Hi, I frequent the site often and have since last Jan 07... I dedicated myself to a cutting program based off some of the earlier good logs posted and stuff I found doing fairly intensive research.

I started at around 205lbs and ate 6 times daily (lean, lots of chicken, whey protein, egg beaters, turkey, and so on), lifted 3 times a week, and did cardio daily. I dropped a 2-3 pounds a week until April where I was around 168. I felt great, I felt stronger, and I looked much better...

Around that time I had surgery on my lower back and have basically been out of working out for quite some time. I ate fairly well throughout the entire time and have maintained weight over the entire summer (give or take a few lbs).

I am back healthy again and starting up a good cutting diet and was doing some reading on one of the stickied posts and noticed the part about Carbs, Protein, and Fats per day...

The example given in the thread shows around 58% of daily calories from carbs, 30% from fats, and 30ish from protein.

Now, my question is this... my old diet, I have come to find out, was more along the lines of 30% carbs, 30% fats, and 40-45% protein...

Obviously that is much more than the suggested numbers given.

Given that throughout my last 4 month cutting phase I dropped about 35 lbs of fat, felt better, had more energy, looked better, etc... should I try and change my carbs, protein, and fat intakes closer to the suggested numbers or should I just do what I've been doing because it obviously at least sort of works?

The reason I ask is because I am aware that too much protein, when not bulking, can turn into fat easily. During my last cutting phase I dropped what appears to be a majority of body fat visible readily visible to the naked eye (I've never actually done a body fat % measurement sorry) except from right at my lower stomach area (which is to be expected, I know)... In my attempt to be rid of the last major area of fat, should I try and lower my protein and up my carbs or stick with what has previously cut 2-3 lbs of fat per week for me?

Thanks for the feedback.

Hi, I frequent the site often and have since last Jan 07... I dedicated myself to a cutting program based off some of the earlier good logs posted and stuff I found doing fairly intensive research.

I started at around 205lbs and ate 6 times daily (lean, lots of chicken, whey protein, egg beaters, turkey, and so on), lifted 3 times a week, and did cardio daily. I dropped a 2-3 pounds a week until April where I was around 168. I felt great, I felt stronger, and I looked much better...

Around that time I had surgery on my lower back and have basically been out of working out for quite some time. I ate fairly well throughout the entire time and have maintained weight over the entire summer (give or take a few lbs).

I am back healthy again and starting up a good cutting diet and was doing some reading on one of the stickied posts and noticed the part about Carbs, Protein, and Fats per day...

The example given in the thread shows around 58% of daily calories from carbs, 30% from fats, and 30ish from protein.

Now, my question is this... my old diet, I have come to find out, was more along the lines of 30% carbs, 30% fats, and 40-45% protein...

Obviously that is much more than the suggested numbers given.

Given that throughout my last 4 month cutting phase I dropped about 35 lbs of fat, felt better, had more energy, looked better, etc... should I try and change my carbs, protein, and fat intakes closer to the suggested numbers or should I just do what I've been doing because it obviously at least sort of works?

The reason I ask is because I am aware that too much protein, when not bulking, can turn into fat easily. During my last cutting phase I dropped what appears to be a majority of body fat visible readily visible to the naked eye (I've never actually done a body fat % measurement sorry) except from right at my lower stomach area (which is to be expected, I know)... In my attempt to be rid of the last major area of fat, should I try and lower my protein and up my carbs or stick with what has previously cut 2-3 lbs of fat per week for me?

Thanks for the feedback.
As long as it works, it works. Doesn't it?

Just keep track and adjust your intake when you hit a plateau. If you do, then I think going along the lines of 50/30/20 (carbs/protein/fat) would be a good start. Then just continue keeping track and adjust again if necessary.

That's what I (by no means an expert, mind you) would do. :)

Do what works for you. If you got the results you wanted and felt great with ~40% protein then that was obviously working for you. You could experiment with different macro's to see if you can find one your body likes more, but I wouldn't get to hung up on one set of macro's you read in a sticky, especially one so high in carbs.


The reason I ask is because I am aware that too much protein, when not bulking, can turn into fat easily.
Where did you hear/read that?

The macro I have heard of "too much turning to fat" is carbs, because allot of carbs will raise insulin which is a storage hormone. Your body creates Insulin and basically sends it out to take all that sugar (carbs) out of the blood and store it somewhere... guess where your body likes to store sugar ESPECIALLY if your not weight lifting?.

Also I would think that especially when cutting your body would need all the amino acids it can get from protein to help preserve muscle mass.

But I'm also by no means an expert :D

Losing 35 pounds, feeling better, looking great--yeah, I'd say what you did before "kind of worked." ;)

Your previous dieting experience and what worked for you is the most valuable tool you have. The sticky you're talking about and the macro range used is what worked for one person. There's plenty of discussion in the thread about customizing your diet based on your own unique results and requirements. Don't take it as gospel that comes down from on high.

An abundance of excess calories turn to fat, regardless of what their macro profile is.

If you're just starting back, just make sure you don't start out eating too low. Best of luck with your recovery and getting back into the gym.

thanks for the feedback

I figured it would probably be good to stick to what has worked for me but I just wanted to see what a few other people though in response to what I've done.

I've just started my 2nd week in my 2nd cutting phase this year and its going great with one exception. I have a tight muscle in my neck so I've been taking it easy with like two of my should/back exercises, but other then that, its been good.

IMO, if I'm going to be heavy on a particular macro for cutting, it would be protein. Making sure you have enough to fuel muscle repair from your workouts is important. I most often cut on about 50% protein give or take 5%. Fats next, and carbs the lowest.

Protein is a harder macro for the body to break down, so it has been called "thermogenic". In other words, you must expend more energy to break it down, so the metabolism ticks up a bit.

Your old diet is similar to what I generally cut on if not light on the protein and still a bit higher on carbs. So if that works, no reason to change too much.