Sc0tty

Been cutting for around 6-8 weeks now with very low carb intakes (mostly only post workouts). I haven't weighed myself yet as I mainly go by the mirror, but I'm beginning to see my upper abs now and no loss in muscle as of yet it seems. Although I have the tiniest spare tyre around the lower belly, so just wondering if there's anything I can cut out in my diet. e.g. I'm not sure on how much fruit I should be consuming as it may interfere with the low carb intake?

Goal -

Sounds silly, but I don't really have a 'goal' as such. I just want to cut down to get lean and then go on a clean bulk ASAP. I'm going away on holiday in September, so I suppose you could say I wish to look lean for it, but I want to try gain some muscle/keep it whilst cutting down the fat.

Stats -

Weight: 170lbs or so.
Height: 6ft.
Body fat: 14%
Age: 19.

Training -

Do full bodies Monday/Wednesday/Friday involving:

Bent over rows
Squats
Deadlifts
Bench press
Military press

Throw in a few isolation exercises also:

Bicep curls
Dips
Shrugs

HIIT skipping on my rest days.

Diet -

7:30 - 3 eggs (1 yoke), scoop of whey (~25g protein in scoop). Flax, starflower oil and fish oil tablet also.

10:30 - Tin of tuna, handful of pistachios, 3 strawberries.

1:30 - 150g salmon, 1 banana, BCAA tablet.

4:00 (pre-workout) - 150g chicken, handful of pistachios.

5:00 (full body workout) -

6:00 (post-workout) - 150g chicken, white pasta, 1 banana, BCAA tablet.

9:00 - Tin of tuna, 3 strawberries, handful of pistachios.

Before bed - Tablespoon of peanut butter and scoop of whey.

P.S. I have a cheat meal every Friday in the form of a good old chinese. I heard cheat meals aren't that bad if consumed once every week as it keeps the body from going into a sort of 'routine' and getting used to the lack of carbs etc.

Greekgoddess

Personally, I think your carbs are too low and the protein level is way down. I am female, 52 on a cutting diet for a contest in October of this year. I still include complex carbs like sweet potatoes, veggies etc in my diet, I have tons of salad and advocado with olive oil poured on, and at least twice as much protein as you have every day! On your current diet I think you may start losing muscle mass quickly.

Try to vary the chicken and tuna with other protein sources so you don't get bored rigid.

beequeth

I think you can achieve what you want for September, with a few minor adjustments.

Personally I would opt for a carb cycling diet, theres plenty of info on this site about them.

Alternatively, I would be tempted to make the following changes in your diet :

Drop the pasta and banana from the 6:00pm meal.
On training days replace with lots of green leafy veg, small serving of brown or basmati rice or oats or a small sweet spud.
On non training days just replace with the green leafy veg.

Add some hemp or flax or udos or olive oil to the 6:00pm meal as well.

You may want to look at a Post workout protien shake with some carbs in as well. I'm using 50g protein and 25g maltodextrin, but droping the malto lower and lower as my diet is getting more serious.

Drop the strawberries form the 9:00 meal.

If you must eat the strawberries, eat them all AM with the 10:30 meal.

The cheat meal is fine, no probs there.

You may want to look at a mini refeed day, perhaps on a Sunday, when you could increase your carb intake somewhat.

The other key would be to increase your cardio.
If possible I would go for 5-6 days per week morning cardio (before breakfast). Then as the diet progresses, you could add aditional evening sessions as well.

Thats my thoughts mate......good luck