I'm starting my cutting mode today.
My least-favorite, where I maintain the muscle that I have and lose fat.
This is a 1,000 calorie per day deficit (knocked off from my Basal Metabolic Rate). High-protein, low-carb, low-fat. I lift only to maintain, and up the cardio to 6x per week, one-hour per day. I get one rest day per week - usually Sunday - and one cheat-day per week (usually Thursday). Cheat days are fun! That's where I get to eat anything that I want for one meal that day. No counting calories for that day, yippeee! This keeps me from going on an all-out binge, or from feeling like I can't handle it anymore and need to buy a bag of Hershey's kisses.
I stop taking creatine, continue with the protein powder. All fats are limited to Omega-3s. I up my intake of water. I eat a small calorie-balanced meal every 3 hours to stave off hunger and muscle-shrinkage. And my workouts consist of: 1 hour cardio followed by high-intensity interval training.
I'll stay in this mode for two months, or until I reach my plateau (whichever is greater), and then I'll switch back to muscle-building mode.
I just hate this mode, because it takes longer to get ready for work in the morning when I have to measure out scoops of this, handfuls of that, add up all the calories and package my meals into calorie-balanced containers and then figure a way to make them all fit nicely into my insulated lunch bag.
But anyway, I feel good knowing that I'm tending to the body that God gave me. His gift for me to use in this world, this life. For Him! For His glory.
