How to lose fat for Noobs

[wave_length]

I originally posted this in the nutrition forum, but it probably belongs here. You only have to follow three simple rules:

- Workout 3 times a week with weights.
- Eat 1g protein / lb lean body mass.
- Reduce calories to lose 1-2 lbs / week.

Success is 100% guaranteed. There's really not much more to it.

A more elaborate guide is posted later in this thread:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...#post401681611
Always check if newer versions of the guide have already been posted after that.

[RanceB]

drink plenty of water

[b_white]

I've lost 13 pounds since mid-October '08 following the above advice (was a little weak on the protein but have straightened that out now).

I've picked up cardio intensity since Jan 1 and it's going great!

fitday has done wonders as well!

[store]

Good advice.
I always love reading your post.

[FFT2009]

sticky this!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Djin]

I originally posted this in the nutrition forum, but it probably belongs here. You only have to follow three simple rules:

- Workout 3 times a week with weights.
- Eat 1g protein / lb lean body mass.
- Reduce calories to lose 1-2 lbs / week.

Success is 100% guaranteed. There's really not much more to it.

I will take this into consideration.

I hit over 195lbs. Tomorrow is the day I cut. Month before spring, but I can't stand it no more... I've lost 70lbs, so these next 15lbs or whatever should be cake.

[FFT2009]

Good luck

[B_BLENDER]

I got this nagging doubt. Do I really need to get 200g+ of proteins? I'm currently at 279... I've been trying to nail the calorie counting this week. Yesterday I did around 120g. Today, I have no idea, I was eating out. I'm about to FitDay it all right now.

[wave_length]

I got this nagging doubt. Do I really need to get 200g+ of proteins? I'm currently at 279... I've been trying to nail the calorie counting this week. Yesterday I did around 120g. Today, I have no idea, I was eating out. I'm about to FitDay it all right now.

Depends on your lean body mass and your genetics. I can only say from my experience that 0.5g / lb lean body mass had a negative effect on body composition. IMO, 1g / lb lean body mass should be enough for everyone, but less is probably also sufficient for some people.

I don't count macros or calories either and I eat out every day. I just have 100g of whey protein each day and don't worry about it.

[FFT2009]

How do you know you're getting the right nutrition without countining? Just wondered

[ZidaneValor]

I got this nagging doubt. Do I really need to get 200g+ of proteins?

It depends on how many calories you think you need to consume in a day. I like to follow a 40/40/20 ratio, so in order to eat enough calories, you need to eat the following amount of macros:

1600 calories: 160g protein, 160g carbs, 35g fat
1800 calories: 180g protein, 180g carbs, 40g fat
2250 calories: 225g protein, 225g carbs, 50g fat
2700 calories: 270g protein, 270g carbs, 60g fat
3150 calories: 315g protein, 315g carbs, 70g fat

If you read other nutrition threads, and decide that a 40/40/20 split is right for you, to determine the number of grams of carbs and protein that you need, just determine the total number of calories that you want to consume and then divide by ten.

[wave_length]

How do you know you're getting the right nutrition without countining? Just wondered

Easy, I make sure to get some fruit, veggies/salad, and EFAs in every day. Protein is taken care of by whey and eating plenty of meat. The other macros are irrelevant IMO. Intake is adjusted by rate of weight loss and a little experience.

[FFT2009]

Well, fair enough then! I think I'm going to need to count to start with till I get some experience lol. I'd love to not have to count!

[B_BLENDER]

Thanks man, I need to work my meal ratios.

I was trying to aim for 2000-2500, but I haven't been above 2000 yesterday, nor today. I don't know if that's good or not. But I'll get better at it. And learn to cook rice properly. Uncle Ben must be crying right now.



Yesterday's ratio:
Calories: 1,874
Fat (21%), Carbs (50%), Protein (29%), Alcohol (0%)

Today's ratio:
Calories: 1,965
Fat (19%), Carbs (55%), Protein (26%), Alcohol (0%)

Edit: I got rid of the protein doubt. I was under the impression that it was 1g / total lbs. Not from this thread, but it was part of the doubts I've been having these days. Thanks for the info! Wave and Zidane

[wave_length]

Bump for the noobs. Don't get discouraged, it really isn't that difficult. I'm the laziest slacker I know, and I had no problem at all getting to single digit bodyfat.

Patience and following the three simple rules is all it takes, don't let yourself be confused and misguided by fat loss coaches and supplement companies.

For a more elaborate guide, you can also check this article:
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showpo...1&postcount=68

Good luck!

[MAGnitude]

I originally posted this in the nutrition forum, but it probably belongs here. You only have to follow three simple rules:

- Workout 3 times a week with weights.
- Eat 1g protein / lb lean body mass.
- Reduce calories to lose 1-2 lbs / week.

Success is 100% guaranteed. There's really not much more to it.

im at 193 pounds. im getting around 200 grams of protein in each day. is this enough?

i wanna loose another 17-18 pounds and i think i can get there doing what i have been doing in the past 6 weeks. extremely low carbs if any, and lots of cardio with weights 3 days a week.

ps. thanks for u advice in the past, ur a very knowledgeble guy

[enz660]

Dropped 10 pounds so far in 2.5 weeks...

60min cardio @ ~135bpm every morning on an empty stomach, burn 500 calories
weight train 4 days a week
very high protein diet, no carbs before sleep
plus some EC to help me out

can start seeing nice ab definition and veins in the lower stomach area once again!

[iDrive]

I originally posted this in the nutrition forum, but it probably belongs here. You only have to follow three simple rules:

- Workout 3 times a week with weights.
- Eat 1g protein / lb lean body mass.
- Reduce calories to lose 1-2 lbs / week.

Success is 100% guaranteed. There's really not much more to it.

Too true. Awesome Thread.

[Adviceguy]

I was expecting some long thread about how to loose weight and instead it's so simply laid out.

Sorry just wanted to know what EC means? Thanks for this simple idea and will take it to action with some other ideas I'm doing like swimming 50 laps twice a week.

[Djin]

I was expecting some long thread about how to loose weight and instead it's so simply laid out.

Sorry just wanted to know what EC means? Thanks for this simple idea and will take it to action with some other ideas I'm doing like swimming 50 laps twice a week.

E/C

ephedra / caffeine

[ski23man]

Kick ass in the gym and eat at a decifit and you'll have lil to worry about, sleep like a baby!

[wave_length]

I should add that more complicated approaches are OK too if the 3 rules are followed. But I think that those 3 rules make up for over 90% of body composition improvement on a fat loss diet. Just to prove the point and to make it most convenient, I basically did everything "wrong" on my last cutting diet except for those 3 rules. Still worked like a charm, even better than any cut I did before.

So again, don't worry about details, you can do that on your second cut. By then, you will already know everything you need to know to get your body into any condition you like.

[FFT2009]

Bump, this should be a sticky!

[wave_length]

Bump, this should be a sticky!

Yes bump for the noobs.

[Djin]

Yes bump for the noobs.

Since I cut carbs down to 100g a day, the first 3 days I lost 9lbs. Lol @ water weight. I don't find my energy level any lower or higher with it being roughly 100g. Some days I hit it, some days I go a little over, but none the less, my calories are lower then my BMR.

[wave_length]

Since I cut carbs down to 100g a day, the first 3 days I lost 9lbs. Lol @ water weight. I don't find my energy level any lower or higher with it being roughly 100g. Some days I hit it, some days I go a little over, but none the less, my calories are lower then my BMR.

I have never seen any difference in energy levels depending on carb/fat ratio. In fact, I have never seen any difference at all, so I don't care about it anymore.

[fatboyslim420]

I originally posted this in the nutrition forum, but it probably belongs here. You only have to follow three simple rules:

- Workout 3 times a week with weights.
- Eat 1g protein / lb lean body mass.
- Reduce calories to lose 1-2 lbs / week.

Success is 100% guaranteed. There's really not much more to it.

well i work out 5-6 times a week, eat tons of protein, and have cut calories over half what i used to consume, and been at it 3 weeks, still same weight. = fail

[wave_length]

well i work out 5-6 times a week, eat tons of protein, and have cut calories over half what i used to, been at it 3 weeks, still same weight. = fail

I would just stay on what you are right now and give it another 3 weeks.
If weight still doesn't change, again reduce calories.

[justdru]

The truth has never been sweeter!

FitDay is the key to this, though, USE IT!

[some8]

I don't think this work for everyone, although it may work for the majority.

Weights really didn't do me much in terms of losing fat, although it gets to somewhere but not quite where I wanted to be. I had to incoperate cardio to see the results.