Quick Check on my cutting technique

[MG42Maniac]

Hey,

Since October I have been trying to slim down so that come summer I am in shape and won't look a total tool on the beach

Been working out Since Sept 03 but only seriously since June 2004, I am happy with the strength and muscle gains but struggle to keep my fat levels down.

Since roughly October I have changed my routine and have been doing the following and I just wondered if anyone could tell me if its actually a good routine as its taking a while to get real results!

Mon:
20 mins warming up on Cross Trainer at a medium level
3 Mins warming up for HIIT on Treadmill with 10 mins HIIT (1 min fast run, 1 min slow jog & repeat 5 times) and 3 Mins cool down
3 Mins warming up for HIIT on Cross Trainer with 10 mins HIIT (1 min medium/high resistance level, 1 min very high & repeat 5 times) and 3 Mins cool down
Shoulders & Legs - normally 3/4 exercises for each @ 3x6
Abs - assorted exercises

Tues
20 mins warming up on Cross Trainer at a medium level
3 Mins warming up for HIIT on Treadmill with 10 mins HIIT (1 min fast run, 1 min slow jog & repeat 5 times) and 3 Mins cool down
3 Mins warming up for HIIT on Cross Trainer with 10 mins HIIT (1 min medium/high resistance level, 1 min very high & repeat 5 times) and 3 Mins cool down
Chest & Back - normally 3/4 exercises for each @ 3x6
Abs - assorted exercises

Thurs
20 mins warming up on Cross Trainer at a medium level
3 Mins warming up for HIIT on Treadmill with 10 mins HIIT (1 min fast run, 1 min slow jog & repeat 5 times) and 3 Mins cool down
3 Mins warming up for HIIT on Cross Trainer with 10 mins HIIT (1 min medium/high resistance level, 1 min very high & repeat 5 times) and 3 Mins cool down
Bicep, Forearms & Tricep- normally 3 exercises for bi & tri and 2 for forearms @ 3x6
Abs - assorted exercises

Is there anything fundamentally wrong with the above or is it a case of sticking with it? I a bit worried there is maybe not enough cardio going on!

My diet I would say is good, I try to limit my fat intake to 40g a day and try and eat as much protein as possible from lean sources and try and keep the carbs down. I also drink loads of water and try to space my meals out throughout the day. The main area ( I know its almost impossible to target specific areas for weight loss) I want to slim down on is my Stomach as I have some annoying pockets of fat around my hips but my stomach it self is pretty much flat with the abs showing through but not that well.

I am trying to keep as much muscle as possible during the cutting phase hence the HIIT and high protein intake, would it be better to drop the carbs to almost nothing?

Thanks in advance!

 

[MG42Maniac]

Thanks very much for the replies guys!

The reason I do 20 mins to start off with is to aid fat loss, I start with it as its a lot less intensive than HIIT. I have not found it to really affect my weight lifting performance I just tend to sweat a lot more while doing it!

Ah, my bad. I assumed HIIT was as it sounded. So do you literally have to go FLAT OUT to get the best out of it?

As far as limiting fats I just assumed that the more fatty food you eat the fatter you will get. I know some fats are good for you such as Nuts but surely these are best had in moderation? I don't really know much about good dieting foods to be honest as the majority of my knowledge is in bulking up as thats pretty much what I've been doing from Day 1. What would you say is a good limit gram wise for good fats, bad fats and carbs a day?

So I am looking at about 2000-2200 calories a day? Morning cardio is not really do able due to my daily schedule, I can only really exercise in the mornings. So how many times a week should I be doing cardio if I am eating just below maintenance?

Also when I refer to Cardio there is the normal way, i.e a long standard/long session on the Cross Traineror there is HIIT, how often should I be doing each one and for how long?

Thanks!