Correct diet for losing bf%?

[Flabbergasped?]

Basically, I'm doing my first cutting cycle ever, and would like to know what kind of diet I should be looking at.

In DIESEL's guide to cutting up, which is in the vault, he says low fat, high carb. As you know, low carb diets are all the craze. I've also seen carb cycling suggested as the best weight of shedding excess fat while losing muscle.

Which of these do you think a beginner cutter should try?

Also, how far below maintenance should my calories be? Below 500 a day should allow me to lose a pound a week, right?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bud_2005]

low fat, high carb? That doesn't make much sense to me.

 

[Furyguy]

I'm doing this one right now:
http://www.t-nation.com/readArticle.do?id=546491

It's pretty intense sh*t. I'm on my fourth day and I'm extremely happy so far. I can literally already see the results (3/4 in. off my waistline already), and it feels great. As of day 3 I'd dropped 4 pounds, though this was probably mostly water weight.

If you don't plan on starting right away, I'll probably post up a log or journal of some kind in two or three weeks about the experience and how well it worked for me.

But yeah, in any case you should go low carb, low fat, high protein, keep lifting and doing cardio, no cheating!

 

[Bible_Belt]

I am no bodybuilder, and what they do to prepare for competitions is not my expertise. But I can tell you what the mma fighters I know do to drop weight and get leaner. They eat a diet that is almost entirely lean proteins and vegetables, and then do more cardio and training to burn fat.

 

[Warboss Alex]

It depends on:
a) what you currently eat
b) your current level of bodyfat

Give us some more info to work with.

 

[Flabbergasped?]

Alright WBA.

The carbs are pretty much from oats, and I don't eat enough veggies, I know that for a fact.

140g carbs,
330g protein
155g fat

That adds up to about 3.3k calories. I weigh 195 lbs, 6'1''.

I'd estimate my bodyfat is around 12%. I haven't been able to formally find out, but I know my body enough to know 12% is probably the right number.

 

[Warboss Alex]

Okay, 195lbs and 12% sounds like you're in fairly good shape already.

~150g of carbs from oats is fairly high to lose fat with (and so too ~3500 cal with a mod-high carb diet), but it might work for you. Can't really say.

I would start with putting the carbs pre and post workout only, and replacing them with green vegetables on offdays, with a little added fat (olive oil or butter, for example).

Add in cardio on your offdays as well if you're not already doing it. If you're already doing cardio, increase it a bit.

See what happens with that for a few weeks then re-evaluate.