Advice on Cutting?

loracolson · 10-05-2009, 06:27 AM

Hi,
Was wondering if anyone can offer some advice on how to best cut--When to start...What to do... I am starting my 6th week in a 12 week body transformation contest. (Started Aug 31, going til Nov. 23) My goal is to be really shredded by the end.

Should I be lifting heavy until the final 2-3 weeks, then add more intense cardio? Not sure what to do.

Right now, I'm doing full-body weight workouts with HIIT 3-4 times a week. (Really watching the nutrition)

Thanks!
Lora

kimm4 · 10-05-2009, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loracolson

Hi,
Was wondering if anyone can offer some advice on how to best cut--When to start...What to do... I am starting my 6th week in a 12 week body transformation contest. (Started Aug 31, going til Nov. 23) My goal is to be really shredded by the end.

Should I be lifting heavy until the final 2-3 weeks, then add more intense cardio? Not sure what to do.

Right now, I'm doing full-body weight workouts with HIIT 3-4 times a week. (Really watching the nutrition)

Thanks!
Lora

My training stays heavy all the way through my preps. The last couple weeks I might add an additional 10 min cool down to my HIIT sessions. If your diet is tight, you don't need to make any changes.

Let your diet do the work.

Good luck!

Hi_Volume · 10-05-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimm4

My training stays heavy all the way through my preps. The last couple weeks I might add an additional 10 min cool down to my HIIT sessions. If your diet is tight, you don't need to make any changes.

Let your diet do the work.

Good luck!

This^^^^^

If you want to keep as much muscle as possible keep it heavy, intense while increasing the volume.....

sluge · 10-07-2009, 05:11 AM

what the other's have said. by looking at your avi, YOU LOOK GREAT! I'm moving to Wyoming,,,I'm in love.....Just kiddin. You do look great though.

loracolson · 10-07-2009, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimm4

My training stays heavy all the way through my preps. The last couple weeks I might add an additional 10 min cool down to my HIIT sessions. If your diet is tight, you don't need to make any changes.

Let your diet do the work.

Good luck!

Wow, great. Thought there was more to it, but I think I'm on target pretty much with the diet. I have heard so many different things--like people cutting their calories WAY down the last couple of weeks...adding more cardio and twice a day, etc. I would love to NOT do that stuff...!

Are you working toward a contest right now?

Thanks for the help, and good luck to you, too!!

loracolson · 10-07-2009, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hi_Volume

This^^^^^

If you want to keep as much muscle as possible keep it heavy, intense while increasing the volume.....

Maybe I'm not lifting heavy enough. I have been doing lighter with higher reps. This is not as good?

kimm4 · 10-07-2009, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loracolson

Wow, great. Thought there was more to it, but I think I'm on target pretty much with the diet. I have heard so many different things--like people cutting their calories WAY down the last couple of weeks...adding more cardio and twice a day, etc. I would love to NOT do that stuff...!

Are you working toward a contest right now?

Thanks for the help, and good luck to you, too!!

It's funny how people take drastic measures towards the end. Cutting calories way too much and double cardio sessions...nooooo thank you! When people take it to the extreme like this...it's an immediate red flag that they didn't diet long enough, maybe calories were off, something was off balance somewhere.

After 10 yrs of competing non stop, I decided I needed to take 2 yrs off and focus on adding more size. I've been doing a slow, clean bulk for almost a year and half...longest bulk I've ever done. I will be getting back on stage in Oct of 2010.

You def look on target to me...so just keep doing what you're doing!

egoatdoor · 10-09-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loracolson

Wow, great. Thought there was more to it, but I think I'm on target pretty much with the diet. I have heard so many different things--like people cutting their calories WAY down the last couple of weeks...adding more cardio and twice a day, etc. I would love to NOT do that stuff...!

Are you working toward a contest right now?

Thanks for the help, and good luck to you, too!!

These are the things you read and have been published everywhere for years. The truth is these are the methods used by those taking anabolic substances. A natural trainer doing the same thing will burn muscle and end up losing more muscle than fat so that the finished product looks worse than it did weeks before.

Quote:

Originally Posted by loracolson

Maybe I'm not lifting heavy enough. I have been doing lighter with higher reps. This is not as good?

As Kimm said, that is not the way to go. With dieting and cardio, you are already putting the body in a potential catabolic state( where it begins to burn muscle). Now by lessening the weights, the body is losing the challenge it needs to build or at the least maintain the muscle it has.

Lift as heavy as you can all the way to the end.

mommalu · 10-23-2009, 07:21 AM

just curious, how long does it take to cut? Looked ripped?
OP~ you already look ripped!!!!!

SR800 · 10-30-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loracolson

Hi,
Was wondering if anyone can offer some advice on how to best cut--When to start...What to do... I am starting my 6th week in a 12 week body transformation contest. (Started Aug 31, going til Nov. 23) My goal is to be really shredded by the end.

Should I be lifting heavy until the final 2-3 weeks, then add more intense cardio? Not sure what to do.

Right now, I'm doing full-body weight workouts with HIIT 3-4 times a week. (Really watching the nutrition)

Thanks!
Lora

More shredded than what, that AVI? Keep doin what you are doin cause whatever it is it is working great.

AFChief · 10-30-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loracolson

Hi,
Was wondering if anyone can offer some advice on how to best cut--When to start...What to do... I am starting my 6th week in a 12 week body transformation contest. (Started Aug 31, going til Nov. 23) My goal is to be really shredded by the end.

Should I be lifting heavy until the final 2-3 weeks, then add more intense cardio? Not sure what to do.

Right now, I'm doing full-body weight workouts with HIIT 3-4 times a week. (Really watching the nutrition)

Thanks!
Lora

Your photos rock, so whatever you are doing works.