I’m also a fan of Surge Workout Fuel. I’ve tried various formulations of intra workout drinks off and on for quite a few years. The concept on its own absolutely improves my workouts and, more importantly, my recovery between workouts. Surge Workout Fuel is my favorite that I’ve tried.
In terms of calories, though, I find I do have to account for it. I will say it gives me mental “assurance” that I’m safe on the muscle loss aspect, which is a huge mental relief the few times I’ve got the courage to go low calorie and get lean. It keeps me from talking myself into blowing my diet because I squatted.
I’m headed into “derailing” territory, but the flip side of that coin is that it’s very forgiving: I don’t have to think about schedule/ overlap as much because I’ll still be able to turn in some level of performance no matter what.
Seriously though, emotional eating and over-indulgence in alcohol are my two biggest challenges. My alcohol consumption and planning my cooking/food have greatly improved over time…I just go through the odd wobbly patch.
It’s really hard for me to change what I’m doing, food wise. I’ll find an eating routine and then just stick to it for too long.
I wanted to gain a little, so I started eating a little more. Then I got so comfortable in the routine that I gained weight for three years. Then I wanted to go on a little cut and since then I’ve been undereating for 2 years.
I think for me, maintaining a lean physique is basically always trying to cut. Which for me isn’t that bad, because after some diet changes it isn’t very difficult. Bulking now takes more mental strength for me. I don’t like how I look bulking, I don’t like eating that much.
If it wasn’t for the last 2 hours I am awake, ideal physique would be easy. I seem to get my natural energy at night, but also my hunger. I also get so hungry in bed. I am experimenting with a small snack right before bed, so I don’t get up and eat twice as much. Also the couple of beers on the couch before bed need to go. I’ve been talking about it and have reduced, but it is still pointless. I need to stop telling myself it will let me fall asleep (I have insomnia), because to do that, it needs to be much more than 2 drinks, which I am not willing to do.
“I’m gonna bulk for 4-5months then quickly shave off 10-15lbs of fat”.
18 months later, clinically obese but confidently been riding such a great wave of progress!
“In and out, cut for 4-6 weeks. Then lean bulk”
You’re now 3months in, you start to think that with how lean you’ve already got you may as well get a little bit leaner as you’re already so near. Just a little more…
I’m good at sticking to most of my plans. This stuff i’m awful at though.
Yep, for me, the lean look is far more mentally addicting than the bulky look. I think I used to have a different perspective, but at that time I had a lot less muscle. Now, I actually look like I have more muscle when I am leaner.
I ask myself the question if it is worth looking worse for 6 months for a pound of extra muscle. I say 6 months, because the cut is for sure going to take me 3X as long as I expect. Maybe 6 months is too low haha. I was about 195 lbs when I started my last bulk up to 215 lbs, I am now about 200-205 lbs, but TBH, I don’t think I look quite as lean as I did at 195 I think the bulk ended about 9 months ago haha.
I was always underweight so actively trying to lose some has always been a mind messer. I really need to cut but my training is so enjoyable I can’t listen to the rational side of my brain. I’m not even interested in being that lean having been it for so long. 16-18% is all I strive to be at the moment (probably approaching mid 20s), so comparitively easier than what most people are aiming for.
I totally agree. I’m getting stressed out trying to get the perfect timing of pre-bed snack and mid-sleep wake up and refeed. I got a jug of slow digesting Casein protein, specifically to drink before bed.
It’s been sitting up in the cabinet for a week because I haven’t been able to adjust my (non)routine yet.
There is a balance I think that is best for someone individually (both how their body is, and how they want to look). I don’t need shredded glutes haha. I think getting that lean, I’d end up thinking I was too small. But the look where there is abs, vascularity, some muscle separation is pretty good. I think accurate BF% measurements, that is between 12-18% for most people. I think the range is large due to individual fat distribution, muscularity, muscle shape and proportions. I think for me, the number is about 13-14% to overcome my fat distribution. My limbs will be absolutely shredded there, but that is what it takes to have abs for me.
I recently learned that if you are like me, and get up from bed 5 times or more a week to eat that it is considered an eating disorder. I suppose if you do it on purpose (or with an intention), it may be different.
IDK, it seems if I get up to get a snack, I fall asleep. If I don’t, I’ll lay there awake. So I get up and eat.
Yeah. If I wake up around midnight, and eat before I’m too hungry, it’s sort of pleasant. If I time it wrong and wake up around 4am it’s like a stressful tossing and turning until I Have to eat some carby food.
Back when my daughter when little, she had her little stash of “kid food” in the house. At that time, junky snacks were still appealing to me. Even if I had the discipline to stay out of them, they were tempting and I had to spend some willpower-money resisting. (The V-Diet later killed all those weird cravings for good.)
What helped was getting all of those off-limits snacks, kid’s cereal, leftover Halloween candy, etc. into one cabinet – one I didn’t need to open to get anything else. Amazing how “out of sight, out of mind” worked so well. Also, I guilted myself: “Those are your kid’s snacks. You’re going to steal from your child?!” Anyway, those two strategies worked until I was able to develop the V-Diet, which is kinda like “nutrition rehab” for kicking food issues.
This is interesting. I don’t sleep well, and I’ve honestly never even thought about eating. I usually get up and go do something, which is basically just admitting it’s over for the night.
Yeah, booze is deceptive. It’s a relaxant, yet more than one or two drinks actually interferes with sleep. It inhibits REM, which we need need of course for full restorative sleep. This is one theory as to why hardcore alcoholics can experience hallucinations when detoxing: it’s the dream state they’ve been missing boomeranging back when they’re fully awake.
I think the bulk ended about 9 months ago haha.