I frequently hear the idea expressed that there are “moderators” (those that can exist in a state of moderation) and extremist, and I imagine many of those of us inclined to spend our free time on a website based around physical transformation fall in the latter.
In that regard, moderation IS extreme for us, because it’s SO damn hard to do. I’ve found my best hack at moderation is extreme moderation: achieving moderation by employing equal times on the extreme. Rather than prolonged bulks and cuts, I’m really digging the “feast/famine” cycle of 2 weeks of famine and 4 weeks of feasting, with room to adjust the dial as necessary. When I went on my most recent cruise, it was 8 days of Roman end of times style feasting, preceded by a 3 week famine and followed up with a 2 week famine. From that, some balance.
All that to say, I definitely wish the most success to you as you find moderation, but if it becomes too much, there might be other avenues that achieve a similar end.
That hit hard. It is so true. For me, and many of us here as you said, moderation or maintenance feels like doing nothing. I know I’m not good at sitting still, and maintaining is effectively doing just that.
There was a lot to love about your post, but this is the best part. Had me laughing and thinking at the same time.
The feast and famine does have an appeal to me. I think it would work very well structured around travel season, allowing for trips to be the feast, like the cruise. Then more of a balance during the winter.
Ultimately, I agree that the shorter cycles will be far more sustainable than 10-12 week cut, maintenance, bulk.
Considering how life decided to be life during this challenge, I’m proud of where I’m at and proud of the fact I didn’t die when I dropped a 225lb log on me almost a month ago!
Now I will preform well on April 13th and finish out this challenge strong!
Going to add a diet update here as I cant add to my own load because of the 6 consecutive post rule ( @Mod_Phoenix@Chris_Shugart and way to fix that please)
Breakfast has been going well, eating 4 whole eggs daily and a shake, cut the full fat milk to low fat.
Lunches are still Chilli twice a day. Cut the rice on non gym days and added green beans or broccoli. I will be 50 in a few months and I have only now discovered the joy of frozen veggies. I just add some to my meat portion and when I heat it up in the microwave at work they are great.
On gym days I am adding some carbs to my second lunch, either rice or potatoes.
Dinners at home with the family are just what ever we are having. But I am dropping the carbs or at least reducing the to a minimum.
Evening snack before bed is now low fat greek yogurt with some berries and protein powder if I am low for the day.
Now to be totally transparent I have still snacked a little here and there. This has been rice crackers or some cheese. Not perfect but its not like I am trying to get stage ready so I will worry about that when the weight loss stalls.
Last night my wife made a chicken pasta dish for dinner and completely forgot about my low carb intentions. I ate the chicken and few mouthfuls of pasta and left the rest. She gave me a concerned look as rarely ever leave food. Explained it to her and she simply said oops sorry I forgot.
I had my greek yogurt later and then was still a little hungry so just snacked on some cold slow cooked lamb that was left over from Sunday. My kids laughed at me as I stood on the kitchen eating a plate of cold meat.
Haven’t noticed any drop in energy when training but maybe a small drop at other times in the day. I am noticing that I am bloody hungry though.
If it’s getting unsustainable, this might be where carb/ calorie cycling can be helpful. Sometimes it’s easier to just not eat than eat a little (carbs or calories, really); then your training days, when you’re really hungry anyway, can have some portions that are actually satisfying.
I’m also interested what the smart folks say. I’ve never gotten anywhere close to lean without getting really hungry too.
I think the problem is that I am always hungry. Eve when running super squats and eating 6000 cals a day, I still felt hungry.
I think @T3hPwnisher has talked a little about, people miss reading the signs of hunger and I am sure that is the case. I now I am getting enough nutrients for the day, but still my power belly wants feeding. I am trying to tell myself that It is likely that I just need to drink more water instead.
I noticed that too when I was eating up to my highest weight. I ate and ate, and could probably have eaten a bit more, especially after the novelty of eating wore off an hour or so after a meal.
Oddly enough, after cutting back on eating a bit, I’m finding myself satisfied after eating and being ok with feeling hunger every once and a while.
Sorry I don’t have any advice, just wanted to let you know you’re not alone.
Edit: I guess novelty isn’t the correct word for this situation… Disgust might be a better fit.
I wonder if this is related to salt (and/or other electrolyte) intake and not just water. I’d maybe get a pack of ORS (oral rehydration solution) and take some for a few days and see if this changes.
It is possible but I am pretty good with my hydration and electrolytes intake. I thing the hunger is more a case of me being used to eating a lot for a long time.
Hmmmm, semantics, but I would actually consider what you’re practicing to be “moderated extremes” vs. extreme moderation. I believe I actually fall into the extreme moderation camp, as I’ve hit my target macros everyday for the last 15 years with very small incremental changes to them when my goals shit. Your approach has high variance with ultra controlled spikes or swings, while mine is negligible variance with heavily moderated shifts.
At the end of the day, I believe we both achieve the same mean level of “moderation” if we look over large enough time frame. So I’d actually argue most on TNation who have had long term success are the true moderators, i.e. perpetually consistent, just with broad range of daily or weekly variance. And the extremists are the gen pop who binge drinks and/or eats and are perpetually overweight or underweight.
