My predicament...

D

Dax

0
OK, So compared to some people it's not an especially large predicament, but I am becoming frustrated.

Firstly, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Dax. I'm from Tasmania, Australia and I'm a first year science student. Hi :)

Anyway, I'm 19, and if you're one of those people that follows the three-form body classification system, you'd probably describe me as an ectomorph. I'm 188cm tall, and weigh 79kg's. I have a body fat of between 11 and 12%.

I'm reasonably toned, but I have a bit of a beer gut that stubbornly refuses to get the hell away from me. I alternate between weight training and cardio 5-6 days a week, but quite often I do plenty of cardio on the days I weight train too.

Since I've spent some time with a personal trainer, and I know I'm quite fit, I'm thinking that the problem is in my diet.

In the last two years I've massively overhauled my diet. I've gone from working McDonald's and enjoying their half-priced meals to cutting fast foods from my diet altogether. Right now, I think my only vice is chocolate :p

Anyway, I have a pretty boring diet cuz I can be quite a fussy eater. I have a cup of porridge for breakfast in the morning (with milk), I eat plenty of apples, and plenty of wholegrain bread. I eat pasta in moderation, and I eat a LOT of low fat dairy. Specifically, it's not uncommon for me to down 1kg of 1% fat vanilla yoghurt and 1L of milk in a day. People say calcium accelerates weight loss...But I'm concerned about the sugar content in both milk and yoghurt.

I've been using an online diet tracker tool for the last few weeks It seems 60% of my food intake is from carbs, 17% from fat and 23% from protein. I get about 25-30g of fibre per day, too. I've given up on the idea of increasing protein since I've wasted more money than I'm willing to admit on useless protein shakes over the past year. As for supplements...Creatine never did me any good, neither did glutamine. And thermogenics...Well, I don't think they helped at all.

So...Since you all seem pretty clued up, I'm hoping someone can help me!

Cheers :)
 
Have you had a look over the other posts that ask very similar questions?

And since when was Tasmania part of Australia? lol
 
I have been, yeah. But I just...don't get it. With my build I can't see why I can't see my abs at 12% body fat. Or ven 13% or 14%. I just so dunno what to do.

And Tasmania has been part of Australia since 1901 when 6 British colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia. This is evidenced by the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (1900)(UK) and the fact that 12 Tasmanian Senators sit in the upper house at Canberra, the national capital.

Geographically, Tasmania has not been linked to mainland Australia since the end of the last ice age, but the water separating the island and the mainland is still shallow. Further emphasising this link is the presence of MANY marsupials found in abundance throughout the south-eastern mainland. Only difference is, most of these species are extinct on mainland Australia due to possibly the most inept environmental practices the world has ever seen. A simple tour through geography text books will tell you that Tasmania still exists firmly on the Australian continental shelf.

So...To answer your question, Tasmania has ALWAYS been part of Australia, in any way you can imagine. If you're trying to subtly make a 'two-headed Tasmanian' joke (or something similar), then I'm afraid the joke is on you. :)

Pleasure to meet you, mate.
 
Dax, I think what you need to do is evaluate your caloric needs. Google search "calorie intake calculators" and find out what your needs are. Then eat slightly under that need (200-500 calories ought to do the trick).

Not being able to see your abs at 12 percent bf isn't all that uncommon. People store bodyfat differently. Your particular genetic makeup probably stores most of yours in your abdomen.

Cardio and a clean diet, you'll see your abs in no time :).

Welcome to the board.
 
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Hi, thanks!

My daily caloric intake is around the 2000 mark, and I've been getting anything between 800 and 1300 per day.

BUT, telling me that I can't see my abs at 12% isn't all that uncommon iis the single most encouraging thing I've heard in ages. And I'm not being facetious ;) Sometimes, you just need to hear these things.

Thanks!
 
Dax, we may have hit on your problem.

800-1300 calories a day is way too low bro, your body may be in starvation mode. In starvation mode, your body can sacrifice muscle before it burns fat.

Try this, your exercise (even though we don't have any specifics, but your in shape) is solid, so your diet needs tweaking.

Keep your calories around 1800, getting 40 percent from carbs, 40 from protein, 20 from fat. Your fat intake looks good, just up the protein. Shakes can help that. I use shakes to up my protein to keep it at levels I need, not necessarily for muscle growth.

1800 is really the bare minumum that an active guy should consume.

Also you may switch up your cardio routine, try some HIIT training. It sheds fat really quick.
 
hm, your 6ft and 174lbs ( american ), and you think your caloric needs are around 2000? it should be more around 2500-2700 sedintary. and 800-1300 calories only in a day!! plus your excercises? doesnt seem to healthy to me.
 
Cory is right, its 2500. 2000 should be plenty enough to get some fat burning going.

Thanks for straightening out my non calorie intake checking a** bro :D.
 
aevans410 said:
Dax, we may have hit on your problem.

800-1300 calories a day is way too low bro, your body may be in starvation mode. In starvation mode, your body can sacrifice muscle before it burns fat.

Try this, your exercise (even though we don't have any specifics, but your in shape) is solid, so your diet needs tweaking.

Keep your calories around 1800, getting 40 percent from carbs, 40 from protein, 20 from fat. Your fat intake looks good, just up the protein. Shakes can help that. I use shakes to up my protein to keep it at levels I need, not necessarily for muscle growth.

1800 is really the bare minumum that an active guy should consume.

Also you may switch up your cardio routine, try some HIIT training. It sheds fat really quick.
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~WELCOME~ Dax - take his good advice.

And really focus on your diet - eat more chicken, eggs, tuna, etc. to get in the necessary protein. And I think you are right about over-doing it with the dairy. If you're not making any progress, you're not doing something right - and that may be it.

Abs are made in the kitchen!
 
Dax said:
And Tasmania has been part of Australia since 1901 when 6 British colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia. This is evidenced by the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (1900)(UK) and the fact that 12 Tasmanian Senators sit in the upper house at Canberra, the national capital.

Geographically, Tasmania has not been linked to mainland Australia since the end of the last ice age, but the water separating the island and the mainland is still shallow. Further emphasising this link is the presence of MANY marsupials found in abundance throughout the south-eastern mainland. Only difference is, most of these species are extinct on mainland Australia due to possibly the most inept environmental practices the world has ever seen. A simple tour through geography text books will tell you that Tasmania still exists firmly on the Australian continental shelf.

So...To answer your question, Tasmania has ALWAYS been part of Australia, in any way you can imagine. If you're trying to subtly make a 'two-headed Tasmanian' joke (or something similar), then I'm afraid the joke is on you. :)

Pleasure to meet you, mate.
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Take a few deep breaths, and calm down. It was a joke. I guess its not your fault you don't have a sense of humour, being Tasmanian and all! (Sorry, but I couldnt help myself...try and see funny side)
 
^ Sorry! That was my quasi-patriotic side rearing its big head. It only happens once ever year or so, so you're all safe for another 12 months :p

Anyway, thanks for the advice guys. I really appreicate it!
 
Dax said:
^ Sorry! That was my quasi-patriotic side rearing its big head. It only happens once ever year or so, so you're all safe for another 12 months :p
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No problem, I was a bit harsh anyway
 
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