Stripping Body Fat - Issues (Cutting , Body building)

alanguy1980
alanguy1980 Posts: 5 Member
edited November 15 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi All,

I am currently trying to strip my body fat back down to low double digits (12-14%) over the next 5 months currently its 24.8%

I have the recurring problem of bulking up putting on muscle, but my body fat increases a lot, this despite keeping a relatively low carb diet.

In the past I have been able to get to 10% body fat but that has been after an extended period of training 2-3 times a day and lots of endurance training, as a result I have lost a lot of muscle.

Since late December I have been running a calorie deficit with a total intake of approx 1800kCal, my current macro is Carbs 30%, fat 15%, protein 55%.

I am doing circuit training 3 times a week and weights 3 times a week (4 sets 12-6).

As you can see from the attached pictures the progress is painfully slow.

Had anyone that has been in the same position and give me any guidance / tips in order to meat my goals?


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Replies

  • lemonychild
    lemonychild Posts: 654 Member
    You should check out @vismal here on mfp .:: might have some advice for you
  • courtneyfabulous
    courtneyfabulous Posts: 1,863 Member
    edited February 2017
    I've never heard of anyone needing more than 40% protein (including for body building). Also yeah did you lose 10 pounds since late December? That's very fast weight loss. If you want to retain as much muscle as possible then why don't you go for a SLOWER weight loss rate? The faster you lose weight the more muscle you are likely to lose (and worse you will feel).
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Lowering your body fat comes from consistency over time. 10 lbs a month is going to be very aggressive and can potentially work against you as it would be more difficult to maintain your muscle mass. Generally, a person who is lean should be aiming around 1 lb or .5-1% per week, to maximizing the amount of nutrients that are available for to your body.


    Based on how fast you are losing, you might be better off around 2200-2400 calories. You protein is very high and not necessary. Protein should be around 1.5-2.2g/kg. So 150-175 max is necessary. Outside of that, it's more personal preference. Fat is rather low. And considering fat is a large controller of hormones (i.e., testosterone), it would be beneficial to have some. Fats around .7-1.3g/kg and the rest can be carbs.

    What is your actual exercise program? Are you increasing volume each week (reps, weight or sets)?


    And I would agree, your expectations should be adjusted.
  • alanguy1980
    alanguy1980 Posts: 5 Member
    Thanks all

    @psuLemon I had been eating 2200kCal with carb cycling prior to dropping it down to 1800kCal and the current macro.

    The info on the macro is very useful as I have seen a lot of conflicting information online and from the various trainers I have used in the past.

    At 1800KCal I never am feeling tired or hungry even when training.

    I have attached the current programme I have been using for the past 3 weeks, I have been increasing the weights between sets and increasing the weight week on week.

    Prior to this training I was doing 4*15 with lower weights with the same weight between sets and increasing the weight week on week.

    I am proabably aiming for to much but just want to avoid another summer of disappointment.


    un4e5xvm5t7o.png

  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Thanks all

    @psuLemon I had been eating 2200kCal with carb cycling prior to dropping it down to 1800kCal and the current macro.

    The info on the macro is very useful as I have seen a lot of conflicting information online and from the various trainers I have used in the past.

    At 1800KCal I never am feeling tired or hungry even when training.

    I have attached the current programme I have been using for the past 3 weeks, I have been increasing the weights between sets and increasing the weight week on week.

    Prior to this training I was doing 4*15 with lower weights with the same weight between sets and increasing the weight week on week.

    I am proabably aiming for to much but just want to avoid another summer of disappointment.


    un4e5xvm5t7o.png

    Your full body workouts are not full body on any day. Where did you get this program? Is it self designed or a trainer design? Outside of body fat loss, what are your goals?
  • alanguy1980
    alanguy1980 Posts: 5 Member
    You have approximately 22kgs of bodyfat and 66kg of lean body mass.
    You could hope to lose 1% of your bodyweight each week if everything is perfect which equates to 0.8kg.

    To reach 12% bodyfat you need to lose 15kg of bodyfat which will put you at 73kg bodyweight (assuming no lean mass loss).

    15kg at 0.8kg per week is 19 weeks.

    So 19 weeks to achieve your goal assuming everything is perfect. Each session is progressive, you hit your macros and don't binge or take days/weeks off.

    Some additional points;

    - You do not need to train for more than an hour a day
    - It is likely you are fatter than you think
    - Everyone slips up occasionally
    - 10lbs in a month is fast fat loss

    Thanks for that, any thoughts on the current macros?
  • alanguy1980
    alanguy1980 Posts: 5 Member
    edited February 2017
    psuLemon wrote:

    Your full body workouts are not full body on any day. Where did you get this program? Is it self designed or a trainer design? Outside of body fat loss, what are your goals?

    - It was provided by the last trainer that I used.
    - I would like to keep the bulk I have a strip the fat back as much as possible.
    - I train religiously so would like for that to show :smiley:


  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    edited February 2017
    psuLemon wrote:

    Your full body workouts are not full body on any day. Where did you get this program? Is it self designed or a trainer design? Outside of body fat loss, what are your goals?

    - It was provided by the last trainer that I used.
    - I would like to keep the bulk I have a strip the fat back as much as possible.
    - I train religiously so would like for that to show :smiley:


    I would get on a proven program that works. One that is actually a full body routine or split if the volume is too much. IMO, that training really didn't provide you a good plan for progressive overload. There is a lot of accessory lifts and not enough focus on adequate training frequency. The primary focus should be on the big 4 lifts (OHP, Bench, DL, Squat) and have accessories to address the smaller muscles.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10332083/which-lifting-program-is-the-best-for-you/p1
  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    You have approximately 22kgs of bodyfat and 66kg of lean body mass.
    You could hope to lose 1% of your bodyweight each week if everything is perfect which equates to 0.8kg.

    To reach 12% bodyfat you need to lose 15kg of bodyfat which will put you at 73kg bodyweight (assuming no lean mass loss).

    15kg at 0.8kg per week is 19 weeks.

    So 19 weeks to achieve your goal assuming everything is perfect. Each session is progressive, you hit your macros and don't binge or take days/weeks off.

    Some additional points;

    - You do not need to train for more than an hour a day
    - It is likely you are fatter than you think
    - Everyone slips up occasionally
    - 10lbs in a month is fast fat loss

    Thanks for that, any thoughts on the current macros?

    I'd set macros at:
    Protein at 1g/lb
    Fats at 0.4g/lb
    Carbs as the remainder
  • alanguy1980
    alanguy1980 Posts: 5 Member
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    Hi All,
    So here is the latest update on my progress.

    I changed to the 5*5 workout as suggested, I see the benefits of introducing the deadlifts back into the workout the negatives are that I have seen a noticeable shrinking of my biceps, and triceps. I am also finding the workout pretty boring.

    Any tips on the next steps... low teen % body fat currently seems a long ay away!




  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Just keep up the good work.
This discussion has been closed.