[battousaiken]

Everyone has been truly helpful in these forums, I have nothing but good things to say about you guys/gals. I'll be starting a weight loss log here to share my experiences, and best case scenario, motivate myself and the readers.

For background info on myself, check this thread:

Help a noob out . . .

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Basic Stats: (As of Friday, November 9)


5'8
205 lbs (lost 15 lbs taking Hydroxycut Hardcore and shooting hoops)
26 years old
male
Smoker (I know I have to quit)

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Routine:

Basketball Drills by myself (1 hour Mondays and Wednesdays)

Basketball (3-on-3, half court, for 2 hours on Saturdays)

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Other activities: None (Law School, married, 2 kids)

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Goals:

I used to play organized basketball for many years, before I got plantar fasciitis, which sidelined me for almost 5 years. I recently started playing again. I want to weigh 155 lbs and regain my vertical leap of 32 inches. It is currently down to 23 inches. I am not interested in being cut, or buff, only athletic.



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As you can see from my pictures, 205 lbs with my height and frame is aesthetically disastrous, not to mention quite unhealthy, which is why I decided to get back into playing shape.

[battousaiken]

It was recommended to me by a few of you in the supplement forums to get:

Protein
BCAA's
Leviathan Reloaded

I bought protein shake powder (100% Whey Gold Standard) and protein bars (Met-RX Protein Plus).

I also noticed that the sport multivitamins I was taking contain 150mg of BCAA blend (L-Valine, L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine), so I'm not sure if I should get more, or if that's enough.

I haven't bought Leviathan Reloaded because I recently opened my last bottle of Hydroxycut Hardcore, so I'll finish it before getting the LR.


A few days before I started posting here, I actually went back up to 205 lbs, from 200 lbs. I was drinking too much beer and going out too much.

This past Friday I bought the protein and began eating 5 times a day (I truly can't do 6 times a day), but I noticed that from that day until yesterday, I had gained 1.6 lbs (I was up to 206.6 lbs). I have been keeping a log on fitday.com and realized that by eating 5 times a day I end up being more hungry all the time and eating more total calories, although at the same time I have more energy to play basketball.

This morning I woke up and weighed myself (I always do so at the same time every 3 days) and I was down to 204.4 lbs, meaning 0.6 lbs lighter than Friday, the day I started, but 2.2 lbs lighter than yesterday!!!

Question: Did I initially gain a little weight because my body was getting used to the new regimen, and now the weight loss will keep coming, or am I doing something wrong and my weight will just keep fluctuating without major improvements?

My caloric intake has been about 2,700 calories a day, in a 30% fat, 44% carbs, 26% protein ratio, while burning an average of 3,400 calories a day.


Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[battousaiken]

One more thing. I had my body fat estimated at 21.5%. That can't be right? Right? It seems low for my height and weight, unless I have a lot of lean mass underneath the fat from playing basketball all those years . . .

[battousaiken]

Friday, November 9: Starting weight: 205 lbs.

Wednesday, November 14 (today): 201.2 lbs.

That's 3.8 lbs. lost in 6 days so far.

I've heard about people always losing the first 5 lbs. quickly but in my case, these are not the first 5 lbs. I was 220lbs. in June and lost weight progressively using only Hydroxycut Hardcore. Could it be that the combo of HH, plus the 5-meal-per-day system and the increase in protein intake is this effective? My caloric intake hasn't decreased, and the amount of excercise I do hasn't increased, yet I'm losing faster than with HH and basketball alone.

[EasyEJL]

way way way way more BCAAs. for your pre/during game drink, i'd mix 64oz of water with something around 30g of bcaas....

Theres always some weight bounciness in either direction when eating + supplementation habits change. you really need to look at it more over the span of a few weeks, rather than a couple days. Its possible from hydration difference alone to make a 3-4 lb change. Couple one day being a little constipated and more heavily hydrated to waking up dehydrated and not being constipated and a 5-6 lb 1 day difference is realistic.

[battousaiken]

Originally Posted by EasyEJL

way way way way more BCAAs. for your pre/during game drink, i'd mix 64oz of water with something around 30g of bcaas....

Theres always some weight bounciness in either direction when eating + supplementation habits change. you really need to look at it more over the span of a few weeks, rather than a couple days. Its possible from hydration difference alone to make a 3-4 lb change. Couple one day being a little constipated and more heavily hydrated to waking up dehydrated and not being constipated and a 5-6 lb 1 day difference is realistic.

Ok, cool, thanks!

[Hank Vangut]

Originally Posted by battousaiken

My caloric intake has been about 2,700 calories a day, in a 30% fat, 44% carbs, 26% protein ratio, while burning an average of 3,400 calories a day.

IMO. fitdays calorie expenditure estimates are high.
fitday is an excellent guide but don't make the mistake of thinking it is 100% accurate.
just be willing to adjust your calories based on results you are getting not just by what their screen says.

[battousaiken]

Sorry for not updating in a while, studying for law school finals is killing me.

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Friday, November 9: Starting weight: 205 lbs. (BF: 21.5%)

Wednesday, November 14: 201.2 lbs.

Wednesday, November 21: 206.8 lbs. (What the Hell?!?)

Wednesday, November 28: 204 lbs. (BF: 20.5%)

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Seriously,

I have no idea what is going on. If you look at it from my starting weight and BF% (205 lbs 21.5%) to today (204 lbs 20.5%), I have lost 1 lb and 1% BF in almost 3 weeks. At this pace, It'll take me three years to get to my desired weight.

I have been following recommendations and haven't altered my excercise routine, yet I'm not going anywhere.

Should I go on some kind of starvation diet or something? Does anyone have any advice for me here? I'd really appreciate it.

[EasyEJL]

have you been consistently tracking calories ? I hesitate to suggest going too much lower calorie wise, but I guess you could try another 200-300 lower (so 2400-2500) for a couple weeks

[battousaiken]

Originally Posted by EasyEJL

have you been consistently tracking calories ? I hesitate to suggest going too much lower calorie wise, but I guess you could try another 200-300 lower (so 2400-2500) for a couple weeks

I might have to do that. Maybe eating 5 times a day is better for metabolism, but it is possible that when I ate twice a day, I only put 2200 calories or so in my body, so maybe I'm just eating too much. The truth is, eating more times per day makes me hungrier, because I'm always thinking about the next time I have to eat, and thus, I have food in my mind all the time.

[EasyEJL]

Originally Posted by battousaiken

I might have to do that. Maybe eating 5 times a day is better for metabolism, but it is possible that when I ate twice a day, I only put 2200 calories or so in my body, so maybe I'm just eating too much. The truth is, eating more times per day makes me hungrier, because I'm always thinking about the next time I have to eat, and thus, I have food in my mind all the time.

what i've found handy is prepackaged stuff. Like the south beach diet meals, they are from 240-300 cal, so they work pretty well as moderate to small meals. Add either a fruit or a bit of cottage cheese to one, and you get a pretty clean 400 cal meal. do that 3-4 times a day, have 1-2 bigger meals.

[Distilled Water]

Originally Posted by battousaiken

I might have to do that. Maybe eating 5 times a day is better for metabolism, but it is possible that when I ate twice a day, I only put 2200 calories or so in my body, so maybe I'm just eating too much. The truth is, eating more times per day makes me hungrier, because I'm always thinking about the next time I have to eat, and thus, I have food in my mind all the time.

thats your metabloism speeding up bro. Thats what you want. It gets easier after you get into the swing of things but it'll take disapline.

[battousaiken]

I was thinking of cutting down to around 1800 calories this week, followed by 2300 next week (sticking to 5 meals a day), and repeating the process every two weeks. I think that could help my metabolism, and maybe help me lose about 2-3 lbs. a week. Any thoughts on this?

[EasyEJL]

I'd try the 2300 for a few weeks first, see how that goes. if you end up too low, and your body thinks starvation is impending it will start storing fat as soon as you raise cals

[battousaiken]

Originally Posted by EasyEJL

I'd try the 2300 for a few weeks first, see how that goes. if you end up too low, and your body thinks starvation is impending it will start storing fat as soon as you raise cals

In that case, how about 3 days low cal (1800) and 4 days higher (2300-2500), alternating each day? In this case my body would never go into starvation mode, right? Or do you still recommend 2300 for a few weeks?