Cutting and I need help

FitnessLover001

Is 15 pounds in 15 weeks a good idea? Starting my cut early and here's my plan:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 30 min of HIIT cardio and 30 min of steady state cardio.
Tuesday, Thursday: 45 min of stair master (light weight sessions- doing a circuit training with this as well: 10min on stair master, weights, 10min on stair master, weight, etc, 5 min cool down).

I work out 6 days a week, my TDEE is 2110, but eating at 1500. And obviously, counting all my foods and macros. I'm 5'2", 136pounds, 22.8% body fat.

Is this a good plan? Or do I need to edit some things?? I don't want to lose a lot of muscle, but I want to get toned and lose the flab that's hiding my muscles from being revealed unflexed

ana3067

So... you plan on doing almost no weight lifting with the intent of maintaining muscle mass?

Just do a proper weight lifting schedule 3-4x a week and eat at least your lean body mass in protein every day, lift heavy, and eat at a reasonable 20% or less calorie deficit.

Oh. And if you're able to a) do 30 mins of HIIT 3x a week, and b) follow HIIT up with another 30 mins of SS cardio, you're doing HIIT wrong.

gabrielleelliott90

I thought you meant something else.

_Waffle_

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

elphie754

gabrielleelliott90 wrote: »

I thought you meant something else.

Oh I am so glad I am not the only one who immediately thought of that.

fearlessleader104

Call the Hotline

bananabeannn

gabrielleelliott90 wrote: »

I thought you meant something else.

^^ ditto!

PokeyBug

ana3067 wrote: »

...if you're able to a) do 30 mins of HIIT 3x a week, and b) follow HIIT up with another 30 mins of SS cardio, you're doing HIIT wrong.

Agreed. How are you doing your intervals? They should be short intervals, like 30 seconds of jogging followed by 30 seconds of sprinting for 10-15 reps, depending on your physical abilities. (When I started HIIT, I could only do 5 reps!) And you should totally exhaust yourself during HIIT, give it your ALL, so I really don't see being able to do any steady state cardio afterwards.

mymodernbabylon

That's more than a 25% deficit which is not healthy or muscle maintaining in any way - particularly as you sound like you are close to or at a healthy weight. I would never do more than a 15% cut to keep the muscle I have and I'd definitely be lifting heavy weights.

Liftng4Lis

herrspoons wrote: »

You're going to lose muscle. Quite a lot of it.

Lift heavy and ease back on the cardio.

Yep

Carlos_421

15 lbs in 15 weeks is a great plan but the program you've come up with is actually way more aggressive than you'd need for that.

Also, good luck with doing HIIT three times a week (it hurts too much for that lol). I'd recommend doing steady state Monday and Wednesday then the HIIT on it's own on Friday. That's much more doable.
Then I'd replace the Tues/Thurs stair master with a full body beginner weight lifting routine.

Do that on a 1,700 to 1,800 calorie diet instead of 1,500 and I think you'll be in a much better position to reach your goals. You'll also be healthier and less likely to burn out.