories exactingly and just try to wing it with an estimate, it will be difficult to make progress or it can take a lot longer. It also helps if you take some BCAA pills after working out and after other meals, plus I like caesin protein before bed to make sure I have enough protein overall and stay in an anabolic state while sleeping.
|