My numbers:

24 yrs old
6"0
278 lbs
30% BF


My story:

I use to be about 15% BF, but after high school I kept eating the same amounts as when I was in sports, hence the 30% BF and increase of roughly 100 lbs.

My question:

For 6 weeks now I have totally reworked my lifestyle and have been consistent. I eat about 2400 calories spread throughout 4-6 meals a day. I drink plenty of water, hard weight training, and cardio 3-4 times per week (would do more if time permitted). Anyways, I know not to go by body weight so much as BF% and the mirror, but I just don't seem to be getting the results I thought I may be getting after over a month. I can definitly tell a large increase of strength and also visible increase in muscle, but no visible change in fat loss.

How far out typically should I start seeing visible decreases in body fat ?


-db


**EDIT**
I'm not discouraged, just want to know what to expect.

i didn't notice any change what so ever until about 4 months, then all of the sudden i was like, wow

I didn't notice until I shaved off my beard :lol:

The mirror is pretty close to useless. You look at it every day and any changes are pretty small day to day.

How do your clothes fit? Are you taking measurements?

It's hard to see week to week changes in the mirror; I find looking at progress pictures easier to see changes and also measurements is where it's at! I hope you are taking those weekly too :tu:

i didn't notice any change what so ever until about 4 months, then all of the sudden i was like, wow

I really appreciate your reply. Encouraging to hear. The coolest thing about this time of change is that regardless of ANY results, I still want to do because I feel so much better every day. I sleep better, in a better mood more often and overall have a sense of accomplishment throughout my week. My health is 2nd in importance now and looks are 3rd. My priorities use to be so different and now that they have been re-worked, I find that my consistency and dedication are better.

Thanks again for letting me know your experience! :D



I didn't notice until I shaved off my beard :lol:

The mirror is pretty close to useless. You look at it every day and any changes are pretty small day to day.

How do your clothes fit? Are you taking measurements?

Totally forgot about measuring... thanks for reminding me. Clothes ? Now that I think about it, I think my jeans went on a wee tiny bit easier the other day. Sweet. Thank you too Robert. :D

Keep at it and keep us updated! I'm where you are right now, waiting for visible differences... If you like we can wait together. :p

Look in a mirror that you haven't seen yourself in in a while and you'll notice a difference. Like your parents or a friends house. Its weird but it works, cuz the last time you looked in that particular mirror you probably looked different. Try it.

It does take time and then all of a sudden it starts to show. I'd lower your intake just a little more until you get to where you want to be and then level it off again.

Look in a mirror that you haven't seen yourself in in a while and you'll notice a difference. Like your parents or a friends house. Its weird but it works, cuz the last time you looked in that particular mirror you probably looked different. Try it.

Great Idea. I will do that probably once a month in my old bathroom from when I was a kid at my parents house. That mirror has seen a lot of change over the years. Maybe it will see a little more again, hopefully a lot of change!


It does take time and then all of a sudden it starts to show. I'd lower your intake just a little more until you get to where you want to be and then level it off again.

How long did it take you Wherebob to see change ?


Anyone else want to share how long it took them to see a change in a massive cut ?:bb:

Anyone else want to share how long it took them to see a change in a massive cut ?:bb:For myself it's been almost 2 months(and 20lbs lost) and I'm just now starting to see some changes. For one, my clothes are fitting much looser and I'm also starting to get comments from friends and co-workers. IMO cutting and bulking are just long term math problems which take time and patience. Be sure to take pictures(weekly) and remember there will be both good and bad days. After reading this forum and seeing the members(including John Stone) have the same struggles I dealt with it makes me feel better. Not that they're having a rough time, but rather I'm not alone in this fight. That's what is so great about this board. We're all just trying to better ourselves and support each other. Best of luck man and keep up the good work.

For myself it's been almost 2 months(and 20lbs lost) and I'm just now starting to see some changes. For one, my clothes are fitting much looser and I'm also starting to get comments from friends and co-workers. IMO cutting and bulking are just long term math problems which take time and patience. Be sure to take pictures(weekly) and remember there will be both good and bad days. After reading this forum and seeing the members(including John Stone) have the same struggles I dealt with it makes me feel better. Not that they're having a rough time, but rather I'm not alone in this fight. That's what is so great about this board. We're all just trying to better ourselves and support each other. Best of luck man and keep up the good work.

Yarrrr! I dunno man. I have an Omron HBF-306 (30%BF), a Tanita scale (276 lbs.), mirror, friends, co-workers and girlfriend. All 6 sources have said they see no change. Now, the girlfriend and myself both know and have felt a definite increase in muscle mass. I mean A LOT. That in and of itself is awesome and truly know that at least something is happening to my body and know it is a positive change.

However, I want my bodyfat done-did-gone. It has been 2 solid months now with only 1 week of shakiness. I am lifting 3 full-body times per week, eating 95% clean w/some cal zig-zag, mucho water, good fiber, 4-6 meals/day, Supps, getting better sleep thanks to ZMA along with what most of you would recommend that I do for my goals. The one thing I know I am not getting enough of is cardio. At the beginning of this 2 month period I was doing 40 mins of good intensity cardio 4 times per week. Over the last 3-4 weeks though, I am lucky if I get 1 in per week.

Would my lack of cardio be THE reason for no bodyfat/weight loss ?

Advise me my fellow JSF friends... I am discouraged, yet still disciplined and still going forward with motivation. I do however want results and would be encouraged by them for future fitness endeavours! Thank you.

-b82

bump for fat loss!



:confused:

Would my lack of cardio be THE reason for no bodyfat/weight loss ?


First let me state that I'm a total noob! Been eating clean and lifting for only a few weeks.

That said, I've also done a ton of reading and my general sense about cardio from everything I have read is that it's optional.

If you are lifting and eating clean you can lose weight without the cardio.

Some experts like Dr. Ellington Darden (http://www.drdarden.com) even go so far as to oppose any cardio at all, but that assumes I believe that you are following his High Intensity Training regime.

For now, I have stopped cardio and I just lift three times a week. I feel so good after a good cardio workout however that I will probably go back to it eventually.

Good luck!

-Barry

It took me a good 3 months before I started noticing a change, and even then I had to convince myself that it was happening. The scale weight was coming down (from 257.5), but what did it for me was having others start noticing. They first noticed after I lost 25 lbs or so. Then again at around 40 lbs lost. I've now lost 60 lbs, and I still have to convince myself that I've made a big change. Yet, I know I have. All my clothes no longer fit. I used to wear 40" jeans. I just bought a pair of 33" cargo shorts. So, just stick with it, keep going, and it will eventually happen.

Would my lack of cardio be THE reason for no bodyfat/weight loss ?

That said, I've also done a ton of reading and my general sense about cardio from everything I have read is that it's optional.

I can only speak from my own experience and I must preface this by saying that I'm female, and females generally need to do more cardio than guys in order to shed fat (unless your name's Maya). I only started seeing the results I wanted once I incorporated hard cardio into my workouts. HIIT 3x/week followed by 20 mins of MISS and on lifting days I do 20 mins of MISS after lifting. I take one day off. So that's 6 days of cardio and 3 days of lifting. Previously, I tried doing fasted LISS which did squat for me. So I would say that for some people cardio is essential. I don't know if you're one of them, though.