A bit humbled by slow metabolism - question for reps

[Jenslyn17]

Not prepping for contest per se, but prepping for vacation and trying to get close to contest conditioning :-)

I'm currently at about 7 % body fat and I find that my metabolism is getting really low. I really have to start working on the cardio if I am to lose weight while still eating at a bearable level. Can you guys tell me if it's normal that, at a certain threshold, you really have to get everything in check in order to drop more? Seemed to happen very rapidly in the 7-8.5 % range for me. I'm just puzzled a bit since I've read that your natural metabolism wouldn't slow down more than 15-25 % at the most. I feel like I have to constrict myself more than that.

Obviously I'm a newbie, but I'd really like a couple of comments on that. Is it normal to have to really restrict yourself to get those final pounds of flap off, or shouldn't there be a major difference?

Thanks a lot - reps to whom I can give them

[Jenslyn17]

Anyone?

[AustrianOakJr]

First, why would you want to bring yourself to hell and back to go on vacation? If u really are 7 perc bodyfat, you have full blown abs, obliques, grainy everything upper body, deep quad cuts, squared off glutes and hame tie-ins. You are way beyond beach body. Going to the next level of striated glutes and nasty leg hardness for the sake of vanity is just crazy imop. And u are realizing why. U have to suffer to do it. Most people are racing a crashing metabolism to get there......cold all the time, numbness in feet and fingers., hunger is intense.......and why? So u can look good on the beach? Dude! Enjoy your vaca at a ripped 7 perc bf! People do this for competition's sake.....otherwiise is masochistic. :).

To answer your question directly though....yes some peoples metab will conk out pretty hard. And they still have to drop lower to make it. Others might respnd favorably to carb cycling....others might respond to a carb bunp period. Its very individual....and often unpredictable at that level.

[andyboi]

I agree with oak. Go as you are, you're shredded and you won't feel like $hit!! You will not be able to maintain contest shape for more than a day or so, guaranteed.

[Jenslyn17]

Okok, I get what you guys are saying... but I consider it a challenge to at least get down there once - you know to try it! I'd like to know that I have the willpower to do it :)

But it seems from what you say as though I'm right... that going from 7-8 % down to 5-6 or so is a real hazzle... but I guess that may not even be contest shape if you're talking ripped to the bone...

But I'd definitely like to hear from others as well, because I'm pretty amazed at difference it makes going from, say, 10 to 8 and 8 to 6. So much more challenging!!

But yea, it's a challenge for me, wouldn't be much of a challenge if it were easy :-)

[AustrianOakJr]

Why not compete then?

[Jenslyn17]

Why not compete then?

Not symmetrical or muscular enough now I'm afraid... and I can't pose for ****, lol. Hoping to compete in a year or two perhaps :-) Some pretty good pics pics (I think I'm at 7 % here... no pump)

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216063_10150159669794512_745279511_6582814_2074000 _n.jpg

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216009_10150159741294512_745279511_6583284_7877830 _n.jpg

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/206652_10150159749784512_745279511_6583313_4791971 _n.jpg

[Warrior9]

yeah, you are probably around 7-8ish.
dude, go on vaca like that, like oak says, why risk your happiness on vacation to be a little more shredded?
plus if you do end up losing a little bit more weight, are you going to be counting macros and eating very little on vacation? vacations are fun not supposed to be dragged down by diet ESPECIALLY if you are already in great shape. go have fun.

[Jenslyn17]

yeah, you are probably around 7-8ish.
dude, go on vaca like that, like oak says, why risk your happiness on vacation to be a little more shredded?
plus if you do end up losing a little bit more weight, are you going to be counting macros and eating very little on vacation? vacations are fun not supposed to be dragged down by diet ESPECIALLY if you are already in great shape. go have fun.

Good point. I'll try going a bit lower before the vacation and see how it feels. If it sucks, I'll not bother :-)

[Slovation]

yeah, you are probably around 7-8ish.
dude, go on vaca like that, like oak says, why risk your happiness on vacation to be a little more shredded?
plus if you do end up losing a little bit more weight, are you going to be counting macros and eating very little on vacation? vacations are fun not supposed to be dragged down by diet ESPECIALLY if you are already in great shape. go have fun.

What Oak said and this. Dieting any further will make you too obsessive and by the time vacation comes around you wont be able to enjoy yourself. Your better off staying where ur at. If you do say get to 5% youll either....

A: be so infatuated with your diet u wont be able to enjoy yourself.
B: overindulge when the time comes, get extremely bloated/uncomfortable, and prob look worse than you do now.

If I were u Id focus on getting my metabolism in check if anything. No point suffering if your not going to step on stage.

[JohnBrowne]

First, why would you want to bring yourself to hell and back to go on vacation? If u really are 7 perc bodyfat, you have full blown abs, obliques, grainy everything upper body, deep quad cuts, squared off glutes and hame tie-ins. You are way beyond beach body. Going to the next level of striated glutes and nasty leg hardness for the sake of vanity is just crazy imop. And u are realizing why. U have to suffer to do it. Most people are racing a crashing metabolism to get there......cold all the time, numbness in feet and fingers., hunger is intense.......and why? So u can look good on the beach? Dude! Enjoy your vaca at a ripped 7 perc bf! People do this for competition's sake.....otherwiise is masochistic. :).

To answer your question directly though....yes some peoples metab will conk out pretty hard. And they still have to drop lower to make it. Others might respnd favorably to carb cycling....others might respond to a carb bunp period. Its very individual....and often unpredictable at that level.

Numbness in feet and fingers? lolwut?

[bballbrett5]

Numbness in feet and fingers? lolwut?

yeah man. contest dieting is a helluva drug

[JohnBrowne]

yeah man. contest dieting is a helluva drug

Is this some kind of joke or meme that I'm unaware of?

[bballbrett5]

Is this some kind of joke or meme that I'm unaware of?
The numbness in feet or "helluva drug"? The numbness is real; you are unaware on "helluva drug".

[AustrianOakJr]

Numbness in feet and fingers? lolwut?

When you crash metabolically and hormonally, your body starts to shut down and conserve energy in many ways. Circulation is diminished, heart rate slows down, blood pressure drops, etc, etc. One of the symptoms is that your extremeties lack blood flow and they are often numb until you get your BP and HR going. You are also cold and light headed. You stand up from the couch and have to catch yourself on the nearest table to keep from falling over.

You should try it sometime. Its freaking awesome.

Lolwut??

[JohnBrowne]

When you crash metabolically and hormonally, your body starts to shut down and conserve energy in many ways. Circulation is diminished, heart rate slows down, blood pressure drops, etc, etc. One of the symptoms is that your extremeties lack blood flow and they are often numb until you get your BP and HR going. You are also cold and light headed. You stand up from the couch and have to catch yourself on the nearest table to keep from falling over.

You should try it sometime. Its freaking awesome.

Lolwut??

I know quite a few natty and IFBB pros in real life and none of them have described anything like this to me.

[Jenslyn17]

When you crash metabolically and hormonally, your body starts to shut down and conserve energy in many ways. Circulation is diminished, heart rate slows down, blood pressure drops, etc, etc. One of the symptoms is that your extremeties lack blood flow and they are often numb until you get your BP and HR going. You are also cold and light headed. You stand up from the couch and have to catch yourself on the nearest table to keep from falling over.

You should try it sometime. Its freaking awesome.

Lolwut??

Funny you should say that... my feet/hands were very cold these past few hours and I felt a bit light-headed when standing up, but ate some carbs and it's all good. Could be because of yohimbine though, took a bit too much and it makes me feel weird :P

[AustrianOakJr]

I know quite a few natty and IFBB pros in real life and none of them have described anything like this to me.

Well, ill be the first, then. ;)

[TomBremner]

When you crash metabolically and hormonally, your body starts to shut down and conserve energy in many ways. Circulation is diminished, heart rate slows down, blood pressure drops, etc, etc. One of the symptoms is that your extremeties lack blood flow and they are often numb until you get your BP and HR going. You are also cold and light headed. You stand up from the couch and have to catch yourself on the nearest table to keep from falling over.

You should try it sometime. Its freaking awesome.

Lolwut??

could this also cause my limbs to "fall asleep" excessively from low ciculation? i'v noticed as i got to low body fat percentage (probably 7-8%) that my limbs fall asleep if i sit with my legs up for 10 minutes.