Surprised that beginning week 6, I still feel (mostly) okay! I've been in a deeper deficit the past 2 weeks and now I am beginning to feel it, more hungry, more Low energy moments that hit me, and sometimes my WOs feel harder with less oomph. This cut was planned last 6 weeks.
Almost, almost done! I am mentally preparing for the toughest week, and fighting the urge to feel DONE. Mustering up my focus and drive for one more week of work.
Very happy with my progress. I've lost less scale weight than my last cut, but I feel more muscular. I like also how lean I am when just standing and not flexing.
The other part of the equation is I have not had to cut as deep as last time because I am not trying to lose a certain pound amount, to make.weight for competition. I was vaguely aiming for 6#, but really I wanted to lose the all over fat layer I'dput on while building muscle. Right now I'm at about 5# down, which is fine.
WOs and Energy
OK, shocker here, because I've been very tight with my macros. I've been hitting PRs in major strength lifts!! Whhaaaat?!
Yes, it crazy! But I'm not complaining...I mean, wow!
The day I began my TOM ( period) I decided to workout at home. I had no expectations for this workout, and didn't plan on hitting it hard. I just followed how I felt in a ladder structure of Sumo Deadlifts, 12-10-8-6-4.
I hit a heavy 12 easily at 153#. So I did a heavy 10 at 183#, not hard. Surprising to me, as I've never don't that many reps so heavy before. But I felt good, I felt strong. I had nothing to prove to anyone, I wasn't ego lifting, I was playful, and having fun seeing how far I could go. So, I threw on 20# to see if I could hit it for 8 at 205#. Yep! I excitedly added 10#, now wary of how many I could possibly do at 215#, which I could barely complete 3 reps at a month ago, at the height of my build, when I weighed 5# more and had a high glycogen storage well to take from.
I hit 215# for 6! Whoa!
Thrilled, I added 5#, making the bar 220#/100kg. My recent 1 rep max was 235#, 5 weeks ago, and although I had 4 reps to shoot for here, I decided I would do as many reps as I could do with good form. Ladies, Gents, I completed 6 awesome reps at the heaviest weight I'd ever lifted for reps, while in a deep cut. Talk about neon lazer light beams bursting from my chest! Like a carebear. Awesome workout!
Yellow Pants Update
Again, very happy with my progress! I would definitely consider wearing my favorite yellow pants in public at this point. 5 weeks ago, they were way too tight to even think about wearing them. I could barely button them and had a bit of muffin top going on. They are not stretchy at all.
Now, they slip on smoothly, button comfortably, and I can even half squat in them without the risk of splitting the butt wide open, like SpongeBob.
I've lost about 1/2-1 inch of fat off each of the major places I measured, waist right at belly button, hips at widest part, and thighs. My ribs are also feeling a little slimmer. My butt/hips lost the most!
Top photos were 5 weeks ago, bottom photos today, wearing the same bra.
Overall, I'd call this a big success! You don't have to be extreme, or see extreme body transformation, in order to feel successful. I like the slow and steady approach best vs. Crash diets. I am doing this for my health, not for a body building comp, so really I want to function and perform at my best, for life and sport, not for a stage, who cares about the few spare lbs of fat? Not me.
This result has taken years of effort, and more recently 6 full months of planning and consistent focus, and eating a lot of great food in order to build the muscle that you can now see more visibly since Ive just burned the layer of fat that was covering everything.
Recipe
Low fat, Low Carb
High Protein Pancakes
4 egg whites
1 egg
4 scoops protein powder
1/4 cup flour
1/4-1/2 cup milk of choice
Salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla
Make a bulk batch to eat for two meals. Mix all wet, then mix in dry ingredients. I mixed wet on high and made three whites pretty fluffy and aerated. Top with yogurt and berries! So filling!