REDUCE CARBS BY 0.25 GRAM AT A TIME

Each time you hit a plateau in your diet and it seems like you haven’t made any fat loss progress for at least a week, it’s time for a change (though a small one). Just make sure you aren’t rushing the process; if you’re still seeing fat loss progress following the Step #2 calorie and macro guidelines, stick with it.

But let’s say your fat loss results have definitely stalled. Since you want to keep protein and fat where they are to maximize muscle growth and strength gains, your best bet is to whittle away your carb intake.

You’ll reduce carbs by 0.25 grams per pound of body weight each time you need to cut again, which will reduce your total calorie intake by about 1 calorie per pound of body weight. For the 200-pound person, that equates to about a 200-calorie cut.

Since our sample 200-pounder is currently consuming 2 grams of carbs per pound of body weight, his first cut will bring him down to 1.75 grams per pound.

You’ll progressively cut carbs each time fat loss hits a plateau until you’re down to around just 0.25 grams of carbs per pound. That is, if you ever have to get that low. Many people won’t have to get anywhere close to that. It just depends on where you’re starting from, what your training consists of, and how your body responds to the training and diet.

The meals plans that follow show examples of how to drop carbs from your diet with each 0.25 gram per pound cut – starting with an initial cut in carbs from 2.0 grams to 1.75 grams per pound of body weight.

Dieting 101 Key: Where to Cut

What meals to start reducing carbs from depends on when you train. Regardless, you will cut post-workout carbs ABSOLUTELY LAST. For those who train in the morning, start reducing carbs from the end of the day and work up as you continue to drop. For those who train at night, start reducing your carbs from the start of the day and work down as you continue to cut. It gets a little trickier if you train at lunch or before dinner.

SAMPLE CARB-REDUCING MEAL PLAN: DROPPING FROM 2.0 TO 1.75 GRAMS OF CARBS

350 grams of carbs total for the 200-pounder, dropping calories to 17 per pound of body weight or about 3,400 total

Breakfast

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 3 whole eggs
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 tsp olive oil (scramble eggs in olive oil)
  • 2 cups cooked oatmeal (1 cup dry oats before cooking)
  • 1 tbsp honey (mix honey in oatmeal)
  • 4 capsules Omega JYM fish oil

Fat-burning supplements (take between breakfast and late-morning snack)

Late-morning snack

  • 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
  • 1 cup sliced pineapple
  • 5 Triscuit whole-wheat crackers
  • (mix pineapple in cottage cheese and eat with crackers)

Lunch

  • 6 oz. can albacore tuna
  • 2 slices whole-wheat (or Ezekiel) bread
  • 1 tbsp light mayonnaise
  • 1 large piece of fruit (apple, orange, banana, etc.)
  • 1 dose Vita JYM multivitamin

Fat-burning supplements (take between lunch and afternoon snack)

Afternoon snack

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 tbsp jam
  • 2 slices whole-wheat (or Ezekiel) bread

Dinner

  • 8 oz. steak (or salmon or other fish, or chicken or other poultry, or pork)
  • 1 cup of cooked brown rice
  • 1 cup of cooked black beans or pinto beans
  • 2 cups mixed green salad
  • 2 tbsp salad dressing (olive oil and vinegar)

Before Bed Supplements (taken at least 1 hour after dinner and at least 1 hour prior to before-bed snack)

  • 1 dose ZMA JYM (females take 2/3 dose)

Before-Bed Snack

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder or 1 cup cottage cheese or 1 cup Greek yogurt (with 1 teaspoon honey)
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter (can add to shake or Greek yogurt or eat separate)

Pre-workout (30-45 minutes before workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Pre JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 1 large apple

Post-workout (within 30 minutes after workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Post JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1-2 scoops Pro JYM protein powder
  • 30 grams of fast-digesting carbs (preferably dextrose, as found in Post JYM Fast Cards)

OFF DAYS SUPPLEMENTATION

On days you don’t train, continue taking 2-4 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine, taking one scoop of Pre JYM and/or one scoop of Post JYM at whatever time of day you like. (Pre JYM and Post JYM each contain 2 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine.)

SAMPLE CARB-REDUCING MEAL PLAN: DROPPING FROM 1.75 TO 1.5 GRAMS OF CARBS

350 grams of carbs total for the 200-pounder, dropping calories to 16 per pound of body weight or about 3,200 total

Breakfast

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 3 whole eggs
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 tsp olive oil (scramble eggs in olive oil)
  • 2 cups cooked oatmeal (1 cup dry oats before cooking)
  • 1 tbsp honey (mix honey in oatmeal)
  • 4 capsules Omega JYM fish oil

Fat-burning supplements (take between breakfast and late-morning snack)

Late-morning snack

  • 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
  • 1 cup sliced pineapple
  • 5 Triscuit whole-wheat crackers
  • (mix pineapple in cottage cheese and eat with crackers)

Lunch

  • 6 oz. can albacore tuna
  • 2 slices whole-wheat (or Ezekiel) bread
  • 1 tbsp light mayonnaise
  • 1 large piece of fruit (apple, orange, banana, etc.)
  • 1 dose Vita JYM multivitamin

Fat-burning supplements (take between lunch and afternoon snack)

Afternoon snack

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 tbsp jam
  • 2 slices whole-wheat (or Ezekiel) bread

Dinner

  • 8 oz. steak (or salmon or other fish, or chicken or other poultry, or pork)
  • 1 cup of cooked brown rice
  • 1 cup of cooked black beans or pinto beans
  • 2 cups mixed green salad
  • 2 tbsp salad dressing (olive oil and vinegar)

Before Bed Supplements (taken at least 1 hour after dinner and at least 1 hour prior to before-bed snack)

  • 1 dose ZMA JYM (females take 2/3 dose)

Before-Bed Snack

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder or 1 cup cottage cheese or 1 cup Greek yogurt (with 1 teaspoon honey)
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter (can add to shake or Greek yogurt or eat separate)

Pre-workout (30-45 minutes before workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Pre JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 1 large apple

Post-workout (within 30 minutes after workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Post JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1-2 scoops Pro JYM protein powder
  • 30 grams of fast-digesting carbs (preferably, dextrose, as found in Post JYM Fast Cards)

OFF DAYS SUPPLEMENTATION

On days you don’t train, continue taking 2-4 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine, taking one scoop of Pre JYM and/or one scoop of Post JYM at whatever time of day you like. (Pre JYM and Post JYM each contain 2 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine.)

SAMPLE CARB-REDUCING MEAL PLAN: DROPPING FROM 1.5 TO 1.25 GRAMS OF CARBS

250 grams of carbs total for the 200-pounder, dropping calories to 16 per pound of body weight or about 3,000 total

Breakfast

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 3 whole eggs
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 tsp olive oil (scramble eggs in olive oil)
  • 2 cups cooked oatmeal (1 cup dry oats before cooking)
  • 1 tbsp honey (mix honey in oatmeal)
  • 4 capsules Omega JYM fish oil

Fat-burning supplements (take between breakfast and late-morning snack)

Late-morning snack

  • 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
  • 1 cup sliced pineapple
  • 5 Triscuit whole-wheat crackers
  • (mix pineapple in cottage cheese and eat with crackers)

Lunch

  • 6 oz. can albacore tuna
  • 2 slices whole-wheat (or Ezekiel) bread
  • 1 tbsp light mayonnaise
  • 1 large piece of fruit (apple, orange, banana, etc.)
  • 1 dose Vita JYM multivitamin

Fat-burning supplements (take between lunch and afternoon snack)

Afternoon snack

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter

Dinner

  • 8 oz. steak (or salmon or other fish, or chicken or other poultry, or pork)
  • 1 cup of cooked brown rice
  • 1 cup of cooked black beans or pinto beans
  • 2 cups mixed green salad
  • 2 tbsp salad dressing (olive oil and vinegar)

Before Bed Supplements (taken at least 1 hour after dinner and at least 1 hour prior to before-bed snack)

  • 1 dose ZMA JYM (females take 2/3 dose)

Before-Bed Snack

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder or 1 cup cottage cheese or 1 cup Greek yogurt (with 1 teaspoon honey)
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter (can add to shake or Greek yogurt or eat separate)

Pre-workout (30-45 minutes before workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Pre JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 1 large apple

Post-workout (within 30 minutes after workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Post JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1-2 scoops Pro JYM protein powder
  • 30 grams of fast-digesting carbs (preferably, dextrose, as found in Post JYM Fast Cards)

OFF DAYS SUPPLEMENTATION

On days you don’t train, continue taking 2-4 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine, taking one scoop of Pre JYM and/or one scoop of Post JYM at whatever time of day you like. (Pre JYM and Post JYM each contain 2 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine.)

SAMPLE CARB-REDUCING MEAL PLAN: DROPPING FROM 1.25 TO 1 GRAMS OF CARBS

200 grams of carbs total for the 200-pounder, dropping calories to 14 per pound of body weight or about 2,800 total

Breakfast

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 3 whole eggs
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 tsp olive oil (scramble eggs in olive oil)
  • 2 cups cooked oatmeal (1 cup dry oats before cooking)
  • 1 tbsp honey (mix honey in oatmeal)
  • 4 capsules Omega JYM fish oil

Fat-burning supplements (take between breakfast and late-morning snack)

Late-morning snack

  • 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese

Lunch

  • 6 oz. can albacore tuna
  • 2 slices whole-wheat (or Ezekiel) bread
  • 1 tbsp light mayonnaise
  • 1 dose Vita JYM multivitamin

Fat-burning supplements (take between lunch and afternoon snack)

Afternoon snack

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter

Dinner

  • 8 oz. steak (or salmon or other fish, or chicken or other poultry, or pork)
  • 2 cups mixed green salad
  • 2 tbsp salad dressing (olive oil and vinegar)

Before Bed Supplements (taken at least 1 hour after dinner and at least 1 hour prior to before-bed snack)

  • 1 dose ZMA JYM (females take 2/3 dose)

Before-Bed Snack

  • 1-2 scoops Pro JYM protein powder or 1 cup cottage cheese or 1 cup Greek yogurt (with 1 teaspoon honey)
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter (can add to shake or Greek yogurt or eat separate)

Pre-workout (30-45 minutes before workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Pre JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 30 grams of fast-digesting carbs (preferably, dextrose, as found in Post JYM Fast Cards)

Post-workout (within 30 minutes after workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Post JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1-2 scoops Pro JYM protein powder
  • 30 grams of fast-digesting carbs (preferably, dextrose, as found in Post JYM Fast Cards)

OFF DAYS SUPPLEMENTATION

On days you don’t train, continue taking 2-4 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine, taking one scoop of Pre JYM and/or one scoop of Post JYM at whatever time of day you like. (Pre JYM and Post JYM each contain 2 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine.)

SAMPLE CARB-REDUCING MEAL PLAN: DROPPING FROM 1 TO 0.75 GRAMS OF CARBS

150 grams of carbs total for the 200-pounder, dropping calories to 13 per pound of body weight or about 2,500 total

Breakfast

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 3 whole eggs
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 tsp olive oil (scramble eggs in olive oil)
  • 2 cups cooked oatmeal (1 cup dry oats before cooking)
  • 1 tbsp honey (mix honey in oatmeal)
  • 4 capsules Omega JYM fish oil

Fat-burning supplements (take between breakfast and late-morning snack)

Late-morning snack

  • 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese

Lunch

  • 6 oz. can albacore tuna
  • 2 slices whole-wheat (or Ezekiel) bread
  • 1 tbsp light mayonnaise
  • 1 dose Vita JYM multivitamin

Fat-burning supplements (take between lunch and afternoon snack)

Afternoon snack

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter

Dinner

  • 8 oz. steak (or salmon or other fish, or chicken or other poultry, or pork)
  • 2 cups mixed green salad
  • 2 tbsp salad dressing (olive oil and vinegar)

Before Bed Supplements (taken at least 1 hour after dinner and at least 1 hour prior to before-bed snack)

  • 1 dose ZMA JYM (females take 2/3 dose)

Before-Bed Snack

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder or 1 cup cottage cheese or 1 cup Greek yogurt (with 1 teaspoon honey)
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter (can add to shake or Greek yogurt or eat separate)

Pre-workout (30-45 minutes before workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Pre JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder

Post-workout (within 30 minutes after workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Post JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1-2 scoops Pro JYM protein powder
  • 30 grams of fast-digesting carbs (preferably, dextrose, as found in Post JYM Fast Cards)

OFF DAYS SUPPLEMENTATION

On days you don’t train, continue taking 2-4 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine, taking one scoop of Pre JYM and/or one scoop of Post JYM at whatever time of day you like. (Pre JYM and Post JYM each contain 2 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine.)

SAMPLE CARB-REDUCING MEAL PLAN: DROPPING FROM 0.75 TO 0.5 GRAMS OF CARBS

100 grams of carbs total for the 200-pounder, dropping calories to 11 per pound of body weight or about 2,300 total

Breakfast

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 3 whole eggs
  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 tsp olive oil (scramble eggs in olive oil)
  • 1 cup cooked oatmeal (1/2 cup dry oats before cooking)
  • 1 tbsp honey (mix honey in oatmeal)
  • 4 capsules Omega JYM fish oil

Fat-burning supplements (take between breakfast and late-morning snack)

Late-morning snack

  • 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese

Lunch

  • 6 oz. can albacore tuna
  • 2 slices whole-wheat (or Ezekiel) bread
  • 1 tbsp light mayonnaise
  • 1 dose Vita JYM multivitamin

Fat-burning supplements (take between lunch and afternoon snack)

Afternoon snack

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter

Dinner

  • 8 oz. steak (or salmon or other fish, or chicken or other poultry, or pork)
  • 2 cups mixed green salad
  • 2 tbsp salad dressing (olive oil and vinegar)

Before Bed Supplements (taken at least 1 hour after dinner and at least 1 hour prior to before-bed snack)

  • 1 dose ZMA JYM (females take 2/3 dose)

Before-Bed Snack

  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder or 1 cup cottage cheese or 1 cup Greek yogurt (with 1 teaspoon honey)
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter (can add to shake or Greek yogurt or eat separate)

Pre-workout (30-45 minutes before workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Pre JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1 scoop Pro JYM protein powder

Post-workout (within 30 minutes after workouts)

  • 2 grams CarnoSyn® beta-alanine (the amount included in one serving/scoop of Post JYM by JYM Supplement Science, along with other active ingredients)
  • 1-2 scoops Pro JYM protein powder
  • 30 grams of fast-digesting carbs (preferably, dextrose, as found in Post JYM Fast Cards)

OFF DAYS SUPPLEMENTATION

On days you don’t train, continue taking 2-4 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine, taking one scoop of Pre JYM and/or one scoop of Post JYM at whatever time of day you like. (Pre JYM and Post JYM each contain 2 grams of CarnoSyn® beta-alanine.)

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