First Pre Comp problems

[wsmith1968]

Hi All,

First time posting so pls go easy ;-)
Have been lifting for probably over 30 years and finally decided to take the plunge into my first comp which is due in Oct.
A long way of i agree but im allowing for any problems i run into which has happened only 5 weeks in .
I have gone down to 6%-8% many times but hoping to hit around 5 this time which is one of the reasons for a long run in.
My usual experiences with my diet are,first 5 weeks ,cut out the Junk then slowly crank it up from there.
This year i basically gave myself 2 weeks cutting out the junk and on my 5th week now and i havent dropped a single pound !!!!
It doesnt make any sense i usually shift at least 7-10lb in my first few weeks just cutting out the Junk ?
The only difference this year from any other year is jumping in very early and Quitting drinking for the duration of the cutting, up until post comp.
Just so frustrating,i cranked up my cardio last week and was just completely burnt out at the end of the week, i mean real bad exhaustion,wondering whether i have a Adrenal problem as i had Hypothyroidism in the past.
Any advice or comment would be really appreciated as :-)

[Ccm644]

Hi All,

First time posting so pls go easy ;-)
Have been lifting for probably over 30 years and finally decided to take the plunge into my first comp which is due in Oct.
A long way of i agree but im allowing for any problems i run into which has happened only 5 weeks in .
I have gone down to 6%-8% many times but hoping to hit around 5 this time which is one of the reasons for a long run in.
My usual experiences with my diet are,first 5 weeks ,cut out the Junk then slowly crank it up from there.
This year i basically gave myself 2 weeks cutting out the junk and on my 5th week now and i havent dropped a single pound !!!!
It doesnt make any sense i usually shift at least 7-10lb in my first few weeks just cutting out the Junk ?
The only difference this year from any other year is jumping in very early and Quitting drinking for the duration of the cutting, up until post comp.
Just so frustrating,i cranked up my cardio last week and was just completely burnt out at the end of the week, i mean real bad exhaustion,wondering whether i have a Adrenal problem as i had Hypothyroidism in the past.
Any advice or comment would be really appreciated as :-)

A first competition will be a great experience and fun, well done for taking the commitment

If you are doing a slow prep you dont want to loose 7-10lbs too fast and also you've cranked up your cardio which may not be very good as you are 8 months away.
If this is your first time prepping if could be a good idea to go with a coach.

It may help if you stat your stats and macros, along with cardio and weight sessions

So that people have a good idea.

As you said you have got to 6-8% before..... when was this?

[wrkoutfrq]

cutting out "junk" =/= calorie deficit... are you counting your macros? what ^ said about your split, cardio, etc. and to my knowledge, actual diagnosed hypothyroidism doesn't just go away... are you still taking some form of thyroxine to help? what about your current stats?

[Etrain2330]

Hey ws... Great questions. Have you retested for thyroid. While I do know people who have been originally misdiagnosed and come back full power after using thyroid meds, it would not hurt to get it checked out! Next, I would recommend cutting the cardio completely right now..useless anyway. Doing piles of steady state will turn you into a yugo...efficient fat user...save the HIIT cardio in moderation for the final fat smash at the end...Post your average daily macros as others suggested so we can take a peek under the hood as it were and input. Don't worry, i can't post links yet but I've been around the bodybuilding block oh, someone else said when did you last do a cut? Good questions and answers all around...

[fltallpaul]

Some good insight here. The most important thing is that you start tracking your caloric intake and break down the ratio's of your macronutrients. Eating "clean" does not mean your body is going to lose fat. In fact if you limit your calories and over do cardio your body will fight you and hold on to your fat. Fat loss is not just about being in a deficit. There are also hormonal factors at play and the body will not allow you to starve to death. There are many variables at play here. For a full assessment you should provide your actual macro intake for each day of the week, cardio type and duration as well as any other factors you feel may influence your progress.

Good luck, you came to the right place.