[Closed] idieting away the last 5kg. Why isn't it working?

Out of interest... how are you calculating your BF%?

I'd say don't beast yourself and accept that a certain weight will be carried. (All IMO).

Therese another bloke at work- same height as me and same weight yet he looks bloody big/muscular compared (we measured thighs and his are two inch up on mine as well). Plus they say muscle weighs more..

Its just one of those things.

I think I read somewhere that the iDiet is only good until the last 10-15% body fat, then there has to be a significant input from yourself in the form of exercising.
I might, of course, be totally wrong though.

I am measuring on body fat scales. I know they are not that accurate but I am certainly not below 15%, there is still plenty of flesh to grab onto.

I have been training reasonably well over the summer on the bike and kettlebell and core strength training. Since the racing season finished I have been keeping up with kettle bells and core strength 3 or more times per week so it is not just sofa surfing 🙂

I have a feeling that the answer may be intermittent fasting or tight portion controls (which should both work) but I was hoping that there may be a third way which required less effort or thought on my part.

Hmmm - tight portion controls may not be the solution. I'm lighter as a result of eating a little more.

Ignore the % thing and concentrate on proper measurements IMO.

Also, why haven't you started base training for next season yet 😉

First mountain bike race of the winter season yesterday which happened to be my first mountain bike ride since May.

I really sucked!

A serious loss of off road mojo, but i guess, or at least hope it will come back a bit with some more sessions.

Have you tried interval training that might work. I've fallen off the idiet in a big way put a stone back on and I don't seem to be able to get back on it. Salad just is not appealing in the autumn.

tails - start making massive batches of soup!

what's salad got to do with anything tails? i hardly ever have salad.

tails - start making massive batches of soup!

That might be just the ticket for the winter.

what's salad got to do with anything tails? i hardly ever have salad.

It's the only thing the cafe does that's not loaded with carbs!

What do you eat idave? I need stuff thats quick to prepare and can be eaten cold or heated in a microwave or toaster.

Lots of interval training in the summer, didn't seem to make a huge difference.
2½-3 hours hard training rides with the bike club were effective, but that is a summer thing, winter is time for turbo training and mountain biking.

Looks like I need to introduce more strict fat and portion control then 🙁

"Hidden" sugar in your foods?

You could also try going vegetarian for a while.

I need stuff thats quick to prepare and can be eaten cold or heated in a microwave or toaster.

Last night's leftovers. I always make enough to do me for dinner and at least one lunch.

Today's lunch is last night's lentils with red wine and chorizo and will be eaten cold.

What about some weight lifting or running if you don't already?

Today's lunch is last night's lentils with red wine and chorizo and will be eaten cold.

Can I have the recipe please?

Can I have the recipe please?

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3795/lentils-with-chorizo-and-red-wine

I have started some moderate weight lifting type stuff like push ups and I am doing kettle bell exercises. I don't really want to get any extra weight from muscle either as I don't think it will help cycling.

I am pretty careful with other foods (I avoid sausages because of the flour in them etc) I don't eat too many nuts (none if I can manage it) and I drink lots of water. However, I do eat a biggish lunch of meat and salad (with beans if possible) and a big meal in the evening with beans, veg and meat.
I don't stick exclusively to lean meats though, just whatever we happen to be having (often pork as we are in Denmark)

And I hate running (converted triathlete so I have done plenty of it and never really liked it)

Google "ECA stack" or "PAGG Stack" for some pharmaceutical ways to loose body fat. The PAGG is not so hardcore as the ECA. Could also try "ketogenic Diet"
How far you go really depends on how much you really value getting to a low body fat percentage.
I'm not specifically recommending any of them...

My suggestion would be to do some short bouts of hard lifting, short sprints (I mean 30s - 2 mins short) kettlebell workouts.. sprinting on foot, that kind of thing. Have a read of the Four Hour Body, lots of easy but effective sutff in there. He's all about simulating your body to build itself a bit more which uses energy and changes some hormone profile or something, I forget 🙂

Oddjob, I have the Four Hour Body on PDF if you want it.

the four hour body is great and has some advice for going the final few kg, which iDave diet won't do. Personally, I haven't yet felt the need to get super lean, I think that's about to change.

i've had good results with clients, some normal bods, some elite athletes who want to lose the last few kg. it takes some ****ing around with your metabolism and some shocks to the system. all perfectly safe.

It is liposuction, Dave?

So.. Feb time, in time for the race season I'll be needing to shed that last few kg for some razor race core action.

The fourhourbody has a bit about losing the last few kg as iDave mentions.

Basically quantities get very strict, as do the timings of the meal.

Your meant to eat something like the following every 3 hours (pick an option).

a) White non-fatty fish, some nuts
b) Chicken / Turkey, some nuts
c) Red Meat or fatty fish
d) 5 Whole eggs
e) Whey protein, some nuts

Go easy on any oil, i.e. a table spoon.

Any amount of spinach / cruciferous vedge.

Then one cheat meal every 7-10 days.

Sounds utterly horrid to me, so I won't go this far 🙂

sounds horrible to me too and not necessary.

Nobody came out of Belsen 5 kgs over weight.

Nickname pretty much nails it.

Eat little - weigh little - simples

No one came out of Belsen with much lean body mass either.

Restricted calories isn't sustainable, dieting makes you fat.

And saying 'simples' doesn't make something true, it just makes you sound 12

Eat little, weigh less, be miserable.

Eat more, still weigh less, be much happier.

Hmm, I wonder which I'd prefer.. mm..

Probably get mocked for this but...I've been using weight watchers online tracker thing for the last 8wks. Lost average of between 1.5 - 2 lbs / week so for. And its been a constant loss, week in - week out. The hardest part of the last 8 weeks has been eating enough. No joke, some days I feel I've really binged. I've done plenty of running, correction...jogging (10min/miles). Theoretically I should be losing plenty more, but I cant help but think that while I am shifting more fat, I'm putting back a bit of muscle.

Performance on the bike has improved no end. I've carried a good few stone more than I should have for the last few years, but feeling fitter than I have in a long time these days. 😉

Don't know anything about the idiet apart from having heard the name.

Anyway, worth a read is 'burn the fat, feed the muscle' - most of it is common sense stuff, but the basic science behind general nutrition and how to achieve your goals is explained.
It's a popular ebook available from various sources I believe.

Oh and - days off - I'm really bad on that a lot of the time; try and make your 'day off' a bit more healthy food, rather than a lot of bad food.

For instance, when I'm being good my 'day off treat' will be a 6' (or foot long but only eat half at a time) subway, but one of the <300 calorie ones. Rather than a pizza, carton of Orange Juice and chocolate desert.

Did you find any answers??

Do you [i]need[/i] to be leaner?

http://www.jimwendler.com/2011/09/time-to-man-up/

How much and what are you eating on your off day that causes such a weight increase?

Not sure if this is strictly allowed but it's bloody lovely...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pardina_lentils_with_32549

iDave - Member

And saying 'simples' doesn't make something true, it just makes you sound 12

Why thank you Dave, that's the nicest thing anyones ever said to me here...

Miketually - best 'men's health' article ever.

yeah, great article

derek - thanks, do you do the little meerkat noise after you type it?

Damn, it's blocked by the IT security Nazi's at our place that one.

Anyway, down to 12-15% sounds alright to me, going any further requires some fairly unpleasant behaviours for normal people. I keep thinking about it but I like beer, bacon and chocolate too much and no matter how many crunches I do, my abs aren't going to stand right out until I give up the nice stuff so never mind.

Damn, it's blocked by the IT security Nazi's at our place that one.

Time to Man Up

I’m going to have to give you some Tough Lust here (no lube or spit). First, I need for you to re-read this article, especially this part:

“Where performance and kicking ass are more important than how you look. Where people eat to live, not live to eat. Where trucks are pushed and sleds are pulled. Where reps and weight are counted, calories are not. Where running isn’t “cardio, it’s part of training and if you’re going to walk for your conditioning you best have something on your back or in your hands”

You admit that you are not strong enough (many of us feel this way but understand that it is an ongoing process and that THIS process is important). But please DO NOT be that guy who talks about where he holds his fat or how his legs or “obliques” are fattier than they should be. Where has our gender gone?

What I would prescribe for you is to get rid of all these silly, pathetic and disgusting notions of what you think a man should look like and start over. I’m going to give everyone a huge hint here: no one gives a shit what you look like. Now I’m not saying being a fat slob doesn’t raise some eyebrows in disgust, but if you kick as much ass as possible in the weight room and conditioning field AND start OWNING the **** out of your given “sport” (you better start competing and making your training count), you will not only LOOK better but you will feel better. People are not attracted to vanity – they are attracted to confidence and passion. No one owns a room by the way they look; it’s how they carry themselves.

There is so much more to this, but PLEASE don’t talk about your love handles. Talk about your passions in life, talk about how you’ve moved boulders, talk about the books you’ve read, talk about the world’s you’ve changed. You have the passion for training, start making this shit count.

I know this is probably way off topic then what you wanted but I’m trying hard to get rid of all this bullshit that is plaguing SO MANY men, young men and boys. So in conclusion, I recommend this:

1. Stretch 2. Lift 3. Sprint

Do this all the time – no bulking, no cutting, no bullshit. Just training for being a mother****er. Don’t be that guy that takes shirtless photos of himself so other men can drool on them. That shit is a disgrace to every man that has done anything awesome in his life – while they were busy “doing” these shirtless ‘tards were busy trying to look the part. Get off the bench and get on the field.

a nice easy 1, 2, 3 to remember and live by

shame my life is more

1.Sit 2.Click 3.Spout

The thread's back.

Yes I have read the 4 hour body and use quite a bit of it although the iDave plan is more or less what I stick to.

I have considered the last mile thing but it is not really compatible with family or work life although I may give it a shot next spring if I haven't shifted these last kg.

Days off seem to include eating bread and cheese at lunch, cakes at some point during the day and a pig out meal in the evening with desert and probably some chocolate spread during the day. This week I had an ibreakfast and started pigging at lunch which helped somewhat although I was up 1.8kg on sunday morning (it has been nearly 3kg in the past)

iDave - I'd love some tips, but can't really afford a full on coaching thing at the moment and i think it would be more beneficial in the spring, but let me know if you have something appropriate...

Maybe I just have to stick at this and see what happens over the next few months. I feel good and I don't need to be ready for proper racing again until April 🙂

Thanks dd.

I like that version, it's pretty much my approach. I'm dead buff by coincidence of riding shitloads really hard, not because I'm aiming to have a body like that. Although I am dead buff.

And for the record, I want to get rid of the fat to go faster, not for the sake of vanity.

I want to start winning bike races (ok it's only Cat4 equivalent but I want to win something!) and I have limited training time, that means riding hard and getting rid of unnecessary fat as far as I can see.

This season was pretty good, next season is going to be awesome!

Ok so I have a question. Some people (me included) don't report any weight gain on the morning after treat day, and some report like 2-3kg. Why would that be?