Positioning Calories in Cut

Nutrition
1

I’ve got a spare 200 calories worth of carbs I’m playing about with in my cut, but I’m stuck in two mindsets. Would you say it would support my cut better to…

(a) Have a larger pre-workout meal (i.e. ~400 cals, of which 300 cals carbs) and a smaller afternoon snack.
(b) Have a smaller pre-workout meal (i.e. ~250 cals of which 150 cals carbs and a larger afternoon snack?

Would you say 250 cals is enough for a pre-workout snack- I don’t want to leave myself tapping in to muscle to fuel the training…

2

I always put my ‘spare’ carbs preworkout. I train in the evening, so I’m always starving after work anyway. Plus, when I’m well fed, I feel my training sessions are more productive.

S

3

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
I always put my ‘spare’ carbs preworkout. I train in the evening, so I’m always starving after work anyway. Plus, when I’m well fed, I feel my training sessions are more productive.

S[/quote]

This has been invaluable advice for me

4

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
I always put my ‘spare’ carbs preworkout. I train in the evening, so I’m always starving after work anyway. Plus, when I’m well fed, I feel my training sessions are more productive.

S[/quote]

I’d agree with you Stu about feeling more productive when better carb-fed. However, would you still arrange it this way when cutting? Is the productivity more important than potentially refuelling better after?

5

[quote]British Beef wrote:

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
I always put my ‘spare’ carbs preworkout. I train in the evening, so I’m always starving after work anyway. Plus, when I’m well fed, I feel my training sessions are more productive.

S[/quote]

I’d agree with you Stu about feeling more productive when better carb-fed. However, would you still arrange it this way when cutting? Is the productivity more important than potentially refuelling better after?[/quote]

Yep! In fact, it’s what I do when I prep for a contest (doing it as we speak!) You must remember that the main goal during a diet is muscle retention, and the best way to KEEP the muscle is to train it just as if you’re not dieting.

IMO too many people get caught up in “refueling”, but if you’ve got more in the tank going in to your training session, you’re not gonna end up so horribly depleted afterward. Besides, most people will have plenty of opportunities to refuel over the meals they will ingest before their next bout anyway.

S

6

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
You must remember that the main goal during a diet is muscle retention, and the best way to KEEP the muscle is to train it just as if you’re not dieting.
[/quote]

Well said!

7

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:

[quote]British Beef wrote:

[quote]The Mighty Stu wrote:
I always put my ‘spare’ carbs preworkout. I train in the evening, so I’m always starving after work anyway. Plus, when I’m well fed, I feel my training sessions are more productive.

S[/quote]

I’d agree with you Stu about feeling more productive when better carb-fed. However, would you still arrange it this way when cutting? Is the productivity more important than potentially refuelling better after?[/quote]

Yep! In fact, it’s what I do when I prep for a contest (doing it as we speak!) You must remember that the main goal during a diet is muscle retention, and the best way to KEEP the muscle is to train it just as if you’re not dieting.

IMO too many people get caught up in “refueling”, but if you’ve got more in the tank going in to your training session, you’re not gonna end up so horribly depleted afterward. Besides, most people will have plenty of opportunities to refuel over the meals they will ingest before their next bout anyway.

S[/quote]

Thanks Stu, you’re very helpful. Whilst you’re here, can I ask a quick question about two other areas, seeing as you’re in the cutting “zone”?

(a) Carbs with your evening meal- is it your opinion that carbs after say 6pm should be kept to a minimum (when cutting), or are you of the school of thought that it’s the overall picture that’s important, not when you’re eating various nutrients?

(b) Do you use any fat-burners when you’re cutting, or have you found better results with more natural supplements such as CLA, fish oils etc?

Appreciate your time, thanks.

8

[quote]British Beef wrote:
Thanks Stu, you’re very helpful. Whilst you’re here, can I ask a quick question about two other areas, seeing as you’re in the cutting “zone”?

(a) Carbs with your evening meal- is it your opinion that carbs after say 6pm should be kept to a minimum (when cutting), or are you of the school of thought that it’s the overall picture that’s important, not when you’re eating various nutrients?[/quote]

I honestly don’t think it matters as much as some people make it out to. I’ve certainly had days where I eat carbs right up to crashing out, and it hasn’t negatively affected my physique at all. In fact, I usually sleep a lot better with some carbs in my stomach, so you could argue that a better night’s rest will more than offset a few ‘nasty’ carbs in the evening. In my own cutting diets, I just prefer to put the carbs where I think they’d serve me better, and then stick to mostly P+F meals the rest of the day. As your body tends to run on a higher amount of fatty acids when at rest, I like to give it the opportunity to do so if possible.

I used to love HOT-ROX, but when I realized that I couldn’t use them and compete in the WNBF, a replacement had to be found. Currently, and for the last few years, I’ve been using a product called Meltdown. It’s basically just a bit of caffeine, and some Yohimbine, but it does provide a little kick in the butt each morning. Does it make a huge difference? I honestly doubt it, but on those lower calorie/carb days a few cups of coffee and a Meltdown or two certainly help me get through my day.

As to the fish oils, well, I rely on them quite a bit all year long, and as so much literature seems to agree about Omega 3s positively influencing body composition, in my book, they’re a no brainer.

No Prob :slight_smile:

S

9

[quote]British Beef wrote:
Would you say 250 cals is enough for a pre-workout snack- I don’t want to leave myself tapping in to muscle to fuel the training…[/quote]
Just wanted to say that one does not use muscle as an energy source just because one does not eat immediately before training. Eating pre-workout is good for other reasons like people already said.