7 weeks out--comments appreciated

[JaguarHB28]

I'm 7 weeks out from my first comp and still losing about 2lbs a week. I know I'm not close to being stage lean, but I've lost 25lbs so far (started at 20 weeks out) and I'm worried that I'm losing weight too fast. My strength has stayed relatively the same, but I was just curious if I should try to slow my weight loss a little or if it's okay to be losing 2lbs/week at this point still.

Also, do you think I'll be stage lean in time? I'm still carrying quite a bit of fat in my legs.

The fat pictures are from a few weeks before I started my prep at 170lbs. I'm 149lbs in the newer pictures.

http://i45.tinypic.com/55057s.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/2q39mxi.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/iykg0x.jpg

[little rambo]

Shredded is what you wanna be at that weight. To many people worry about "losing to much size" the point is you look BIGGER the LEANER and more ripped you get. I would suggest keeping tabs on your lifts and LBM (lean body mass) as to make sure your not reaping yourself of that hard earned muscle in the process. But for seven weeks to go I would step it up a little bit with the cardio, but keep at it brotha and you'll be good to go in 7 weeks!!

[Agostage]

If you're still losing 2lb a week, that's probably a good thing. You've made great progress and should feel good about it. With that said, it's doubtful you'll be able to get stage lean by this forums standards, but you'll definitely look good. So keep it up.

[bwelch1985]

now is NOT the time to start coasting in....you can do it in 7 weeks but you'll have to turn up the heat a little bit.

what are your current macros and what is your cardio regiment?

[bwelch1985]

With that said, it's doubtful you'll be able to get stage lean by natural bodybuilding standards, but you'll definitely look good. So keep it up.

fixed:D

[little rambo]

If you're still losing 2lb a week, that's probably a good thing. You've made great progress and should feel good about it. With that said, it's doubtful you'll be able to get stage lean by this forums standards, but you'll definitely look good. So keep it up.

It doesn't necessarily have to be "this forums" standards, as a competitor myself it is just brutal honesty that I try and give people. You do a bodybuilding show to look your best and you work your ass off to get the final product, if your not up for taking criticism or working hard to get as lean as possible then I suggest finding another sport.

[JaguarHB28]

now is NOT the time to start coasting in....you can do it in 7 weeks but you'll have to turn up the heat a little bit.

what are your current macros and what is your cardio regiment?

1800-1900 cals, 50g/100-120g/240g (fat/carb/protein) and 4-60min low instensity and 2-25min high intensity cardio sessions a week

[JaguarHB28]

fixed:D

I am natural, btw. (though it was probably obvious from the pics)

[bwelch1985]

are you incorporating re-feeds?

[JaguarHB28]

are you incorporating re-feeds?

Yeah, once a week on leg day. I drop my fat to just trace fats (adds up to like 20-25g) up carbs to 300-350g and lower protein to about 150g

[harrison20]

keep at brutha take in all the advice you can from these guys they allknow what there talking about keep working hard at it

[BRO_RESULTS]

I'd replace the high intensity 25 minute stuff with some intervals.

Like

50/10
48/12
46/14
44/16
42/18
40/20
40/20
42/18
44/16
46/14
48/12
50/10

Where you warm up for 5 minutes, cool down for 5 minutes, and jog for the first interval and sprint for the second.

Much credit given to Layne Norton for that one.

So do that for twice a week.

Are you Italian by any chance, bro? You got that dark look goin with the thick eyebrows and stuff (maybe Greek?)

[little rambo]

1800-1900 cals, 50g/100-120g/240g (fat/carb/protein) and 4-60min low instensity and 2-25min high intensity cardio sessions a week

To give you an idea of what I do it is actually similar to your set up. I incorporate 2 high days which are separated by a moderate day in between. I have higher carb days of about 250-70 for back and leg days, which I feel is a must since your body is really burning up the calories and energy stores (or at least it should be) during these working days. The rest of my workouts are moderate, so 3 moderate days of around 200g and then my low carb days come way of the weekend for the simple fact that these are my off days and a bulk of my carb intake is set around my training schedule.

As for cardio, I do 35 minutes of morning cardio on an empty stomach 4 days a week with a 15-20 minute session follow my workout, and if I don't do morning cardio I'll either toss in a 25 minutes session of interval cardio on an elliptical, or a 50-60 minute low intensity cardio session as I would for any other day. For my cardio I just walk, walk, walk, with the treadmill set at 13% incline and a 2.8-3.0 speed, usually adjust it up and down as to get a little interval training throughout the session and keep the body guessing, I also DON'T HOLD ON to the treadmill when I'm walking. Walk up that incline and stretch out them legs, really helps tighten up the hammies, and on the elliptical I like to squat down during the higher intensity training to focus on really crushing my sweep and hammering my quads. Hope that helps, and the point being is see what fits best for you, so take and mold a program to fit your needs.

[JaguarHB28]

I'd replace the high intensity 25 minute stuff with some intervals.

Like

50/10
48/12
46/14
44/16
42/18
40/20
40/20
42/18
44/16
46/14
48/12
50/10

Where you warm up for 5 minutes, cool down for 5 minutes, and jog for the first interval and sprint for the second.

Much credit given to Layne Norton for that one.

So do that for twice a week.

Are you Italian by any chance, bro? You got that dark look goin with the thick eyebrows and stuff (maybe Greek?)

I'm half-Chinese, half-"White"(Western European)

I don't think I fully understand your suggestion, though. Are those intervals you gave in terms of seconds and each one is a minute of the workout?

[BRO_RESULTS]

I'm half-Chinese, half-"White"(Western European)

I don't think I fully understand your suggestion, though. Are those intervals you gave in terms of seconds and each one is a minute of the workout?
Yes, yes, and about the Chinese thing, I guess that's why you have such a smooth baby face and not a coarse five o'clock shadow. Lucky you!

[quest-x]

I wouldn't change anything about your prep. If you're still losing 2lb per week and keeping your strength, then whatever you're doing is working fine.

With 7 weeks left, you can still do a lot of damage fat loss-wise. Keep it up man!

BTW I was raised in Providence haha