One Month Progress Photos

[[Focus]1]

I don't have a journal or anything on this side of the fence so I thought I'd share this here. For the last month or so I've been eating at 2500 calories or so on average which was supposedly a deficit of 35%. Key word supposedly. Really having a lot of difficulty figuring out my intake as prior to about two weeks before entering the contest I was eating nearly 6000 calories a day and somehow maintaining, haha.

Anyway, here they are:

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During this period I actually went from my Body Transformation Contest entry weight of 208.8 lbs to 210.2 lbs, despite losing what was probably 3 lbs... of hair. And supposedly several lbs of water weight (due to glycogen blah blah keto blah blah).

I'm hoping that a month on 1500-1800 calories a day, continued strength training 3x/week + running 3x/week will produce some better results. I'll provide another update at the end of March for anyone who's interested. Then it's on to the Velocity Diet for the final weeks of the contest. My goal is to make damn sure that nobody will be able to say of me, "Well, he didn't try very hard, did he?" I do realize that might seem an excessive restriction, but you gotta realize I'm gaining strength at this level, and fast, also my temperature, rhr and energy levels are at the same levels as they were at the higher intake.

Oh, and just a little note for anyone who tends to be nice to a fault, I'd rather you be honest to the extent of pointing out that the whole month was a wash if that is your opinion. Don't worry about my motivation, it's not going anywhere. I'm just doin' my little "obsessing over fine-tuning" thang.

Hope everyone's having a decent or better weekend.

 

[lungsfortherace]

I can see a difference in the front picture; your tummy seems less flabby. And it's the same thing for the side pictures because your tummy seems to hang over a little less. Your arms arms look a little smaller as well. How tall are you?
That 2500 calories seems like a lot unless you're working out really, really, really hard. Also, I hate to sound like a jerk, but unless you're actually weighing your food you're most likely consuming significantly more than what you think you're consuming.

Tamara

 

[radiant]

I can definitely see a big difference, but you're right, cutting back the calories to more like 1800 will probably show more results. Good luck and good job so far.

 

[Steve]

I can see a difference in the front picture; your tummy seems less flabby. And it's the same thing for the side pictures because your tummy seems to hang over a little less. Your arms arms look a little smaller as well. How tall are you?
That 2500 calories seems like a lot unless you're working out really, really, really hard. Also, I hate to sound like a jerk, but unless you're actually weighing your food you're most likely consuming significantly more than what you think you're consuming.

Tamara

He's 210ish lbs..... 2500 calories is not a lot. There's room for cutting that lower, sure.... but Focus is well aware of that.

I see slight changes.... primarily in the belly. I'm anxious to see how the V-diet treats ya.

 

[Trevor10]

great job so far focus...I definitely see progress!

 

[busy91]

I can see a difference in all the pictures. The side view is the one where I can really see a difference. I think you did very well for the first month. I don't think you should go below 1800 calories. I eat 1800 calories a day and I'm 171 and female. And I am sure I don't work out nearly as hard as you. I'd play with the calories from 1800-2500 if I were you. You don't want to burn out.

 

[[Focus]1]

Okay, so nobody thinks I'm being crazy. Alright, that's all I was looking for. Thanks everyone.

How tall are you?

That 2500 calories seems like a lot unless you're working out really, really, really hard. Also, I hate to sound like a jerk, but unless you're actually weighing your food you're most likely consuming significantly more than what you think you're consuming.

Tamara

I'm 5'10". As Steve already pointed out for my size and level of activity 2500 is not a lot. It is well under my maintenance, which calculators would put at 3800 calories or so. During the month in question I was weight training 3x a week and doing an average of an hour and a half of cycling at 35-40% intensity 7 days a week in addition to other non-exercise activities.

As for the food, I actually have a lab quality scale and I weigh everything that goes in my mouth. My numbers are reasonably precise. When I have to estimate a little, I always go over rather than under.

I appreciate the criticism, though. I've checked and re-checked, trust me.

I don't think you should go below 1800 calories. I eat 1800 calories a day and I'm 171 and female. And I am sure I don't work out nearly as hard as you. I'd play with the calories from 1800-2500 if I were you. You don't want to burn out.

Yeah, I know, right? It seems a little excessive, but like I'm always saying, I'll do what I gotta. 1500-1800 (WO days) calories is somewhat under what some "experts" recommend as the bare minimum. I have a past with (successful) weight loss and so I happen to know that dropping my calories very low and maintaining a high level of activity will work for me. I mean I've been doing it for a few days and already my weight is starting to trend down, finally, so I'm quite optimistic. Also, strangely, as I track my temperature and such (they can be indicators of metabolic and/or training state), they seem to actually be increasing and/or maintaining appropriately. As I said to lfr, though, I certainly appreciate the admonition.

I'm anxious to see how the V-diet treats ya.

Yeah, me too, Steve. I kinda regret not starting out with it, because I'm sure my results would have been much better, but I do have a bit of a history of overdoing it initially, so this may work out best in the end.

I'm almost certain it will account for 15-20 lbs of body fat. I've heard nothing but good things, and it's very similar to something I've had great success with in the past. Gonna suck, though. I can't stand the taste of protein powders. I've tried nearly every conceivable brand, I just don't seem to like the stuff. I'm gonna try drinking it as hot chocolate and making pudding and all that junk, haha.

 

[wishes]

i agree with steve - you can definatly see it gone in the belly and love handles
Looking good!

 

[[Focus]1]

i agree with steve - you can definatly see it gone in the belly and love handles
Looking good!

Thanks.

It's really quite annoying struggling this much to get back to somewhere that wasn't all that difficult to get to before. Not so much because it's hard but because it confuses me. However I think I've found the missing ingredient - actual, physical hunger.

I am such a hungry boy on 1500 calories, wow. I can still think straight, but I have these little food fantasies once in a while. Some of them are quite amusing. They'll start off with thinking about various what ifs that seem totally unrelated to eating anything and yet, always end with something delicious.

I'm feeling very optimistic about this month. Hope everyone else is too. Cheers.

 

[wishes]

rotfl, try eating a few more calories than 1500 then, its a tad low :O

 

[maleficent]

I am such a hungry boy on 1500 calories, wow.

you're a growing boy - eat something...

 

[[Focus]1]

But ladies, I has to experiment.

Problem is, Mal, if I eat any more I can't make the kind of progress I want to make. And really, it's not that bad. I get to eat more on training days. Provides a good incentive to hit the weights, if I ever need one other than that it gets me closer to my goals. I'm still happy and healthy. And will continue to be so, or increase my intake. Honest. I know I get a little cranky occasionally but that's normal - just me being oversensitive and childish.

I suspect 2000'ish will be a better fit but I want to try this now rather than tapering, because of the upcoming transition to velocity (which is a low calorie diet at the same calorie totals as what I'm doing now - only horrible tasting liquids). Not sure, but it might make the transition easier. Did I mention I'm super competitive.

I really do appreciate the concern, though. And for anyone out there in a similar situation, reading this and thinking it might be a good idea, the answer is NO. I've got a history, a great support network, and a fair amount of reading under my belt. I know what I'm doing isn't sustainable in the long term (and that's what actually matters when you're starting out). Not even in the short term in most cases. Eat 10-20% below calories and move more. That's all it takes for most. And all you should do.

Disclaimer aside, though, I like pushing myself hard. I've sort of made my peace with that. And I promise I'll up my calories again after my two month "kicking my own ass" period.

 

[LandonsBaby]

you're doing great. i'm with the other ladies on the calories but if you insist, well, have at it i guess. and show us more progress pics soon.

 

[[Focus]1]

you're doing great. i'm with the other ladies on the calories but if you insist, well, have at it i guess. and show us more progress pics soon.

Thanks. Will do.

The juxtaposition of the "month one:start" and "month two: month one" pictures should be very interesting. As far as answering which is more effective (for me) in the short term - "hungry" calories or "reasonable deficit" calories.

Of course I'm gonna have to listen to a whole lot of 'I told you so's if this doesn't accomplish anything.

 

[lungsfortherace]

So, I have a question for you. I don't know how to ask what I want to ask without sounding rude, so here goes it. (Apologies in advance for potentially sounding tactless.)

If you have a history, as you say, and you know what works so well from reading and past experience, what happened? I just, I don't know, I can't wrap my head around that. It almost seems like you're running some sort of experiment with fat gain and fat loss? Are you?

I really don't mean to sound rude; I'm just incredibly curious.

-Tamara

 

[[Focus]1]

(Apologies in advance for potentially sounding tactless.)

Haha. Tact is overrated anyway.

If you have a history, as you say, and you know what works so well from reading and past experience, what happened?

Oh, you know, just another excuse. A number of people I was close to all died around the same time, and I chose to respond by becoming apathetic.

Around that time I was sitting at about 170-180 but didn't look much better physically than I do now because of how I got there and my general lack of strength activity. I was able to stay there for some time prior to my re-gain because as far as I can tell maintenance is something my body seems highly biased toward. I have to be doing something dramatic to move one way or the other. How I got to 170 from 280 was to simply eat very little (this amount or less for months and months) while adding and maintaining a very high level of activity.

So when I say a history I mean that I know what will work for me. And yet for the most part I avoid those conditions because I know they are not the best choice long-term. It's a little rough at times, though, psychologically, weight training every other day with the knowledge that if I simply stopped my weight would decrease quickly. And this in spite of my hammered-in awareness that scale weight is not a good metric.

Now if you want to know what happened fairly recently, I simply got lazy, I'm ashamed to say. A good life, a loving woman and no cemented (in my mind) reason to shed excess weight will do that to ya. Or even just the last part.

I just, I don't know, I can't wrap my head around that. It almost seems like you're running some sort of experiment with fat gain and fat loss? Are you?

In a way I am. Not intentionally, but I think in a sense we all do, don't we?

For several months I consumed nothing but large quantities of pizza and pop daily and maintained. Then I consumed half or less of those calories and exercised a lot, yet did not lose any weight. And certainly did not see the kind of physical changes that would be evident had I gained significant amounts of muscle and lost significant amounts of fat simultaneously.

At the same time I have recently switched from a balanced diet to a ketogenic. So, essentially, I am researching what works for me. If eating starvation calories allows me to lose significant amounts of fat and continue my exceptional strength gains, well, then, experiment successful.

If not, then as mentioned it's on to the Velocity Diet. From which it is necessary to transition to a very clean whole foods diet that I will cause to be one with lots of fiber, and see if that makes any difference.

Should none of these changes make any appreciable difference, well, then the findings indicate that my body will just do what it wants, and at its own speed, with unusually little regard for macronutrient composition or quantity. At which point I will simply have to resign myself to waiting patiently. (And I really hope that does not turn out to be the case. I'm not accustomed to bearing with mediocre results. )

 

[Korrie]

Hey focus, we've all been there...choosing to do less than we are capable. Just dust yourself off and get rockin

 

[[Focus]1]

Hey focus, we've all been there...choosing to do less than we are capable. Just dust yourself off and get rockin

Already have. But still I <3 you.

I was gonna rep you and say this, but I hope you don't think I've been ignoring or avoiding your journal. I just never know what to say, and then I feel like I'm coming across as lecturing and then I feel like a jerk. I think you are a wicked cool lady and I wish you all the best. Just gotta take things one step at a time, and like you just said, never surrender.