prgmtk's picture
prgmtk
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Lean bulk questions

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Age: 30
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 173
Bodyfat: 15%

Ok so all of my life I've been on the ecto side so in my younger years I've just ate a ton and calorie loaded during bulking phases (never while on gear though). I few time I've topped out around 183-186 with heavy lifting compound movements and no cardio and never really stored fat (because my metabolism could keep up).

Well now at 30, my metabolism is slowing down and my midsection is starting to store some fat and I don't like it. Trying to cut down on this, but still grow, I've tried cleaning up my diet while still feeding my body enough protein for the recovery process so that I can try a cleaner approach (started two months ago) and have stayed at 174 for awhile now and it looks like I'm shedding fat but keeping (maybe gaining muscle slightly). Am I just doing maintenance or am I still setting up for some growth with this type of meal plan:

7am: 2 cups of Cheerios w/ 1 cup skim milk, 4 hard boiled eggs. (33g)

9am: One scoop of monster milk (25g) with 2 cups skim milk (18g)

11am: 1 chicken breast with 2 cups of peas (35g)

1pm gym

2:45 PWO One scoop of monster milk (25g) with 2 cups skim milk (18g)

3:00pm chicken breast with pasta (35g)

5:00pm protein bar (32g)

9:00pm 1 cup low fat cottage cheese and blueberries (14g)

10:00pm Greek yogurt (14g)

Bed.

Looking at this now, it seems terrible(I need more carbs/calories) but I'm trying to get my BF% while still lifting hard and heavy am I setting myself up to fail? I feel like I'm looking for a happy medium. I'd love to walk around at 185-190 with 10-12% bf

aussiedan's picture

I agree with BGF.
If you want to cut then this is what Id do.
IMO people dont cut hard enough as they're afraid of losing muscle.
183lb at 15% so ~147lb of lbm.
Protein ~180g so 30g per meal. 1.25 x lbm (too much protein and it becomes hard to get lean as too many calories. many overeat protein in fear of losing muscle. 1.25 x lbm is more than enough).
Carbs ~220g 1.5 x lbm. so spread over 5 meals and add more at breakfast and post.
Fats - no direct fats other than an egg yolk or two, a beef meal and fish oil.

Try something like this:
Meal 1
1 cup of egg whites
1 whole egg
1 cup of oats (measure uncooked)

Meal 2
5-6 oz chicken
3/4 cups cooked rice (brown/white)

Meal 3 Post workout
6oz lean beef
12-14oz potato (sweet/white)

Meal 4
5-6 oz fish (white / tuna)
2 oz rice cakes or 3/4 cup rice or 10 oz potato

Meal 5
5-6 oz chicken
3/4 cup rice

Meal 6 no carbs!
1.5 scoops whey/casein (30g protein)
or replace with 1 1/4 egg whites or 5/6 oz chicken eith salad.

add a cup or 2 of green beans or brocolli to meals 2/3/4/5 depending if you want. although good sources of fibre!

take 8-10 fish oil caps throughout day or all at once either breakfast or last meal.

I have no problem gettin to 6-8% every time I cut. obviously I change the diet evry 3 weeks or so by cutting 50g carbs and adding 10g protein.

if you want to gain muscle mass while maintaining then
protein 220g
carbs 220g
fats 60-80g
follow same style as the cutting diet above but add in good fats at meals and protein will be a bit higher so add in an oz of meat at each meal.
if your gaining weight and look okay in mirror then keep with the same diet. if not gaining up by 50g carbs.
stop upping once you find fat gains outweigh muscle gains. its that simple.

good luck!

BGFKNPKR1's picture

cut out the dairy, Way too much sugar for ur bf %. U need to Eat some more lean meats and go with brown rice or potatoes for carbs. IMO no carbs after 5-6pm only lean protien and veggies. my 2 cents

prgmtk's picture

So no dairy all together? I get a significant source of calories and protein from dairy. I'm willing to cut it out but any idea what my ideal calorie intake should be to gain muscle mass? I was calculating around 3000 with 286 grams of protein? Are you saying because milk is converted to sugar these are empty calories? And creating a fat maintenance and or storage environment instead of burning?

prgmtk's picture

Also the milk is skim with 0 fat? I'm confused...

T_luva's picture

I think BGF is more concerned with your sugar intake. 4 cups skim milk will yield approximately 48 grams of sugar, plus the Cheerios, greek yogurt (unless plain) protein bars are also loaded with sugar.... eliminating sugar from your diet will bring about greater, quicker results if wanting to burn fat!