Get the full program here: to Shred will help you burn fat, build muscle, and gain strength. Learn how to train for all three.
Shortcut to shred and size both have weight training and cardio. But does Shortcut to size have enough? Yes I can alter the program but I like to follow programs to a tee so I can see the actual results of the program as it is designed. Shortcut to Shred includes a precise, three-phase nutrition plan engineered to help you build muscle and burn fat for six solid weeks. Start your shred in th.
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WORKOUT PROGRAM
Cardio acceleration is critical to Shortcut to Shred. It will fire up your fat-burning furnace like nothing else. Cardio acceleration is a technique that combines high-intensity cardio and resistance training into one fast-paced workout. Instead of resting between your lifts, you will do cardio between every single set. Simply put, you’ll lift one set of a prescribed exercise, such as bench press, and then immediately follow it with one minute of cardio. Cardio effectively replaces your rest periods. Now, I don’t mean you have to rack the barbell, run across the gym, and jump on a treadmill or stationary bike. Your cardio acceleration exercises can be as simple as running in place next to the bench. You can also jump rope, perform dumbbell cleans, step-ups, or any combination of full-body exercises. Whatever you do, the point is to move for an entire minute. Between each set, you’ll do one minute of a cardio acceleration exercise. If you’re new to fitness and find that one minute is too long, you can reduce the time to 30 seconds, or go at a slower pace. The goal is to gradually increase the time you spend doing high-intensity cardio. You want to keep each cardio acceleration minute as intense and demanding as possible.
CARDIO ACCELERATION OPTIONS KB Swing Goblet Squat Squat Jump Box Jump DB Step-up BB Step-up Sprints Running in Place Medicine Ball Slam Dumbbell Lunge Lunge Jumps Side-to-Side Box Shuffle Sledgehammer Swing Battling Ropes Rocket Jump Lateral Bound Lateral Box Jump Side Standing Long Jump Mountain Climber Jump Rope
Knee Tuck Jump Diagonal Bound Tire Flip Skipping (in place) Elliptical DB Clean Smith Machine Clean Step-up with Knee Raise
Straight-Arm Pulldown Smith Machine Behind-the-Back Shrug Incline Dumbbell Curl High Cable Curl Rope Cable Curl Dumbbell Reverse Wrist Curl
WORKOUT 3: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS (MULTI-JOINT) EXERCISE SETS REPS Barbell Bent Over Row 4 9-11 Dumbbell Bent-Over Row 3 9-11 Seated Cable Row 3 9-11 Barbell Shrug 4 9-11 Barbell Curl 3 9-11 Barbell or EZ-Bar Preacher Curl 3 9-11 Reverse-Grip Barbell Curl 3 9-11 Barbell Wrist Curl 3 9-11
SHORTCUT TO SHRED WORKOUT PROGRAM
12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15
EXERCISE Incline Dumbbell Flye Dumbbell Flye Cable Crossover Triceps Pressdown Overhead Dumbbell Extension Cable Lying Triceps Extension Crunch Standing Oblique Cable Crunch
WORKOUT 1: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (MULTI-JOINT) EXERCISE SETS REPS Bench Press 4 9-11 Incline Dumbbell Press 3 9-11 Decline Smith Machine Press 3 9-11 Dips 4 9-11 Close-Grip Bench Press 4 9-11 Cable Crunch 3 9-11 Smith Machine Hip Thrust 3 9-11
SETS 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
EXERCISE SETS REPS Bench Press 4 6-8 Incline Dumbbell Press 3 6-8 Decline Smith Machine Press 3 6-8 Dips 4 6-8 Close-Grip Bench Press 4 6-8 Cable Crunch 3 7-8 Smith Machine Hip Thrust 3 7-8
REPS 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15
WORKOUT 2: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES EXERCISE SETS REPS Barbell Shoulder Press 4 6-8 Alternating Dumbbell Shoulder Press (Standing) 3 6-8 Smith Machine One-Arm Upright Row 3 6-8 Squat 4 6-8 Deadlift 3 6-8 Walking Lunge 3 6-8 Standing Calf Raise 3 7-8 Seated Calf Raise 3 7-8
WORKOUT 5: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES EXERCISE Dumbbell Lateral Raise Barbell Front Raise Dumbbell Bent-Over Lateral Raise Leg Extension Leg Curl Seated Calf Raise Donkey or Leg Press Calf Raise
WORKOUT 2: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES (MULTI-JOINT) EXERCISE SETS REPS Barbell Shoulder Press 4 9-11 Alternating Dumbbell Shoulder Press (Standing) 3 9-11 Smith Machine One-Arm Upright Row 3 9-11 Squat 4 9-11 Deadlift 3 9-11 Walking Lunge 3 9-11 Standing Calf Raise 3 9-11 Seated Calf Raise 3 9-11
SETS 3 3 3 4 4 3 3
REPS 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15
WORKOUT 6: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS EXERCISE Lat Pulldown Reverse-Grip Pulldown
WORKOUT 3: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS SETS 3 3
REPS 12-15 12-15
EXERCISE Barbell Bent Over Row Dumbbell Bent-Over Row
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SETS 4 3
REPS 6-8 6-8
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4 3 3 3 3
PHASE 1: WEEK 2
WORKOUT 4: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (SINGLE JOINT)
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12-15
WORKOUT 1: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (MULTI-JOINT)
PHASE 1: WEEK 1
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PHASE 1: WEEK 3
Seated Cable Row 3 6-8 Barbell Shrug 4 6-8 Barbell Curl 3 6-8 Barbell or EZ-Bar Preacher Curl 3 6-8 Reverse-Grip Barbell Curl 3 6-8 Barbell Wrist Curl 3 6-8
WORKOUT 1: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (MULTI-JOINT) EXERCISE Bench Press Incline Dumbbell Press Decline Smith Machine Press Dips Close-Grip Bench Press Cable Crunch Smith Machine Hip Thrust
WORKOUT 4: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (SINGLE JOINT) EXERCISE SETS REPS Incline Dumbbell Flye 3 16-20 Dumbbell Flye 3 16-20 Cable Crossover 3 16-20 Triceps Pressdown 3 16-20 Overhead Dumbbell Extension 3 16-20 Cable Lying Triceps Extension 3 16-20 Crunch 3 16-20 Standing Oblique Cable Crunch 3 16-20
SETS 4 3 3 4 4 3 3
REPS 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 5-6 5-6
WORKOUT 5: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES EXERCISE SETS REPS Dumbbell Lateral Raise 3 16-20 Barbell Front Raise 3 16-20 Dumbbell Bent-Over Lateral Raise 3 16-20 Leg Extension 4 16-20 Leg Curl 4 16-20 Seated Calf Raise 3 16-20 Donkey or Leg Press Calf Raise 3 16-20
SETS 4
REPS 2-5
3
2-5
3 4 3 3 3 3
4-5 2-5 2-5 4-5 5-6 5-6
WORKOUT 6: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS EXERCISE SETS REPS Lat Pulldown 3 16-20 Reverse-Grip Pulldown 3 16-20 Straight-Arm Pulldown 3 16-20 Smith Machine Behind-the-Back Shrug 4 16-20 Incline Dumbbell Curl 3 16-20 High Cable Curl 3 16-20 Rope Cable Curl 3 16-20 Dumbbell Reverse Wrist Curl 3 16-20
SETS 4 3 3 4 3 3 3 3
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SETS 3
REPS 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 4-5 4-5 4-5
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
WORKOUT 3: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS (MULTI-JOINT)
If you’re feeling really good and want to make the Shortcut to Shred sessions even more intense, start performing a “cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset” on the last set of each major exercise. The technique is as brutal as it sounds, believe me. Cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset: Take the last set of each exercise to muscle failure. Then, rack the weight and perform cardio acceleration by running in place for 15-20 seconds. Pick up the weight and continue doing reps until you reach muscle failure again. Immediately decrease the weight
REPS 21-30
EXERCISE SETS REPS Barbell Bent Over Row 4* 9-11 Incline Dumbbell Row 3* 9-11 Seated Cable Row 3* 9-11 Barbell Shrug 4* 9-11 Barbell Curl 3* 9-11 Seated Barbell Curl 3* 9-11 Reverse-Grip Barbell or EZ-Bar Curl 3* 9-11 Behind-The-Back Wrist Curl 3* 9-11 *On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset ™ ™
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EXERCISE SETS REPS Barbell Shoulder Press 4* 9-11 Dumbbell Shoulder Press (Seated) 3* 9-11 Dumbbell Upright Row 3* 9-11 Squat 4* 9-11 Deadlift 3* 9-11 Leg Press 3* 9-11 Standing Calf Raise 3* 9-11 Seated Calf Raise 3* 9-11
PHASE 2: WEEK 4
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WORKOUT 2: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES (MULTI-JOINT)
EXERCISE SETS REPS Lat Pulldown 3 21-30 Reverse-Grip Pulldown 3 21-30 Straight-Arm Pulldown 3 21-30 Smith Machine Behind-the-Back Shrug 4 21-30 Incline Dumbbell Curl 3 21-30 High Cable Curl 3 21-30 Rope Cable Curl 3 21-30 Dumbbell Reverse Wrist Curl 3 21-30
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*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
WORKOUT 6: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS
WORKOUT 4: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (SINGLE JOINT) EXERCISE Incline Dumbbell Flye
EXERCISE SETS REPS Bench Press 4* 9-11 Incline Bench Press 3* 9-11 Decline Dumbbell Press 3* 9-11 Dips 4* 9-11 Close-Grip Bench Press 4* 9-11 Smith Machine Crunch 3* 9-11 Hanging Leg Raise 3* 9-11
EXERCISE SETS REPS Dumbbell Lateral Raise 3 21-30 Barbell Front Raise 3 21-30 Dumbbell Bent-Over Lateral Raise 3 21-30 Leg Extension 4 21-30 Leg Curl 4 21-30 Seated Calf Raise 3 21-30 Donkey or Leg Press Calf Raise 3 21-30
WORKOUT 3: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS EXERCISE Barbell Bent Over Row Dumbbell Bent-Over Row Seated Cable Row Barbell Shrug Barbell Curl Barbell or EZ-Bar Preacher Curl Reverse-Grip Barbell Curl Barbell Wrist Curl
WORKOUT 1: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (MULTI-JOINT)
WORKOUT 5: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES
WORKOUT 2: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES EXERCISE Barbell Shoulder Press Alternating Dumbbell Shoulder Press (Standing) Smith Machine One-Arm Upright Row Squat Deadlift Walking Lunge Standing Calf Raise Seated Calf Raise
by 20-30 percent and lift until you reach muscle failure again. You are now done with the set and ready to move to the next exercise.
Dumbbell Flye 3 21-30 Cable Crossover 3 21-30 Triceps Pressdown 3 21-30 Overhead Dumbbell Extension 3 21-30 Cable Lying Triceps Extension 3 21-30 Crunch 3 21-30 Standing Oblique Cable Crunch 3 21-30
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PHASE 2: WEEK 5
WORKOUT 4: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (SINGLE JOINT) EXERCISE Cable Crossover from Low Pulley Cable Crossover Dumbbell Flye Overhead Cable Triceps Extension Lying Triceps Extension Rope Triceps Pressdown Crossover Crunch Cable Woodchopper
SETS 4* 3* 3* 3* 3* 3* 3* 3*
WORKOUT 1: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (MULTI-JOINT)
REPS 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15
WORKOUT 1: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (MULTI-JOINT)
EXERCISE SETS REPS Cable Crossover from Low Pulley 4* 16-20 Cable Crossover 3* 16-20 Dumbbell Flye 3* 16-20 Overhead Cable Triceps Extension 3* 16-20 Lying Triceps Extension 3* 16-20 Rope Triceps Pressdown 3* 16-20 Crossover Crunch 3* 16-20 Cable Woodchopper 3* 16-20
EXERCISE SETS REPS Bench Press 4* 6-8 Incline Bench Press 3* 6-8 Decline Dumbbell Press 3* 6-8 Dips 4* 6-8 Close-Grip Bench Press 4* 6-8 Smith Machine Crunch 3* 7-8 Hanging Leg Raise^ 3* 7-8
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
PHASE 2: WEEK 6
WORKOUT 4: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (SINGLE JOINT)
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
EXERCISE Bench Press Incline Bench Press Decline Dumbbell Press Dips Close-Grip Bench Press Smith Machine Crunch Hanging Leg Raise^
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
EXERCISE Dumbbell Lateral Raise Cable Front Raise Lying Cable Rear Delt Flye Leg Extension Leg Curl Seated Calf Raise Donkey or Leg Press Calf Raise
^Use ankle weights or hold dumbbell between feet if needed
WORKOUT 5: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES SETS 4* 3* 3* 4* 4* 3* 3*
REPS 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15
EXERCISE SETS REPS Dumbbell Lateral Raise 4* 16-20 Cable Front Raise 3* 16-20 Lying Cable Rear Delt Flye 3* 16-20 Leg Extension 4* 16-20 Leg Curl 4* 16-20 Seated Calf Raise 3* 16-20 Donkey or Leg Press Calf Raise 3* 16-20
WORKOUT 2: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES (MULTI-JOINT) EXERCISE SETS REPS Barbell Shoulder Press 4* 6-8 Dumbbell Shoulder Press (Seated) 3* 6-8 Dumbbell Upright Row 3* 6-8 Squat 4* 6-8 Deadlift 3* 6-8 Leg Press 3* 6-8 Standing Calf Raise 3* 7-8 Seated Calf Raise 3* 7-8
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
SETS 4* 3* 3* 4* 3* 3* 3* 3*
REPS 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15 12-15
EXERCISE Barbell Shoulder Press Dumbbell Shoulder Press (Seated) Dumbbell Upright Row Squat Deadlift Leg Press Standing Calf Raise Seated Calf Raise
WORKOUT 6: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS
EXERCISE SETS REPS Barbell Bent Over Row 4* 6-8 Incline Dumbbell Row 3* 6-8 Seated Cable Row 3* 6-8 Barbell Shrug 4* 6-8 Barbell Curl 3* 6-8 Seated Barbell Curl 3* 6-8 Reverse-Grip Barbell or EZ-Bar Curl 3* 6-8 Behind-The-Back Wrist Curl 3* 6-8
EXERCISE Barbell Bent Over Row Incline Dumbbell Row Seated Cable Row Barbell Shrug Barbell Curl Seated Barbell Curl Reverse-Grip Barbell or EZ-Bar Curl Behind-The-Back Wrist Curl
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
REPS 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 4-5 4-5
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SETS 4* 3* 3* 4* 3* 3* 3* 3*
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
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REPS 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 4-5 4-5
WORKOUT 3: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS (MULTI-JOINT)
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
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SETS 4* 3* 3* 4* 3* 3* 3* 3*
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
EXERCISE SETS REPS Lat Pulldown 4* 16-20 Behind-the-Neck Pulldown 3* 16-20 Rope Straight-Arm Pulldown 3* 16-20 Dumbbell Shrug 4* 16-20 EZ-Bar Cable Curl 3* 16-20 Incline Dumbbell Curl 3* 16-20 Dumbbell Hammer Curl 3* 16-20 Dumbbell Reverse Wrist Curl 3* 16-20
WORKOUT 3: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS (MULTI-JOINT)
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
WORKOUT 2: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES (MULTI-JOINT)
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
WORKOUT 6: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS EXERCISE Lat Pulldown Behind-the-Neck Pulldown Rope Straight-Arm Pulldown Dumbbell Shrug EZ-Bar Cable Curl Incline Dumbbell Curl Dumbbell Hammer Curl Dumbbell Reverse Wrist Curl
REPS 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 2-5 4-5 4-5
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
^Use ankle weights or hold dumbbell between feet if needed
WORKOUT 5: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES
SETS 4* 3* 3* 4* 4* 3* 3*
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NUTRITION PLAN
WORKOUT 4: CHEST, TRICEPS, ABS (SINGLE JOINT)
Shortcut to Shred is built on three distinct nutrition phases. Each phase calls for different amounts of carbohydrates and calories. Your protein and fat intake remains the same throughout Shortcut to Shred, but your carb intake gradually drops, which also drops your overall calories.
EXERCISE SETS REPS Cable Crossover from Low Pulley 4* 21-30 Cable Crossover 3* 21-30 Dumbbell Flye 3* 21-30 Overhead Cable Triceps Extension 3* 21-30 Lying Triceps Extension 3* 21-30 Rope Triceps Pressdown 3* 21-30 Crossover Crunch 3* 21-30 Cable Woodchopper 3* 21-30
SHORTCUT TO SHRED NUTRITION PLAN FAT CARBS Phase 1, Week 1: 1.5 g per pound of bodyweight Phase 2, Weeks 2-3: 1 g per pound of bodyweight Phase 3, Weeks 3-6: 0.5 g per pound of bodyweight In Phases 1 and 2, your caloric intake is different on workout days and rest days, because on rest days you will not ingest a pre- or post-workout meal. In Phase 3, you will have more calories on your rest days than on workout days. Why? When you drop your carb intake down to 0.5 grams per pound of bodyweight, your leptin levels may drop if you don’t have enough calories. Leptin is a critical hormone for maintaining your metabolic rate. If leptin levels drop too low, your metabolic rate drops, too.
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
WORKOUT 6: BACK, TRAPS, BICEPS
By giving your body a high-carb day, you can keep your leptin levels even, which helps you continue burning fat and get through the diet. A high-carb rest day will do wonders for your mind.
EXERCISE SETS REPS Lat Pulldown 4* 21-30 Behind-the-Neck Pulldown 3* 21-30 Rope Straight-Arm Pulldown 3* 21-30 Dumbbell Shrug 4* 21-30 EZ-Bar Cable Curl 3* 21-30 Incline Dumbbell Curl 3* 21-30 Dumbbell Hammer Curl 3* 21-30 Dumbbell Reverse Wrist Curl 3* 21-30
PHASE I Protein: 1.5 grams per pound Fats: 0.5 grams per pound Carbs: 1.5 grams per pound
200 mg caffeine 500-1000 mg green tea extract 500-2000 mg yohimbe 2 g acetyl-L-carnitine
8 oz top sirloin steak 1 large sweet potato 2 cups mixed green salad 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp vinegar 2-3 g fish oil 2-3 g CLA
LUNCH
NIGHTTIME SNACK
5 oz. can tuna 2 slices whole-wheat bread 1 tbsp light mayonnaise 1/2 large grapefruit
8 oz low-fat cottage cheese 1 cup sliced pineapple 2-3 g fish oil 2-3 g CLA
MID-DAY SNACK
NUTRITIONAL INFO
3 sticks light mozzarella string cheese 1 medium apple 1 oz mixed nuts
Calories: 3,000 Protein: 285 g Carbs: 270 g Fat: 90 g
PRE-WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS 30-60 minutes before workout 200 mg caffeine 500-1000 mg green tea extract 500-2000 mg yohimbe 2 g acetyl-L-carnitine
PHASE II – WEEKS 2-3 Protein: 1.5 grams per pound of body weight Fats: 0.5 grams per pound Carbs: 1 gram per pound
WORKOUT MEAL
Like in Phase 1, on the one day of the week that you don’t train, these numbers will be slightly lower since you skip the preand post-workout meals. Feel free to have your pre-workout shake as an extra snack on that rest day if you get hungry.
Sip throughout workout 1/2 scoop whey 1/2 scoop casein 1.5-5 g creatine 1.5-2 g beta-alanine
WAKE-UP SUPPLEMENTS
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
DINNER
LATE-MORNING SUPPLEMENTS
Phase 1-3: 0.5 g per pound of bodyweight
EXERCISE SETS REPS Dumbbell Lateral Raise 4* 21-30 Cable Front Raise 3* 21-30 Lying Cable Rear Delt Flye 3* 21-30 Leg Extension 4* 21-30 Leg Curl 4* 21-30 Seated Calf Raise 3* 21-30 Donkey or Leg Press Calf Raise 3* 21-30
Within 30 minutes after workout 1 scoop whey 1 scoop casein 14 small Wonka Pixy Stix or 1 Giant Pixy Stix 5 g BCAAs 1.5-5 g creatine 1.5-2 g beta-alanine 2 g carnitine
8 oz. reduced-fat Greek yogurt 1 tbsp honey 1/2 oz. walnuts (7 halves) crushed
Phase 1-3: 1.5 g per pound of bodyweight
WORKOUT 5: SHOULDERS, LEGS, CALVES
POST-WORKOUT MEAL
LATE-MORNING SNACK
PROTEIN
*On the last set do a cardio accelerated rest-pause dropset
BREAKFAST 30-60 min after wake-up supplements 3 whole eggs 3 egg whites 1 cup cooked oatmeal 1 tbsp honey 1/2 large grapefruit
200 mg caffeine 500-1000 mg green tea extract 500-2000 mg yohimbe 2 g acetyl-L-carnitine ™ ™
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The sample meals are similar to Phase 1, but this does not mean you need to eat these exact foods and only these foods for all 3 weeks of the first 2 phases of this program. The foods ™ I removed and changed to are similar so you can see what
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bring the carbs down without affecting protein and fat much.
PHASE III – WEEKS 4-6
PRE-WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS
Refer to the alternative foods list for foods that you can use to replace these sample choices so the diet doesn’t become boring and bereft of nutrient diversity.
WAKE-UP SUPPLEMENTS 200 mg caffeine 500-1000 mg green tea extract 500-2000 mg yohimbe 2 g acetyl-L-carnitine
30-60 minutes before workout 200 mg caffeine 500-1000 mg green tea extract 500-2000 mg yohimbe 2 g acetyl-L-carnitine
Protein: 1.5 grams per pound Fats: 0.5 grams per pound Carbs: 0.5 grams per pound
Sip throughout workout 1/2 scoop whey 1/2 scoop casein 1.5-5 g creatine 1.5-2 g beta-alanine
BREAKFAST
Within 30 minutes after workout 1 scoop whey 1 scoop casein 14 small Wonka Pixy Stix or 1 Giant Pixy Stix 5 g BCAAs 1.5-5 g creatine 1.5-2 g beta-alanine 2 g carnitine
8 oz. reduced-fat Greek yogurt 1 tsp honey 1/2 oz walnuts (7 halves), crushed
HIGH-CARB, REST DAY MACROS
200 mg caffeine 500-1000 mg green tea extract 500-2000 mg yohimbe 2 g acetyl-L-carnitine
Shoot for low-fat carb sources. High-glycemic or fast-digesting carbs are fine during the first half of the day, as is fruit, but to prevent any of those carbs from being stored as body fat, focus on slow-digesting or low-glycemic carbs later in the day.
NIGHTTIME SNACK
LUNCH 5 oz. can tuna 2 cups mixed green salad 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp vinegar 1/2 large grapefruit
WAKE-UP SUPPLEMENTS 200 mg caffeine 500-1000 mg green tea extract 500-2000 mg yohimbe 2 g acetyl-L-carnitine
TOTALS Calories: 2,600 Protein: 280 g Carbs: 180 g Fat: 80 g
MID-DAY SNACK
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WORKOUT MEAL
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30-60 minutes before workout 200 mg caffeine 500-1000 mg green tea extract 500-2000 mg yohimbe 2 g acetyl-L-carnitine
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PRE-WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS
Within 30 minutes after workout 1 scoop whey 1 scoop casein 14 small Wonka Pixy Stix or 1 Giant Pixy Stix 5 g BCAAs 1.5-5 g creatine 1.5-2 g beta-alanine 2 g carnitine ™
30-60 min after wake-up supplements 1 scoop whey protein (sip while prepping breakfast) 3 whole eggs 3 egg whites
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5 oz. can tuna 2 cups mixed green salad 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp vinegar
POST-WORKOUT MEAL
BREAKFAST
3 sticks light mozzarella string cheese 1 oz mixed nuts
LUNCH
Sip throughout workout 1/2 scoop whey 1/2 scoop casein 1.5-5 g creatine 1.5-2 g beta-alanine
WORKOUT DAYS
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese 2-3 g fish oil 2-3 g CLA
200 mg caffeine 500-1000 mg green tea extract 500-2000 mg yohimbe 2 g acetyl-L-carnitine
3 sticks light mozzarella string cheese 1 oz mixed nuts
A high-carb pig-out day does not mean you’ll eat pizza and drink beer all day. Sure, a couple beers or a glass of wine won’t derail your progress, but your high-carb day isn’t a full 24-hour chest session.
8 oz top sirloin steak 1 large sweet potato 1 cup chopped broccoli 2-3 g fish oil 2-3 g CLA
LATE-MORNING SUPPLEMENTS
MID-DAY SNACK
Protein: 1.5 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight Carbs: At least 2 grams of carbs per pound of bodyweight Fat: 0.5 grams per pound of bodyweight
DINNER
LATE-MORNING SUPPLEMENTS
Turkey, Swiss, and avocado rolls
On your rest days throughout Phase 3, you get to enjoy a high-carb, pig-out day. Since you go so low in carbs six days of the week, you will need this one high-carb day to prevent your metabolism from sputtering and slowing down to spare energy reserves (body fat). The high-carb day will help kick start your metabolism again, keeping you in a fat-burning mode for the final phase
POST-WORKOUT MEAL
LATE-MORNING SNACK
LATE-MORNING SNACK
Dropping calories and carbs again will cause your body to continue burning fat. Unlike in Phases 1 and 2, where you eat fewer calories and carbs on your rest day, the opposite holds true in Phase 3. You will eat more carbs and calories on your rest days.
WORKOUT MEAL
30-60 min after wake-up supplements 1 scoop whey protein (sip while prepping breakfast) 3 whole eggs 3 egg whites 1 cup cooked oatmeal 1 tbsp honey 1/2 large grapefruit 2-3 g fish oil 2-3 g CLA
2-3 g fish oil 2-3 g CLA
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1/4 cup light mozzarella 1/4 cup marinara sauce
DINNER 8 oz top sirloin steak 1 cup chopped broccoli 2-3 g fish oil 2-3 g CLA
SUPPLEMENT PLAN
Directions: 1. Spread sauce on crust and top with cheese. 2. Place in oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
NIGHTTIME SNACK 8 oz low-fat cottage cheese 2-3 g fish oil 2-3 g CLA
LATE-MORNING SUPPLEMENTS
Calories: 2,200 Protein: 280 g Carbs: 80 g Fat: 80 g
Whey is the king of muscle-building proteins. It’s a fast-digesting milk protein that can help you build muscle and increase strength. Whey protein enhances recovery, boosts performance, and supports fat loss by helping you feel fuller, longer. One of the major benefits of whey protein is its fast rate of digestion. It gets to your muscles faster than any other protein you can ingest. Whey is also loaded with essential branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine, considered one of the most critical muscle-making amino acids.
LUNCH 6-inch Subway Turkey and ham (double meat) on wheat 1 oz. bag Baked Lays 1 large diet soda
HIGH-CARB REST DAYS WAKE-UP SUPPLEMENTS
200 mg caffeine 500-1000 mg green tea extract 500-2000 mg yohimbe 2 g acetyl-L-carnitine
DINNER 8 oz chicken breast 1 cup cooked brown rice 1 cup cooked black beans 1 cup chopped broccoli 2-3 g fish oil 2-3 g CLA
BCAAS
The three BCAAs are leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are critical for muscle growth. While whey protein is rich in BCAAs, taking additional BCAAs around your workouts can further enhance recovery and provide a quick source of muscular energy. As a result, BCAAs can improve your workouts and boost performance.
NIGHTTIME SNACK
In fact, one study I performed with the Weider Research Group—presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the International Society of Sports Nutrition—further supports BCAAs’ ability to help build muscle. We discovered that subjects taking them around workouts gained nearly twice as much muscle mass on an 8-week training program than subjects taking only whey or Gatorade around workouts.
1 cup reduced-fat Greek yogurt 1 tbsp honey 1/2 oz. walnuts (7 halves), crushed 2-3 g fish oil 2-3 g CLA
LATE-MORNING SNACK 1 scoop whey protein (sip while prepping pizza) Stoppani EZ Pizza
TOTALS
Ingredients: 1/4 Boboli whole-wheat pizza crust ® ®
Calories: 3,100 Protein: 260 g Carbs: 360 g Fat: 70 g
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Acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR) is L-carnitine with an acetyl group attached. This attachment increases carnitine’s uptake by the body, making it more effective. ALCAR is able to enter the brain, where it may aid in brain function, boost alertness, and support positive mood. In other areas of the body, such as muscle cells, carnitine aids fat loss transporting fatty acids into the power centers of cells, called mitochondria. These power centers work to generate energy by burning up nutrients such as fat for fuel.
L-CARNITINE L-TARTRATE
L-carnitine L-tartrate supports fat loss and increases energy. This pure form of carnitine requires insulin for absorption. Unlike ALCAR, which is great throughout the day, straight carnitine is best taken after a tough workout to enhance recovery and promote fatty acid metabolism. Whey and carbohydrates consumed post-workout are the perfect vehicles for this form of carnitine.
CREATINE
Creatine is one of the most-researched sports nutrition supplements on the market. It provides muscular energy for high-intensity exercise, helps you build muscle, and boosts strength gains. Research suggests that creatine can boost muscle gains by as much as 10 pounds and strength by 10 percent in just a few weeks. For best delivery, put creatine in your pre- and post-workout protein shakes. That’s when you get a bigger insulin response, and insulin helps drive creatine into your muscles.
BETA-ALANINE
Research suggests that when trained lifters add beta-alanine and creatine to their supplement regimen, they gain more muscle and lose more body fat than those taking creatine alone. Beta-alanine can also increase muscle strength and endurance during workouts. ™ ™
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Specific BCAAs offer additional benefits, such as: Leucine: Turns on muscle protein synthesis; increases satiety Isoleucine: Supports fat loss; provides energy Valine: Decreases fatigue; supports fat loss; prolongs energy
ACETYL L-CARNITINE
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Casein is a slow-digesting milk protein that supports muscle growth and provides a steady stream of amino acids to your muscles. Because it releases slowly, casein is a great protein to take before bed. It can help reduce muscle breakdown while you sleep and feed your hungry muscles overnight. When mixed with whey around your workouts, casein will enhance and prolong your body’s anabolic response.
3 stick slight mozzarella string cheese 6 cups air-popped popcorn or 1 bag low-fat microwave popcorn 1/2 medium cantaloupe
30-60 min after wake-up supplements 1 scoop whey protein (sip while prepping breakfast) 5 g BCAAs 1.5-5 g creatine 1.5-2 g beta-alanine 2 g carnitine 3 whole eggs 3 egg whites 3 four-inch pancakes 2 tbsp maple syrup 2-3 g fish oil 2-3 g CLA
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CASEIN PROTEIN
MID-DAY SNACK
BREAKFAST
Fish oil supplements are a great source of essential omega-3 fats, especially EPA and DHA. These supplements support muscle growth and fat loss; help block fat storage; promote overall health and wellness; support normal, healthy immune function; and support heart, brain, vision, and joint health. If you’re not already taking a fish oil supplement, reel one in today.
WHEY PROTEIN
200 mg caffeine 500-1000 mg green tea extract 500-2000 mg yohimbe 2 g acetyl-L-carnitine
TOTALS
FISH OIL
The Shortcut to Shred supplement schedule is practiced and precise. Everything I do is researched, tested in the lab, and tried on my own physique. My body is a product of my brain. If you want the best results from this program, you need to follow this regimen. Every capsule, every shake, and every dose is intended to help you achieve your best physique.
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CAFFEINE
This potent central nervous system stimulant increases alertness, mental focus, and your pain threshold during workouts. It also functions as a powerful fat burner. Since it’s a stimulant, caffeine naturally increases the number of calories your body burns. Caffeine also attaches to receptors on fat cells to blunt fat storage and increase fatty acid release.
GREEN TEA EXTRACT
Green tea enhances fat loss and offers a host of additional health and physique benefits, including joint support and muscle recovery. Green tea aids fat loss by boosting daily calorie burn. The ingredients in green tea responsible for this effect are called catechins. The most important catechin is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG inhibits an enzyme that normally breaks down norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter and hormone that boosts metabolic rate and fat burning.
YOHIMBE
Yohimbe comes from the bark of a West African tree. It contains the active compounds yohimbine and rauwolscine, otherwise known as alpha-yohimbine. Yohimbe boosts fat loss by increasing the amount of fat that your cells release. It also helps block fat storage and increase blood flow. Research suggests that, when taken before exercise, yohimbe may more than double the amount of fat released from fat cells. Also, like caffeine, this means that yohimbe can increase muscle endurance by allowing the body to burn more fat as a training fuel source.
CONJUGATED LINOLEIC ACID (CLA)
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring group of omega-6 fats that aids fat loss and supports lean mass. CLA burns body fat by boosting your metabolic rate and inhibiting the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL). LPL allows fat cells to pull fat from the bloodstream and store it as body fat. By inhibiting LPL, CLA encourages the body to burn fat instead of store it. By helping the body use fat for fuel, CLA also spares your muscle mass. When your body is fueling itself with fats, it doesn’t need to break down muscle tissue for additional fuel. In this way, CLA can help you burn unwanted blubber and preserve your hard-earned muscle.
SUPPLEMENT TIMING AND DOSAGE
ALTERNATIVE FOODS
You will notice that the sample meals given in each phase of Shortcut to Shred are very similar. This does not mean that you should eat these exact foods, and only these foods, throughout the program. Refer to the alternative foods below so you can keep your diet diverse and well-stocked with myriad nutrients!
MORNING Whey protein: 1 scoop Fish oil: 2-3 grams Caffeine: 200 milligrams Green tea extract: 500-1,000 mg Acetyl L-carnitine: 1.5-2 g Yohimbe: 500-2,000 mg CLA: 2-3 g
The following meats can be used for any meal on Shortcut to Shred. You can also replace any meat with roughly 2 servings of the dairy products listed below, or 2 scoops of whey or mixed protein powder.
Caffeine: 200-300 mg Green tea extract: 500-1,000 mg Acetyl L-carnitine: 1.5-2 g Yohimbe: 500-2,000 mg
chicken breast chicken thighs chicken drumstick turkey breast turkey leg lean ground turkey lean ground beef tri-tip steak flank steak pork tenderloin bison venison ostrich lamb goat salmon sardines herring trout tilapia cod halibut sole or flounder arctic char shrimp crab scallop clams mussels oysters lobster squid octopus
30-45 MINUTES PRE-WORKOUT Caffeine: 200-300 mg Green tea extract: 500-1,000 mg Acetyl L-carnitine: 1.5-2 g Yohimbe: 500-2,000 mg BCAAs: 5 g Creatine: 1 serving Beta-alanine: 1.5-3 g
IMMEDIATELY PRE-WORKOUT Whey protein: 1/2 scoop Casein protein: 1/2 scoop
IMMEDIATELY POST-WORKOUT Whey protein: 1 scoop Casein protein: 1 scoop BCAAs: 5 g Creatine: 1 serving Beta-alanine: 1.5-3 g L-carnitine: 2 g
WITH DINNER Fish oil: 2-3 g CLA: 2-3 g
WITH FINAL MEAL Fish oil: 2-3 g CLA: 2-3 g
BEFORE BED ®
Casein protein: 1 scoop
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1-2 scoops egg protein 1-2 scoops whey protein or a mixed protein 1 serving of the dairy foods listed 6 oz of any of the meats listed
VEGETABLE REPLACEMENTS
These vegetables can replace the salad at dinner, and since they are low in carbs, you can add 0.5-1 cup to almost any meal on the plan:
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asparagus green beans broccoli cauliflower onion bell peppers Brussels sprouts zucchini eggplant bok choy (Chinese cabbage) mushrooms spinach cucumber okra
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I highly recommend that you do not replace eggs due to the benefits that they provide for muscle growth and strength. However, I understand that some people cannot stand eggs, others are allergic, and some of you just get sick of eating them. So, if you must, you can replace eggs with the following:
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4-6 oz of any of the meats above 2 oz beef jerky 3 slices or oz of low-fat cheese 1 scoop of whey or mixed protein 1 scoop casein or mixed protein
EGG REPLACEMENTS
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DAIRY REPLACEMENTS
You will eat dairy at several meals, including foods like Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and low-fat string cheese. Feel to replace any of these with each other, or any of the following:
MEAT REPLACEMENTS
LATE MORNING/EARLY AFTERNOON
lean deli turkey breast lean deli chicken breast lean deli ham lean deli roast beef
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FRUIT REPLACEMENTS
Replace any of the fruit with any of these: orange peach nectarine banana pear Asian pear strawberries blueberries raspberries blackberries cherries grapes kiwifruit
OATMEAL REPLACEMENTS
Replace the morning oatmeal with any of these alternatives: whole-grain cold cereal granola whole-wheat waffle Ezekiel bread whole-wheat bread whole-wheat English muffin whole-wheat pita bread whole-wheat bagel
WHOLE-WHEAT BREAD REPLACEMENTS Replace whole-wheat bread with any of these: Ezekiel bread rye bread sourdough bread whole-wheat English muffin whole-wheat pita bread whole-wheat bagel whole-wheat tortilla
SWEET POTATO REPLACEMENTS
When get to eat a sweet potato in the early stage of the diet, you can replace it with any of these: 1 cup brown rice 1 cup whole-wheat pasta (small amount of marinara sauce) 1 cup of beans 1 cup quinoa ™
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While six short weeks may seem like a limited period to drop considerable body fat, it’s actually an ample amount of time – that is, when you combine a well designed, intense training program with a smart diet and supplement plan. And it doesn’t get much smarter than the Shortcut To Shred Diet.
The workout, diet and supplement regimen in this program are all based on real science and real world application. As a scientist, I rely heavily on the latest research to design all my training and nutrition programs. However, just because something has been discovered in the laboratory doesn’t mean it works well in the real world. I put all such discoveries to the test on my own body as well as the bodies of thousands of people who follow my advice.
Because I’ve been designing training and diet programs in publications and websites that are read all over the world for nearly two decades, I’ve amassed data from millions of people on what works best. Few if any other experts out there can back up their programs with those kinds of numbers. What I’m getting at here is that I can guarantee you that this program will work well if you follow it to the T. Whether you’re a man or woman, teenager or middle-aged, this is a fail proof plan – as long as you give it 100%.
Macro Importance
Most of you should be fairly familiar with the basics of nutrition, but I’ll break it all down to the simplest form for those who need it, starting with the three major macronutrients: protein, fat and carbs. And yes, I’ve listed them in order of importance as you’ll learn when you read about each one below. While calories matter, when you’re dieting the real important factors start with the proper amount of each of these macronutrients. Once they’re all in line, calories will fall right where they need to be for your body.
There’s no debating the fact that to lose body fat you have to burn more calories than you consume. But due to the intensity of the Shortcut To Shred training program, you’ll be burning tons of calories during and after the workouts, basically through the entire day. In other words, calorie balance shouldn’t be an issue as long as you follow the diet fairly close.
Protein
We’ll start with protein since there’s no way around the fact that for anyone interested in building muscle size and strength, protein is the most critical macronutrient. All dietary protein – whether it be from meats, dairy, protein powders or bars or even non-animal sources – are formed by single amino acids (such as leucine, glycine, tryptophan) linked together to form a long chain. That long chain is protein. When you consume that protein chain, your body digests it by breaking apart the bonds that bind the aminos together into single amino acids, or short protein chains (usually two amino acids bound together) known as peptides.
These digested amino acids and peptides are then absorbed by the intestines where they eventually enter the blood stream to travel to your muscles, as well as other cells. In the muscle cells, these aminos are reassembled to form the protein that makes up the muscle fibers and allows them to grow bigger and stronger. This process is know as muscle protein synthesis and is how muscle grows. Bottom line: If you want to build muscle, you need to make sure to take in ample amounts of protein.
How much protein is ample? Anyone who trains with weights regularly needs at least 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day – emphasis on at least. Because the Shortcut to Shred program will have you training very intensely six days per week, you want to up that protein quota even more.
Training breaks down muscle tissue, and the amino acids from the protein you eat rebuild it. If you consume enough protein, you can rebuild the muscle even bigger and stronger than before it was broken down. Research confirms that athletes need about 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight (ie, 200 grams daily for a 200-pound person). Many “experts” claim that there’s no need to go beyond that amount to grow muscle despite the fact that there’s solid research confirming that going up to 1.5 grams of protein per pound daily is effective for building muscle.
Granted, there’s research showing that when people consume more than this amount of protein they don’t gain any more muscle. The problem with this research is that the subjects aren’t training as intensely as you will be training on the Shortcut To Shred program. No study would ever put their subjects through this kind of intense training because the typical subject who joins a research study is someone looking to make a few dollars. If the training was too intense, too many subjects would drop out and they wouldn’t have a study. The other problem is that most researchers don’t even train themselves, so they don’t know how to design an effective training program.
So here’s where the data that I have on hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of people trumps any published research study. I recommend going up to 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day to support muscle recovery and growth. (That would be 300 grams for the 200-pounder.) And the data I have shows that it clearly works.
Another reason I recommend such high protein intake is that when you’re consuming little carbohydrates in your diet, as you will be on this diet plan, you actually burn up some of the protein you eat for fuel. The body converts the amino acids into glucose (blood sugar) to fuel your brain and the rest of your nervous system, so you have to eat higher amounts of protein to ensure that you have enough to support muscle recovery from the intense training to promote size and strength gains.
Many people are confused over the safety of eating a high protein diet. Sadly, the media and some “experts” have misinformed the public that protein is dangerous for the kidneys. The research that has suggested this is based on patients with kidney disease or other kidney disorders. Yes, if you have kidney disease a higher protein diet may be less than ideal for your body. But for the rest of us, our kidneys were designed for that very function, and NO, they don’t become overburdened. Numerous research studies show that consuming high protein diets are not only safe but very effective for fat loss as well.
Fat
Fat used to be considered the other “F” word as far as healthy and get lean diets go. Again, this was due to misinformed “experts” perpetuating myths that they didn’t really understand. The main reason for the low-fat movement was due to the fact that fat is more calorie dense than protein and carbs. While one gram of protein and one gram of carb each provide only 4 calories, one gram of fat provides about 9 calories. So common sense would tell you that you should cut back on fat to keep calories in check and lose fat. Others also assumed that since fat cells are full of fat, eating fat would only cause you to store fat. Both of these rationales, as we now know, are quite wrong.
Yes, eating too much fat can cause you to gain fat, but then again, eating too much of anything that adds up to way more calories than you burn can cause you to gain fat. When carbohydrate intake is low, the fat you consume is preferentially used as fuel and not stored as fat. Plus, certain fats in the diet are essential, meaning that your body can’t function properly without them. Namely, I’m talking about the omega-3 fats, such as those found in fish oil (like Omega JYM), flaxseeds and walnuts. Without getting in ample amounts of those, not only does the body not function properly, but you may limit muscle growth, fat loss, joint recovery, brain function and have a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers.
Other healthy fats, such as monounsaturated fats found in nuts, olives and olive oil and avocadoes, are also important. These fats are not readily stored as body fat, are used preferentially...
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“I’ve laid the groundwork for you by doing the research in the lab to find out what really works, designing the programs and systems, creating the content, and developing the technology. My knowledge is your power – now it’s up to you to run with it and get the results.”