Hi Everybody - NROL/TNT Log (transferred)

[NY_Roadrunner]

So, I've been lurking since I bought NROL, which I start-stopped on a few times. Picked up the idea for TNT here, was very skeptical, as I have always done bodybuilder diets before, but I figure, I've never tried hard-core low-carb + hard-core exercise, why not see if it works?

My program, which I expect to have criticized for being over-aggressive, but which I will not change for at least 4 wks barring injury or overtraining, is:

TNT Program A
NROL FB I 4x/wk (mon/tues, thurs/fri).
Running 5x/wk (Sun, Tues-Thurs, Sat (long run))

When I started (monday), I was 197 (5'6"), about 23-25%bf (according to totally unreliable, but useful for trend purposes, tanita)

Goal is to lose 25-30 lbs over the next 3-4 months using FB/HT lifting protocols and hard interval running most of the run days (steady state only on the saturday run), then transition into hyper/strength lifting while shifting most of the runs to steady state, to prepare for the NYC marathon in early November. (I ran last years marathon, then gained about 20 lbs).

I'm assuming that I will need to shift to one of the more carb-friendly TNT plans after the first 4-8 weeks, and go even carb-heavier when I'm doing hard-core long runs in the last couple of months before the marathon. But right now, I'm just focused on cutting the fat and maintaining muscle/strength till I'm at fighting/running weight.

So far, so good. 5 days in, 7 rounds of exercise (4 NROL, 3 interval run), perfect compliance w/ TNT, 2 pounds lighter (I know that means nothing, but its a nice boost), energy has bounced back after a drag days 2&3, feel better than before. Think I need to start fiber supplementing though - I can't eat that many vegetables. Any recommendations on that? Am I going to mess with the insulin/glycogen if I do?

Also, I take lithium, which some have suggested would mess with ketosis and scotch this whole plan. I guess we'll just have to find out.

Hopefully, I'll be updating on the regular, and get into a groove here.

[NY_Roadrunner]

OK, so I've gotten through a week of my amped-up NROL+cardio workout plan and TNT. Totally compliant with TNT (I think). Lost 1-2 lbs this week (I know this is a totally inaccurate and pointless measure at this point - but I will become frustrated if I do not continue to lose at this pace (at least, would like 2/wk) over the next few weeks).

I think energy is now higher than before I started the program (tho I was also smoking 1pk/day back then, none since), workouts have generally increased in energy/strength as the week has gone on, although I can't run distances without breaks like I used to - chalking this up to first week back, cleaning out the lungs, 35lbs too heavy. Do not feel overtrained, though. Sleeping and waking up better than anytime since month before the marathon.

Typical day's food has been:

Western Omelette + Cheez + Bacon
Big Salad + Chicken + Bacon
Hunk of Cheez
Protein Shake (before & after workout)
Steak with Veggies
2 handfuls of nuts
Chewable Fiber Tablets (just started with these - eating 8-12g worth/day)

Been drinking a gallon+ water/crystal light a day. (Should I be doing just water as the book says, or is CL really ok to sub in, like every other source I've read says?)

Any other advice?

[NY_Roadrunner]

So this is TNT Plan A day 9, and for the first time in a few days I'm feeling kinda sleepy and unmotivated. Still excited to go to the gym, just not so much to do my work. Am I still adjusting, or maybe not eating enough? I barely have any appetite, and am not finishing the meals I buy/make for the most part. Only thing I really seem to crave are protein shakes.

So, this is gonna go away and I'm gonna cruise for the next three weeks, right?

[NY_Roadrunner]

OK, so it's been 3 weeks, and I'm 12 pounds lighter. I assume some of that is scale-error/water, but clothes definitely a little looser, and I've kept getting stronger at the weights and on the treadmill, so I can't be bleeding muscle.

Taking lots of fiber pills, things seem ok (not great, but ok) in that department. I think I still need more veggies.

Which brings me to this morning, and last few days generally. While it's nice not to ever really be hungry, sometimes I start to get nauseous just thinking about more eggs, bacon, cheese, salami, etc. And then this morning, I finally got up real early so I could lift before work, and I had the before & after protein-only shake, and on the way to work, felt like I was going to yak. I assume this was b/c I didn't mix in any fats before/after workout? Any idea which would be best?

I want to think that I can keep going plan A another couple of months, it looks like I could actually lose all this weight pretty quickly - but man, perfection has its price...3 weeks with no fruit and no grain and my mouth is feeling greeeeezy...

[Lost Dog]

I missed your log until now. Good job on sticking with Plan A even with the hard parts. Don't yak!

On the CL. You could be a purist and worry about the few carbs, or realize that you're doing okay and keep on going.

That's a hell of a lot of running. How are your energy levels?

[NY_Roadrunner]

Thanks, dog. Decided I'm not gonna get myself wound up over CL or diet sodas, given that I've been totally perfect about everything else - not a morsel of bread, not a grape, not a tic-tac, and I put down easily a gallon of pure water a day. (between the eating plan and my lithium, I'm hitting the head every 15 minutes it seems)

Energy levels are good, and seem to be getting better (more stable). The ability to go to bed early & rise at 5 today was a breakthrough in that department. Despite my 4 months of slovenliness, I think I still have a pretty strong natural athletic response - my hr is 60ish/rest, 202 max measured during exercise, which I think (although do not know) is kind of freakish. We'll see if that and good rest are sufficient to beat overtraining. So far so good.

Nausea going away following spinach/peppers/onions/broccol i/salami/bacon/oil&v salad.