Thread: Help with program and goals

Hi,
Currently in week 9 of shortcut to size program which has been going well.
32yo male. Started 231lb (105kg) and currently at 216lb (98kg). My biggest issue is my stomach, seems to be genetics, beer belly visceral fat, that I can't really seem to work off.
I have reduced calorie intake significantly, 30-45min cardio on rest days which can be seen in my weight loss.
As for supplements I take whey and creatine post workout.
breakfast yoghurt/granola/oats/berries
Lunch grilled chicken wrap
Dinner chicken or beef with broccoli or wraps
Snacks fruit/nuts
Original plan was to complete 12 week program and then move onto a program with more focus on muscle building/mass goals.
I feel like I need changes, 1. To help with my stomach whether it means including more abdominal exercises each day and 2. When and how to begin muscle building program.

Appreciate any help or recommendations.

Sounds like good progress. I'm not surprised you still have a stomach at 98kg. We all tend to underestimate how much fat we have to lose to get lean. I don't know how tall you are but a male of average height who has only just recently started weight training would likely have to get to about 75-80kg to look slim.

As long as you are losing at least 1lb a week, it's going fine and you don't need to try to push it faster and risk muscle loss.

Ab exercises won't help with localised fat reduction BTW

I didn't realise until the end that you aren't doing weight training yet... you should start now otherwise a proportion of what you lose willl be muscle - 2 steps forward, 1 step back.

Do a whole body routine like Fierce 5 or All Pros (see sticky threads at top of page)

Thanks for that reassurance, guess I'll keep at it until I get to the weight/look I'm happy with before targetting muscles harder. How can I assure that if I continue to drop weight I won't be burning muscle instead of fat?

I'm 186cm and am doing weight training as well part of Jim Stoppani 12wk shortcut to size program.

Originally Posted by Redboss351

Thanks for that reassurance, guess I'll keep at it until I get to the weight/look I'm happy with before targetting muscles harder. How can I assure that if I continue to drop weight I won't be burning muscle instead of fat?

I'm 186cm and am doing weight training as well part of Jim Stoppani 12wk shortcut to size program.

Ah so you are doing weight training. That plus keeping weight loss down to 1-2lbs a week and getting enough protein (anything above about 140g per day is enough) is all you need to preserve muscle.

You may have already done so, but even if it fits into your daily cal intake, you might want to stop drinking beer if you're not making any progress with the beer belly.