So I haven’t been active on these forums for awhile, but I’m getting back into it.
Anyway, here’s a little about me. I’ve been involved in sports my whole life, and stregth training since I was about 13. I began lifting for two reasons. First, to improve my sports performance, and second, the opposite sexes were starting to notice each other, and I wanted in on this. Unfortunately, I stood at 5’9 and 135 pounds, which doesn’t sound bad, but I was really the skinny-fat type, with a big gut. I found this strange, since I was playing football, basketball, baseball, track and field, and even tennis. Fortunately, our high school received a grant to build a new fitness center, and I began going here alot. In 9th grade gym class, I had the 3rd highest bench press in the class, and I noticed my biceps were starting to bulge a little, and I was much quicker in all my sports. For my high school career, I concentrated on playing football, and indoor and outdoor track and field as a shot put and discus thrower. I remember my track coach seeing me the first day of practice in 9th grade, and the first thing he asked was if I had laid off the donuts lol
This gave me plenty of motivation to keep at the lifting, and I had my first girlfriend in 10th grade. In football, I made all conference my senior year as a tight end, linebacker, and defensive end, and in track, I placed 8th at states in shotput. My senior year, I was 6’0, and 208 pounds, with some nice solid muscle and lower fat. I got a partial track scholarship to a medium sized DII school, and in addition to being a regional qualifier in the shot put and hammer throw, I competed in powerlifting, with a 385 bench and 600 squat, as I progressed from progressive methods, to Conjugate and Westside. Unfortunately, due to some injuries that began to accumulate during my junior year, I didn’t reach quite the potential I wanted.
Now, fast forward to today ( I graduated in May) and I’m 6’2 and 245 pounds. I could have someone feel my muscle, and they tell me it feels rock solid. However, the problem is that no matter what I’ve done, I’ve always had an excess layer of fat hanging on me, kind of a “strong guy gut” keeping me from getting the head turning 6 pack, or even as cut as I would like. I feel this is due to my diet, which has improved over the years, but still has alot to be desired. I still have a big appetite, and have cravings for fatty foods. Also, because I needed to concentrate on lifting and being big for my sports and positions, I haven’t done nearly as much cardio as I should. Fixing this would not only make me look good, but would make me a healthier individual for life.
So, I’m seeking some imput and support for this. I was wondering if there are any power atheletes/ powerlifters who got cut ? I am planning to cut back on the lifting a bit, and do more cardio, probably hiit. I know that for fat loss, people are usually told to do mostly weights and some cardio, but would this apply to me, since I already have a great deal of muscle, which is hidden by too much fat? Also, I’m thinking about switching the usual heavy weight with low reps into more of an HIT program with a higher rep range.
I would also like some diet reccomendations. I’ve started by eliminating simple, “white” carbs, as well as artificial sugars, and I’m thinking about starting at about 500 calories below my maintenance (which would be my body weight x 15).
I plan on taking some “before” pictures and measurements, and creating a log on here, in order to get and stay motivated.
