Back at it - Suggestions please.

thatsright

Diamond Member
May 1, 2001
3,004
3
81
Hi Guys - I'll try and make this as short as possible. Seven years ago I lost about 60lbs (from ~260lb) through proper diet and exercise. Over the years the weight would fluctuate from time to time. However in the last 20 months, it has started to come back. Poor diet and zero exercise. Surprise, I got fatter. The last 2-3 months the weight has come back even faster. What's odd is that in these 20 months, I have added maybe 10 pounds when I stand on a scale. However the scale is misleading. I have lost A LOT of muscle mass and packed on the fat. So I feel like I've really gained 30lbs

I'm almost 42, 5'10" and weigh ~215. My basal metabolic rate (BMR) is 2,050 calories. BMI is certainly over 30%. I re-read the fat loss sticky. I will count my calories via the Daily Plate app. As I've done this several times, I will quickly get the diet part down, based on the calorie goal. However one of the biggest issues (if not the main/only one for now) is that I have a torn rotator cuff on my left side. I need to maintain lean muscle mass during this, and this will make it complicated as I always did compound lifts before this. I plan to go to the gym 3-4 days just to start and ease back into things. Questions:

1. The one thing I know I can do is cardio in the gym. 25-35 minutes on elliptical. Too short? Too Long? Then get some compound lifts in.
2. With mostly cardio and some lifting (for now), should I be getting more protein or carbs in my diet? What ratio is good? If protein, how many grams per day?
3. What do you suggest a calorie goal to start out with? I don’t want to go too low as I won’t have any room later on to cut if I must.
4. When I did lifting, I’d take l-glutamine capsules for muscle recovery and BCAAs while working out. Still necessary/good idea? Something else?

This is more of a ‘to get started’ type post. I’ll post a screen shot of my planned daily intake if it helps. If you have any other advice/tips/warnings/suggestions, please let me know!
 

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
6,336
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Most get plenty of protein already. 30 min/day of cardio should be fine. Lift more. More muscle means more calories burned just because of the muscle. Fat doesn't use many. I wouldn't overthink it. Skip fast food, deserts, poor snack choices, pizza, fried, red meat...Yeah, it's going to suck. Sugar addiction is real too.

For me, the crap food can not be in the house. I have no self control.

Best of.


edit: I think the Mediterranean diet is good but the fam isn't going along.
 

mike8675309

Senior member
Jul 17, 2013
508
116
116
I am 50yo 5'10' 225lb. a good 30% body fat and right now dropping about 1 lb a week with a 5 day a week lifting program with cardio 7 days a week (combination of 40 minute low intensity cardio and 20 minute HiiT workouts)
My current programmed numbers are:

2254kcal
Target Protein 136g
Target Fat 75g
Target Carbs 259g

I would start with something like that and check your weight weekly. adjusting up to 500kcal up or down as necessary to maintain weight loss.
 

deadlyapp

Diamond Member
Apr 25, 2004
6,656
737
126
Calorie count seems pretty close to accurate. At 6', 180#, and 12% BF I was around 1850 cal/day.

Best thing to do is set your numbers, adjust up/down slightly on days where you work out, and track your weight on a rolling 7 day average. If you see the average going down, then stick with what you've got until you plateau a bit, then cut another 100-150 cal a day out. Rinse and repeat.