Hello, help with eating plan please?

[Matt8423]

Hello to everyone. I need some help with my eating. About two years ago, I was about 570 lbs. Today, I'm 370. I'm about 6'2"-6"3. Because of my height and the amount of muscle (some, not a lot) I have been able to put on in that time, I don't look 370, probably about 340 or so. Anyway, I'm at the point where my trainer and I are about to kick it into another gear. That means heavier lifting and more cardio. Basically, I'm going to be attacking my midsection with different exercises and routines because at this point, it's more about adding more muscle, decreasing body fat, and not so much what I weigh because I know the scale will weigh everything on me, including muscle.

From March 2010 to about December 2010 I lost 150 lbs on a strict, 1,000 calorie diet, which consisted of one "heavy" meal and 5 replacement meals. I know I need to eat more in order to add solid muscle and lose fat. I don't have the "skin problem", so I'm trying to avoid that as well. I've moved from 5 replacement meals and one solid meal to two solid meals and 4 replacements. My eating looks like this:

early morning- protein bar (110 cal), bottle of water

(two bottles of water after workout)

mid-morning- 7-8 ounces of lean chicken, fish, beef, or turkey, with three cups of lettuce (2 tbls salad dressing), or 3 cups of cabbage, or 3 cups of green beans, with bottle of water

early noon- protein bar bar, bottle of water

afternoon- same as mid-morning

early evening- slim fast snack bar (100 cal) (sometimes two), bottle of water

late evening- protein bar or fruit (grapes, banana, etc.), bottle of water

I need a plan that gets enough calories to build muscle, but not too many that will not allow me to lose weight. When I'm done for the day, I've only done about 1,000-1,100 calories. Also,

I'm starting a creatine regime next week. I only have to take five grams a day the first week and 10 (5 before workout, 5 after) after that.

Am I eating enough? And can I take the creatine after I eat something, or take both doses then eat my first meal? Or does it matter? Thanks for any and all help!

[PhiSig2298]

Please read this...

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=121703981

And then rethink your calorie intake

[sunchienlee]

Holy crap, 1000kcal everyday...

[FritzIndustries]

Someone should kill your trainer.

[phozosado]

If the trainer is on 1k a day, he'll kill himself.

[814Saint]

i hate when they forget the B&J's and doritos

[Matt8423]

Someone should kill your trainer.

Oh no. I don't think you understand. I was on 1,000 calories not doing much exercise. The 1,000 calorie diet was my decision when I was in my weight loss phase. He didn't have me on the 1,000 calories lifting heavy. I was doing moderate exercise while on that diet.

I'm switching to heavy lifting NOW and need to know if my CURRENT eating is sufficient. I just started eating more recently. No, my trainer didn't have me on the diet, I had me on it.

[wunabesk8r]

dude you weigh 370lbs.......there is no need to be on a 1000 kcal diet, especially if you're doing heavy lifting.......bump that ish up sucka.

edit: just saw your last post....so how much are you planning on eating per day now? i hope its in the realm of 2k for a man of your size.

[Matt8423]

What I would like to know is 1,100 to say, 1,300 enough, or should I eat more? My trainer didn't have me doing heavy stuff on this. What I'm looking for is what others do. He has already told me that 1,500 would be okay, but I want to know if anyone else was in my situation, going from 1,000 calories to adding 300-500 more calories and did you still lose weight? That's really my reason for asking.

[Matt8423]

dude you weigh 370lbs.......there is no need to be on a 1000 kcal diet, especially if you're doing heavy lifting.......bump that ish up sucka.

edit: just saw your last post....so how much are you planning on eating per day now? i hope its in the realm of 3k for a man of your size.

3,000? My body is so used to not eating that many calories. I don't know how it would react. lol I don't want to do ANYTHING that would send me back to near 600 lbs. I hope everyone understands where I'm coming from. I haven't come this far to do something I shouldn't, which is why I'm picking people's brains.

[Matt8423]

Let me put it this way:

I want to eat enough calories so that I'm not hungry, enough protein to help build muscle, but not too much to the point I'm overeating.


I can do 5-6 meals a day, what I need help with is portion. He's given me the body for life guide, all I'm looking for is if someone else has been in this situation, where you substantially increased your calories while lifting heavier and you were able to keep losing body fat.

[wunabesk8r]

3,000? My body is so used to not eating that many calories. I don't know how it would react. lol I don't want to do ANYTHING that would send me back to near 600 lbs. I hope everyone understands where I'm coming from. I haven't come this far to do something I shouldn't, which is why I'm picking people's brains.

i stealth edited myself, i meant to hit 2 instead of 3 lol....but would 1500 cals keep you satiated?? i mean no offense you're a big man, and if you're going to kick up the lifting, plus do cardio (i hope) you're gonna need probably more than an extra 500, depending on how intense your regiment is.

[Matt8423]

i stealth edited myself, i meant to hit 2 instead of 3 lol....but would 1500 cals keep you satiated?? i mean no offense you're a big man, and if you're going to kick up the lifting, plus do cardio (i hope) you're gonna need probably more than an extra 500, depending on how intense your regiment is.

Oh, I plan on kicking it up brother, I mean into high gear. Interval cardio, running outside, lifting, I've told him what I want now, and next week we're going all out. Yes, I can do 1,500. I was seeing had anyone else increased their eating and still built muscle and decreased fat. I was sort of looking for a "I've been there" person. Not as big as me, but have you ever done this before.

I guess I can do 4 solid meals and 2 replacements?

It's HIGHLY unlikely I'll ever see 400 again, I just don't want to take any chances. lol It's hard being over 4, 5, and close to 600. I'm sure I'll be fine, but you all seem like experts on these types of things.

[wunabesk8r]

Oh, I plan on kicking it up brother, I mean into high gear. Interval cardio, running outside, lifting, I've told him what I want now, and next week we're going all out. Yes, I can do 1,500. I was seeing had anyone else increased their eating and still built muscle and decreased fat. I was sort of looking for a "I've been there" person. Not as big as me, but have you ever done this before.

I guess I can do 4 solid meals and 2 replacements?

yeah it can be done, and i think you have a good chance at doing it. start with 1500, if youre getting fatigued, can't lift heavy, run, etc...then you can always kick it up a bit, or decrease as necessary.

you're trainer isn't helping you at all with this stuff??

[Matt8423]

yeah it can be done, and i think you have a good chance at doing it. start with 1500, if youre getting fatigued, can't lift heavy, run, etc...then you can always kick it up a bit, or decrease as necessary.

you're trainer isn't helping you at all with this stuff??

Yes, he's helping me. Like I said, he gave a 1,500 calorie guide (Body for Life). He was the one that told me NOT to lift heavy while on that other plan. He's very good. We've gotten over 200lbs off, so that's not bad. I've built muscles in my legs, arms, and shoulders. My stomach is leaving at a snail's pace. I just wanted to know had anyone else increased their calories like I'm about to do and still did well. He's never eaten that few calories before like I did. But no one on here has probably done 1,000 calories a day either. lol

[acg67]

for someone your size, 1,500 cals is ridiculously low

[psychodiver9]

Please read this...

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=121703981

And then rethink your calorie intake

This. In case you missed it

[Matt8423]

for someone your size, 1,500 cals is ridiculously low

Well, when I first started two years ago, I was doing between 1,500-1,700 calories and lost about 54 lbs on that plan. I wasn't hungry, I ate 6 times a day which included a complex carb, protein, and water at every meal. I thought that was a pretty good range.