"Been there, done that" may explain your attitude toward not-so-new
endeavors like movie reruns and mohawk haircuts, but few of us have ever
"been there, done that" when it comes to achieving single-digit
body fat levels. Dropping fat to stage-ready percentages is no easy feat, and
a hardcore cut usually ends up burning as much
motivation and strength as it does fat.
Fortunately, we can learn from
successful people. We asked eight
MuscleTech athletes for their best fat-loss tips and strategies and came
back with these 17 gems. Incorporate this training and
nutrition advice into your own get-shredded efforts and build a winning formula for getting absolutely ripped!
A number of athletes told us that they don't abandon heavy
free-weight workouts when trying to get cut. "I've lifted weights for over 10 years," says Louisville
personal trainer Lindsay Cappotelli,
"and I've found that heavy weights lifted for 5-8 reps with a focus on
big lifts like the squat, deadlift, and bench press has worked best for
me. You always hear, '
Train with light weights for high reps to burn
fat,' but I've found the opposite to be true."
Actor and
fitness model James Joseph Pulido agrees: "I believe in going heavy when you can as [often] as possible [while on a fat-loss program]."
"I'm a fan of supersets and pairing up certain body parts so you can train them 1-2 times a week."
-Dave Dreas
Resistance training clearly plays a role in fat loss, but you're better
off ditching the straight-sets approach. One aspect of training that
many competitors change when cutting is how they arrange their workouts.
"I find incorporating circuits, dropsets, and supersets really does the
trick for me," says Canadian Nick Opydo. "Keeping your heart rate high and taking shorter breaks is essential when trying to shed fat."
"I'm a big fan of supersetting
exercises for opposing
muscle groups with
short rest periods to keep the intensity high," adds Cappotelli.
Texas trainer Jesse Hobbs
concurs: "When trying to lean down and bring out definition, I
recommend high-volume supersets. At the end of every rep, you can also
pulsate the final movement for 5-6 pumps."
When cutting fat, Phoenix businessman and
fitness model Dave Dreas
also relies on supersets. "I'm a fan of supersets and pairing up
certain body parts so you can train them 1-2 times a week," he says. "If
you have a good program laid out, you can cycle through higher weight
and high volume."
Catching your breath for extended periods between sets isn't going to
work if your aim is fat loss, says Alberta personal trainer Cody Ivey. While he's also a big fan of supersets, Ivey also doesn't rest more than 30 seconds between any set when he's leaning out.
While some athletes eschew cardio, that doesn't mean they don't
integrate metabolic "finishers" into their resistance workouts. "What's
worked for me in the last few years for fat loss has been adding in
short, 5-10 minute finishers after my
strength-training workouts 1-3
times per week," says Cappotelli. "A few examples are several sets of
heavy farmer's walks, battling ropes, double-unders (jump rope),
kettlebell swings, and prowler sprints, or a combination of those."
"[HIIT] burns more calories in less time, which is ideal for people like me who work extremely long days."
-Cody Ivey
High-intensity interval training,
often called HIIT, not only burns a slew of calories as you alternate
all-out sprints with easy recovery periods, but it's been shown to
significantly boost post-
exercise calorie burn for up to 24 hours.
"[HIIT] burns more calories in less time, which is ideal for people like
me who work extremely long days," says Ivey. "Also, HIIT cardio can
build muscle, and more muscle equals more calorie expenditure."
To ensure that high-intensity intervals don't gobble up circulating
amino acids in your bloodstream intended for muscle repair and building,
Ivey suggests a BCAA supplement such as
MuscleTech's AMINO BUILD prior to training, especially if you prefer fasted morning cardio.
6
HIIT IT OUTDOORS
You can certainly use the treadmill, stair-climber, or elliptical in the
gym to do high-intensity intervals. But, California physique competitor
Jimmy Everett,
recalling his
old football days, prefers to HIIT the hills or gridiron.
Not only does that allow him to take advantage of the great weather,
but he finds it more
motivating to train outdoors, far away from the
monotony of cardio machines.
Cycling your carbohydrate intake, in which you reduce your consumption
of carbs to fairly low levels—about 50-100 g per day—for several days,
followed by a high-carb day, is a common approach in successful fat-loss
programs.
For many athletes and bodybuilders like Everett, the high-carb day
coincides with a leg day or heavy back day so the extra glycogen can be
put to use powering through especially tough training sessions. If you
cycle your carbs, time the higher-carb days to coincide with a heavy
workout.
"If you cycle your carbs, time the higher-carb days to coincide with a heavy workout."
8
BEWARE OF HIDDEN CALORIES
If you enjoy a glass of juice with your meals or use it to mix your
protein shake, watch out for the extra calories. While New York's Pulido
suggests the occasional glass may be fine, he reminds you that liquid
calories "aren't as filling as whole foods, which provide more volume."
According to research in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,"
37 percent of Americans' total daily calories come from sugar-sweetened
drinks, including sodas and fruit juices, yet these calories do little
to make you feel full. If you crave something sweet, a whole fruit
provides more vitamins, minerals, and fiber, plus you're less likely to
eat additional foods because the volume is greater in
your digestive system.
"If you enjoy a glass of juice with your meals or use it to mix your protein shake, watch out for the extra calories."
9
TRICK YOUR TASTE BUDS
Exchanging higher-fat foods for lower-fat alternatives is always an easy
way to save on calories, but many fear that the lower-fat versions
aren't as tasty. You might have trouble exchanging full-fat milk, for
example, for its nonfat counterpart because the latter tastes a bit
watery.
Try this trick: Use the nonfat milk for about three weeks, and
then switch up to 1 or 2 percent milk. Suddenly that milk will taste
creamier than the nonfat milk without having to resort to the full-fat
version. And for each eight ounce glass, you'll save nearly 50 calories
and six grams of fat.
10
SUPPLEMENT SMART
If you're cutting calories, especially from dietary carbohydrate and fat
sources, your body is more apt to start using amino acids for energy,
which is one reason why the majority of athletes we spoke with
increased
their protein intake while on a fat-loss program. Whey powders like
MuscleTech's Platinum 100% Whey mix easily so can be consumed without a
blender.
Every physique athlete knows the power of a good fat-burner, and the new
Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite combines multiple fat-loss ingredients in a
single proven product. Bolstered with caffeine,
coleus forskohlii,
L-theanine and other metabolism-boosting ingredients, it helps increase
energy and focus, thermogenesis, and weight loss. While you should
never expect a supplement alone to make you lean, a solid fat-burner can
complement a smart fat-loss plan.


11
JUNK THE JUNK FOODS
"
Remove all foods from
your home you may be tempted to overeat, like snack foods and candy,"
says Cody Ivey. "Anything is OK in moderation, and a cheat here and
there is fine. But, many people have a difficult time with temptation
and moderation. This method works best for me; I do get a little
'snacky' in the evenings. If it's not around, I won't eat it."
12
TAPER YOUR CALORIES
If you're lax on your diet, Canadian personal trainer Opydo suggests a
simple solution: taper off your calories as the day goes on. "I find
that, when dieting, when I eat the majority of my food during the day, I
don't get as hungry toward the evening and I don't binge at night
before bed."
13
LOSE IT FOR GOOD
If you're looking for the recipe for long-term success, the answer
entails more than following a short-term dietary fix to lose a few
pounds. How do you keep the weight off for good? By adopting the
lifestyle.
"I just live my life around being healthy and active and staying optimistic, loving what I do," says 30-year-old Everett.
Obviously you'll be more successful if you're able to make permanent
changes in your food choices, but few of us have the machine-like
ability to resist tempting snacks when cravings arise.
"I'd say the most underrated aspect of losing fat is finding a nutrition
plan that's sustainable," says trainer Cappotelli. "So many people go
to extreme measures, cutting out carbs or going on a very low-calorie
diet, which may work at first but is not healthy in the long run. So
many people think the key to fat loss is always
less, but what most people don't realize is that eating
enough food is just as important in maintaining a healthy metabolism in the long run."
14
DON'T SEEK SHORTCUTS
A number of
fitness models and athletes confided there simply is no shortcut to success.
"There's definitely no secret to fat loss. It just takes good old
fashioned hard work and dedication," adds Cappotelli. "Just like with
anything, the keys are time and consistency. Results come by doing the
right things day-in and day-out. It's making the right choices and
sticking to your workout plan consistently, not looking for a quick fix
or the secret formula to rapid fat loss."
"Bottom line is that there is no easy way out," adds Opydo. "There's no
overnight recipe for washboard abs—the secret is consistency and effort.
If you make the time and commitment to work toward achieving your
fitness goals, eventually you'll get there!"
15
FIND A PARTNER TO PUSH YOU
Florida's Tricia Ashley
gets a big lift from her boyfriend, who not only coaches her but
provides plenty of motivation. Working out with a more advanced friend
or significant other can provide a big boost. "I love working out with
my boyfriend. He makes me move, keeps me focused, and pushes me when I'm
tired," says Ashley.
"I love to work out with my fiancee," adds Hobbs, who competes in
bodybuilding. "She motivates me more than anyone. And our lifting
sessions seem to turn into competitions every time we train together, so
we always push ourselves to the next level."
Bonus Questions
16
WHAT FAT-LOSS ADVICE IS THE MOST OVERRATED?
"The most overrated aspect of losing body fat is so-called miracle
diets," says Opydo. "People are always looking for an easy way out without having to put in the time and effort."
"The
most underrated aspect of fat loss is food choices. Everybody wants to
lose body fat and look and feel better, but they don't want to eat
healthy."
-Jimmy Everett
"[If you don't know how to use a carb-cycling program effectively],
cutting carbs is the most overrated," adds Ivey. "Most people don't know
how to maintain that kind of diet and don't know how to increase other
valuable macronutrients. An extended calorie deficit slows the
metabolism and can set you up for a future of dieting struggles."
17
WHAT FAT-LOSS ADVICE
IS THE MOST UNDERRATED?
"In my opinion, the most underrated aspect of fat loss is food choices,"
says Everett. "Everybody wants to lose body fat and look and feel
better, but they don't want to eat healthy. We are always looking for
ways around the good foods that are proven to work time after time."
"Many people avoid HIIT cardio for fear of losing muscle, but this kind of training actually builds muscle," adds Ivey.
"As far as underrated aspects of losing weight go, I'd definitely say
that people don't utilize HIIT style training as much as they should,"
adds Opydo. "People tend to prefer steady-state cardio, but I find that
HIIT training is where you'll see your body change the most."