a week into cutting

[Daneo]

I'm just wrapping up the first week of cutting - Adjusting to the new diet has been pretty easy however, I may have set myself up for disaster. I felt very odd today, weak, faint etc. and it ended up being due to low blood sugar. I have taken all sugar out of my diet and I was looking for possible alternatives so it doesn't go low on me again.
Fruits are out of the question as I don't want to add carbs to my diet. I do add some dextrose to my post workout shake - is it possible to take a few grams of dex during the day as a sugar replacement? (I say a few grams as I don't want my insulin spiking all day either)

[method2madness]

How many carbs are you taking in daily, aside from simple sugars? Also, when are you consuming them? With proteins, separately? Fill me in on some more of the details of your diet and I would like to try to help if you're interested. No worries, I am a seasoned and successful competitive bodybuilder so my advise comes from experience. LMK if interested.
Peace and good health to ya
M2M

Originally Posted by Daneo

I'm just wrapping up the first week of cutting - Adjusting to the new diet has been pretty easy however, I may have set myself up for disaster. I felt very odd today, weak, faint etc. and it ended up being due to low blood sugar. I have taken all sugar out of my diet and I was looking for possible alternatives so it doesn't go low on me again.
Fruits are out of the question as I don't want to add carbs to my diet. I do add some dextrose to my post workout shake - is it possible to take a few grams of dex during the day as a sugar replacement? (I say a few grams as I don't want my insulin spiking all day either)

[Daneo]

Sounds good - I appreciate any insight/advice you can give. Minus the apple and banana I eat pre-workout and the dex I use in my shake, I eat approx. 161 G's of carbs per day (coming from lentils, skim milk, cashews, and a small handful of baby carrots and cucumbers). The carbs are generally spread out through out the day ( eat every 1.5-2 hours), however I don't eat any after 5:30pm. When I eat carbs there is always some form of protein consumed with them - (a shake or chicken breast). I generally eat tuna, salmon and egg whites alone (no carbs) and I drink approx. 5-6 litres of water per day. I do take a fibre supplement as well as EFA's, corral calcium, vit. C and E, digestive enzymes and a great vegetable supplement drink (vital greens). My protein is about 376 G per day and fat around 61 G (mostly from cashews and salmon).

I hope this is enough information - I've been having a cup or two of coffee per day, black with 1/2 tablespoon sugar as a small sugar source - maybe its not the best way ?

Sorry what does "LMK" mean?

[method2madness]

You are not going to get even close to the amount of quality carbohydrates you need by relying on lentils, skim milk, cashews, baby carrots and cucumbers. I would strongly suggest that you get at least 100 of your 161 grams of carbs from whole grain brown rice, sweet potatoes, yams, even whole grain bread would be good. The carbs in these foods will provide your body with a steady stream of usable carbs for energy. This should help to mitigate the energy issues you've been experiencing. Also, are you doing any extra cardio? What are your resistance training routines like. These details will also help. LMK means Let Me Know
Peace and good health to ya
M2M

Originally Posted by Daneo

Sounds good - I appreciate any insight/advice you can give. Minus the apple and banana I eat pre-workout and the dex I use in my shake, I eat approx. 161 G's of carbs per day (coming from lentils, skim milk, cashews, and a small handful of baby carrots and cucumbers). The carbs are generally spread out through out the day ( eat every 1.5-2 hours), however I don't eat any after 5:30pm. When I eat carbs there is always some form of protein consumed with them - (a shake or chicken breast). I generally eat tuna, salmon and egg whites alone (no carbs) and I drink approx. 5-6 litres of water per day. I do take a fibre supplement as well as EFA's, corral calcium, vit. C and E, digestive enzymes and a great vegetable supplement drink (vital greens). My protein is about 376 G per day and fat around 61 G (mostly from cashews and salmon).

I hope this is enough information - I've been having a cup or two of coffee per day, black with 1/2 tablespoon sugar as a small sugar source - maybe its not the best way ?

Sorry what does "LMK" mean?

[Daneo]

As far as training, I've started doing cardio right when I started cutting. I wish I had done it even a couple of times a week when bulking but I am slowly getting used to it. Right now I just use the treadmill at a fast walk up hill for 20-30 mins. I try to do it everyday but again, I would have the energy issues (light headed, fatigue) so I go for 3 and take one off. I will lift weights for about 45 mins first (free weights and compound movements, higher reps), then abs and finish with cardio. What you are saying makes sense - It's not just my sugar it's the quality of carbs I'm taking in. I can definately go with brown rice and/or whole grain bread (I can't stomach the yams).
As far as extra cardio - do you mean for instance if I normally do it in the morning do another session later in the day?

Cheers

[method2madness]

Definitely DON'T do any extra cardio. I feel same way about the yams as well, not a fan but eat em because they are a great source of solid complex carbs. Kind of like caugh medicine, nasty tasting but helps kill the cough. As far as your current cardio, I would go every other day instead of 3 on 1 off. You'll be doing less cardio but you will give your body time to regenerate muscle tissue. And the body burns more calories strictly in relation to the amount of lean mass you carry. Less cardio=more muscular recovery=staying lean and increasing condition.
Peace and good health to ya ,
M2M

Originally Posted by Daneo

As far as training, I've started doing cardio right when I started cutting. I wish I had done it even a couple of times a week when bulking but I am slowly getting used to it. Right now I just use the treadmill at a fast walk up hill for 20-30 mins. I try to do it everyday but again, I would have the energy issues (light headed, fatigue) so I go for 3 and take one off. I will lift weights for about 45 mins first (free weights and compound movements, higher reps), then abs and finish with cardio. What you are saying makes sense - It's not just my sugar it's the quality of carbs I'm taking in. I can definately go with brown rice and/or whole grain bread (I can't stomach the yams).
As far as extra cardio - do you mean for instance if I normally do it in the morning do another session later in the day?

Cheers

[Daneo]

Thanks for the advice. I will start doing cardio EOD and force myself to eat the Buckley's of vegetables LOL

I'll let you know how I make out-

Cheers