Guys - I am doing an experiment on myself to see what has a bigger impact on body fat and weight. I need your help in determining if my method holds water and the best way to keep each phase legit.

What I am trying to gain out of this is which of the following have a bigger impact on me losing fat while staying as big as possible (e.g. I know that I can go out and run 65 miles per week, and I'll get to 3 - 5%, but I'll also go from 195 to 155 pounds).

My two variables:
1. Protein used. Optimal Nutrition vs. Muscle Provider
2. Red meat, Dairy products & Wal-Mart chicken vs. no red meat nor dairy products and free range chicken

I am doing three separate five week experiments. Each will follow the exact same workout routine and diet structure as laid in BMJ #5 which is cardio and high volume training M-F and intensity training on the weekend(http://www.bodymusclejournal.com/vol05/maxmuscle.html) Specifically, here is my diet M-F (I also get in 6 flax seed tablets, 16-20 Mass Aminos, 4 Lean Outs per day and8 Muscle Synergy on weight days) :
8:00am - 4 egg whites; 2 whole eggs; 1 serving ON protein (one scoop)
10:30am - 2 servings protein (2 scoops)
12:30pm - 8oz chicken breast, lettuce with 1tbsp newmans extra virgin olive oil dressing
4:00pm (pre-workout) - 2 serving protein
6:00pm (on weight days) - 1 serving protein
7:00pm - 16 oz lean beef (either patties or sirloin); fiberous greens
9:00pm - 8oz chicken breast; same salad as lunch

Saturday and Sunday:
Same time schedule roughly, but also add 3/4 cup oatmeal in the morning and a sweet potatoe or baked potatoe with every solid meal. I also eat a whole box of Snack Well Cookies post workout between the two days. I also allow myself on cheat meal on weekend three of whatever I want on the menu at Wendy's.

Phase 1 (November 26th - December 30th). Exact diet laid out above using Optimal Nutrition protein.

Phase 2 (January 14th - February 17th). Same as above only substituting Muscle Provider for Optimal Nutrition

Phase 3 (March 3rd - April 6th). Same as above only substituting free range chicken breast for every solid meal.

Here's where I need your help. No matter which phase I use, I'm going to loose weight and body fat. I know if I eat my face off for the two weeks at Chipotle in between phases, I'll get my weight back up, but I'm not certain my body fat will be as high. What is the best way to measure apples to apples results on this?

Simple, Same person takes all bodyfat caliper readings. After each phase you have to eat until you get back to the same bodyfat for Id say at least one week to ensure it wasnt just water that you then easily shed.

BTW, Im pretty sure its Optimum Nutrition.

Take care,

quote:

Originally posted by Jtheo:
Simple, Same person takes all bodyfat caliper readings. After each phase you have to eat until you get back to the same bodyfat for Id say at least one week to ensure it wasnt just water that you then easily shed.

BTW, Im pretty sure its Optimum Nutrition.

Take care,

**** J, pretty quick response; you must be working as hard as I am down the Christmas stretch.

Yea, I think you're right with ON; the jug only has "Whey" really flippin big and "ON" on it that I can read from here.

I agree with ya on the calipers; good idea. I'm doing it myself at areas that I can get too (i.e. I won't be pinching my back) and using the same scale in the same spot to get weight.

So you're thinking just getting back to the same body fat is good enough? Hmmmm. What about weight? Assuming bone density and water weight are neglibile, is it fair to compare bf loss and overall size starting at 200lbs at 8/9% vs 215 at the same bf percentage? I guess the only thing that will suck is if one of the phases causes me to loose weight but not bodyfat???

you probably would have to get back to the same weight too, its going to be tough to really pull it off with everything constant.

I think you should have more time between phases. The yo-yo effect may be too negative rather than positive.

Grass or range beef would be better than the range chicken. Chicken is like catfish. They'll eat stools all day long and love it.

quote:

Originally posted by Frank:
I think you should have more time between phases. The yo-yo effect may be too negative rather than positive.

Grass or range beef would be better than the range chicken. Chicken is like catfish. They'll eat stools all day long and love it.

Thanks for the input...interesting point on chicken. It makes sense that 'you are what you eat'. Are you implying that all chicken is an inferior choice of protein vs. lean beef or fish? It's an interesting argument; I wonder what research has been done specifically on the protein quality ignoring any health concerns with mercury or cholesterol.

It is simply a choice based on studies for range cattle. There's really nothing wrong with the chicken and quality of protein. Liver is a filter organ, yet we have plenty of products with it, including a food source.

I just prefer beef for gain. You can tell the difference when consuming beef vs chicken much the same by looking at vegans vs healthy meat eater. I cycle all my foods, anyway. I don't eat beef and chicken day in and day out.

Thought I'd update everyone on this...about two weeks after I wrote my post, I noticed a heavy decrease in any type of stamina, spacing out at work and almost no sex drive...given all that ****, I abandoned the diet/workout...It wasn't bad for four/five weeks, but after that I guess my body used up any reserve carbs, and just carbs on the weekend as the diet calls for wasn't enough to cut it....as far as the supplements go, I'm back to Beverly exclusively. The reason why isn't performance in the mirror, gym or fat calipers, but rather overall quality of life. The ON stuff is really hard to keep down for me after two big jugs of it. And while I'm sure other factors contribute, I just feel better through the day with Bev. I think I'll give it another spin in the summer, so be ready to give me your "second best" protein supplement to try out and a sensible work out routine I can binge and purge on.