chef_lee’s BodyBlog

Not long ago I had an epiphany: Proper Nutrition is key, without it all of your efforts in the gym are lost.

I made the decision to help people achieve their nutrition and fitness goals by seeking certification through Venice Nutrition. Everything is coming together, I achieved certification as a Nutrition Coach and am starting WNC Weight Loss and Body Re-composition. Check out my new project at www.wncweightloss.com

I have just finished six weeks of Lyle McDonald’s Ultimate Diet 2.0. During those six weeks, I lost 12 pounds, of which I believe is almost entirely fat. As he prescribed, I am now going to take a short break from the caloric deficit and eat at or slightly above maintenance (2600 cal). I will be doing "Stripped Down Hypertrophy", lifting 5 days per week for 3 weeks, then take a week off to recover before going back on UD2 for another four to six weeks. At that point, I should be pretty shredded and able to start a "lean bulk". I’m getting pretty excited about my progress…can’t wait for summer!

Today was my first UD2 lower body depletion workout. Having been eating low carb at 50% of maintenance calories for two days, it was brutal as expected. I didn’t push much weight around, but have never felt so sluggish. Low carbs/calories and high reps dont mix! I almost never sit down between sets, but had to today…can’t wait until tomorrow’s upper body depletion workout! I’m sure it will all be worth it though. I expect to lose 10 lbs of fat in 6 weeks. I planned on Thanksgiving as my carb reload day, which should work well, except I have to figure out when to do my tension workout. That will be tough since I have to be at work very early & work all day then celebrate with family that night. I will eaither have to push it up a day and work out Wed night or get up at 4am Thurs…

I’ve been sloppily adding mass since September but am growing increasingly unhappy with the amount of fat I have added, I guess it’s time to start cutting…This has been a hard decision for me to make because I still feel the need to add mass but I don’t want the fat gain to get out of control. I guess what I need to do is get my bodyfat levels into single digits then try to do a lean bulk that is better planned. I have on more week of my current hypertrophy oriented workout which I will complete while consuming calories at maintenance. Then I will switch to cutting mode, most likely using a cyclical diet plan with a routine to match.

I’ve been bulking since September 1 and gained 17 lbs, but by my estimations about 7 of that is fat. I knew that I would gain fat going into it, but having previously cut about 40 lbs, this fat gain is hard to deal with. I have committed to bulking through the end of January, but its getting hard to stay motivated when I see the spare tire that is forming staring back at me in the mirrors at my gym.