how low can you go?

[snagglepuss]

How much can you cut calories on a cutting diet when using AS?

I suspect that the answer will vary, at least partially, from person to person, so here's some basic info about me:

210, 6'1", 12-14%bf.
60 min. cardio, 4xs/wk
60 min. weight training, 3xs/wk.

37.5mgs fina ed
2 tabs NYC 3xs/day

diet: 50% protien, ~25% carbs, ~25% fat.

I was eating 2700-3000 cals/day before this cycle. If I eat 2000-2200cals/day now, will I still be able to preserve muscle? Should I go down to 1500-1800?

as always, thanks for your help!

 

[2Thick]

From what I have read, as long as you provide your body with enough calories to let your body function normally, you will not lose muscle mass. This is only true with anabolics though, because anabolics prevent your body from burning the fuel of choice (muscle) and forces your body to rely more on the next best thing (fat).

In your case, you will have to use a certain formula to determine what is necessary (in term of calories) to maintain your current weight and then subtract about 500-700 calories from it to find your approx. target range.

 

[snagglepuss]

Thanks, 2Thick. I think I understand what you are saying, but I'm a little confused. If anabolics "prevent your body from burning the fuel of choice (muscle)" couldn't you subtract more than 500-700 calories and still have your body burn body fat? Put another way, is it possible to increase the amount of fat that your body will burn, so that you can decrease calories further without causing your body to stop "functioning normally"?

 

[2Thick]

Technically, you could reduce your calories by ingesting mostly protein and fiber. The only time yo would need carbs would be after a workout. You will prob. feel sluggish and tired, but you will burn off the fat quickly.

One of AS's main medical uses is the prevention of (LBM) wasting in patients who are immobile or are too weak to move...therefore, it should work very well to shed fat while retaining most (if not all) of your LBM.

 

[Kronos]

HUH?

the fuel of choice (muscle) and forces your body to rely more on the next best thing (fat).

not a slam on 2thick, I know you mean well but,
I would have to disagree with the "fuel of choice" thing. I have not seen any *credible* studies that show evidence of this nor have I encountered it in my own dieting. Why would the body prefer muscle over carbs and fat? Seems pretty ass backwards to me considering the brilliance with which our bodies were designed.

*Credible studies only please.* No bodybuilder guru wannabe theories.

And from a purely subjective point of view, that would imply a serious design flaw in the human body, pointed out by a human, which implication and silly, unwarranted arrogance I find ridiculous.

 

[maxes21]

what 2thick is saying is that while on anabolics, you body uses carbs and fat for fuel rather than muscle even when dieting, so even if his protein is high and he's consumeing low fats and carbs, hell be burning more fat and preserving the muscle with high protein+building more muscle.

 

[Quadsweep]

While AAS will keep you in positive nitrogen balance (not losing muscle) 9-11 calories per pound is low! I am 2 weeks out from the USA @ 3-5% and my Calories are at 12 per pound. and I do no cardio. I would be worried about shutting down befpre too long.

Peace, Quad

 

[Beezers]

There is definately a limit as to how low you can go, unfortunately the medical sommunity doesn't really study bodybuilders in precontest mode while on AS. Studies of people lying in bed while on AS...yes...Bodybuilders...no. So we just don't know. As with everything else it is highly individual. Some folk just retain muscle mass better than others. There is a limit as to how many colories are needed to sustain current lean body mass in all humans though. For me it's around 16 calories per pound of body weight. For others it may be 10 and others 20. You just have to use yourself as a lab rat.

 

[drveejay11]

"I suspect that the answer will vary, at least partially, from person to person, so here's some basic info about me"


You said it best yourself !