Hi guys,
Have done a fair bit of looking through forums but never registered until now.

My story:
I always was a bit fat/tubby when i was younger – although i was always tall. I am about 6’4’ and have always played loads of sports – league/basketball being the main ones. I was never one to run for the sake of it but would play sports all day every day. anyhow – the highest weight i have ever been is around the 100kg mark. Then i used to fluctuate between about 93-96kg for a long time before i started an office job 18months ago and seen all the people who worked there (so many overweight people who ate and ate and complained!).

This encouraged me to ensure i ate better and didn’t end up like those around me, so each week i buy a bunch of food and have it in my drawer such as : weetbix , trail mix, bananas, yoghurt, two fruits stuff, salad. So most days i snack on the things above but in the work environment im in often there is crap such as chocolates/lollies laying about which i partake in! (bad move)

I have salads at work at least 3 days per week for lunch (sometimes i throw turkey in there) And dinners i try and have steamed veges many nights and some chicken or steak and i have also been trying to cut out bread and pastas a fair bit. So anyway, in general I try and live a fairly healthy lifestyle, i have been training 3-4 times per wk at the gym and in addition to this i play basketball 2-3 times per week and on top of this i have been doing cardio at least another 2 times per week.

My fitness now, as an almost 30yr old is better than ever, i recently started doing some running and competed in an 11km race where i got a time of 52mins after 1 wk training and the first time i ever ran that far! I have been straying from my healthy eating more than i should and drinking alcohol probably twice a wk to excess – not sure of the impact this is having as i feel like i should be dropping more body fat.

I have been going between 88-92kg now for the past 3 months on a similar routine to above, my body is quite lean all over except for my gut!. I hate it and i feel embarrassed to take my shirt off in public still as all my mates are fit bastards, it just sits around my abdomen and nowhere else!.. Sooo, I am planning to test myself in the next month. My plan is to stay completely commited as opposed to my current semi-commitment! to a diet/excercise and supplement plan and am after any advice!

I have been taking Launch WPI/WPC blend intermittently for the last 6 months after workouts which is almost out and recently went through a tub of Mesomorph. (I really struggle to get moving in the mornings and don’t get enough sleep!) My routine is gym from 7-8am then straight to work, and post work doing cardio or sport.
Supplements:

I have just bought some (Bsc) Hydroxycut hardcore caps and just ordered some CLA caps on eBay and i was given some Nitrotech hardcore pro protein. I was also considering getting some Jack3d pre workout but not sure if this is suitable to take with the others?

I also take the swisse ultivite mens daily and just started taking zinc after workouts and fish oil.

Basically the plan is to work out 4 times per week at the gym and do some cardio every single day whilst taking these supplements above. Are these a good combination? (the Hydroxycut pro protein has some great reviews – is this better than the nanotech stuff i have?)

Any hints/tips/motivation would be appreciated – thankyou and have a great wknd!

welcome newy..... just wondering what you will call yourself when youve been on here for a while lol
seems like the journey has well and truely begun for you
Congrats on the 11k run thats an awesome effort
seems like your planned diet is on the mark, as for the hydroxycut protein.... its overpriced and over named, thats why you see so many reviews on it....
Ive always been a fan of the proteins by International Protein and the Optimum Nutrition, theyre both very low carb and high protein, good doses of BCAAs and Glutamine and low on the salts.... and priced effectively
Chocolates and Lollies....... I know this aint what you want to hear but..... if you dip into them, even minutely... they will ruin a diet
youre training your body to respond to the goopd food, making it understand how you want it to metabolise... then you throw some shit in there every day to ruin it. If you stick to diet even just 6 days a week, and go for broke on the crap on day 7, your diet will still work. Hard dieters believe in 1 cheat meal a week but you could still throw an entire day and still succeed. 1/7 of a week is 14%, so if you stick to diet for 6 full days a week, youre on track 86% of the time, and your body will know what to do..... add even a little bit of choc or lollies daily and youre on diet 0% of the time..... how can the body understand what youre trying to do??????
stick with it, small steps begin great journeys

Hi Mate welcome to the forums

Welcome to the forum mate.

Thanks for the welcome guys and thanks for advice there Pete!..
and the newy name has two meanings - as in, where i come from.

I will have a look at getting some of that protein with my next buy but as far as the supplements i have will they suffice for what I am after?

I also train with a friend who takes 0 supplements - he is a freak, we are lifting similar weights and yet he gets gains that i do not! I'm quite lanky and have very long arms and legs which makes bench press more difficult.

size isnt my major concern though more just getting rid of my gut and toning.

yeah long legs can make bench harder

compete with yourself, he has his own war going on

Welcome to the forums

Hey mate i can bench quiet alot

Thanks fellas -

well, my arms arent fat just quite lean and lanky and I have a wingspan of 6"9"

i have worked my way up to only doing 60kg of weight on bench - i can do 1 full set of 12 and another of about 6 and i have to drop back.

is it better to start with the higher weight and then drop down or vice versa??

also...
I have started tracking my diet/exercise for the past few days or so :
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/jaz82a

trying to limit calories to get rid of this stomach - open to anyone having a look and giving feedback!

Also - my current supplements - are these ok? i also got some CLA today as well?

Regarding weight on exercises and in particular compound movements it is best in my opinion to change the rep range and weight every 6-8 wks depending on your progress. I find that less rep with more weight I.e. 5 sets of 5 works well for size and strength gain, however with the high rep range less sets I get a more vascular look out of the gym, instead of mass from the more weight less reps..

Just remember to stick to one thing, and to change it when you FEEL you are starting to plateu.

Originally Posted by Newy

also...
I have started tracking my diet/exercise for the past few days or so :
[url]http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/diary/

Welcome to the forums Newy.
I use the above site aswell via an iPhone app and recommend it to everyone who wants to seriously track their diet and macros. The only problem I have found is that it doesn't recommend the correct % of protein vs carbs vs fats that us guys and girls need. More of a day2day fitness thing.

Cheers...