Need some motivation, brahs

thedead · 11-06-2009, 11:06 AM

Okay, so by the 13th of this month I'll have been on a cut for five months. During this time I didn't cheat at all. But earlier this week, I noticed my physique is starting to look soft. My calories and protein are in check, and my workouts are as intense as ever. The only difference is that I do cardio three times a week instead of two.

Before I noticed this, I had been getting extremely motivated because my body was looking pretty damn good (for me). I used to be fat, so to see a lean/healthy looking guy in the mirror was a huge motivator. I was seeing cuts here and there, my abs were coming out, etc. I'm definitely kind of small for my height, but I really want to lean out more before I bulk. There are these annoying love handles and small little pinches of fat under my pecs that had been both gradually going away but for some reason last week I just looked doughy and those areas looked really huge. I don't think I've lost muscle mass (though it is a possibility) and I can't see how I've gained fat, but the soft look is really putting me down because I've put myself through hell for this past five months to get where I'm at. Last week I would have had no problem taking my shirt off, but this week I do. It's crazy. I don't think it's mental, either. Could this doughy thing just be water retention? I drink a crazy amount of diet coke (literally 6 cans a day sometimes). Too little calories (I keep it strictly in between 1400-1800 and I'm 6'2" and 180 lbs)?

I need motivation, brahs. Not making excuses, I know I'm ****ing up. But why is it so hard for me to get from what I'm guessing is about 14% body fat (I can see top four abs in most light) to 10% body fat. I feel like I'm losing all I've worked so hard for and it's ****ing with my motivation.

JackedElf · 11-06-2009, 11:43 AM

Hmm..

Congrats for going so strong for 5 months.
Don't give up bro... To me it sounds like you gave a lot of sacrifices to get where you are today. But you have yet to give up the ultimate sacrifice. Diet Coke... and that's probably one of the reasons you are feeling the way you are feeling... You ever burp or fart after drinking Diet Coke? That's that gas in ya.. That's why you feel/look bloated...

It's time my man. To step up and drop that Diet Coke. You owe it to yourself. Think about those hard days training in the gym. And you throw it all away when you have even 1 can of Diet Coke.

I had a problem with soda/energy drinks too.. Now I won't go anywhere near that stuff. You owe it to yourself buddy. Think about it.

mexia · 11-07-2009, 01:35 AM

Awesome dude, that's some motivating stuff. Keep up the good work.

Wilde · 11-07-2009, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedead

I need motivation, brahs. Not making excuses, I know I'm ****ing up. But why is it so hard for me to get from what I'm guessing is about 14% body fat (I can see top four abs in most light) to 10% body fat. I feel like I'm losing all I've worked so hard for and it's ****ing with my motivation.

There's only 1 thing you need to do, harden the f**k up and keep going.

Mr_O_2020 · 11-07-2009, 04:21 AM

Give up the Diet Coke. Just have a substitute like water nearby, and have that instead. I used to drink a crazy amount of Pepsi, but now I mainly water and milk, I just don't feel the urge for Pepsi anymore, or for any drink like that. Nothing wrong with having a can every so often, but 6 a day?

thedead · 11-08-2009, 08:04 AM

Thanks for the motivation. I was honestly feeling really crappy that day for some reason. I feel like I have a harder time keeping the diet in check as it gets colder out, but I'm still going.

As far as the "softness" I was experiencing goes, somebody told me that fat gets softer before it comes off. I'm not sure how true it is, I've looked it up and it seems to be commonly supported. Something about soft fat being easier to burn off, too. Which is awesome. I noticed when I checked the fat under my pecs that it felt doughier but less fatty. I don't look as solid as I did last week, but I do a pound less and I think I'm starting to some oblique definition. I'm gonna keep going and hope for the best. Hoping to avoid any loose skin issues as well, but we'll see what happens. There's a bit of sag here and there, but there's definitely fat that could be weighing the skin down.

As for the diet coke, no progress on that yet haha. I need to find a new caffeine source first, because that's all I use it for. Can't have calories either. Maybe I'll look into an EC stack for the last few weeks of this cut (hopefully) and afterwards look into withdrawing from caffeine all together.

Thanks again, brahs.