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Ironlifter36's 12 Week Transformation Log

Here is my current meal plan.

8:00 AM
1 Cup Egg Whites
2 Whole Brown Eggs
½ Cup Diced Bell Peppers, Mushrooms and onions
60g Oatmeal
75g Blueberries
3 Omega 3 Fish Oil
(Eggs scrambled with veggies. Oatmeal with blueberries and a dash of cinnamon)

11:00 AM
5oz. Chicken Breast
1 ¼ Cup White Rice
2 Cups Steamed Broccoli, Cauliflower and carrots
2 tbsp. Picante

2:00 PM
6oz. Chicken Breast
2 Cups Steamed Broccoli, Cauliflower and carrots
200g Sweet Potato
24g Peanut Butter
(Top sweet potato with peanut butter and a dash of cinnamon)

4:30 PM (Pre-Work Out)
1.5 Scoop MTS or GAF Whey
150g Banana
75g Blueberries
1 Cup Almond Milk

7:30 PM
6oz. Ground Turkey 99%
3 Cups Grilled Squash, Zucchini and Onions
1 ¼ Cup White Rice
1 Tbsp. Olive oil

9:30 PM
1.5 Cup Non-Fat Greek Yogurt
75g Blueberries
1 ½ Cup Organic Toasted O’s
(mixed together in bowl)

Daily Total Approx.
3135 Cal. 270 Protein 372 Carb 63 Fat
 
Monday's Back, Tricep, Rear Delt & Ab's Routine

Rack Pulls - 245x15, 285x12, 315x10
Single Arm Cable Pull Down - 50x15, 50x15, 50x15
Reverse Grip Lat Pull Down - 145x12, 145x12, 145x10
EZ Bar Skull Crusher - 75x12, 75x10, 75x9
Single Arm Rope Pushdown - 25x15, 25x15, 25x15
Face Pulls - 50x15, 50x15, 50x15
Hanging Leg Raises - 12, 10, 10
Cable Crunch - 110x20, 120x20, 120x20
 
Wednesday's Quads, Hamstrings and Glutes Routine * Having done heavy rack pulls on Monday, my back was still sore. I decided not to pile a bunch of heavy weight onto my back and do heavy squats today.**

BB Split Squat - 100x15, 110x10, 120x10
DB Walking Lunge - 45x10, 45x10, 45x10
BB Hip Thrust - 175x10, 175x10, 175x10
Single Leg Leg Extension - 55x15, 55x15, 55x15
Seated Leg Curl - 105x12, 110x10, 110x10
 
I do plan to increase above 3100 eventually. Weight seems to be slowly climbing with skin folds staying relatively the same. My next increase will be to 3300 on workout days and around 3000 on non workout days. Will probably add 10g fat and another 25 carbs. Suggestions?
 
I do plan to increase above 3100 eventually. Weight seems to be slowly climbing with skin folds staying relatively the same. My next increase will be to 3300 on workout days and around 3000 on non workout days. Will probably add 10g fat and another 25 carbs. Suggestions?

How many calories over maintenance will 3300 be?
 
How many calories over maintenance will 3300 be?

I am trying to stay 200-300 over maintenance. Just as the metabolism slows during calorie deficits, it increases during Calorie surplus. I am just trying to stay 200-300 ahead of it. Right now I am in that range. I suspect in the very near future, I will need to increase calories to stay in that positive 200-300 energy range. Based on that, let's say in a perfect world, I was in a 300 calorie surplus all 7 days of the week. That would be 2100 calories per week, so a little over 0.5pounds. I realize the gains are slow and that there are more optimal approaches. However, my goals are different. I am not as concerned with an actual "Scale weight" as I am with how I look and my LBM number.
 
Has your weight been holding over the last few weeks?

Been between 137-140 depending what time of day I weigh in. It's also been fluctuating because I've been eating more on the fly due to being so busy. Mostly water weight from sodium so I usually level back out to the above range after a day.


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Hey bro, see my response below to CC. Also, since you are reverse dieting at the moment, check this video out. Very informative https://youtu.be/A3gTGLulLnI

I've watched that video, very informative. I was more curious to seen how many calories over you were running per week and what you were noticing as far weight gain/mirror changes. I'm planning on going the conservative route like you since I'm terrified of gaining a bunch of fat back.


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I am trying to stay 200-300 over maintenance. Just as the metabolism slows during calorie deficits, it increases during Calorie surplus. I am just trying to stay 200-300 ahead of it. Right now I am in that range. I suspect in the very near future, I will need to increase calories to stay in that positive 200-300 energy range. Based on that, let's say in a perfect world, I was in a 300 calorie surplus all 7 days of the week. That would be 2100 calories per week, so a little over 0.5pounds. I realize the gains are slow and that there are more optimal approaches. However, my goals are different. I am not as concerned with an actual "Scale weight" as I am with how I look and my LBM number.

The scale weight can give you a better indicator of what your current maintenance calories are. LBM number isn't going to change much from week to week! I am sure you know this but body fat and lbm changes take time. For me during reverse dieting I use the scale to see if I am at a surplus maintenance or deficit. For me my maintence is always changing so I make adjustments accordingly! I agree the slower the better not only for not putting fat back on but for a optimal finctioning metabolism! Here is one last thing that I wanted to mention and it doesn't apply too much to reverse dieting as it does for cutting. For me and from my experiences and what studies have found, front and back loading carbs within a certain amount could be the deciding factor for preserving lbm during a cut as well as increasing lbm during reverse dieting. The muscle sparing effects of carbs when the body is in a low energy state it may try to produce energy by converting amino acids to glucose. Having enough carbs for you prior to a workout prevents this since they can readily be broken down to glucose. Another reason to front load carbs (prior to workout), when we lift heavy weights the primary pathway that is used to produce ATP is the anaerobic or glycolytic pathway. The only substrate for this pathway is glucose which can be used from what the carbs we consume prior to. Another reason carbs are important prior to workout is they increase cell volume. cell size is the indicator of the state that the body is in. When cells are at a large volume it signals that the body is in a fed state. Cell size also indicates the anabolic state and increases protein synthesis. If cell volume drops protein synthesis drops. For every gram of glycogen stores the body stores approx 2.7 grams of water and increase cell volume thereby triggering the forementioned responses. I will be using this principle for my mock peak week coming up. Another reason front loading (prior to workout) is important is workout intensity. If one can not maintain his or her workout intensity while trying to get lean or stay lean the have a greater chance at preserving lbm or increasing lbm! As far as post workout carbs in my experience finding the right amount to increase the rate of recovery! So in my opinion not only is the amount of calories that we get from pro, carbs and fat important but when we get them is also important and could be the deciding factor in lbm!!
Just my thoughts and experience bro!!
 
I'm curious where you got that number. I question how many calories are actually needed to build a lb of muscle. I know if you were break down a lb of muscle it's supposedly 2500 calories per lb, but I don't know that's how much it is to "build" muscle. It isn't like fat where the fat cell just absorbs the "calories". I haven't researched this much at all, but what I have always read always seemed questionable.

To be frank, I suppose I pulled that number out of my ass. That figure is based on 1lb of fat being 3500. I too have read/heard about 1 lb of muscle requiring 2500 cal., though until you mentioned it, completely forgot. However, I will say that at 200-300 calorie surplus, I am gaining on average of around 0.5lbs per week and my skin fold measurements are staying the same. Hard to say if I am in a 200-300 calorie surplus for sure as there is no way to really know. What I can say with a 100% certainty is that I am eating 2900cal on non-workout days, 3100cal on workout days, weight is increasing slowly at 0.5lb/week and skin folds are staying the same. I am not seeing any fluctuations in weight from day to day either...everything is very steady and consistent.
 
The scale weight can give you a better indicator of what your current maintenance calories are. LBM number isn't going to change much from week to week! I am sure you know this but body fat and lbm changes take time. For me during reverse dieting I use the scale to see if I am at a surplus maintenance or deficit. For me my maintence is always changing so I make adjustments accordingly! I agree the slower the better not only for not putting fat back on but for a optimal finctioning metabolism! Here is one last thing that I wanted to mention and it doesn't apply too much to reverse dieting as it does for cutting. For me and from my experiences and what studies have found, front and back loading carbs within a certain amount could be the deciding factor for preserving lbm during a cut as well as increasing lbm during reverse dieting. The muscle sparing effects of carbs when the body is in a low energy state it may try to produce energy by converting amino acids to glucose. Having enough carbs for you prior to a workout prevents this since they can readily be broken down to glucose. Another reason to front load carbs (prior to workout), when we lift heavy weights the primary pathway that is used to produce ATP is the anaerobic or glycolytic pathway. The only substrate for this pathway is glucose which can be used from what the carbs we consume prior to. Another reason carbs are important prior to workout is they increase cell volume. cell size is the indicator of the state that the body is in. When cells are at a large volume it signals that the body is in a fed state. Cell size also indicates the anabolic state and increases protein synthesis. If cell volume drops protein synthesis drops. For every gram of glycogen stores the body stores approx 2.7 grams of water and increase cell volume thereby triggering the forementioned responses. I will be using this principle for my mock peak week coming up. Another reason front loading (prior to workout) is important is workout intensity. If one can not maintain his or her workout intensity while trying to get lean or stay lean the have a greater chance at preserving lbm or increasing lbm! As far as post workout carbs in my experience finding the right amount to increase the rate of recovery! So in my opinion not only is the amount of calories that we get from pro, carbs and fat important but when we get them is also important and could be the deciding factor in lbm!!
Just my thoughts and experience bro!!

I agree with you 100% on all points. LBM is very slow to change and can not be used to measure progress on a weekly basis. Right now I am monitoring scale weight and skin fold measurements. If weight is going up, but skin folds are staying the same, then this is a good indication the weight is muscle. Obviously, some will be water, but I am talking the trend over time. I also agree with the timing of carbs pre and post workout. If your on a cut and your budget is 100 carbs, consuming 50 pre and 50 post workout is definitely advantageous. However, I have never had to worry about this as I have never gone below 175 carbs on a cut. My issue with carb front/back loading is when people put it as a priority over total calorie intake. I realize you do not do this, but I come across people all the time who do. They are on a cut, doing all this fancy carb front/back loading, carb cycling, low carb, paleo stuff, but have no idea where there total energy intake is because they don't track their food or have a meal plan. I try to explain the hierarchy of importance 1.) Total Calories 2.) Where those calories are coming from - Pro, carbs fats 3.) Timing of those P, C F. I tell them don't worry about #3 until you have #1 under control.
 
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I agree with you 100% on all points. LBM is very slow to change and can not be used to measure progress on a weekly basis. Right now I am monitoring scale weight and skin fold measurements. If weight is going up, but skin folds are staying the same, then this is a good indication the weight is muscle. Obviously, some will be water, but I am talking the trend over time. I also agree with the timing of carbs pre and post workout. If your on a cut and your budget is 100 carbs, consuming 50 pre and 50 post workout is definitely advantageous. However, I have never had to worry about this as I have never gone below 175 carbs on a cut. My issue with carb front/back loading is when people put it as a priority over total calorie intake. I realize you do not do this, but I come across people all the time who do. They are on a cut, doing all this fancy carb front/back loading, carb cycling, low carb, paleo stuff, but have no idea where there total energy intake is because they don't track their food or have a meal plan. I try to explain the hierarchy of importance 1.) Total Calories 2.) Where those calories are coming from - Pro, carbs fats 3.) Timing of those P, C F. I tell them don't worry about #3 until you have #1 under control.

I agree with you bro but my order would be a little different. That's the great thing we all have different ways of attaining a similar goals!! I look forward to reading your post and seeing how you go about attaining your goal!
 
I agree with you bro but my order would be a little different. That's the great thing we all have different ways of attaining a similar goals!! I look forward to reading your post and seeing how you go about attaining your goal!

Thanks bro. That's my opinion and by no means constitutes as being "the right way" lol. I enjoy hearing other peoples thoughts, ideas and seeing what works best for them.
 
Agreed. Definitely gained a lot of respect for both you and Iron during this contest. You guys have shown that you have your head in the game and I have no doubts you guys will be able to attain goals. I hope we continue to compare notes as I'm constantly making tiny adjustments to how I view training/diet etc.

I hope so to!! I think it's great to have educated people that have a similar goal coming together to make each other better!!
 
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