The two month six pack

He has enough body fat right now to compensate for the deficit.

Really?

Carry on, my time is wasted here.

You mean your body won't use body fat for energy? I mean, from what I've read that's the definition of fat. Back up energy to use when carbs are unavailable. (I'm being genuine, not sarcastic)

It will use it for survival energy to run day to day life sustaining and other activities (breathing, digestion, hair growth, etc) building lean muscle is not one of them. Usually during a cut you lose muscle, as muscle burns more cals, if your body is in a deficit it will shed muscle to lower its metabolic rate so your deficit will be smaller.

energy from body fat will not be used for muscle growth, the body just doesn't work that way.

Exactly.

MUSCLE is made from protein, amino acids. It will build when protein and calories are in excess. The body senses a high level of circulating amino acids, especially leucine and tells the body myogensis is safe and will not waste calories that could keep the body alive. Muscle on the body is physically a waste of energy, it doesn't need large amounts. mTOR activation only usually occurs in calorie surplus environments OR if you are a genetic freak.

Further more, for large amount of muscle to built you need the release of S6K1 protein and 4EBP1 binding to dimeric mTOR complex and telling the body its ok to build muscle. This generally doesn't happen in calorie deficit!

Safe to say, you're not gonna be building muscle.

I can tell you that 6 years of triathlons up to a half iron-distance won't do it. :grumble:

Given your reluctance (which I share) to dramatic dieting, your time would be better spent working to earn some extra money to pay off your bet.

1) Ain't happening in that time frame.
2) While it varies by muscle mass and ab-size, you're probably AT BEST going to get a faint outline at 15%. Plan on ~12% for it to resemble abs and ~10% before they really start to pop and look cut. My .avi is probably around 12% for perspective sake and I have rather deep cuts in my top set of abs when I get lean, and my bottom set of abs are BURIED in fat.
3) You mentioned that you bulk up fast. Get that crap out of your head immediately and I'm not trying to be a d1ck. Lift heavy and eat right and you will look more aesthetic, period.

You think he can cut down from 26% to <12% in 2 months, maybe the 16% but at best you would only see an outline at the level. I doubt that this goal is attainable in this timeframe. I would suggest trying by August (3-4 months)

Yeah you're right that there is no way he'll get to 12% body fat. However, he can probably make it to 16-18% in 2 months. That's not a enough for a great six pack. But if you have strong abs then it should give you a flat stomach with some definintion. And if there is a bet involved, all you'd need at that point is the proper lighting to reveal your "six-pack."

I'd say no in two months just based on my experience. I'm coming up on 90 days of a slow cut (.5lb per week) to try to avoid losing too much lean muscle. I haven't taken my 90 day pick yet but my upper abs is just starting to show. I'm down about 18 lbs and probably close 15% BF range. The fat has come off everywhere first and just now starting to slowly come off my stomach. I'd think you would lose way to much lean muscle trying to accomplish what you are asking.

Don't mind me. I'm just creepin this thread because of all the bare chested men's pics. :blushing:

Me too. This thread is EXCELLENT.

count me in as well.....

in 2 months i would say this is possible.

but it will involve a strict diet and exercise. No cheat foods/alcohol and some form of cardio everyday, even if its a 20 min walk.

Sorry no Alcohol? I want a six pack, but not that much lol

As for cardio, no problem there, 8 to 10k runs, 3 or four times a week, spinning and cross trainers. other days.

Not to you, but to the post you quoted. Cardio is not needed at all to get a 6 pack. All you need is a caloric deficit and time (eating enough protein and strength training will speed up the fat loss vs. lean muscle loss). But many people on MFP with 6 packs do very little cardio. Cardio will actually lead to the loss of lean muscle faster then no cardio.

I am in a cut phase now, more definition in my abs then the profile pic, and I do cardio once/week for 20 minutes (high intensity).

in 2 months i would say this is possible.

but it will involve a strict diet and exercise. No cheat foods/alcohol and some form of cardio everyday, even if its a 20 min walk.

Sorry no Alcohol? I want a six pack, but not that much lol

As for cardio, no problem there, 8 to 10k runs, 3 or four times a week, spinning and cross trainers. other days.

Not to you, but to the post you quoted. Cardio is not needed at all to get a 6 pack. All you need is a caloric deficit and time (eating enough protein and strength training will speed up the fat loss vs. lean muscle loss). But many people on MFP with 6 packs do very little cardio. Cardio will actually lead to the loss of lean muscle faster then no cardio.

I am in a cut phase now, more definition in my abs then the profile pic, and I do cardio once/week for 20 minutes (high intensity).

I have been reading the posts. I do have a question if no one minds me jumping in.

So this brings up the questino about cardio. I am trying to loose about 2 lbs a week while I buid muscle. I do 40 min of cardio 5 times a week, hit the weights 5 times a week(each day a different part of the body), and swim laps 4 times a week.

So the question I have is am i doing too much cardio?