That’s some great progress!
I stopped cutting a week ago and I’ve just been maintaining. I’m much happier (no longer hangry).
Just checked your log, really amazing end result. I wouldn’t really see any value in still cutting if I were you either.
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was 177 this morning and not from a lack of carbs. Been at around 200-300 a day since starting BJJ, also been sore in places l haven’t felt since HS wrestling. Haven’t been lifting until I get used to the training other than ring work. Planning on either today or tomorrow getting under the iron.
Quick update, after two weeks of BJJ and the soreness I’m back to being able to lift and train. Been doing 3-4 sessions a week at the gym and around 3 lifting in the garage. Weight has been stuck around 178-179 the past two weeks despite all off the new stimulus and cardio.
As far as lifting philosophy is moving forward, just going to reset my TMs back to a real light number, do a basic FSLS approach but with most of my assistance work focusing around hips and pulling(back, bis and lots of grip work) as well as loaded carries. While I would love to go hard on the dieting part for this last month, I’m more focused on the BJJ than abs so keeping carbs up and food sources calorie dense to help with recovery and energy.
5 BJJ sessions this week and two fullbody sessions. Today’s:
Squat 5 Pros
3 sets Front Squat FSLS superset ab wheel x 10
Bench 5 Pros
FSLS superset with dead hand ring pull ups.
Weight stuck at 179 but feeling tighter and fuller. Keeping carbs pretty high for fuel.
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So putting this up in case I go off the rails the next few weeks as my “finish” photo. 178 this morning and would still like to finish this challenge at my goal going into this of 175 so hopefully this will not in fact be my last one.
If I’m going to be honest, I’m a bit underwhelmed so far, as I had an image in my head that was a bit leaner, but I would be lying if I said i suffered or felt deprived other than an odd day or two when my carbs were low. This experience has taught me way more than I expected in terms of discipline and moderation without extremes.
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Hi there
Just read through your log. That’s a good looking garage set up. Man I’d love to have moved to the US 10 years ago!
Anyway, the pictures show some really good progress. You must be pleased?
Thank, yeah the Dungeon as we call it is my baby. I wouldn’t say pleased just yet, by the end of June I think I will be were I want to. Thanks for the kind words though.
Keep crushing it man! If you really want that last bit off you gotta suffer a little 
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Heading to my second BJJ session of the day, hit an early AM class. I’ll rest my sore legs in 3 weeks…
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This is exactly how I felt when I hit my goal of 215. I started the challenge at 237 and was 250 in October. I thought I’d look great, but instead it was meh.
I took a break once I hit 210 but I’ve jumped back on the cutting bandwagon to finish the month.
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Because you guys are fat shaming me, I am going to be a bit less loose with the log during the home stretch.
AM - Fasted 35 min walk.
Current macros/cals are around:
P-200
C-200
F-55
Two BJJ sessions yesterday flushed a lot of water out. Wrestling in pajamas will do that to you. Was at 176 this morning. Will hit a FB session tonight.
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Looking great man.
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Thursday night:
Trap bar deadlift 5 pros
FSLS x3 super set hanging leg raise from rings
OHP 5 pros super set ring inverted rows.
No assistance was done
Hit two BJJ seasons yesterday. 1 today with 30 min of the jump rope before.
My entire body hurts. Ate 1000k cals for breakfast today. Everything still hurts. fucking love it.
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Took sunday completely off. Pulled something in my hip, but feeling ok now. BJJ yesterday, with 2 back to back sessions planned tonight and 2 back to backs on wed. have a conference for work later in the week, so will try to sneak in a few rare lifting sessions tail end of the week. Weight was around 177 this morning.
Do you compete in BJJ or is it just a more enjoyable way of getting conditioning work in?
I do plan on competing but I am still a no stripe white belt with about 25-30 hours of mat time so not yet. The gym I train at, multiple word champs come here and our head instructor is a legend, 10x world champ so it great place for that. One thing to note, I am turning 33 next month, a full time sales professional and planning on starting a family soon, I am not looking to compete for anything outside of just a hobby if that makes sense.
As to why, lots to unpack here. I wrestled from 13-18. I miss it, I miss the mat, grappling and everything that comes with it. At the same time, lifting does not do it for me anymore. After more than a decade and a half in the iron, and going from a 115 lb scrawny kid at the same height, there is not much more progress I can make without risking injury, resorting to drugs, etc if that makes sense. At this point it is more maintenance and care than anything else and I needed something more.
I tend to view that just lifting/bodybuilding is inherently a narcissistic and reclusive endeavor that does more to feed the ego than to master it. I’m also just fucking bored of it.
Just a check in, havent lifted any weights this past week. Monday-Saturday clocked in 7 BJJ sessions, woke up sunday feeling like I was in a car accident. Spent the day eating cheese burgers and soaking in epsom salt baths. Yesterday and today hit BJJ after work, may lift some weights this week, may not.
You’re not wrong. And it’s that very thing that keeps me from joining a BJJ gym. I can’t seem to give up the bodybuilding thing to free up time for something else. Childcare is a factor, too. The Y watches my son while I lift.
It was a pretty easy transition. Lifting filled a void after I stopped grappling in my 20s. But lifting for lifting’s sake is kind of like dating a girl you settled for rather than your dream girl for me. I missed being an athlete who happened to lift, rather than a lifter who isn’t an athlete. This for me has been like a duck to water.
That being said I will 100% be back to lifting, but right now I’m just enthralled with this, and with my wrestling background, it’s coming really quick and I’m enjoying experiencing “noob gains” in terms of technical efficiency.
My biggest issue that led me to my lifting burn out this year, is something you’ve mentioned. I’ll be 33 next month, I started at 5’7” 115, and have breached 200 a few times. Unless I want to start taking drugs there isn’t much more to do other than fight against Father Time. I also don’t want to be that guy. I’d rather be extremely athletic instead of just looking athletic.
Went total therapy couch there but felt good to express it.
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