Combat the Fat Week 5 Update

This is the start of my sixth week on Combat the Fat. The results so far have been good, but not what I wanted, so I am making some changes. I am not changing the program itself because I want to see how that works, but I am making some adjustments to my eating.

While the program states that there is no need to count calories, I have a feeling that I have been overconsuming calorically. Thus, starting today I will be calculating my caloric intake. I will aim to keep it down to 2200 calories. My maintenance level is 3100 calories, so this will be a nice deficit. I am also going to add something that I had originally planned to add from the beginning—several sessions each week of Max-OT cardio. With the amount of cardio already being done on this program, the addition of these intense Max-OT cardio sessions will give me the boost I think is missing from my training.

I have found the nutrition program to be very easy to follow. As stated, the only flaw I see so far is that he does not have you count calories at all. This is a problem for me because I am hitting this program after coming off of a bulk and I think I’ve lost touch with how many calories will help me cut down.

I can report some definite positive results in my strength through the use of this extremely unorthodox program. That’s right, I tested my 1 rep max on the flat barbell bench press and it is up about 25 pounds. My previous max was 205 lbs. and just last week I hit 230 lbs. I can see changes in my shoulders as well. I’ve lost 3 inches in my abdominal area and several percent of body fat.

Being the analytical personality that I am, I’ve learned alot from the approaches to training that this program teaches. I have learned to push myself even harder than I used to and that (if you have followed my blog) is an accomplishment in itself.

Week 5 of this program saw me go from Advanced Level 1 to Advanced Level 2. The addition of some exercises in the pyramids caused a massive increase in intensity. It has been an amazing experience. Just when the workouts were getting routine, there’s a new twist added that takes things to a new level.

Please come back next week for the next installment of the Combat the Fat update. Find out if the changes I am making work any better.