From 194Lbs to 170Lbs a User's Weight Journey

Introduction

Bigfix, a 6' tall male weighing 194lbs with a body fat percentage (BF%) of 22.6%, embarked on a 5-month journey of lifting and dieting to reduce his BF% and improve his muscle-building potential. This article will detail his journey based on his Reddit post.

Dieting and Cutting

Bigfix achieved his current weight of 170lbs with an 18% BF by following a diet with high protein, low carbs, and 55-65g of fat. His daily caloric intake was 1g per pound of body weight, which was around 1973 calories. His occasional cheats, as expected during holiday seasons, did not affect his progress. He aimed to reach a BF% of 10%, but feared losing his muscles. Suggestions for reaching his goal and increasing muscle-building potential were welcomed.

Cardio for Cutting

Bigfix questioned if he should incorporate cardio exercises into his lifting routine to speed up the cutting process. Reddit users advised him to reduce lifting days and focus on full-body workouts three times a week. If he still did not reach the daily caloric deficit of 500-750 kcal, he should add cardio on the remaining days. PM_ME_STOCKTIPS suggested that Bigfix do moderate 30-min treadmill exercises daily, even on lifting or off days.

High-Rep Ranges when Cutting

To maintain muscle mass while still cutting, Bigfix inquired whether doing fewer reps with heavier weights would be more effective than higher reps within his current calorie intake. Working with a weight range of 60-90% of his one-rep max with a focus on sets of 5 x 5 would be the preferred choice. Working high reps with low weights burns fewer calories and does not maintain muscle mass effectively.

Conclusion

Bigfix finally learned that mindful cutting should focus on muscle preservation and use effective cardio and lifting routines. This should allow him to achieve his desired BF% of 10% from his current 18%. Various weight loss processes affect people differently. In his case, Bigfix needed support to understand the right tactics for his journey. Therefore, one should also experiment and choose a process that works best for their body and not forget to consult with certified experts along the way.