Tuesday, April 30, 2013

April 30th, 2013 - Coachella Mini-Experiment Result, Bulk Experiment Closure, and the Summer Shredding Begins!


Coachella was awesome!  It was incredibly hot during the day but the temperature dropped to something more manageable and enjoyable by sundown.  If you haven’t been to Coachella before and plan to go, I recommend only going to the event post-sundown (unless your favorite act is on during the day).  But anyway!  I thought the mini-experiment was a success!  Despite the late decision of running this experiment a week out from the target date, I lost a total of about 5 lbs.  I knew that my body will feel the changes and I would feel less energy at the gym during this experiment.  Changes in a diet on a macro level should never be too abrupt and sudden.  But, this was an experiment and I was on a time crunch, so I vouched to try it and see what happens.  At about 12-15% bodyfat, the 5 lb. drop in bodyweight was much more visible in my arms, legs, and chest.  My body loves to store fat around my torso, so that would be the region to be last effected from any sort of weight loss regimen.  My strength at the gym was maintained; however my endurance suffered.  This mini experiment left me with a strong notion that my body does really well with high carbs.  Fat, on the other hand, not so much for performance enhancement.  With that said, it is a good sign that I should keep my protein and carbs high, and my fats at a medium-high level (for me, 90g or less).  I was up to ~200g of fat and down to ~150g carbs while I was out at Coachella, when typically, my carbs were at 500g and my fats ~80-90g. 

Taking these observations into consideration, and noticing that Summer is fast approaching, I think it’s time I go on a cut diet.  I am pleased with the results of my first bulk experiment which I have been doing since January.  The past 4 months have brought me incredible gains in the leg department, which was the reason why I began the experiment in the first place.  I have never been so strong in my life!  I have never been heavier than 170 lbs. and especially at this condition!  I peaked out at 176.0 lbs flat.  I never reached my initial 180 lb. goal, but I will bulk again in the Fall/Winter and try again. 

With this Summer cut diet, I think I’ll shoot for something in the 7-10% bodyfat level.  My cut diet will be comprised of a blend of a few differing lifestyle diets—broscience (typical “clean” bodybuilding diet) and a flexible IIFYM diet.  I will aim to most of my nutrition from “clean” micronutrient-rich food sources and eat whatever the hell I want when I want so long as it fits my macronutrient goals.  If I want something “dirty” like In-N-Out, or jelly donuts, or pizza, I’m going to have it. 

Since I am now maintaining my weight at an average of 173.6 lbs. the past 2 weeks or so, my current macros will now be the macros of my REFEED DAY:   230g protein, 500g carbs, 80g fat. (~3650 calories).  The 6 other days of the week, I will begin to drop my carbs slowly, decreasing my total caloric intake per day by about 300 calories.  It will look like this:  230g protein, 440g carbs, 70-80g fat (~3300 calories).  I will begin this on Monday.  I will weigh myself every day and shoot for a weight loss goal of about 0.5 – 2.0 lbs. a week.  I will not do any cardio yet, and I anticipate that I will only do cardio at a maximum of 2 sessions per week.  Once I notice that I have hit a stick point, where I experience no weight loss, I will repeat the process and drop my carbs again by about 60g or about 300 calories.  This will be my diet.

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