I was trying to explain what I’m doing with my diet to a friend. That I’m teaching my body to use fat instead of carbs for energy and to start going to stored fat when the dietary fat is finished.
I could not quite explain how the body uses energy where it gets it first from and so on.
I understand that there’s glycogen(in the muscle) to go to first when energy needed and then there is stored fat?
I?m really lacking there. Can anybody through some light on it?
Thanks.
Stu Mittleman’s book would help. (grin)
You can tell your friend that you’ve reduced your carb intake a bit (over what you USED to consume) and taking in lower glycemic index carbs (beans, fruit and veggies) and that you only consume starchy carbs after resistance training.
Tell your friend that your consumption of starchier (higher glycemic index) carbs is activity based and that you’re consuming enough carbs to maintain athletic performance, but no more.
It’s the combination of all the things you’re doing that is forcing your body to draw upon stored body fat because in addition to all the manipulation of macronutrients, you’re eating at a caloric deficit.
It’s really like a nutritional jig-saw puzzle. All the pieces go together, and nothing stands alone.
Or maybe it’s like the game Jenga, where all the interlocking blocks create a structure that stands, but if you remove the wrong block, everything comes tumbling down. (grin)
This week has been total shit. I ate what I wanted when I wanted. I should be ashamed. I didn’t even track my food intake.
Measurements:
As on 5/18…5/26
Calf: 15.9in 15.9
Thigh: 24.8in 24.4
Butt: 41.3in 40.9
Waist: 30.7in 30.7
Bicep 12.2in 11.8
Chest: 37.4in 37.8 … after a chest day
Weight 167.6lb 168.6
I was reading Tate’s training log. Some funny stuff, cracking myself up.
The next 4 weeks I’m taking my diet seriously. Need to get looking good nakid (going for holiday). Even if I already do (matter of personal opinion).
Question:
I’ve read that to loose fat one needs to keep one’s calories at 12xBW. But eating 0.4g fat per pound and 1g protein gets you there anyway.
So the Q is…there is no Q.
I guess what came first chicken or an egg?
This is insane!!!
Spelthorne Acrobatic Gymnastics Training
So let’s see, the week fell apart, you ate what you wanted, when you wanted, gained one pound and lost inches?!?!
Girl, that’s INCREDIBLE!!! You may not realize it, but you had an awesome week!!! If I had a choice of gaining weight and losing inches OR losing weight and NOT losing inches, I’d definitely pick the former!!! LBM went up and you lost some more fat. Any water weight you gained will be gone by next week.
Question:
I’ve read that to lose fat one needs to keep one’s calories at 12xBW. But eating 0.4g fat per pound and 1g protein gets you there anyway. So the Q is…there is no Q. I guess what came first chicken or an egg?
Everyone’s caloric requirements are different. Some people are more muscular. Others carry more body fat. Some people are sedentary. Others are extremely active. 12xTBW is a general rule. I know people who diet at 6xTBW leading into a bodybuilding competition … and that’s at a very low body fat percentage and with a fair amount of muscle.
The bottom line is we’re all unique. General rules are great, but they’re only a starting point and typically need to be adjusted if weight is being lost too fast (or not at all), if hunger is unbearable or energy levels are sub-standard.
Spelthorne Acrobatic Gymnastics Training
All I can say is “Wow!” That just blows me away. That kid is incredible!!!
[quote]Tampa-Terry wrote:
So let’s see, the week fell apart, you ate what you wanted, when you wanted, gained one pound and lost inches?!?!
Girl, that’s INCREDIBLE!!! You may not realize it, but you had an awesome week!!! If I had a choice of gaining weight and losing inches OR losing weight and NOT losing inches, I’d definitely pick the former!!! LBM went up and you lost some more fat. Any water weight you gained will be gone by next week.
[/quote]
Thank you again for your consistency and encouragement.
Sometimes I think I’m cheating while measuring, tweaking things around. I try not to look at the last week number so it doesn’t happen.
Dieting at 6xTBW looks incredibly low for my taste. Crazy people or dedicated! :))
Dieting at 6xTBW looks incredibly low for my taste. Crazy people or dedicated! :))
You couldn’t maintain athletic performance at that caloric intake. You’d fall apart … or shut down.
I actually know a boxer who had to accept the fact that below a certain body fat percentage, his performance/power/strength/speed/energy all suffered. Fighters who fight in a weight category want as much muscle (power/strength) and as little dead weight (meaning fat) as possible.
But taken too low, energy suffers. That’s why fitness competitors who have to perform a gymnastics routine will come in at a slightly higher body fat percentage than a bodybuilder who’s just trying to get their body fat down as low as possible. The trick is to get body fat down as low as possible, but still have what it takes to perform their routine on stage.
Dieting at 6xTBW is like doing a Double Black Diamond run on the ski slopes. It’s extreme! (grin)