For the definition of ‘cutting’ and detailed information please see the article Cutting V Bulking: Losing Body Fat Whilst Gaining Quality Muscle. You’ll find two sample meal plans there, both of which are designed to encourage fat loss and muscle maintenance – perfect for bodybuilders. This article provides an alternative cutting meal plan, based very much around good quality food choices including some basic supplements, please refer to the information in the article to compliment the information here.
Contents
Exercise and Cutting
Your weight training regimen you follow when you’re not cutting needs to be continued for when you are cutting. High repetitions with low weights are not required; high reps do not ‘tone muscle’ nor do they aid in the loss of fat. Heavy weight training is standard; the only things that change are dietary factors and cardiovascular activity levels. Weight training whilst cutting, must remain intense. You will be able to continue to train hard as you’re the plan provides structured nutrition to fuel exercise.
In order to achieve optimum results, try to include 40-50 minutes of cardiovascular exercise or high intensity interval training (HIIT) three or four times per week. Ideally this should be done first thing in the morning, if it fits in with your daily routine, following a black tea or coffee and nothing else. Intensity should be low, say about 55-60% maximum heart rate, the optimum level for mobilising fat reserves whilst maintaining muscle tissue. In practice, this is the level so when you cease exercising you feel slightly warm and just out of breath.
Weight Loss Supplements
There are a huge number of weight loss supplements on the market, some rubbish and some effective. Some are labelled as ‘fat burners‘ but they do not burn fat; they are thermogenic aids and simply increase core body temperature very slightly and thus metabolic rate is raised.
Although they may be used as an addition to a suitable cutting and cardio regimen, weight loss supplements must not be relied on too heavily. Green tea has mild thermogenic properties and will provide antioxidants in the diet, so is a useful addition. Supplements based on ephedra or ECA (ephedrine – caffeine – aspirin) are effective, but not without side effects. Hoodia can be used for suppressing appetite where appetite is a problem, but a well designed regimen, shouldn’t allow for excessive hunger.
Cutting Diet – Meal Plan Example
Meals must be small but regular, and in order to keep growing and maximise your bodybuilding, it is essential to keep protein intake high. The key to effective cutting lies in careful manipulation of your intake of carbohydrate foods, i.e. carbs should be low, but not omitted. Consume complex starchy carbohydrate foods regularly, but in small portions only. Be strict in avoiding treats and junk food.
Following a meal plan similar to the one below should give a steady loss of body fat, and if you are training hard, there will be no loss of muscle. Portion sizes and meals have been structured in such a way to help keep you feeling full up and satisfied whilst dieting.
| Wake 6.30 am | Strong black tea / coffee |
| 40-50 mins low intensity cardio | |
| 7.30 breakfast | Porridge: 30g oats + skimmed milk + tsp sugar 3 egg whites + 1 egg yolk scrambled 200ml fresh fruit juice |
| 10.00 | 100g chicken breast 2 oatcakes Fruit Mug green tea |
| 12.30 | 180g tuna or mackerel salmon or chicken breast 30g wholemeal pasta or basmati rice Large mixed salad Mug green tea |
| 15.00 | 100g chicken breast 2 oatcakes Fruit Mug green tea |
| 45 mins pre-workout | 20g whey protein powder in water 2 oatcakes Banana Drink water |
| 45 mins intense weight training | |
| Immediately post workout | 40g whey protein powder + 5g glutamine in water |
| Evening meal 60 mins later |
150g lean red meat or 180g salmon steak 40g wholemeal pasta or 40g basmati rice or 2-3 small boiled new potatoes Large serving mixed vegetables |
| 22.00 | Serving James’ Super Smoothie – The JSS Cutting Shake |
| Bedtime | 200g cottage cheese |
As with all the plans on MuscleTalk, this is merely a guide and must not be stuck to rigidly! You must eat a variety of different meats/fish, starchy carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables every day, and drink plenty of water. Adapt the plans to suit your own needs and daily routine and adjust according to your results in order to attain a steady loss of body fat.
