Cutting Guide
Cutting Guide
FAT IT OFF
Weight-Loss Tracker:
-A dedicated Google Sheet where you can track your weight loss and measurements to keep you
motivated and on top of your progress
This guide is your ultimate resource for mastering how to lose fat and KEEP it off. It delves into
everything you need to know in starting, adhering too, and maintaining a fat loss phase. Offering a
comprehensive approach, this guide provides a detailed yet adaptable blueprint to help you
achieve your fitness goals. Enhance your body transformation journey with evidence-based
techniques and customised plans. Begin your fat loss journey today!
CONTENTS
Introduction
                         04
Chapter I
                         05
Mandatory Tools
Chapter II
                         12
Setting Up Your Diet
Chapter III
                         28
Nutrient Breakdown
Chapter IV
                         37
Training and Cardio
Chapter V
                         43
Supplements
Chapter VI
                         53
Recovery
Chapter VII
                         60
Adherance
Chapter VIII             63
Suggested Food Sources
Chapter XI               66
Example Meal Plans
Chapter XII
                         68
Weight-Loss Tracker
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to my ultimate guide to fat loss! I’m so happy you’re here, and I’m
excited to help you on your dieting journey.
In the pages ahead you will learn the ins and outs of weight loss including how
to set up and run the entirety of your fat loss phase, a complete breakdown of
nutrients and macros, how and when to implement cardio and example meal
plans! You will also get an insight into often overlooked elements of fat loss
such as training, recovery and adherance.
My goal in writing this guide is to provide you with the essential information I
wish I knew when I first started my weight loss journey, I went through
learning the hard way so you don’t have to! I also want to educate each and
every one of you reading this so you have a better understanding of the
nutritional aspect of going to the gym to really level up your body and get the
most out of your training. Optimising your nutrition means you can get the
most out of your training and maintain muscle while losing fat.
As a quick disclaimer, it’s important to note that what is best for you
nutritionally may not be what’s best for others. However, this guide provides
some basic principles and tools, and will aim to teach you how to tailor them
to your specific needs.
Thank you so much for supporting me and purchasing this guide. I hope I can
help you on your fat loss journey! I will be cheering you along every step of the
way <3
  CHAPTER I :
MANDATORY TOOLS
MANDATORY TOOLS
First things first: Lets dive into what tools I would highly recommend you have
before starting this guide. These tools are essential if you want to accurately
ensure you are sticking to your caloric goals, as well as measure and track
your progress.
1.KITCHEN SCALES
If I could recommend one thing it would be a kitchen scale. Kitchen scales are
essential to accurately track what you’re consuming, which will in-turn allow
you to effectively reach your goals during a fat loss phase. We want to be in a
deficit for as little time as possible, and by eating the right amounts of food
we will be able to do so successfully.
https://amzn.to/3JKZKSn
https://amzn.to/3O2ar5m
MANDATORY TOOLS
2.FOOD TRACKING APPS
 Working hand in hand with a food scale, food tracking apps are an amazing
 tool to track and monitor the food you're consuming and ensure that you are
 eating in line with your specific goals. My preferred app is MyFitnessPal. It's
 free, user-friendly, and easily downloadable from the app store.
 These apps enable you to keep track of your intake of protein, fat, and
 carbohydrates from all the food you consume. They offer functionalities like
 barcode scanning to input nutritional details of your foods into your daily food
 diary, helping you understand exactly what you're ingesting. Moreover, they
 feature many restaurants in their databases, giving you a fairly accurate
 estimate of the calorie/macronutrient profiles of various dishes when dining
 out.
 Monitoring your food in this manner equips you with the knowledge to be
 more flexible with your diet and improves your understanding of your food
 intake. If you're new to tracking or have never tracked before, I recommend
 being as precise as possible initially to enhance your grasp of nutrition. Once
 you become more familiar with portion sizes, you'll be able to take a break
 from precise tracking and accurately estimate your food more often.
MANDATORY TOOLS
3. PHONE / CAMERA
To effectively monitor your progress, I advise using a device such as a camera
or phone to regularly take progress photos. This visual approach helps
maintain focus on your physical transformation, preventing you from
obsessing over numbers on the scale. These photos act as motivational
milestones on your fitness journey. Remember, the goal is to achieve a
specific physical appearance, not a particular scale weight or measurement.
So, instead of continuously checking the mirror, take periodic progress photos
with consistent lighting and a stable camera setup.
Allocate one day each week or every other week for a physique update
session. Early in the morning, under consistent lighting conditions, set up your
camera and capture a brief video of your current physique. This can transform
your progress tracking into an engaging and enjoyable ritual, and become an
event you look forward to each time!
MANDATORY TOOLS
4. WEIGHT SCALE
Given that our primary goal is fat loss, often associated with weight loss, a
scale can serve as a helpful tool in tracking our journey. However, before
diving into the benefits of using a scale, it's crucial to remember that the
number it displays might be misleading. The weight it shows can reflect
various factors such as fluctuations of water retention, not just fat loss.
Therefore, it's essential not to form an emotional bond with specific scale
readings. These figures are merely there to chart our progress and don't offer
a highly accurate depiction of the amount of fat we've shed.
If you find yourself becoming obsessive over the number on the scale, I
recommend using it less frequently (around 3-4 times per week) or avoiding it
altogether.
Keeping that in mind, the scale is still an effective tool for tracking fat loss,
especially when used in alongside the other tools mentioned above. For
consistency, weigh yourself 4-7 times per week, ideally at the same time each
day—specifically right after you wake up, use the toilet, and before you
consume any food or drink.
From these 4-7 body weight measurements, calculate a weekly average. Then
compare this weekly average with subsequent ones to determine whether
your weight is trending downward over time, making adjustments as needed.
MANDATORY TOOLS
4. WEIGHT SCALE
Important Note:
https://amzn.to/46O4fp8
MANDATORY TOOLS
5. MEASURING TAPE
Another handy tool for tracking progression is a measuring tape. A traditional
measuring tape can be used to monitor changes in waist circumference and
other body dimensions like glutes, chest, legs and arms.
I will now walk you through how to achieve each of these goals in turn.
SETTING UP YOUR DIET
WEIGHT LOSS TARGET
The first step to setting up a successful fat loss phase is picking a reasonable
and achievable weight loss target.
Aiming for a moderate 0.5% body weight loss per week may be beneficial for
those who don’t want to feel like they’re in a deficit, and are adopting a more
flexible and longer term approach to weight loss. Losing weight at this rate
can make your deficit feel less restrictive, allowing a more comfortable and
sustainable weight loss journey while maintaining a satisfying diet. However,
with this comes a much slower rate of loss, and ultimately will require you to
be in a deficit for a longer period of time.
On the other hand, losing weight at around 1% per week may be beneficial for
those who don’t mind being in a larger deficit and wish to get “in and out” as
quickly and as efficiently as possible. Losing at this rate will still allow you to
maintain your muscle mass while losing weight. However, with this rate of
loss you may experience much lower energy levels early on in your diet, in
comparison to those losing at a slower rate.
SETTING UP YOUR DIET
WEIGHT LOSS TARGET
I would not recommend aiming to lose much lower than 0.5% per week. Losing
at a rate lower than this becomes hard to monitor (given very small amounts
of weight loss each week) and may lead to you giving up on your diet out of a
lack of results.
I also would not recommend you lose more than 1% per week. Going above this
rate of loss can lead to serious diminishing returns. Such as muscle loss,
reductions in training performance, hormonal or health related issues and
disordered eating. Diets which are harsh and restrictive often lead to rebound
weight gain from binge eating at the end of the dieting period, and is not
something I would ever recommend.
In sum: it is purely preferential which end of the scale you choose from when
losing weight. For those who have trouble deciding, split the difference and
pick a mid-way point for weight loss and go from there.
SETTING UP YOUR DIET
LET’S EXPLORE AN EXAMPLE
Let's illustrate an example that's easy to understand, focusing on weight loss
through a calorie deficit:
Consider a person named Alex who weighs 200 pounds and enjoys regular
walks in the park. Alex has decided to lose weight to improve overall health
and well-being.
First, Alex sets a clear and achievable goal. The aim is to lose weight healthily,
focusing on fat loss while preserving muscle mass. Using the guideline of
losing 1% of body weight per week, Alex calculates the potential weekly
weight loss:
After determining the weight loss target and duration, the next step is to
figure out the required caloric intake to reach these goals.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
If you wish to calculate your maintenance calories an easier way than the one
i’m about to outline (the formula on the next page), I would recommend this
online calorie calculator which I have used myself in the past for a rough
estimation. Note that this will give you a rough guide, not 100% accuracy and
may need to be modified as needed. I recommend following the suggestion for
a week or two, and monitor if you lose or gain weight within this period. If you
lose weight it’s likely too low, gain weight too high, or maintain weight you
know it’s about right.
https://www.calculator.net/calorie-calculator.html
Most people tend to fall under the sedentary or lightly active category. It is
better to underestimate and adjust later.
SETTING UP YOUR DIET
CALCULATING MAINTANENCE CALORIES, THE FORMULA:
The Mifflin-St Jeor equation for BMR:
The above equations will calculate the calories you burn at rest, also known as
your basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is basically the calories you need to
maintain normal bodily functions. When calculating maintenance calories, we
must also take into account activity levels during the day. This is done by
multiplying our BMR (as calculated above) by an activity factor (generally 1.2-
1.95), dependent on a person's typical levels of exercise:
To lose weight at the rate of 2 pounds per week, Alex needs to create a calorie
deficit. Since 1 pound of body weight is roughly equivalent to 3500 calories, to
lose 2 pounds in a week, Alex would need to reduce the caloric intake by 7000
calories over the week (3500 * 2).
Dividing 7000 by 7 (the number of days in a week), we find that Alex needs to
consume approximately 1000 fewer calories daily to achieve the goal.
So, to align with the weight loss goal, Alex should consume about 1790
calories daily (2790 maintenance - 1000 deficit) during the weight loss phase.
SETTING UP YOUR DIET
DURATION OF WEIGHT LOSS PERIOD
As I previously mentioned, we want to be in our deficit for as little time as
possible, but this time is different for those with different goals.
Optimal periods for weight loss can vary, typically falling between 2 to 6
months, depending on the individual's goals and starting point. Most people
find a cycle of 2-3 months of weight loss, interspersed with diet breaks or
maintenance periods, to be the most effective strategy. This timeframe
allows for substantial weight loss at a manageable pace (within the 0.5-1% of
body weight per week range). If aiming for weight loss at a lower percentage
rate (closer to 0.5%), extending the timeframe to around 3 months may be
beneficial. Conversely, those targeting a higher percentage of weight loss
(closer to 1%) might find a more intensive 2-month period more suitable.
For those wishing to lose a substantial amount of weight (for instance if you
are overweight) or are completely new to dieting, time periods of up to 6
months may be more suited to you. This timeframe works in this case as
dieting comes with large lifestyle changes, and can lead to more effortless
weight loss compared to those who already have a relatively good diet and
train regularly. That being said, I would not recommend dieting for periods
longer than 3 months without taking at least a 2 week break to eat at
maintenance calories and give yourself a break from dieting. This break will
allow you the flexibility to still enjoy your life and the dieting process without
feeling overly restricted, which will allow for longevity in your weight loss in
the long run.
SETTING UP YOUR DIET
HOW TO NAVIGATE WEIGHT LOSS PLATEAUS
As weight is lost, the body will require fewer calories to maintain its new
weight, meaning the initial caloric deficit might become closer to
maintenance calories over time.
When a weight loss plateau occurs, it's important to adjust the caloric intake
slightly to maintain a deficit.
Long-term continual weight loss can result in muscle loss, extreme fatigue,
performance loss when training and high chances of weight gain rebounds
post-dieting. Our goal here is not just to lose fat for a short period of time, we
want to lose fat and keep it off. If we want to reduce the downsides of dieting
and keep the weight off, we need to take the process slow, and aim to reduce
the fatigue of dieting as much as we can.
BMR: Usually, BMR is estimated to require about 10-11 calories per pound per
day for most adults. This varies based on factors such as age, sex, weight,
height, and muscle mass.
Physical Activity Level: The rest of the multiplier accounts for physical
activity. A sedentary person might only need to add a few calories per pound
to their BMR (thus using the lower end of the range, like 14), while an
extremely active person might need significantly more (hence the higher
multipliers like 16-18).
SETTING UP YOUR DIET
THE MAINTENANCE PHASE
-A sedentary person who doesn't get much exercise might maintain their
weight at 14-15 times their body weight in pounds.
-An active person who exercises regularly might maintain at 16-17 times their
body weight.
-A very active person (like someone who has a physically demanding job or
trains hard daily) might need to use the higher end of the range or even more.
Finding the right calories during a maintenance phase can take a bit of trial
and error. It's essential to approach this period with a mindset geared toward
experimentation to find what works best for you. Regularly tracking your
weight is a practical approach; if you notice significant increases, it may be
time to reassess your calorie intake. However, it's also important to maintain
perspective and not be overly concerned with minor fluctuations. It's typical
to experience some temporary water weight gain when you increase your
calorie intake to maintenance levels. This is a normal response and should not
be a cause for alarm. Once you resume a caloric deficit, this water weight is
likely to decrease swiftly. The key is to remain vigilant but not to let minor
changes derail your overall goals or disrupt your mental composure.
SETTING UP YOUR DIET
THE MAINTENANCE PHASE
How will you know when to come out of a maintenance phase?
Knowing the right duration of your maintenance phase is crucial for both
physical and mental recovery. The primary indicator for transitioning out of
this phase is your overall well-being. Pay close attention to any signs of
fatigue, and take stock of your mental readiness for another cycle of dieting.
My personal experience has shown me the importance of not rushing this
process. It's less about adhering to a specific timeframe and more about
ensuring you are fully prepared to re-enter a dieting phase with renewed
focus and energy. Prematurely diving back into dieting can lead to poor
results, undermine your progress, and adversely affect your mental state. It is
essential to allow yourself enough time to recuperate fully, which will support
sustained success in your long-term fitness and health goals.
Monitor your weight and hunger levels closely during this initial phase. The
goal is to lose weight at a steady, healthy rate, depending on your starting
point and goals. If you're not seeing gradual weight loss after a week or two,
you can further reduce your intake in small increments until you find the
sweet spot.
   CHAPTER III :
NUTRIENT BREAKDOWN
NUTRIENT BREAKDOWN
MACRONUTRIENTS ( "MACROS" )
Now that we know the importance of calories and eating in a deficit of
calories to lose weight, it’s time to dive deeper into the macro, and micro,
nutrients that make up those calories.
In order to achieve a certain body composition and ensure we keep our muscle
mass while eating less, it is important to have a clear understanding of the
ideal amounts of each of the three main macronutrients.
The three main macronutrients that make up our calories when we consume
food are protein, fats and carbohydrates. These three groups of nutrients are
needed on a bigger scale than micronutrients for our bodies to function
properly, hence the term “macro”. These are often seen on the scale of grams.
NUTRIENT BREAKDOWN
MACRONUTRIENTS ( "MACROS" )
HOW MUCH PROTEIN SHOULD I EAT?
Getting enough protein while cutting is crucial, given that it's the key
macronutrient responsible for repairing and building our muscles.
However, there's quite a bit of debate surrounding the exact daily amount of
protein one should consume, largely because there's no universal "one size
fits all" solution.
So, here's my recommendation: aim for at least 1 gram of protein per pound of
your body weight daily. It's always better to err on the side of having more,
rather than falling short while in a deficit. Following this guideline will ensure
you're consuming ample protein to maintain or build muscle while eating less
calories.
Dietary fat is infact essential for our survival, and are extremely important for
females especially to consume.
NUTRIENT BREAKDOWN
MACRONUTRIENTS ( "MACROS" )
HOW MUCH FAT SHOULD I EAT?
Dietary fats serve more purpose than just being stored, they also regulate
metabolic processes and play a large role in hormone production, they also
enable our bodies to absorb and utilise certain vitamins. For this reason, it is
much more likely than following a fat-free diet will hinder your progress, not
help it.
This being said, I would generally advise that around 20-35% of your daily
calorie intake comes from fats. Keeping your dietary fats at a minimum of 20
percent of your total daily calories is crucial. By doing so, you'll lower your
chances of experiencing a deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins and encountering
adverse hormonal side effects. It's a simple way to support your overall health
while you work on your fitness goals.
However, a couple things to take into consideration when deciding both fat
and carbohydrate intake are activity levels and personal preferences. Those
who have a higher activity level may find it beneficial to follow a higher carb,
lower fat diet (eating at the lower end of the 20-35% scale), while those who
have a lower activity level may benefit from following a higher fat, lower
carbohydrate diet (eating at the upper end of the 20-35% scale).
NUTRIENT BREAKDOWN
MACRONUTRIENTS ( "MACROS" )
HOW MUCH FAT SHOULD I EAT?
I’m sure you’ve all fallen victim to the belief, or at least seen the belief
circulate online, that carbs will make you fat and are just plain “bad” for you.
Unless you’re celiac, this is simply not true.
Just like when setting up your fat intake, it's also key to consider factors like
your daily activity level, NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis),
lifestyle, and food preferences when determining your carbohydrate intake.
This approach will make your diet plan more sustainable and easier to stick to
in the long run. For instance, it might make sense for highly active individuals
to consume more carbohydrates for energy purposes, while those less active
may opt for a lower carbohydrate diet.
As a general rule of thumb, I would recommend that you calculate your daily
protein and fat intake first, and then fill the rest of your calories with
carbohydrates.
NUTRIENT BREAKDOWN
MACRONUTRIENTS ( "MACROS" )
CALORIES IN EACH MACRONUTRIENT:
Alex decides on 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight, totalling 200
grams (200 x 1), equalling 800 calories from protein (200 x 4).
Next, Alex allocates 25% of the calorie intake to fats. This equals 447.5
calories (1790 x 0.25), or roughly 50 grams of fat (447.5 ÷ 9).
After protein and fat, Alex has 542 calories remaining for carbohydrates
(1790 - 800 - 447.5), which is approximately 136 grams (542 ÷ 4).
Ensuring that you eat enough micronutrients each day will allow you to
maximise your recovery, training performance and body composition.
In order to ensure you cover all bases and consume enough micronutrients, I
recommend you do the following:
Without overcomplicating it, during your cut you should focus on training very
hard (honestly, like your life depends on it) and progressively overloading on
your lifts each session. This means that overtime, you are increasing your
weight, reps, sets or intensity each session. Contrary to confusion online, your
training shouldn’t change when cutting or bulking. You need to push just as
hard, bringing the same amount of intensity as you would normally (within
reason of course, with dieting energy does become a limiting factor in
training).
It's crucial to track your progress throughout your dieting phase. Keep a
detailed record of your workouts, noting down weights, reps, and sets. This
will not only help you ensure that you're consistently pushing your body to
adapt and grow but also serve as a clear indicator of your muscle
development or maintenance. If you're seeing those numbers gradually
increase, even if it’s at a slower pace than usual, you're on the right track!
TRAINING AND CARDIO
TRAINING
But remember, while it's essential to train hard, it's equally important to train
smart. Pay attention to your body, avoid overtraining, and ensure you're giving
your muscles the rest they need to grow.
If you are struggling to set up your own training program, I have several plans
available catered to specific needs such as body goals and time constraints.
For ease, I would recommend that you incorporate some form of low to
moderate cardio in your cutting phase around 2-5x a week. This routine will
boost your daily calorie expenditure by around 100 to 300 calories, depending
on the duration and intensity of your sessions, as well as the type of exercise
you choose. Such activities could include walking, jogging, using the stair
master, or cycling.
I’ll also include a sheet below with the calories burned from each form of
cardio. This will give you a better understanding of what one works best for
you given your own lifestyle and time constraints.
TRAINING AND CARDIO
CARDIO
Also: aiming for about 8,000 to 15,000 steps a day can make a big difference,
and it's pretty doable for most people. You'd be surprised how those steps can
add up to a serious calorie burn without you feeling wiped out.
TRAINING AND CARDIO
CARDIO
On a personal note, I find that aiming for 10,000 steps a day hits the sweet
spot for me. And when I pair that with the stair master about 5 times a week
for 20 to 40 minutes, it's a solid routine that doesn't feel like a chore. Plus, it's
something I can keep up over the long haul, which is key. Remember,
consistency is your friend when you're working on losing fat. Keep it real and
keep it regular, and you'll be on track to hit your goals.
Remember, there's no 'optimal' time to perform cardio; it's all about what best
fits into your daily routine and lifestyle. This flexibility allows you to
incorporate cardio seamlessly, maintaining a well-rounded and effective
dieting plan.
CHAPTER V :
SUPPLEMENTS
SUPPLEMENTS
Before we start this section I would like to point out that before you even
consider any supplements you should try and have your nutrition down first.
Supplements are solely there to SUPPLEMENT nutrients that you can’t get
from your diet, they should not be used as a replacement. Your main nutrition
plan will be what fuels your training and recovery.
The following supplements can fill any diet gaps you may have.
1.PROTEIN POWDER
It’s no surprise that protein powder is on this list given its importance in
muscle building, as well as the fact it has a higher thermic effect than carbs
and fats (meaning it burns more calories while digesting). Although I
recommend getting it from whole food sources FIRST, protein can be hard to
get in sometimes and is often expensive. This is where protein powder can be
used as a viable alternative. It is easy to use, in a shake or added to your
morning oats, and is a great and easy way to hit your protein goal.
Options like high-quality whey protein, casein protein (ideally before bed), and
various vegan protein powders such as soy, pea, and brown rice protein can all
be beneficial additions to your diet.
 SUPPLEMENTS
1. PROTEIN POWDER
LINKS TO SOME I RECOMMEND:
Vanilla Casein:
https://prf.hn/l/aWY3Zll
Vanilla Whey:
https://prf.hn/l/o3W2g2k
VEGAN ALTERNATIVES:
If you regularly use high doses of caffeine to boost your strength training
workouts, it tends to lose its effectiveness over time as your body builds a
tolerance. So, it's a good idea to save caffeine supplements for your most
challenging workouts.
While caffeine can help improve your workouts, too much of it can harm your
sleep quality. Poor sleep can quickly lead to low energy and result in you
feeling extremely sluggish while dieting. It can also impact your gym
performance, and therefore hinder how much muscle you can retain during a
dieting period. So, make sure you use caffeine sensibly and don't overdo it.
.
    SUPPLEMENTS
3. CREATINE
I’m sure you’ve all seen a great deal of talk about creatine floating around the
fitness space. There’s good reason for this; it’s one of the most researched
supplements in the world. Creatine significantly improves strength and power
performance, enhances muscle hydration and increases muscle size.
For this reason, I would recommend anyone who is weight training with
strength and muscle improvement goals to take 5 grams of creatine each day.
The time of day is not important, but I often take it pre-workout.
.
    SUPPLEMENTS
3. CREATINE
LINK TO CREATINE I USE:
https://prf.hn/l/0eoZOZw
.
    SUPPLEMENTS
4. FISH OIL
A typical diet often lacks sufficient omega-3 fatty acids, particularly
eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These fatty
acids can be found in fish, seaweed, algae, and certain vegetarian sources
such as chia seeds and flax seeds.
Omega-3 deficiency can lead to fatigue, poor memory, mood swings, higher
risk of heart disease, and other negative symptoms. This can also interfere
with your fitness goals. To naturally increase your Omega-3 intake, you can
consume more fatty fish, grass-fed meat, free-range eggs, flaxseed, walnuts,
chia seeds, and spinach, among others.
Supplementing your diet with Omega-3 is another option, but beware of low-
quality fish oil supplements that could be high in mercury and harmful to your
health. So, either choose a high-quality supplement or get your Omega-3 from
whole food sources. The goal should be to consume two grams per day of
combined EPA/DHA.
.
    SUPPLEMENTS
5. MULTIVITAMIN
Just like protein, sometimes it’s difficult to get our micronutrients from food
alone, especially when dieting. If you follow the nutritional guidelines in this
guide and eat a primarily wholefood diet, you shouldn’t have a problem hitting
all your nutrient bases, however it may be better to overshoot compared to
undershoot.
A multivitamin is a relatively cheap option which will ensure you are getting
enough both fat and water soluble vitamins in your diet. Regardless of your
choice to use a multivitamin for extra nutritional coverage, it's still vital to eat
a diverse range of foods, including regularly changing up the fruits and
vegetables you consume.
.
    SUPPLEMENTS
6. VITAMIN D
If you’re like me and live in a country with very minimal sunlight exposure
during certain times of the year, it may be wise to supplement vitamin D,
especially during those winter months.
It’s also worth noting that vitamin D is fat-soluble, meaning it’s absorbed
along with fats in the diet. So, it's best to take your vitamin D supplement with
a meal that contains fats for optimal absorption.
.
    SUPPLEMENTS
    SUPPLEMENTS:
LINK TO THE SITE I GET ALL MY SUPPLEMENTS:
https://prf.hn/l/YLAymvV
.
CHAPTER VI :
 RECOVERY
 RECOVERY
RECOVERY
For the entirety of this guide I have focused primarily on the main questions
most people ask when wanting to lose weight: “how many calories should I
eat?” or “how much protein do I need” or “how much cardio do i need to do?”
etc.
There are a few other variables that greatly impact our weight-losing ability
that are often overlooked, those being recovery, sleep and stress.
When it comes to losing weight, rest is just as crucial as your diet and workout
routine. Some think the hard work only happens at the gym, but that's only a
small part of the story. Muscle growth and fat loss aren't just about lifting
weights or going on long runs; they happen when you're chilling out too. Your
body needs downtime to repair those muscles you've worked and to keep your
metabolism firing on all cylinders.
Promoting recovery means incorporating rest into your routine. When you give
your body a break, you're not slacking off; you're actually helping your body
burn fat more effectively. Think of it this way — rest days are when your body
switches gears to fix up the muscles you've trained, which uses energy (aka
calories from our fat stores). This helps with muscle growth and strength, but
also keeps the calorie-burning process going strong, even on days you're not
working out.
 RECOVERY
RECOVERY
In the weight loss journey, it's crucial to schedule at least one rest day per
week, two if possible. These rest days are vital for recovery, allowing your
body to rejuvenate and gear up for the next set of workouts or cardio. They
play a significant role in preventing overtraining and injuries, and they're just
as important for maintaining your mental focus and motivation. Remember,
rest isn't a detour from your weight loss goals; it's a strategic part of your
overall plan, ensuring you stay on track for the long term.
1. Adequate Hydration:
-Water plays a key role in all bodily functions, including muscle recovery. It’s
very important to drink at least 3 litres of water each day while dieting too, as
it will help you stay “full” and avoid feeling over-hungry.
3. Active Recovery:
-Light activities on rest days such as walking, swimming, or yoga, can
increase blood flow and help you recovery after a hard gym session.
RECOVERY
SLEEP
While modern society often equates less sleep with hard work and discipline,
a lot of sleep is actually incredibly important. It impacts nearly every part of
the body including the brain, heart, and lungs, and influences key bodily
functions such as metabolism and immune response. The literature has shown
consistently that sleep is likely the most underrated and frequently
overlooked aspect of changing your body composition.
When you're dieting, sleep becomes super important. It's like the secret sauce
to your weight loss journey. Not only does it give your body the time it needs
to repair and recover, especially if you're working out, but it also keeps those
hunger hormones in check. Less sleep can mean more ghrelin (the hunger
hormone) and less leptin (the hormone that tells you you're full), which can
make sticking to your diet plan a lot harder.
Plus, when you're well-rested, you're more likely to have the energy for your
workouts and daily activities, which helps burn those calories. And let's not
forget, good sleep can also keep your mood in check, making you less likely to
turn to comfort food.
In general, I would recommend you aim for at least 7 to 8 hours of good
quality sleep every single night.
    RECOVERY
    SLEEP
Tips for a better nights sleep:
-Stick to a sleep schedule, going to bed and waking up at roughly the same
time each day.
-Avoid late-day caffeine and alcohol (typically after around 1/2pm)
-Relax before sleep with a warm bath or reading.
-Optimize your sleep environment: comfortable bedding, dim lights, quiet, and
cool temperature.
-If worries keep you awake, jot them down and set a specific time to address
them the next day.
-Avoid heavy discussions or tasks before bed.
.
RECOVERY
STRESS
Many are unaware of the significant impact stress has on muscle growth.
Research indicates that individuals with higher levels of stress experience
considerably less strength and muscle gains compared to those with lower
stress levels. From my own experience, I’ve noticed that increased stress
leads to weight retention, disrupted sleep, and a substantial decline in my
gym performance.
If you're new to mindfulness or are curious, you can try it out for yourself by
downloading a mindfulness app or watching a YouTube video. For starting out
in Yoga I highly recommend “Yoga With Adrienne” on YouTube.
You don’t need long! You can even just start with brief 10-15 minute guided
sessions.
    RECOVERY
STRESS
Besides meditation, here are some of my other stress elevators:
.
CHAPTER VII :
ADHERANCE
ADHERANCE
ADHERANCE
Arguably the hardest part of a diet is adhering to it. I mean, everyone can keep
up a diet for a week or two, but how many people can keep it up for ten? If you
struggle with adhering to your diet, you’re not alone, here are some of my top
tips that help me MOST when trying to stick to my diet in the long-term.
SUGGESTED FOOD
   SOURCES
 SUGGESTED FOOD SOURCES
FOOD SOURCES
When it comes to weight loss, understanding the right mix of nutrients is key.
Let's talk about the best sources for your macros — protein, carbs, and fats
— which will make up the bulk of your caloric intake. It's smart to track your
macros and choose foods that fit your lifestyle and taste buds, rather than
sticking to a rigid meal plan, unless you're in contest prep mode. This
approach gives you the flexibility you need to stay on track with your diet over
the long haul.
Feel free to play around with the ratios of carbs and fats in your meals, unless
you're following a specific macro plan. The main point to remember is to keep
your protein intake steady, spread across about 4-6 meals throughout the
day. This regular distribution supports muscle maintenance and satiety, both
of which are important for successful weight loss.
SUGGESTED FOOD SOURCES
FOOD SOURCES
    - 40g Oats or Cream of Rice/Wheat     - One Bagel Thin                               - One Whole Egg
    - One Scoop Whey Isolate              - 100g Egg Whites                              - 100g Egg Whites
                                          - 200g Greek Yoghurt                           - One Slice of Wholegrain Bread
    - 125g Berries
                                          - 125g Berries                                 - 200g 0% Fat Greek Yoghurt
    - 10g Nuts or Nut Butter
                                             Meal Two (Post Workout Meal):                  Meal Two (Post Workout Meal):
       Meal Two (Post Workout Meal):         High Protein Cereal/Oats                       Grilled Chicken, Quinoa and Veggies
       High Protein Cereal/Oats           ->Approximate Macros: 7F/50C/35P               ->Approximate Macros: 9F/30C/40P
    ->Approximate Macros: 6F/53C/32P
                                          - 60g Oats or Cereal                           - 100g Cooked Chicken Breast
    - 50g Oats or Cereal                  - One Scoop Whey Isolate                       - 175g Mixed Vegetables
    - One Scoop Whey Isolate              - 50g Banana                                   - 100g Cooked Quinoa
    - 80g Banana
.      Meal Three:
                                             Meal Three:
                                             Chicken Fried Rice
                                                                                            Meal Three:
                                                                                            Protein Smoothie
       Mince and Potato                   ->Approximate Macros: 4F/40C/45P               ->Approximate Macros: 7F/36C/37P
    ->Approximate Macros: 6F/40C/60P
                                          - 150g Cooked White Rice                       - One Scoop of Protein
                                          - 100g Cooked Chicken                          - 50g Banana
    - 250g White/Sweet Potato
                                          - 70g egg white                                - 200g Frozen Berries
    - 150g Cooked 5% Fat Beef Mince
                                                                                         - 10g Nuts / Nut Butter
                                             Meal Four:
       Meal Four:                            Beef Burritos                                  Meal Four:
       Chicken Pasta                      ->Approximate Macros: 15F/30C/40P                 Salmon, Rice and Broccoli
    ->Approximate Macros: 21F/73C/44P                                                    ->Approximate Macros: 24F/33C/34P
                                          - 1 Medium Tortilla
    - 60g Raw Pasta                       - 100g 5% Fat Mince Beef                       - 120g Salmon Fillet
    - 100g Cooked Chicken                 - One Serving of Low Fat Salsa                 - 100g Raw Broccoli
    - One Serving Low Fat Pasta Sauce     - 10g Reduced Fat Cheese                       - 30g Avocado
    - 100g Berries                        - 100g Veg Of Choice                           - 100g Cooked Brown Rice
This will be useful when tracking progress on a daily, weekly and monthly
basis.
Please do not edit this sheet. Make a copy FIRST, and edit your copy.
GOOGLE:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16z6fJHSumf3F6AsdkgLNmsmSLa
CLkyU_9Ke10eFXqD0/edit?usp=sharing
.
 ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
FACEBOOK COMMUNITY
When creating this guide I also wanted to create a community for everyone to
join.
The main aim of this group is to a create a safe community for individuals to
share their gym journey, ask questions and motivate others. Any negativity
will be removed from the group.
This group will be heavily monitored by me, so I will be available to answer any
questions you have regarding this guide, the gym or any of the plans you have
or plan to purchase.
LINK:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1535339576945635/
.
 DISCLAIMER
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty:
Despite the author's best efforts and knowledge in researching and writing
this book, she expressly disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability
or fitness for a particular purpose and makes no representations or warranties
regarding the accuracy or completeness of its contents. Sales agents and
written sales materials are not authorised to create or extend any warranties.
The suggestions and tactics offered here might not be appropriate for your
specific circumstance. If necessary, you should speak with a medical expert.
Any loss of profit or other commercial damages, including but not limited to
special, incidental, consequential, or other damages, are not the responsibility
of the publisher or the author.
The information in this guide is not meant to be used in place of medical care,
as a means of illness treatment or prevention, or as a replacement for medical
advice. The reader's decision to use the material in this guide is their own, and
they do so at their own risk.