The Magic Bus Trip

Greg · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 7 Born: 9 June 1959 Gender: Male

I didn't know where to post this, so I put it here. Anyway, I'll be 50 in June and I want to get lean, ripped lean - around 5%. Don't laugh, I've got a buddy in Canada, who for his 50th birthday last year entered and placed very high in a bodybuilding contest in Canada. He's challenged me to meet him this year for the same contest in November. I've accepted the challenge. It's probably the kick in the ass that I need. Anyway, he is an average Joe like me and he went from a height of 6'0' 202 lbs to about 160 in 10 months. He followed the standard diet of moderate carbs, high protein, and low fat and looked absolutely fantastic. I'm a little bigger at 6'1" and weigh about 225 lbs. I figure to get ripped I'll probably have to come down to the 175-180 lb. range. This is the same weight I weighed when I was 35-40. I've gotten pretty lean in the past using the typical high carb diet and it was hell. Always hungary, thinking about food, always cold, depressed, etc. Its royally sucked. I've also gotten pretty lean using the high fat zero carb approach and it was much easier. However, I did it as a diet and not as a lifesytle change. However, I've never dieted down to the levels I want. Also my buddy says I need carbs to bring out the muscle fullness. I'm not sure this is correct.

Anyway, has anyone here ever taken their bodyfat levels down that low or does anyone know someone I can contact who has done this? I know this is a temporary body fat level that I would achieve. I don't think it is something I could maintain for long or would even want to try. I'm currently consuming about 2200 calories at approximateloy 70-80% fat and close to zero carbs as posssible. My engery levels are high and I'm not hungary. I'm also down 8 lbs since January 1.

If anyone has any thoughts or ideas, please let me know.

Greg

Dean · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 7:16 am Post subject:

Greg,

Are you trying to get ripped by doing intense resistance exercising, while eating a certain way?
_________________
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
- Jimi Hendrix

Every day you'll see the dust
Never get off the Bus!

Greg · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 7 Born: 9 June 1959 Gender: Male

Dean,

yes I've performed HIT resistance training for the past 15 years. Its a method weight traininig developed by Arthur Jones. Body by Science written by Dr. Doug McGuff and John Little explains the process in great detail. I've added approximately 30 lbs of muscle using this method. Also I perform no cardio, haven't done it for 15 years.

Greg

Heather L · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject:

Greg- I am training similar to the HIT with no endurance cardio right now, and I love it. Heart

I am impressed that you have been doing this so long. I have thought about doing this long term, and am glad to hear of someone who has.

I was wondering if you do any interval training, since you said that you do no cardio. I will keep an eye out for any good no carb bodybuilding sources of info to pass on.

So, if you reach goal, will you be posting pics? Grin

jeff · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject:

Dean · Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:12 pm Post subject:

Greg,

That is good to hear about the HIT working so well and no need for cardio. Personally, I think light cardio is nice, since it helps with lymph and blood circulation. Doing HIIT cardio will help to burn body fat, but, it might also burn a bit of muscle in the process, although, if you have lots to spare, that shouldn't be too big a concern.
_________________
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
- Jimi Hendrix

Every day you'll see the dust
Never get off the Bus!

Greg · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 7 Born: 9 June 1959 Gender: Male

It's always been my thought that cardio doesn't burn very many calories so why bother. Its easier not to eat so many calories. To burn a pound of fat you've got to run about 35 miles. Also, I don't think we would have survived as a species if exercise burned allot of calories. It was not unusal for pre-historic man to go days and sometimes weeks wtihout food. If exercised burned allot of calories we would have literally burned up before we got food. Also there is the stress factor, life, lack of sleep, your job, restricting food are all stresses that eat into our adaptative abilities. If you exercise that is more stress that you have to deal with. Everytime you exercise or some other stress it eats into your recoverability. When you exceed your bodies ability to adapt or exceed you bodies ability to recover from stress you either get sick or my case have the tendency to overeat. Since I'm trying to get extremly lean, aerobics/cardio is just one less stress factor I need to deal with. HIT is intense enough, its my opinion that HIT is the most intense form of physcial activity know to man. My workouts take 10 minutes and I spend 15 minutes lying on the floor recovering.

Greg

jeff · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2009 3:44 pm Post subject:

I agree that intense exercise is the best for getting lean. I do believe that there can be some benefits from cardio, but significant fat loss is not really among them.

_________________
Eat, Drink and Be Merry, For Tomorrow We'll Die