[quote]StrongAgain wrote:
my multivitamin provides 100mg magnesium per serving. Do i need more?[/quote]
I’d suggest getting ZMA…It’s cheap, super super effective, you’ll sleep better and you’ll get your mag requirements.
glad i didnt buy fitday desktop lol doesnt seem worth it at all…just looks different and makes it easier for lazy people
haven’t seen much discussion of the new L-Leucine in this thread… what’s everyone think about it as a supp for someone on the AD?
[quote]Lifty McWeights wrote:
haven’t seen much discussion of the new L-Leucine in this thread… what’s everyone think about it as a supp for someone on the AD?[/quote]
I think L-Leucine is a great supplement to the Anabolic Diet. It has no caloric value, it’s an essential amino acid, and it has many benefits on performance. I believe that it is mainly found in whole grains and nuts - And since your obviously not eating a lot of grain on this diet, and unless your eating a shit ton of nuts, then it could not hurt to supplement with it. It’s not too expensive either.
[quote]Mlettier wrote:
Lifty McWeights wrote:
haven’t seen much discussion of the new L-Leucine in this thread… what’s everyone think about it as a supp for someone on the AD?
I think L-Leucine is a great supplement to the Anabolic Diet. It has no caloric value, it’s an essential amino acid, and it has many benefits on performance. I believe that it is mainly found in whole grains and nuts - And since your obviously not eating a lot of grain on this diet, and unless your eating a shit ton of nuts, then it could not hurt to supplement with it. It’s not too expensive either.[/quote]
Ordered some, gonna give it a shot. Will report results, if any.
good deal Im very interested in your little guinea pig-esque experiment…I thought of ordering some myself, but I havent been able to bring myself to it as Im quite broke
Awesome thread, everyone–it’s pulled me out of “lurk mode.”
I’m on page ten and trying to get in a little bit every day. I’m hoping for some advice in the meantime, though…
I’m on a calorie-restricted diet now and it might be too low–I’m not losing weight as fast as I’d like. I’m also doing fasted cardio in the morning. Body fat is mostly localized around my midsection.
How should I approach the AD strictly for fat loss? I wouldn’t mind gaining muscle, of course, but my main priority is losing the fat.
How many calories should I be aiming for–maintenance for me is around 1700-1800 calories a day–and can I keep up the jogging in the morning? Low-carb diets generally don’t place any importance on calories, but the weekends on the AD might change that.
Are carb-up weekends calories-unlimited, or do I need to stay in the same range as the weekdays?
Annnnd…anyone have an opinion on Steak-Umms? Too processed?
I’ve been on the AD for what is probably nearing a year with great results.
However, while the beginning featured a strong sex-drive, it has sort of waned over the last few months. Could this be cause of improper carb-ups as I’ve researched that in some instances… low-carb diets = low sex-drive.
Nobody seems to really have a definitive answer as some people attribute high sex drive as + for low carb diets while others have the opposite to say that low sex drive is a - of low carb diets.
I don’t know for sure but I’ll make a conscious effort as ever to utilize a good weekend carb-up and maybe incorporate a mid-week carb-up to sustain.
[quote]RoughDraft wrote:
Awesome thread, everyone–it’s pulled me out of “lurk mode.”
I’m on page ten and trying to get in a little bit every day. I’m hoping for some advice in the meantime, though…
I’m on a calorie-restricted diet now and it might be too low–I’m not losing weight as fast as I’d like. I’m also doing fasted cardio in the morning. Body fat is mostly localized around my midsection.
How should I approach the AD strictly for fat loss? I wouldn’t mind gaining muscle, of course, but my main priority is losing the fat.
How many calories should I be aiming for–maintenance for me is around 1700-1800 calories a day–and can I keep up the jogging in the morning? Low-carb diets generally don’t place any importance on calories, but the weekends on the AD might change that.
Are carb-up weekends calories-unlimited, or do I need to stay in the same range as the weekdays?
Annnnd…anyone have an opinion on Steak-Umms? Too processed?[/quote]
First off…what are your stats(height weight BF%)…secondly if you honestly want to do this then I suggest you do it right from the get-go. Another thing, I’ve been afraid of getting fat again after losing 60 lbs from middle school through high school so I stuck to low cals with that fear in mind. Never did I see abs unless I was super weak a sluggish getting there. Now I’ve taken my eating habits from the AD(which Ive done for 3+ years) and combined them with Berardis eating habits. Now I believe getting in some fruit and a lot of veggies daily is mandatory no matter what. As for the cals Im pretty much waving(3000-3500) using carb cycling via Carb Cycling for idiots article. The beauty i’ve found is that by slowly ramping up cals week to week and charting progress while keeping training hard-core(I use the principles from Berardis G-flux) I’ve kept my abs and I’m getting helluh lot stronger and recovering faster. Not to mention I have my kick ass mental state back again, after losing it for the most part from getting so scrawny.
[quote]Becks23 wrote:
I’ve been on the AD for what is probably nearing a year with great results.
However, while the beginning featured a strong sex-drive, it has sort of waned over the last few months. Could this be cause of improper carb-ups as I’ve researched that in some instances… low-carb diets = low sex-drive.
Nobody seems to really have a definitive answer as some people attribute high sex drive as + for low carb diets while others have the opposite to say that low sex drive is a - of low carb diets.
I don’t know for sure but I’ll make a conscious effort as ever to utilize a good weekend carb-up and maybe incorporate a mid-week carb-up to sustain.[/quote]
Now this is my belief on this…being on the AD for just over 3+ years I decided to change things up and implement Berardis 7 habits, G-flux, and Mike Roussell’s Carb cycling for Idiots. Now to get to the sex drive thing…to an extent Ive noticed the same thing, but honestly after I believe I derived a changed hormonal profile from the AD and only now am I taking in carbs(all clean because junk food to me is gross) but I do feel the animal in me again…I think all T-men have an animal…crazy as it sounds, while in bed I feel like a wolf-seriously. Im overcome by this animalistic aggression, not like clawing and biting…at least not to a horriffic extent. But yea, anyway try the mid-week carb up. Go for a large clean meal of maybe oats and yogurt and berries with whey thrown all together an hour after your PWO shake. Now of course results will vary and the time for chemicals in the body to change vary as well but just do what you feel is right and experiment. I believe my by implementing aforementioned habits that Ive found my calling. I never crave nor do I binge, since I have 1-3 carb meals most days depending on what training I did that day. The only problem is is that Im maintaining on 3000-3500 cals(which I never thought possible for me) and being the college student I am…I dont have the money to amp them up…damn.
^^^ thanks for the answer…
So essentially you’re using a modified AD with results? I’ve gotten to a point where I’m relatively happy with body composition and as the beginning of the Carb Cycling for Idiots article says… I just want to keep my abs year-round.
I’ll definitely start implementing it in… maybe eat more and more carbs to get a certain threshold where I can eat maximum carbs without “looking” any different.
So would you say that lack of carbs were one of the main factors in your loss of sex drive? I can’t see myself being low in testosterone although I haven’t done any blood work/tests.
[quote]bkmacky9288 wrote:
First off…what are your stats(height weight BF%). [/quote]
I’m 5’8, 163, hovering around 20% BF, most of which is my muffin-top middle.
Cutting calories is working out “okay,” but I do seem to stall every now and again. I don’t have a big frame and I have a desk job, so I’m just not using that much for maintenance–around 1700 or so.
I’d really like to switch into a fat-burning mode with the AD, but I don’t want to shove 2500cals down my gullet every day and expect to drop pounds. Should I just increase slightly–from the 1500 I’m using to cut now–to make up for the lack of weekly carbs?
[quote]Becks23 wrote:
^^^ thanks for the answer…
So essentially you’re using a modified AD with results? I’ve gotten to a point where I’m relatively happy with body composition and as the beginning of the Carb Cycling for Idiots article says… I just want to keep my abs year-round.
I’ll definitely start implementing it in… maybe eat more and more carbs to get a certain threshold where I can eat maximum carbs without “looking” any different.
So would you say that lack of carbs were one of the main factors in your loss of sex drive? I can’t see myself being low in testosterone although I haven’t done any blood work/tests.[/quote]
Well I wouldnt say I lost it lol But…I’m guessing that with the intake of carbs post workout keeps my blood flow revved up as Ive noticed Im always overheated…
Although it could arguably be that its because im eating 3000-4000 cals now depending on what training day it is. Calories fluctuate with depending on my carb meals that day. ie: im working on my upper body so i eat carbs for breakfast and PWO, hour after and 2 hour after. Then continue eating P+F AD meals after.
[quote]RoughDraft wrote:
bkmacky9288 wrote:
First off…what are your stats(height weight BF%).
I’m 5’8, 163, hovering around 20% BF, most of which is my muffin-top middle.
Cutting calories is working out “okay,” but I do seem to stall every now and again. I don’t have a big frame and I have a desk job, so I’m just not using that much for maintenance–around 1700 or so.
I’d really like to switch into a fat-burning mode with the AD, but I don’t want to shove 2500cals down my gullet every day and expect to drop pounds. Should I just increase slightly–from the 1500 I’m using to cut now–to make up for the lack of weekly carbs?
[/quote]
You’re under eating. 1700 calories at 163 is way too low. I have a desk job and to maintain I have to eat at least 2500. If you’ve been consuming that amount of calories for a long amount of time, you’re gonna need more food to jump start your metabolism.
My advice, go up 250 calories every week. till you hit the right numbers.
Compliment this diet with weight training, its what the diet was designed for. But to be honest 5’8, 163, 20% BF, you’re gonna need to put some muscle on if you want to come out of this cut looking half decent.
[quote]RoughDraft wrote:
bkmacky9288 wrote:
First off…what are your stats(height weight BF%).
I’m 5’8, 163, hovering around 20% BF, most of which is my muffin-top middle.
Cutting calories is working out “okay,” but I do seem to stall every now and again. I don’t have a big frame and I have a desk job, so I’m just not using that much for maintenance–around 1700 or so.
I’d really like to switch into a fat-burning mode with the AD, but I don’t want to shove 2500cals down my gullet every day and expect to drop pounds. Should I just increase slightly–from the 1500 I’m using to cut now–to make up for the lack of weekly carbs?
[/quote]
Ok ok…It sounds to me your scared. Dropping cals blindly isn’t the way it works. I believe you should raise cals slowly chart your results and if you have desired results keep going if you gain after a certain amount add exercise. Then evaluate after a week or so. It takes time! Nothing good for your body comes over night it takes time.
People don’t go to the gym for years just because they go because it takes that much time to achieve. When was the last time you actually accounted for eating 2500 calories, or even 2000, on a clean diet while training smart?
[quote]Invictica wrote:
RoughDraft wrote:
bkmacky9288 wrote:
First off…what are your stats(height weight BF%).
I’m 5’8, 163, hovering around 20% BF, most of which is my muffin-top middle.
Cutting calories is working out “okay,” but I do seem to stall every now and again. I don’t have a big frame and I have a desk job, so I’m just not using that much for maintenance–around 1700 or so.
I’d really like to switch into a fat-burning mode with the AD, but I don’t want to shove 2500cals down my gullet every day and expect to drop pounds. Should I just increase slightly–from the 1500 I’m using to cut now–to make up for the lack of weekly carbs?
You’re under eating. 1700 calories at 163 is way too low. I have a desk job and to maintain I have to eat at least 2500. If you’ve been consuming that amount of calories for a long amount of time, you’re gonna need more food to jump start your metabolism.
My advice, go up 250 calories every week. till you hit the right numbers.
Compliment this diet with weight training, its what the diet was designed for. But to be honest 5’8, 163, 20% BF, you’re gonna need to put some muscle on if you want to come out of this cut looking half decent.
[/quote]
totally agree here…been there done that
It sure is easy to maintain the AD in thailand. you can’t be too strict but by dodging the rice and potatoes ive stayed pretty low CHO. all the street meat on a stick is handy too. I love how thais love meat. Too bad my training options are highly limited. I keep the CHO up rare because of this.
So in case you want to go somewhere exotic and stay AD you know where to go now.
back to vacation for me, off to my $10 massage,
-chris
Damn, I’ve been trying to increase cals over the last couple weeks, was severely down about 1800/day because I wasn’t measuring/charting food and now I’m up to 2000-2250/day. My maintenance should be 185lbs x 18 = 3,330. I never realized how hard it is to actually eat more.
Haven’t seen a drop in scale weight, but I can see slight loss around the waist in the mirror and clothes beginning to feel just a tad looser.
Next step is to get a damn bodyfat caliper. Does anyone use the digital type or have an opinion on the accuracy?
Well what I say about the accuracy is forget about it. As lon as it goes down awesome. Anyways if you need help with cals no problemo. Depending on training Im getting in 3-4000 cals/day. Best part is Im advancing in everything from speed to strength and endurance. now of course Im only truly AD eating 3 days out of the week and cycling carbs the rest but hey whatever works for ya
ok ill bite - today 2 racks @ dickie’s with all the trimmins tommorow i start AD.
question #1 every 1 says carb up on sat-sun why? is the carb up supposed to take place on your days off? i only get 1 day off tuesday
question #2 general rule is: dont eat at night- i work until 12-1 am, i dont wake till 11-12 in the afternoon.
i get my 6 meals in but its all in my time
will it still work?