keeping muscle mass

[spound]

I am 6' 1" at 223 lbs and about 12-14 percent body fat. I am beginning to clean up my diet and lean out for spring break and the summer, but i want to keep as much mass as possible. Last year i got my BF down to about 7 % at 195 pounds and trying to do the same again this year except hopefully ill be much heavier b/c i have put on a substantial amount of muscle ( and some fat) since then. I was wondering if playing high intensity full court basketball 2-3 times a week is too much if i want to keep most of my muscle mass. I am still eating plenty of complex carbs after my workouts and through the day. Any advice would be greatly appeciated. thanks

 

[Phreezer]

well the best way to find this out, is to weigh yourself over a two or three week period.. If you're maintaining your weight while playing ball..then you're okay.. if you're losing weight..cut down on the cardio. You may want to experiment with a little more carbs post and pre workout.. Either way It's not too hard to figure out bro..you can answer this question for yourself with a little effort.

 

[spound]

Yea i know that but i guess something i left out is that i am just coming off a cycle of test and deca and im goin to lose weight inevitably- so it a generalized question

 

[Grizzly]

I figured you at 12% and to drop it down to 7% you'd be 211. There's a fair chance that you'll drop 5lbs of water, so you'll end up at 206. I don't know that I'd classify this as a substantial muscle gain, particularly for a guy that could easily weigh that juiceless, but you're a little heavier.

As to whether the ball will cause muscle loss, I can't really say.

You do realize that spring break is in about 4 weeks, right? I wouldn't really expect to be at that 7% by then, but it may be possible. If you're really concerned about muscle retention, then the obvious answer is to stay on until you've attained your bf goal and then come off.

 

[Freddy]

I'm just a chubby powerlifter, but I would be more than comfortable at 10-12% for spring break.

Actually being 7% is a lot more leaner than some people realize. Not saying you don't know what 7% is, but some people think they're at 7 when they're really at 10.

Personally, I think you can look really good at 10-12%, and enjoy life and (definitely) spring break a lot more. Especially if it means you can have a few more margaritas and Coronas.

If you're not a competitive athlete, whats the obsession with 7%? I know quite a few pretty girls who are very impressed with 10-12% on a muscular frame.

Not trying to be a dick here, just my opinion. Good luck, have fun at spring break, lord knows I will!

 

[spound]

Griz- I dont understand why you have to be a dick about this. All i wanted to know was a simple training question on whether or not i was doing too much cardio to still be able to retain a lot of muscle. It wasn't even necessary for you to reply b/c ultimately you had no answer to my question, just personal judgements on what kind of success i am having with my gains which isn't cool because that is a personal comclusion every lifter determines for themselves on whether or not they are happy with their results so you didnt have to be a prick or give me simple caculations and critiques that i didnt ask for and that i could have done on my own.
Have a good day though

 

[Grizzly]

Well, that wasn't the original point of the post. It just sort of turned that way throughout the course of the calculations. Plus, I don't think I put it in the right tone. It wasn't meant to be dickheaded, but I can see how it may be interpreted that way.

I also did answer your question. I told you the sure fire method of retaining your gains while dieting. Obviously, you missed that part.

edit- Nevermind. I'll save that part for a later post, depending on how this thread continues.

 

[spound]

Ok maybe took it the wrong way, but i did that prob. b/c you flamed me for no reason in another post and it kinda pissed me off but its cool now man i'm long over it.

Maybe i was a little higher than 7% but thats what it was measured at with calipers and i was really happy with the look i had at that amount. I wouldn't have come off AAS but i didnt have anymore on hand to keep going b/c i didnt plan on putting on as much fat before i started but thanks.
Have a good day bro

 

[wic2111]

I'm just a chubby powerlifter, but I would be more than comfortable at 10-12% for spring break.

Actually being 7% is a lot more leaner than some people realize. Not saying you don't know what 7% is, but some people think they're at 7 when they're really at 10.

Personally, I think you can look really good at 10-12%, and enjoy life and (definitely) spring break a lot more. Especially if it means you can have a few more margaritas and Coronas.

If you're not a competitive athlete, whats the obsession with 7%? I know quite a few pretty girls who are very impressed with 10-12% on a muscular frame.

Not trying to be a dick here, just my opinion. Good luck, have fun at spring break, lord knows I will!

Got a Bump this Bro chicks are impressed with 10 to 12% Hell I am currently around an a "Slim" 18% and the chicks like it. Wife hates wants to fatten me up. But I am 275. What the hell what good are abs if ya can't eat a bucket of KFC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!