New and question on getting photo ready

[Pinkpower5]

Hi! This is my first post so a quick overview:
I lifted weights from sometime during college until my first baby at age 35. Around 30, I bulked up a lot, especially my legs.

My first daughter was so high needs, the gym was torture and eventually, it just stopped being a habit. A few comebacks but it was another daughter and another 8 years before the comeback that stuck.

For over 2 years, I've been making up for all those years off and only really got the diet aspect in the last few months. I have a photo shoot coming up for a transformation contest. It's about 2 weeks out. I have hit the weight I wanted to hit and my body fat is down to 20%.

I am not sure how best to make use of these last 2 weeks. I could certainly stand to lose more fat. I was eating 1250 calories to really speed up the weight loss until about a week ago - that wasn't working anymore anyway. I'm now 150 pounds at 5'11". So I have increased calories to 1600-1700 and totally cut all dairy except butter, all grains and all sugar. I'm eating Paleo low carb. I am hitting the weights just as hard as I can, and I can see I am now able to go heavier than before (knee and shoulder pain permitting). But I am afraid of putting on any fat with this diet. Is that ridiculous? Obviously, I'm still running a deficit but it feels so high compared to where I was.

I feel a little lost. I just don't know how to get the most bang for my buck for the next week or two.

Here is a photo from a few weeks ago.

[Pinkpower5]

Any advice appreciated! What needs work the most? Back to fatloss? Increase mass? I can't be objective at this point!

[birdiefu]

I am no expert by any means, but at two weeks out you would not want to be adding any more mass, but still lift heavy as you cut. Low carbs is probably a good idea if they make you bloaty, and working on water balance (sodium intake, etc) at least a few days before the shoot will likely give you the best look. I hope someone more knowledgeable jumps in, you are looking good though!

[Pinkpower5]

THank you for the reply! I am not sure what I'm doing! I was so low, I think too low. Besides workouts, I spent my days lying around. Even doing dishes seemed too much. I didn't really realize until I upped them to 1700, which has me able to just get more done. I guess my metabolism was shut down. Oops!

I got my period today so now I'm not going to know what is going on for another week, which cuts it kind of close.

I am feeling stronger, lifting much heavier weights than I have since before the severe calorie drop.

So I hope it's a good plan to stick around this calorie level. I'm doing 2 fruit carb loads a week and I might add back in a fast day but I might not. I am definitely combing this forum and the web for stuff about peaking, so water, salt, something about pancakes on photo day (new concept to me, need more research), etc.

It sucks that there are no do overs! I wish I'd thought to reaearch and play with this stuff a few weeks ago.

[discdoggie]

I am no expert by any means, but at two weeks out you would not want to be adding any more mass, but still lift heavy as you cut. Low carbs is probably a good idea if they make you bloaty, and working on water balance (sodium intake, etc) at least a few days before the shoot will likely give you the best look. I hope someone more knowledgeable jumps in, you are looking good though!



I agree you're looking good, and I'd agree that at 2 weeks, you wouldn't want to be adding mass; you'd want to stick to cutting.

I'm not experienced in cutting for a comp or a shoot, so any advice I'd give would be purely conjecture and speculation.

At 5' 11 (you're TALL! :) ) 1200 seems low. But 1600 seems high for a contest or pre-photo shoot cut. Soooo, I don't know. Sorry. Someone will chime in who has more experience soon.

[Pinkpower5]

Oh thank you for the compliment and tips. It does feel too high! I am going to drop a bit and see if I have the same evergy level all day and while lifting. :)

[kimm4]

THank you for the reply! I am not sure what I'm doing! I was so low, I think too low. Besides workouts, I spent my days lying around. Even doing dishes seemed too much. I didn't really realize until I upped them to 1700, which has me able to just get more done. I guess my metabolism was shut down. Oops!

I got my period today so now I'm not going to know what is going on for another week, which cuts it kind of close.

I am feeling stronger, lifting much heavier weights than I have since before the severe calorie drop.

So I hope it's a good plan to stick around this calorie level. I'm doing 2 fruit carb loads a week and I might add back in a fast day but I might not. I am definitely combing this forum and the web for stuff about peaking, so water, salt, something about pancakes on photo day (new concept to me, need more research), etc.

It sucks that there are no do overs! I wish I'd thought to reaearch and play with this stuff a few weeks ago.

I think people tend to get confused with the term peaking. Peaking is normally used and effective when competitors are totally depleted. This means very low body fat, close to single digit numbers. If one is not at that level, then you can't expect any drastic changes because there's really nothing to peak.

You can cut back some carbs, slowly cut back on sodium and keep your water intake up to continue flushing your system. Add a few carbs meals on the day of your shoot to fill up the muscle.

Peaking is different for everyone, it's just too individual.

Enjoy your shoot!

[Pinkpower5]

I think people tend to get confused with the term peaking. Peaking is normally used and effective when competitors are totally depleted. This means very low body fat, close to single digit numbers. If one is not at that level, then you can't expect any drastic changes because there's really nothing to peak.

You can cut back some carbs, slowly cut back on sodium and keep your water intake up to continue flushing your system. Add a few carbs meals on the day of your shoot to fill up the muscle.

Peaking is different for everyone, it's just too individual.

Enjoy your shoot!

Oh I see! Well, carbs are super low except for refeeds (all or mostly fruit). I don't want to show up bloated, which is one reason I am loving the super low carb thing. Water is definitely high. I am actually increasing sodium right now because the head rushes are awful and I think because of eating no processed food at all, I am actually deficient. I might need to mix some sports drink of my own making (water, salt, xylitol/stevia, lemon juice) just to get some extra salt and water in. I think I peed 3 times last night.

So any suggestions on non-bloating carbs? What's been so amazing for me in discovering this way of eating is it is the first time in my entire life I have not been bloated pretty much all the time. Fruit will do me in. Maybe a bit of Alvarado Street bagel with butter? Or is the butter a no no for some complex reason I am not yet aware of?