losing muscle while cutting

[edvedr]

This is my first cutting cycle ever, and I'm mad nervous about losing muscle. I'm 3-4 weeks in and I feel like I'm losing muscle, but everyone else says its in my head. I'm doing prop/fina ed and my protein is between 200-250 grams per day ( I weight 175lbs) What do you guys do to make sure you don't lose muscle?

[alwayzgrowing]

up your protein. i would aim for 2grams per lb of bodyweight. sleep well, rest well. do that and muscle loss will be minimized

[Tinfish]

are you doing any cardio? make sure if you do, keep your heart rate lower.

[alwayzgrowing]

220-age=max heart rate

max heart rate x .65= target heart rate at itz most basic form

[edvedr]

yes i do cardio for 30 minutes after every weight session and I keep my heart rate around 130

[alwayzgrowing]

Originally posted by edvedr
yes i do cardio for 30 minutes after every weight session and I keep my heart rate around 130

by doing your cardio after lifting, you are missing most of your anabolic window when the muscles are prime to accept nutrientz. it is better to do cardio first thing in the morning

[jack hust]

up the protein

[trip]

edevdr,

Nice to see you posting, another fitness boarder joins up.

Simple, it's a calories in calories out equation, keep protein high, and if you feel you are losing muscle cut down on cardio, and or do cardio at a different work out.

It takes a few cutting cycles to determine how your own bodies responds to AS, and a low calorie diet.

Try not to fret and be patient, you'll get it.

Good Luck

[joe bigboy]

definetly up the proptein intake bro, when cutting you gotta get the most of your cals from the protein because the carbs aren't there anymore.....

[morebeefplease]

by doing your cardio after lifting, you are missing most of your anabolic window when the muscles are prime to accept nutrientz. it is better to do cardio first thing in the morning

very good point. not all ppl can do cardio in the morning (job, school whatever) but it is the best if done just after waking. if you can't do cardio in the morning then just split up your cardio and weights. you can't burn the candle at both ends. JMO

[iamcdn]

Originally posted by alwayzgrowing
by doing your cardio after lifting, you are missing most of your anabolic window when the muscles are prime to accept nutrientz. it is better to do cardio first thing in the morning

first thing in the morning is ideal, yes, but if you can't do that after your workout is 2nd best IMO because your glycogen stores are low (same as when you wake up) and you can burn fat 'easier'.

id say do your cardio after your workout, 60-70% of max heartrate for 30min (5-10min warm up, 10-15min 75% of max heart rate, 5-10min cool down)

i think bill philips and even mr. x over at elite recommend waiting 30min after a workout before you eat anyways, so as long as you eat between 30-1hr your muscles caputure that anabolic window

your drugs, and low intensity workout should allow you to hold on to your muscle mass while cutting, good luck, keep us posted

[koss]

Try hitting the cardio in the am before you eat. Hit it hard.
Load up on the protien all day long. Hit it right before and after your lifting. You can keep low on the cals and still go high on the protien.