xenon2000’s BodyBlog

Well, I was trying to do about 20-25% carbs in my macro… but even though people said to just get through 1 week… I just wasn’t having it. I got through 1 week and felt terrible. I have increased my carbs to 30-45%, varies based on workout days, rest days, weekend, etc. And it’s made a HUGE difference in my energy levels.

My biggest reason for the macro change was because I felt I was completely unsuccessful with my 12 week fat cutting phase based on photos. I will try to re-evaluate myself and my plans each month now to try to prevent that disappointment again.

Also, I want to master a lifestyle of year round lean bulking to see how I do at small slow gains. I am finding other issues with my new diet changes. Sorry to say that digestive issues have been the biggest challenge. Specifically constipation and gas. A very uncomfortable and annoying issues to have. I am chating the the forum for more direction. I think the extra whey protein shakes are the main issue and need to see if I can solve it while still taking large amounts of Whey protein, or if I need to use a more expensive blend, or more protein from foods.

The supplements are very handy while easily controlling carb intake, fat, salt, and cholesterol intakes… vs food. So I would like to solve the supplement issue if possible.

I have started a new mix for my 2-on, 1-off, 2-on, 2-off workout split. I will get into that in another post.

Sunday I decided I would try a low carb diet. Not the Atkins or Anabolic diet. Just a simple lower carb diet. Lower, as in a smaller percentage. I went from just counting calories and averaging 50% carbs 20-25% protein and 20-25% fats… down to about 30% carbs 45% protein and 25% fats. And I am so tired. My muscles feel so week and I feel like I could just fall asleep for 12+ hours.

If this is just a reaction to the new diet, that’s fine, I will get over it. But if it’s going to be like this most of the time on a lower carb diet, then I just can’t do it.

Oh, my calorie intake is also higher than it was on the 50-60% carb dieting. Before I was eating about 1600-1800 cals a day with tons of cardio. And now I am getting 2000-2200 cals and 1/3rd of the cardio time. Of course it’s only been 2 days…. but should I be this tired in just 2 days of more calories but less carbs and less cardio?

If this is a temporary effect, how long before I can expect to have more energy again?

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=114006741 - this is a thread I started right after taking new progress pics. Only to find out they look exactly the same as when I started. Some people in the forum are not being too helpful, but there are some great suggestions.

First, even though there was weight drop changes and no visual difference, I would say this last 3 weeks has likely lost muscle mass which doesn’t take up much space. So that may be why I see the scale dropping but I still look like the same fatness.

I am going to change my diet completely to try something new. People should understand that I have NOTHING to gain from posting false info. I joined this site and others to help myself get fit and to look better. I am looking for help, not ways to waste my time away. So trust the data and the pictures. The only thing that is a variable is my body. Sure the calorie counting sites estimate how I burn calories, but the only thing they can really measure with some accuraccy is calorie intake. So my body is obviously using my diet in a way that I did not expect.

I was doing 50c/25p/25f , but I am going to try 25c/55p/20f and see if that helps a lot. I was under the general impression that a calorie was a calorie, but maybe I am wrong. I just figured if my cals were lower than I burned, I would lose fat. But that didn’t appear to happen over 12 weeks. I lost weight, but it must have been muscle mass.