Women's 12 Week Shred

12 WEEK SHRED
Simplyshredded Photo Credit

Stephanie Davis / @stephaniedavisfitness
Rachel Scheer / @rachelscheer
Sophie Aris / @sophie_aris
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The information provided in this guide is for educational purposes only. I am not a doctor and this is not meant
to be taken as medical advice. The information provided in this guide is based upon my experiences as well as
my Interpretations of the current research available. The advice and tips given in this download are meant for
healthy adults only. You should consult your physician to insure tips given in this course are appropriate for
your individual circumstances. If you have any health issues or pre-existing conditions, please consult with
your physician before implementing any of the information provided below. This product is for informational
purposes only and the author does not accept any responsibilities for any liabilities.
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12 WEEK SHRED
12 WEEK SHRED
Overview
One of the most important things to keep in mind

as you read your way through this book is that
Look in any bodybuilding/fitness related
knowledge is power. The information to be
magazine and you’ll come across outlandish diets
presented here is meant to teach you the
that greatly restrict the reader. Ultimately, these
fundamentals of what makes the body lose fat
diets fail because they are impractical and
and build muscle and how to optimize these
promote deprivation.
processes with proper training and diet.
Just because you are trying to shed off some flab
It’s rather simple to lay out a program and tell
doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice everything
people to follow it, but that’s also ineffective and
you enjoy about food in the process. Rather than
doesn’t inspire readers to really think for
going to the extremes of eliminating certain food
themselves. This book is not only a guide to an
groups and/or macronutrients, it is better to
effective fat-loss program, but also an
follow a more modest approach that slightly
educational tool that will propel your
restricts calorie intake but yet gives the dieter the
understanding of human physiology and
freedom to work in portions of foods they
nutrition.
genuinely love.
It is imperative to grasp the reasoning for why
things are a certain way, and that is exactly why
this book contains a bounty of information. The
more informed you (the reader) are, the more
prepared you will be to succeed.
OVERVIEW
For example, if a business owner was reviewing
their yearly sales, they might notice that 80% of
It can’t be stressed enough from the get-go that their revenue comes from 20% of their
no matter how perfect a plan sounds on paper, it customers. This is information that the owner
will fail if you do not stick to it for a significant could then use to maximize the efficiency of
period of time. The number one reason many his/her marketing by targeting that loyal 20% of
people fall short of their health and fitness goals customers more aggressively in the future.
is simply because they are inconsistent and
eventually quit altogether. Even if you follow a
suboptimal regimen for a long period of time, you
will see decent results. So which is better, a
perfect plan and inconsistency or a decent plan It’s not a stretch to assume that 80% of one’s
and being consistent? The latter case prevails results come from 20% of the exercises in their
every single time. current training routine. If you want to maximize
Many people want instant gratification when it your efficiency and time in the gym, wouldn’t it
comes to their physique goals, but the reality is make more sense to focus on those key exercises
that contribute to the majority of your results? Or
that you have to create yourself every day.
would you rather continue to put a lot of time and
effort into exercises that do very little for you
when all is said and done? Hopefully you can see
that the former option is going to make you much
happier in the long run.
The “80/20” principle is a simple observation that

many things in life don’t have even distributions.
It was originally founded after examination
revealed that 80% of Italy’s wealth belonged to
20% of the population. It should be noted that the
80/20 principle is simply a rough guide about
typical distributions; it is not a law of nature and
the numbers don’t need to add up to 100.
OVERVIEW
Before we dive into the nutrition and exercise

aspects of the 12-Week Shred Program it is
necessary to cover what realistic goal setting Furthermore, goals are meant to encourage (and
should look like. Also, it’s important to address push) one’s self, but they must be realistic. It’s
how progress is not always visible to the human okay to be an optimist and hope for big changes,
eye, and also that obstacles are inevitable on your but don’t be impractical as that will only hamper
journey. your results.
With that said, let’s take a look at what some

realistic goals might look like in the short and
long-term for individuals trying to get in better
shape physically:
More often than not, people tend to shoot
themselves in the foot by not having any realistic
goals as they embark on their endeavor to create
a better, healthier body.  Lose 2-3lb of fat in the next two weeks
 Increase bench press by 5lbs in the next two
weeks
 Do 30 minutes of cardio on 1-2 days this
week
If you don’t have realistic goals and a plan on how  Track and reach your daily calorie quota each
to reach them, then you’re simply preparing to day this week
fall short.
The best way to categorize goals is as either

short-term or long-term. Generally, a short-term  Lose 15lbs of fat in the next 3 months
goal is something that can be accomplished in a  Increase bench press by 15-20 lbs in the next
matter of weeks, or maybe even days. Long-term 3 months
goals are things that you hope to achieve in a few  Reduce waist size by 3 inches in next 3
months or further down the road. months
OVERVIEW
For better or for worse, setbacks/obstacles are

going to be inevitable on your journey to a better
If you’re not progressing in some fashion on a
physique. The path to success is often a very
weekly basis, then you’re simply running in place
bumpy one, but that’s what makes it all worth it
and wasting your time. Most people that start on
in the end.
a diet and exercise program never see it through
to the end because they’re unsatisfied with their Don’t let things that come up throw you off your
short-term progress and give in to their old plan. It’s only natural that unexpected life events
habits. will crop up at some point and cause you to make
some adjustments, and that’s perfectly ok. The
For whatever reason, people often can’t see the
worst thing you can do is let those obstacles
forest for the tress when it comes to their health
completely ruin your plan.
and physique. It’s not uncommon for people to
scrutinize their body on a daily basis and worry
over every minute change they see. Honestly, the
best way to avoid paralysis by analysis is to give
yourself time and realize that big changes don’t
happen overnight.
Also, realize that stress is a part of living. The

obstacles that lay before you are what give
meaning to your journey. It will be just that much
more gratifying to overcome everything that
stands in your way when all is said and done. Just
be resilient; don’t let a little bump in the road
throw off the entire trip.
12 WEEK SHRED
Why women should

lift Weights
Therefore, the prudent thing to do is incorporate
more bouts of weight training while keeping
cardio to as low of a frequency as possible (while
still achieving your fat-loss goals).
In fact a study recently published in the Journal

of Applied Physiology showed that concurrent
training (combining weight and endurance
training) greatly enhanced the metabolic effects
of each mode of training on their own. Essentially,
you get more fat-loss from cardio when you
combine it with weight training.
Don’t take this to mean that cardio isn’t a useful
part of an exercise regimen, but rather that
cardio on its own is not going to build that
shapely, toned body that most females desire. Vigorous weight training actually boosts your
metabolic rate throughout the day, which in turn
Given this, we have constructed a list of the top makes you more efficient at burning body-fat
ten reasons females should choose to get down when you’re not exercising. It appears that the
and dirty with some iron as opposed to slaving primary mechanism for this is increased
away on the elliptical (or whatever cardio mitochondria in cells, via a process known as
apparatus they choose to obey). mitochondrial biogenesis.
Mitochondria are basically the “powerhouse” of

cells and by increasing these organelles you
increase your metabolic rate/daily calorie
expenditure. Numerous studies have illustrated
Having an exercise regimen that relies solely on cardio that weight training greatly enhances such
for fat-loss will eventually lead to stagnation as your biochemical adaptations, while doing too much
metabolic rate will continue to drop as your body cardio can do just the opposite (decrease
mitochondrial content in cells/lower metabolic
adapts to the demand you put on it.
rate). When in doubt, opt for the iron over the
treadmill… you’ll likely burn more calories in the
end anyway.
OVERVIEW
Most females feel that the best way to shape

their body and achieve a more toned look is by
spending hours doing low-intensity cardio. The
reality is that the best way to “bring out your
curves” is to build strength and muscle.
The heart is indeed a muscle (a smooth muscle)

If all you do is constantly endure long bouts of
and it can be trained much like skeletal muscle.
low/moderate intensity cardio then you are
Most females assume that aerobic exercise is
basically lowering your metabolic rate while
inherently the best way to train the heart and
concomitantly losing muscle mass. In the end,
improve blood lipid profiles. While that is true,
you will have lowered your bodyweight but
combining aerobic exercise with weight training
increased your body-fat percentage (i.e. you will
actually has been shown to do those factors just
look “skinny-fat”).
as effectively, if not even more.
Not only does weight training reduce Low-Density

Lipoproteins (LDL), which is often referred to as
“unhealthy” cholesterol, but also it elevates
serum values of high-density lipoproteins (which
is “healthy” cholesterol).
Weight training actually greatly improves your

psychological well-being and enhances your
sense of vitality throughout your daily life.
It’s not uncommon to feel completely wiped out

and lifeless after spending hours on the treadmill;
lifting, on the other hand actually boosts “feel-
good” chemicals in the brain.
In fact, studies show that the heavy weight

exercise protocols appear to greatly increase
plasma beta-endorphin concentration, which in
turn modulates mood in a positive manner.
OVERVIEW
In fact, low bone mass is a major risk factor for

fractures in females, and one of the most
Many females foray into the gym because they effective ways to reverse degeneration of bones
find themselves depressed with the way they look is to consistently train with weights; studies
and end up doing tons of cardio to fix the issue. suggest it is quite a bit more effective than
Instead, these women would be much better off aerobic exercise as well.
grabbing a barbell and letting out some of their
worries on the iron.
Along with the points alluded to in Reason #4,

chronic weight training has been shown to
greatly reduce symptoms of depression and
anxiety in a plethora of studies.
Most females will find along the continuum of

If you’re somewhat familiar with female
their training that lifting really does improve your
endocrinology, you hopefully know that estrogen
body image and self-esteem.
is the primary sex hormone they produce.
However, women also produce small amounts of
testosterone (the primary male sex hormone)
and it appears that boosting testosterone levels
in females improves their sex drive and well-
being.
Weight training is one of the most effective ways

to naturally elevate testosterone levels in both
Osteoporosis and osteopenia are becoming more males and females. Hopefully females don’t take
and more common in females (both young and
this to mean they will suddenly get all hairy and
old), which can likely be attributed to physical
grow a beard just because they hit the iron a few
inactivity and lack of load-bearing exercises.
times a week, because that is certainly far from
Weight-bearing exercise in particular provides
what will happen. The slight elevation in
mechanical stimuli or "loading" important for the
maintenance and improvement of bone health, testosterone levels that can be achieved via
whereas physical inactivity has been implicated weight training will serve to enhance your sex life
in loss of bone density. and keep you in a positive mood.
OVERVIEW
Females should aim for 6-8 hours of sleep per If a female really wanted to get “bulky” they
night, and they often fall short of this range due would have to eat like a pig and put in years of
to things like stress and poor mood. intense training just like any other person,
regardless their gender, would have to… nobody
Numerous studies have demonstrated that a just blows up their muscle size by accident.
sustained exercise regimen incorporating
vigorous weight training can greatly improve
sleep quality and the duration of sleep episodes.
In fact, weight training provides an effective So there you have it, 10 of the top reasons
natural alternative to pharmaceutical females should stop fearing weights and give the
interventions in patients with insomnia. cardio room a break. Of course it would be remiss
not to mention that some cardio is worthwhile in
almost any female’s exercise regimen, but weight
training should be the focus; don’t worry, you
won’t magically get “bulky” overnight just
because you start lifting more.
One of the most annoying myths that pervades

gyms everywhere is the idea that females who
train with relatively heavy weights will suddenly
transform into the female equivalent of The
Incredible Hulk.
Reality is that females should train with heavy

weights just like their male counterparts often do
and no it won’t make you “bulky” and deepen your
voice.
12 WEEK SHRED
The science of fat

loss explained
Well, frankly, AMPk increases lipolysis

(breakdown of fat), enhances fatty acid oxidation,
improves glucose uptake into muscle tissue, and
inhibits lipogenesis. In essence, it is the
“metabolic switch” for burning fat.
Fat loss is largely regulated by the enzyme

adenosine monophosphate-activated protein
kinase (AMPk), a trimeric protein expressed  A protein found in almost all cells, called AMPk
throughout many tissues in the body. acts to "turn on" fat-burning mode
 Controlling calorie intake and exercising are

the best ways to activate AMPk and burn fat!
Physiology lingo aside, AMPk is activated when
the cell is in a state of energy deprivation (i.e. the  The great news is that the nutritional advice
ATP: ADP ratio drops). This occurs during times of in this book is specifically designed to
nutrient (specifically glucose) deprivation, activate AMPk and propel your fat-loss
efforts!
ischemia (lack of blood supply to an organ),
exercise, and/or use of certain chemicals/drugs.
Conversely, things such as eating and excessive
glycogen levels inhibit AMPk activity (since the
ATP: ADP ratio is elevated).
1
12 WEEK SHRED
PERFORMANCE
NUTRITION
For long-term adherence, it’s absolutely imperative
to have a basic understanding of how basic
nutritional management works and how variables can
be adjusted. Anyone can follow a cookie cutter meal
plan in the short-term and see results. But what
happens when you plateau or get tired of eating the
same thing every day? Being equipped with the
knowledge of when, why, and how to adjust your
dietary menu or long-term strategy can save you a lot
Ask any 8 year old how to lose weight and they of time and frustration. Additionally, it will make your
will tell you “Eat less and move more.” life a lot easier and oftentimes more balanced.
The FIRST thing we need to remind ourselves of when

discussing nutrition is our primary objectives. When
the goal is getting shredded, those objectives are fat
loss and muscle maintenance/growth. Below are the
Make no mistake, there are certainly variables we two very basic rules when it comes to energy balance
want to control, but micromanaging to the point and body composition:
where adherence is a daily struggle is not what
we want. That being said, a purely reductionist 
approach won’t optimize our outcomes.

Based on the above, you can see why bodybuilders

and physique athletes often have designated periods
of weight loss and weight gain. In a perfect scenario
this could be termed “fat loss” and “muscle gain.”
PERFORMANCE NUTRITION
For our objective, we are going to require a caloric In this book we will teach you how to set up and
deficit with the finer details adjusted within our track macronutrients (fat, carbs, protein), and
nutrition and training to accommodate for how to adjust these variables when plateaus
maintaining, or potentially gaining muscle occur.
(depending on training history).
Caloric management is the absolute foundation

upon which all other recommendations build off.
This is an EXTREMELY important concept to be
aware of, as the specific foods we eat fall
secondary to overall caloric intake when it comes
to weight loss.
Flexible dieting/ “If it fits your macros” also

known as “IIFYM” has become a common
approach to tackling the dietary aspect of
reaching physique goals.
This approach means you can eat any foods you

like, as long as they fit in your daily caloric budget
and your daily macronutrient split (fat,
carbohydrates and protein).
 Provide you with adequate nourishment

 Enhance your performance (in and outside the
gym)
Notice these aren't being noted as “clean” foods
 Satisfy your food cravings because that term is nonsensical; these are more
The idea behind "Flexible dieting/IIFYM" is that all properly foods termed “nutrient dense.”
you need to worry about is meeting your
macronutrient AND micronutrient quotas; But again, if someone wants to incorporate some
whatever foods you choose to eat to satisfy that foods that are more nutrient-devoid/empty calorie
condition is simply a means to an end. (like Oreo cookies or pastries, for example) they
can do that assuming they still reach their overall
When your body ingests bacon, for example, that needs (by hitting their macros) at the end of the
protein will be utilized in same fashion as protein day (and assuming they are balancing their
from chicken. Carbohydrates that come from Oreo macronutrient proportions at each feeding).
cookies will be utilized in much the same fashion
as carbohydrates coming from wheat bread.
It isn’t about eating pop-tarts all day.
It isn’t about avoiding whole foods or eating artificially made products whenever possible.
It IS about having sauce on your meals if you want to.
It IS about having the flexibility to eat out with friends.
It IS about being able to have sushi with the girls.
It IS about learning HOW to eat for your goals, learning the nutritional value of food and how to fuel your
body efficiently.
It IS about sustainable living and sustainable progress.
TEXT
50g fat x 9 cal/g=450 calories

200g carbs x 4 cal/g=800 calories
180g protein x 4 cal/g=720 calories
TOTAL calories= 1,970
 Let’s say this individual burns an average of

2,500 calories per day (including exercise). This
macronutrient intake should lead to weight loss
By controlling our macronutrient intake, we in (1,970 calories < 2500 calories).
turn control our caloric intake. Paired with a well-
managed weight and cardiovascular training
protocol, we can fairly easily control both sides of
the energy balance equation.
So if caloric management is at the top of the list

of priorities, how do we come up with that
number based on macronutrient intake?
Fats = 9 calories/gram
Carbohydrates = 4 calories/gram
Protein = 4 calories/gram
TEXT
The discussion and recommendations below are Since we will require a caloric deficit to get
based on research as it pertains to optimizing leaner, protein intake needs to be sufficient to:
body composition. We are painting in broad
strokes to get you the information you need to  maximize muscle protein synthesis (the
create a starting point in structuring your diet for building of muscle protein)
improving your body composition.  minimize muscle protein breakdown (the
breakdown of muscle protein for energy)
If you are interested in optimizing your body

composition then you probably know the
important role protein plays in building muscle.
Adequate protein intake will help retain lean body
mass as we strip body fat, which is vital to attain
the muscular separation we are after.
The “more is better mentality” can come into play
here and research does suggest there to be a
minimal protein threshold (specifically the amino
acid leucine) that needs to be reached each meal
Through digestion, protein is broken down into to stimulate muscle protein synthesis. Having
amino acids which are then absorbed and either too many meals a day may not allow us to achieve
used to build new proteins in the body (a term this threshold within each meal. There is also
called protein synthesis), or used as energy. some evidence that muscle protein synthesis is
refractory in nature, meaning it peaks before
In the fitness industry it’s not uncommon for returning towards baseline despite a continued
people to have the mentality of “If a little is good, elevation of amino acid levels in the blood. This
then a lot must be great.” This is especially true indicates that a return towards baseline is likely
when it comes to protein. Fortunately, science necessary to optimize further elevations in
has helped bridge the gap between “in-the- muscle protein synthesis as a result of a protein
trenches experience” and what’s supported in containing meal.
research.
There are entire careers built around the study of

protein intake and body composition, so this book
will only cover the essentials.
The recommendations provided will cover our

bases to ensure we have a suitable intake and
distribution to support getting you shredded.
It’s recommended to split protein up evenly Oils (Olive, Fish, Coconut, etc)
across 3-6 meals. This will help ensure you meet Nuts and Seeds
the required leucine threshold per meal, while Avocados
allowing enough space between meals to reap Nut butters (Peanut, Almond, etc)
the benefits of multiple protein feedings. Just as
importantly, having a more manageable amount
of meals also allows one to fit meals around their Carbohydrates (specifically in their stored form
schedule and not the other way around. as muscle glycogen) are our primary fuel source
when we train.
Chicken Breast Tuna Carbohydrates are also the source for dietary
Lean Beef Turkey Breast fiber and many essential micronutrients
Low Fat Pork Egg Whites imperative for overall health. DO NOT neglect
Cottage Cheese Low Fat or No Fat Cheese fiber and micronutrient consumption within your
Whey Protein Soy Protein diet. While a multivitamin can offer a bit of a
security blanket, aim for nutrient-rich whole
foods to make up the majority of your diet.
This isn’t the 1990s anymore, more people are

becoming educated on the importance of an Carbohydrate intake is VERY individual and
adequate fat intake. Fat is used in the production dependent on a number of factors including but
of hormones as well as in the construction of not limited to:
cellular membranes. From a behavioral eating  Amount of lean body mass
standpoint, fats can increase satiety and fullness  Training volume
from a meal due to their caloric density and  Insulin sensitivity (ability to dispose of
ability to slow digestion. carbohydrates in muscle cells)
Carbs should be distributed in a manner that

Within the context of body composition the right allow you to perform your best during training
fat intake within our diet will: and keep you alert throughout the day without
 help attenuate decreases in anabolic wildly variable changes in blood sugar levels.
hormones as we diet
 leave enough calories for sufficient
protein and dietary carbohydrate
Sweet Potatoes Brown Rice Spaghetti, whole-wheat, cooked

Oat Meal Oat Bran Barley, pearled, cooked
Wheat Bread Beans Bran flakes
Pasta Fruits Oat bran muffin
Vegetables Brown rice, cooked
Bread, rye
Bread, whole-wheat or multigrain
Fiber provides bulk to waste in the intestines and Split peas, cooked
promotes healthy gastrointestinal functioning. Lentils, cooked
Black beans, cooked
Lima beans, cooked
Baked beans, vegetarian, canned, cooked
Sunflower seed kernels
Almonds
 Soluble fibers mesh with water to form a
Pistachio nuts
gel and slow the digestive process, which Pecans
as aforementioned can help attenuate
blood sugar levels.
Artichoke, cooked
 Insoluble fibers, on the other hand, travel
Green peas, cooked
through the GI tract without dissolving Broccoli, boiled
and speed the passage of waste through Turnip greens, boiled
the gut (i.e. they have a laxative effect). Brussels sprouts, cooked
Sweet corn, cooked
Potato, with skin, baked
Carrot, raw
Adults should aim for a diet that contains 30 g to
35 g of fiber per day.
Raspberries
Pears, with skin
Apples, with skin
Bananas
Oranges
Figs, dried
Raisins
The carb cycling diet is very simple; it works like this: The most notable endocrine adaptations associated
 Throughout the week, you rotate through 5 low- with chronic energy deprivation are the lowering of
carb days and 2 high-carb days. thyroid hormones (thryonines) and the fat-secreted
 All days require a high protein intake. hormone (adipokine) leptin.
1. First, leptin’s primary role is regulating metabolic

In essence, carb cycling acts as a means of expenditure as well as caloric intake, both of
regulating your endocrine system (and thus which have obvious implications with regards to
metabolic rate). When you impose aggressive, bodyweight.
chronic energy deprivation on yourself (such as 2. Second, thyroid hormones act on nearly every cell
when dieting for fat loss), your body compensates
in the body to increase metabolic rate.
by lowering its demand for energy (i.e. metabolic
rate slows).
Lowering metabolic rate is a basic survival

mechanism in many organisms; it would be
counterproductive for an organism to be burning
through energy rapidly when nourishment is
restricted. A lower metabolic rate means your
metabolism is actually becoming more Therefore, the sensible solution to avoid diet-and-
efficient…yes, MORE efficient. exercise induced metabolic slowing is to acutely
increase energy intake (especially carbohydrates) to
help revive hormonal and metabolic factors.
 Stimulate an insulin response that shuttle

nutrients in your muscle cells, causing them to
grow
 Replenish glycogen stores that fuel your muscles
 Make you feel good and energized
A good way to think of this is as your metabolism
being a vehicle and food is your fuel source; you
want a less efficient vehicle as it will need more gas
 Promote fat loss by tricking your body into
to travel the same distance than a more efficient
burning fat for fuel (instead of the sugar from the
vehicle. So in metaphorical terms, if you want to eat
carbs it would normally get)
more (e.g. maximize the amount of gas you need to
 Keep your body more receptive to insulin,
get from A to B), you better decrease your metabolic
improving your body’s muscle-building response
efficiency...or start shopping for a Hummer.
 Fiber provides bulk to waste in the intestines

 To lose fat, you need a negative energy balance, and promotes healthy gastrointestinal
also known as a calorie deficit, where you’re functioning.
consuming fewer calories than you burn. o Adults should aim for a diet that
contains 30 g to 35 g of fiber per day.
 Protein contains 4 calories per gram
o Protein (specifically amino acids) are the
building blocks of new muscle tissue.
o An overall protein intake of 35% of your
overall caloric intake for Low-Carb Days
and 30% for High-Carb Days is
recommended when dieting to optimize
body composition.
o Split protein up evenly across 3-6 meals.
Within that, allow the nature of your
lifestyle to dictate meal frequency.
 Fat contains 9 calories per gram

o Fat is an essential macronutrient used in
the production of hormones and the
construction of cellular membranes
(amongst many other things)
o An overall fat intake of 25% of your overall
caloric intake for Low-Carb Days and 20%
for High-Carb Days is recommended
when dieting to optimize body
composition.
 Carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram

o Carbohydrate (specifically stored muscle
glycogen) is the primary fuel source in
resistance training
o An overall carbohydrate intake of 40% of
your overall caloric intake for Low-Carb
Days and 50% for High-Carb Days is
recommended when dieting to optimize
body composition.
12 WEEK SHRED
nutritional 1
strategies
If you want to take the guess work out and know

exactly what you’re putting in your body, then it is
best to get in the habit of counting your calorie
intake, and also tracking your macronutrient intake
as well.
If you want to roll the dice and play the guessing

game then that’s up to you. However, bear in mind Scientifically speaking, a calorie is simply the amount
that you wouldn't expect to bake the perfect cake of energy (heat) needed to raise the temperature of 1
by guessing the required amounts of flour, sugar gram of water by 1 degrees Celsius.
and butter in the recipe.
It is likely that the definition we’ve just given you has
You also wouldn't expect that cake to rise only made the idea of a calorie even more confusing,
appropriately if you set the temperature of the so let’s use a real-world analogy to make it more
oven at random and changed it intermittently comprehensible:
whilst cooking; nor would you expect your cakes to
taste similar from one bake to the next should you
repeat the steps above.
Of course, if you overload your car’s gas tank with fuel

If you're constantly consuming different amounts
of protein, carbs, fats and calories from day to day, it would simply start overflowing. Unfortunately,
the progress you make and your physique when you overload your body with more fuel/calories
development will be reflective of the than it needs, the excess is converted to triglycerides
disastrous/inconsistent baking methods that were (fat molecules) and stored as fat.
just mentioned.
1
12 WEEK SHRED NUTRITIONAL STRATEGY
Let’s say your body needs 3000 calories per day to

maintain its weight – you can also say that your BMR is
We’ve already established that your body needs 3000 calories. If you consume 2500 calories per day and
fuel to function. Every day, your body uses a burn 500 calories at the gym then your calorie deficit is
certain amount of energy – quantified in calories – 1000 calories per day.
to perform basic functions like breathing,
maintaining core body temperature and pumping BMR: 3000 calories (Amount needed to maintain weight)
blood through veins.
- Calories consumed: 2500 (Via food)
Your body will perform these vital functions even if
you decide to stay in bed for the entire day. + Calories burned: 500 (Via exercise)
Therefore, your body is burning fuel – aka calories
– even when you’re resting. This is referred to as = Calorie deficit: 1000
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). You’ll maintain your
current weight as long as you provide your body If you repeated this process for the whole week, you
with sufficient calories through food. would’ve burned of 7000 calories which is essentially 2
pounds of fat (1 pound of fat = 3500 calories).
When trying to lose fat, a calorie deficit is exactly
the scenario we want to create as fat tissue will Ideally, a sound diet and training regimen will incorporate
start to be burned as fuel—a process called fatty- both exercise and caloric restriction, and that is precisely
acid oxidation. what this 12-Week Shred Program employs.
You can create a calorie deficit by either eating

less and/or exercising. We recommend a
combination of both for fast and lasting fat loss.
10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) - 5 x age - 161
To walk you through the entire process, let’s use an That’s it! Hang onto that number as you will need it
example of what it would look like for our fictional to calculate Bianca’s daily calorie requirement
character, Bianca: (DCR).
 Age: 22
 Height: 5’5” [165 cm]
 Weight: 141 lbs [64kg)
Your DCR is an estimation that takes into account
Lifestyle: Bianca hits the gym 5 times a week,
your “activity variable.” Your activity variable is
works a desk job and doesn’t do much demanding
simply a multiplier set by the daily lifestyle tasks
physical activity out of the gym.
that contribute to the amount of energy you burn.
 1.2 = Sedentary (desk job, and little structured

There are a variety of equations out there that are exercise)
utilized to calculate one’s BMR, but we will be using  1.3 = Lightly Active (light daily activity AND light
the most accurate method which is the Mifflin-St. exercise 1-3 days a week)
Jeor Formula.  1.5 = Moderately Active (moderate daily activity
AND moderate/hard exercise 4-5 days a week)
Once again, BMR is the amount of calories your
 1.7 = Very Active (physically demanding lifestyle
body burns at rest to maintain normal body and rigorous exercise 6-7 days a week)
functions such as breathing.  1.9 = Extremely Active (Athlete in ENDURANCE
training or VERY RIGOROUS physical job)
TEXT
So once you’ve figured out which bracket of the However, it is more important to determine your
activity variable you fall in, simply take that specific calorie deficit by simply taking a percentage
factor/multiplier and apply it to your BMR. of your Daily Calorie Requirement (DCR). For fat loss,
it is recommended to deduct about 20% of calories
Let’s use an example of what it would look like for our
from your DCR.
fictional character, Bianca:
Lifestyle: Bianca hits the gym 5 times a week, works a

desk job and doesn’t do much demanding physical
Daily Calorie Requirement (DCR) x 0.80
activity out of the gym. This will put her in the activity
variable “Moderately Active” and will use a multiplier of So continuing on with our previous example with
1.5.
Bianca, since her DCR is 2,100 calories per day, she
would aim to take in: 2,100 x 0.80 = 1,680 calories
per day for fat loss.
This diet is not intended to greatly restrict any

specific macronutrient; instead it favours a
balanced approach. As we discussed in Chapter 4,
each macronutrient plays an essential role in your
health and performance. Recall that proteins and
carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram, while
fats contain 9 calories per gram.
So there you have it; pretty simple eh? Bianca can now
move onto the next step which is determining her
calorie deficit.
A pound of fat tissue contains roughly 3,500 calories.

There will be 5 Low-Carb days per week, and they will
Therefore, if the goal is to lose one pound of fat per
occur on
week, you need to create a calorie deficit of 500
.
calories per day (on average).
.
To determine your macronutrient breakdown for

Low-Carb Days, simply take your suggested total
calorie intake for fat loss (which is your DCR x
0.80) and apply these percentages: High-carb days are an essential component to this
diet as they allow you to:
 Protein: = 35% total calorie intake
 Carbohydrate: = 40% total calorie intake  Refill glycogen stores and help keep your
 Fat: = 25% total calorie intake brain (and metabolism) happy.
 Perform better in the gym after you’ve
These particular % breakdowns for Low-Carb Days
replenished yourself with a few higher-carb
will provide you with the following:
meals.
 A calorie deficit that is large enough to There will be 2 high-carb days per week, and they
stimulate significant fat loss, but small enough will occur on .
to keep muscle intact, control appetite and
maintain high energy levels. To determine your macronutrient breakdown for
 Sufficient protein to maximize muscle recovery High-Carb Days, simply take your High-Carb Day
and lean mass retention. calorie goal (which is your DCR x 0.90) and apply
 Enough carbohydrates and fats to keep mood these percentages:
and hormone balance in check, as well as to
keep training performance near its peak.  Protein: = 30% total calorie intake
 Carbohydrates: = 50% total calorie intake
So for Bianca, since she is aiming for 1,680
 Fat: = 20% total calorie intake
calories on her Low-Carb Days, her macronutrient
breakdown will look like this: So for Bianca, since she is aiming for 1,890 calories
on her High-Carb Days, her macronutrient
 Protein: 1,680 x 0.35 = 588/4 = 147g of protein breakdown will look like this:
per day
 Carbohydrates: 1,680 x 0.40 = 672/4 = 168g of  Protein: 1,890 x 0.3 = 567/4 = 142g of protein
carbohydrate per day per day
 Fat: 1,680 x 0.25 = 420/9 = 47g of fat per day  Carbohydrates: 1,890 x 0.5 = 945/4 = 236g of
carbohydrate per day
 Fat: 1,890 x 0.20 = 378/9 = 42g of fat per day



 



Low-Carb Day Macros 5x/week= 47g/168g/147g or rounding to nearest five grams, 45g/170g/145g
High-Carb Day Macros 2x/week= 42g/236g/142g or rounding to nearest five grams, 40g/235g/140g
While precision and consistency are optimal, being within 5g of each macro is acceptable and isn't
going to derail progress. Being over or under 50-60 calories on the day is a lot different than 500-600.
Context is key.
Macro Goals: 47 / 168 / 147 (Fat/Carbs/Protein)
Software/App: MyFitnessPal.com
Macro Goals: 42 / 236 / 142 (Fat/Carbs/Protein)
Software/App: MyFitnessPal.com
Mobile App:
First, it’s good that you are aware that you have We have good news for you. You don’t have to eat
overshot your macronutrient intake. While that isn’t meals on any set schedule to lose weight efficiently.
ideal, it certainly isn’t the end of the world.
You see, meal frequency has little relevance on

actual results. You can eat 3 meals per day or 6 and
achieve the same thing if you’re doing everything
However, if you slip up by a large amount (e.g. 15%
else right in terms of hitting your daily macros and
more carbs than your goal called for), for whatever
following your exercise regimen.
reason, the best solution is to make up the difference
the next day by deducting carbs and fats from your You will probably find a smaller meal every few hours
goal intake (do not cut protein intake). See below for most enjoyable, but feel free to experiment.
an example of how this would work:
You can also play with when you start eating for the
day. If you like eating breakfast, do it. If you don’t,
and would prefer to wait until lunch before you start
Goal Macros: 47g Fat / 168g Carbs / 147g Protein eating, you can do that too.
Actual Macros: 57g Fat / 198g Carbs / 147g Protein
 +10g fat, +30g carbs Sometimes skipping that first meal helps with
 Therefore, the following day we will deduct an overall compliance as it allows you to eat larger
equivocal proportion from carbs and fat intake meals and still stick to your numbers.
Goal Macros: 37g Fat / 138g Carbs / 147g Protein

 As you can see we have deducted 10g of fat and
30g of carbs.
NOTE: If you overeat protein by a large amount, deduct

that many grams from your carb intake the next day.
DO NOT CUT PROTEIN INTAKE!
MFP has the most user-friendly/intuitive interface of

any food logging app on the market. Moreover, the
Look, we get that tracking calories will feel tedious at food database seems to be the most comprehensive
first. Heck, for most of us it was the most annoying and accurate. Whether you're experienced with
thing in the world when we first started tracking logging food intake or a newbie, MFP is our top app
calories. However, if you’re going to track calories – recommendation.
and believe us it’s worth it – don’t leave things out.
Even if it as little as eating a small chocolate bar or
the mayonnaise in your sandwich.
Track EVERYHING
 Track your macro intake as outlined in this 12
Week Shred Program. (You will have to input
your macro and calorie goals manually into
MyFitnessPal)
Basically, you will have to measure your food intake  Monitor weight-loss progress
 Stay consistent with your diet
and will need a food log in which you document every
meal. For some folks, this is painstakingly hard work
so they just don’t do it.
 Log/track exercise (lifting or cardio) since this
With today’s modern technologies, it is easier than
will skew the goal calorie/macro intakes that
ever to simply enter your daily food selections into
you calculated in this chapter.
software/apps on your PC, tablet, and/or smartphone.
Two great starting places include:
 https://www.MyFitnessPal.com (Most popular)

 https://www.CalorieKing.com  Log/track your daily footstep count (for same
reason above). Turn off this option in settings.
Use metric cups for foods such as breakfast cereal.

You can also use them as measuring scoops,
especially for cooked rice, pasta and noodles.
If you’re new to weighing and measuring, here are

some tips to help you:
Place a plate, a bowl, or a piece of baking paper on

electronic kitchen scales.
Add the food you want to weigh – it may take a

Use metric spoons for energy-dense foods such as
couple of seconds for the scales to settle and
oil, butter, sugar and honey. And keep the measure
display the final reading.
level by flattening off the top of the spoon with a
knife, so that it’s levelled and not heaped.
If you eat out at a restaurant you can always ask the There is no right or wrong way but ask yourself
server how big the portion sizes are and how the food which way is most sustainable for YOUR lifestyle.
is prepared. Moreover, both MyFitnessPal and Additionally, make sure you challenge yourself
enough to be comfortable meeting macros when
CalorieKing have huge catalogues of nutritional facts
things don’t go to plan. If you forget your food at
from restaurants and fast-food chains. home and have to eat out then be equipped with
the knowledge you need to succeed.
The general rule-of-thumb is that if something is If you feel a bit overwhelmed at the idea of
calorie-free, then you don’t need to be so nit-picky tracking your macros every day then you are not
about tracking it. Contrarily, certain condiments may alone. However, like anything, it takes consistent
practice. Admittedly, this is a point where many
be loaded with calories despite their small serving
people want to throw in the towel (and do).
size, so be sure to read the food labels.
For example, mustard is pretty much free of calories

(it mostly contains vinegar, salt and spices) so if you
put a few tablespoons of mustard on your sandwich,
then don’t worry about tracking it. Same goes for
most any other calorie-free foods. But if you are
instead going to use a bunch of bleu cheese dressing
then you should absolutely be tracking that as it will
All jokes aside, the learning curve can suck. It can
impact your calorie intake.
make or break you. Remind yourself why you are
doing this, and power through it. It WILL become
easier, and in the end the flexibility of
macronutrient management can be liberating.
Some people may do best out of the gate if they

create a menu designed to hit their macros prior to
each day. There is nothing wrong with this, so long as
you become comfortable with tracking and know how
to adjust your day as needed. Other people use the
flexibility offered and thrive by not eating the same
thing on any two days, or have any idea what their
next meal will be.
Yes! We recommended Eatthismuch.com
Visit: http://www.eatthismuch.com Visit: http://www.eatthismuch.com
1. Simply enter your Low-Carb Day Calorie Goal 1. Simply enter your High-Carb Day Calorie Goal
and desired number of meals. Then click and desired number of meals. Then click
‘Generate’ ‘Generate’
2. Find the ‘Current nutrition targets' section and 2. Find the ‘Current nutrition targets' section and
click 'Edit Targets' click 'Edit Targets'
3. Set the ‘Target Macros’ to ‘A percentage of 3. Set the ‘Target Macros’ to ‘A percentage of
calories’ and then use the following calories’ and then use the following
percentages. percentages.
Low-Carb Day: Fat 25% / Carbs 40% / Protein High-Carb Day: Fat 20% / Carbs 50% / Protein
35% 30%
4. Set Fiber to 30 grams 4. Set Fiber to 30 grams
5. Click ‘Save Changes’ 5. Click ‘Save Changes’
6. Then click ‘Regenerate’ 6. Then click ‘Regenerate’
Your new Low-Carb Day Meal Plan will be created Your new High-Carb Day Meal Plan will be created
and you may even tweak the meal plan even more and you may even tweak the meal plan even more
with the many settings/features the website has to with the many settings/features the website has
offer. to offer.
Create as many different meal plans as you like!
Visit this link: http://bit.ly/create_meal_plan_women
12 WEEK SHRED
Triphasic TRAINING Guide
Propelling your physique and athleticism

essentially entails improving your body Triphasic Hybrid Power/Hypertrophy Training
composition and functional strength. Ask any encompasses elements of both bodybuilding and
individual in the gym what their goal is and it’s powerlifting training protocols. With this routine
the idea is that, instead of focusing on specific
likely along the lines of being leaner, stronger,
training adaptations (hypertrophy, maximal
more explosive and more muscular (i.e.
strength, power etc.) individually for weeks at a
improving their athletic or fitness performance time like with linear forms of periodization, you
and body composition). will perform exercises in both the lower rep
ranges (4-6 reps) and higher rep rages (8-15
The conundrum everyone faces is that improving reps) within the same given week. This is
body composition is a give-and-take process. It achieved by splitting the workouts into “power”
would be remiss not to mention that the path to a days and “hypertrophy” days which,
leaner body and enhanced athletic performance subsequently, means you will be training each
is an arduous one and the finish line doesn’t muscle group twice a week.
come overnight. But anything worth having is
worth working hard for, so be prepared to give
this journey to shredded everything you’ve got!
This program is ultimately suitable to most any It is, after all, in contrast to more traditional
trainee, regardless of their experience level in the bodybuilding split-style programs that have
gym. The main thing to keep in mind throughout become so popular within the fitness community
the process is that consistency and progression over the years.
are keys to success and achieving your goals.
This program isn’t magic; no program is. The not-
so-secret to success in health/fitness is doing
things that are effective to your goals, repeatedly.
1
TRAINING GUIDE
During this program, you will progress through 3 On power days the focus will be on major “power”
phases/microcycles that modify your workouts movements for your upper and lower body like
by increasing the number of sets per exercise, Seated Cable Rows, Incline Dumbbell Presses,
and level of intensity: Squats and Leg Press. The goal is to stay within
4-6 reps for all 3 sets (2 sets during Phase 1). Be
● sure to rest enough in-between sets to be ready
● for your next heavy set (it may take a good 3-4
minutes to completely recover between sets).
●
Keep in mind, the purpose of these workouts is to
move maximum weight! Your hypertrophy
workouts will be quicker-paced and have shorter
As you will be performing exercises in both lower rest periods. On power days you need to have a
and higher rep ranges, it has been designed so STRENGTH mentality.
that the workouts are separated into “power”
days and “hypertrophy” days respectively. The
rationale behind this is that you will get more
‘bang for your buck’ so to speak if you focus on
lifting for either maximal strength or to induce
muscular hypertrophy within a given training
session.
On your hypertrophy days you will be doing sets
of higher repetitions with lighter loads. Emphasis
will be placed on moving the weight through the
concentric phase of the lift as quickly as
possible/explosively. Rest should be no longer
than 90 seconds between each set. Make sure to
stop a rep or two shy of failure on hypertrophy
days or you will fatigue yourself too quickly.
This will help you maintain greater overall force

production and volume during the workout and it
will prevent neural fatigue and burnout.
TRAINING GUIDE
Failure is a tool and has to be used correctly and

is not necessarily the goal of every set. Once you
Compound exercises are the bread and butter of
get adjusted to the volume and frequency then
muscle and strength building. They work multiple
you can start adding in sets to failure for power
movements and some of your explosive type muscle groups and are the most challenging and
training. Abstain from training to failure rewarding lifts. They should always be performed
consistently for more than 6 weeks in a row first in your workout plan. Isolation exercises
without at least a brief hiatus. The reason this is work only a single muscle group at a time. In
recommended is because if you constantly train general they utilize a lighter weight, and don't
to failure it will impede your performance,
allow for as much progression as compound
strength, decrease the volume you are able to
handle, and ultimately reduce your training movements. Because isolation lifts are less
capacity. There seems to be a notion out there taxing, they work better as finishing exercises,
that any set NOT taken to absolute failure is an helping to work an already fatigued and taxed
exercise in futility, but that’s utter NONSENSE. muscle. Because the focus of compound
There’s plenty of research that shows volume is exercises is to tax several muscle groups, you
the main dictator of how much muscle damage should not worry as much about feeling the
occurs.
muscles work when using them.
Make sure to keep proper form at all times.

Sloppy isolation exercises with too much weight
Take note that overload is accumulated quickly turn into mild, less-than-effective
throughout your workout and adding more compound lifts.
volume is actually a way to induce more overload,
not just by adding more weight/reps. Again, there
is nothing wrong with taking some sets to failure
once you are adapted to the routine, but it has to
be properly periodized to avoid performance
decrements and excessive central nervous
system (CNS) fatigue.
TRAINING GUIDE
1. Don’t shy away from difficult, compound

exercises; they are the best bang for your
buck.
2. If you are unfamiliar with technical exercises
like Seated Cable Rows and Squats, it is
imperative that you research proper form or
have a trainer/strength coach teach you.
During this program, you will progress through 3

phases/microcycles that modify your workouts
by increasing the number of sets per exercise,
and level of intensity:
●
●
●
The workouts are listed in on the next few pages

and there is also a printable workout log included
in this 12 Week Shred Transformation Pack which
we highly recommended you use!
12 WEEK SHRED
Cardio
/
/
/
/
HIIT is a system of organizing cardiorespiratory

training which calls for repeated bouts of short
duration, high-intensity exercise intervals
intermingled with periods of lower-intensity intervals
of active recovery.
Society has done a very good job of making us
believe cardiovascular exercise paired with eating
nothing but salad is the key to fat loss. In the context
of optimizing body composition, cardio needs to be
HIIT lasts 20 minutes or less – resulting in a short
treated as a tool for fat loss more so than an
workout time nearly anyone can integrate into their
aggressive necessity.
lifestyle.
HIIT can increase VO2 max for both high intensity and
endurance athletes. VO2 max is the max amount of
oxygen a person can use and transport during
exercise. You want this number to be high because it
enables you to use more fat as fuel instead of glucose.
Chapter 9 will discuss plateaus and how to Since our fat stores tend to be much higher than
break through them, but as a spoiler we usually have glycogen stores, it is preferential to be able to get the
to decrease caloric intake and/or increase cardio highest percentage of fuel from fat during exercise.
expenditure. While sprinting uses a high amount of glycogen
because it is such high intensity, the rate at which you
change from fat burning to sugar burning is higher in
individuals with a higher VO2 max.
Not only does nobody want to spend 2 hours

of their day doing cardio, excessive cardio can
HIIT increases EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen
interfere with the positive effects that come with
consumption) resulting in an elevated fat loss state for
weight/resistance training.
up to 24 hours after you finish your workout –
something you won’t get from lower intensity-
exercise.
1
CARDIO
HIIT trains the body to effectively remove
metabolic waste from the muscles between
intervals. By quickly removing lactate and other
by-products resulting from high intensity
exercise, you enable the body to be primed and Low-intensity cardio doesn’t have the acute
ready for another bout of high-intensity exercise metabolic benefits of high-intensity cardio, but
with less rest. it’s an easy way to chip away at calories
throughout the week without adversely affecting
your time lifting weights. LISS is a bit like
spending money eating out. At the time, it doesn’t
seem like much but at the end of the month it’s
surprising how much you have spent.
You can do these workouts using tools, such as a

jump rope, or simply doing jumping jacks, or
sprinting, or working on a stationary cycle. Use
your imagination. Just follow the work-to-rest The table below lists the calories burned by doing
intervals as indicated. dozens of activities for 30 minutes and the
numbers are based on an individual who weighs
144 pounds.
 20 seconds: High-intensity exercise (E.g.

Sprint)
 60 seconds: Rest or low-intensity exercise
(E.g. Walk)
Repeat another 10 times, followed by a final 20-

second high-intensity blast.
CARDIO
Incorporating Cardio into the 12 Week

Shred Program
 Phase 1: (Weeks 1-2) 1x LISS per week
 Phase 2: (Weeks 3-6) 2x LISS per week
 Phase 3: (Weeks 7-12) 2x LISS + 1 HIIT per week
 HIIT and LISS both have a place in your

training plan.
 Adherence, time, and recovery all need to be
considered when structuring your
cardiovascular strategy.
 Cardio not only has cardiovascular health
benefits, but will help improve our ability to
recover between sets and thus increase our
work capacity.
 Creating a caloric deficit is what’s most
important in getting leaner. Cardio is a tool
to HELP accomplish this, and not a
necessity. Having said that, inclusion of
cardio is suggested for reasons mentioned in
this chapter.
12 WEEK SHRED
Supplementation
Moreover, studies corroborate that the
proportion of leucine in a given protein source
has direct effect on the peak muscle protein
synthetic rate attained in the postprandial state.
So in short, whey protein is one of the highest
quality protein sources you can take in.
Note: These supplements are all optional  Promotes recovery and muscle growth
 Attenuates soreness/reduces fatigue
 Presents an easy option to hit your daily
Arguably the most popular sports supplement on protein requirements
the market, and for good reason. Whey protein
presents gym-goers with a highly bioavailable,
complete protein source to help meet their daily
protein needs. Naturally, since lifting routinely
Upset stomach and indigestion are the two most
increases protein demands, whey protein
common issues with whey protein products. This
supplements can be the perfect way to get more
might be alleviated by choosing a pure whey
protein in your diet.
isolate product over a whey concentrate (which
contains more lactose).
Whey protein, the acclaimed gold standard of

supplementation, is one of the best sources of all
You may use it daily as needed to meet your
nine essential amino acids, and more importantly
protein requirements.
of L-leucine. Much of the research thus far has
uncovered that a key substrate in the activation
of mTOR is the amino acid L-leucine.
SUPPLEMENTATION
Use as needed to meet your protein Before we dive into fat-burners/thermogenics,

requirements. However, DO NOT rely on whey keep in mind that these supplements enhance
protein as your sole source of protein; mix it up, fat-loss by increasing metabolic rate and/or
use whole foods when possible. adipose tissue oxidation (the use of fat as
energy). Therefore, taking these supplements will
help you burn more energy and utilize substrates,
specifically fat, more effectively.
A: No, whey protein is derived from cheese so it

does contain dairy. As noted above fat burners/thermogenics work to
increase your metabolism and enhance adipose
tissue oxidation. These supplements do this by
acting on specific receptors and chemicals in the
body that regulate fat oxidation and increase
A: No, whey protein itself is not bad for the metabolic rate. Certain ingredients, like caffeine,
kidneys. This myth stems from the issue of renal also provide stimulation to the central nervous
impairment in individuals who have chronically system and give users a sense of greater energy
superfluous amounts of protein intake in their throughout the day, which will help them be more
diet. It has nothing to do with the source of the active.
protein.
● Increase metabolism
● Enhance the use of fat tissue (and other
A: Yes, but this has little ramification in regards
substrate) as energy
to how your body utilizes the protein since
● Increase energy and focus
denatured protein is essentially “hydrolyzed”
● Lower rate of perceived exertion
protein; you’re still ingesting all the amino acids
that were originally there to begin with.
TEXT
SUPPLEMENTATION
Side effects should be rather minimal if you use a Creatine monohydrate has stood the test of time
safe, efficacious fat-burner/thermogenic. While it when it comes to weight training and athletic
is impossible to list specific side effects without performance. It’s one of the most efficient
supplements to consider when looking at its
knowing the product you’re using, we can say
cost-to-benefit ratio and safety/tolerability.
that SimplyShredded’s VANQUISH ELITE was
formulated to avoid side effects and maximize fat
burning.
The energy currency of the cell is known as
Adenosine Tri-Phosphate (ATP). Essentially, your
muscles are constantly using up and restoring
Most fat-burners/thermogenics are best taken ATP levels in order to perform work (i.e. contract).
before working out and possibly again at another
time in the day. The best thing is to simply follow One way to restore depleted ATP stores in muscle
the instructions on the bottle/label. cells is through the phosphocreatine energy
system.
This is achieved upon donation of a highly

Follow the dosing instructions on the label of the energetic phosphate from a phosphocreatine
molecule to an ADP (adenosine di-phosphate)
specific product you’re using.
molecule, thus forming a new ATP molecule.
 Increases intracellular water levels in

muscle cells, which in turn increases
A; No, it is important to know that no protein synthesis
supplements will “do the work for you” or make  Bolsters ATP production, resulting in
increased power/strength output
up for poor dietary habits and lack of exercise.
 Acts as a neuroprotective agent since
brain cells rely heavily on ATP for
membrane integrity
A: Certainly not, but if you buy a properly-
formulated product, it can certainly assist you
throughout the fat-loss process.
 Bloating/cramping (even though
“bloating” in this sense is actually
conducive to creatine stimulating muscle
growth)
 Dehydration (if not drinking ample water)
TEXT
SUPPLEMENTATION
 Avoid use if you have renal issues or diabetes

A: Unbeknownst to you, it’s likely due to an
increase in the amount of fluids you consume,
not the creatine itself.
 Preferably pre-workout but it’s not a major
issue when creatine is ingested so long as it is
kept consistent
A: Contrary to popular belief, these purported

 Most studies have concluded that once a “highly absorbable” forms of creatine are actually
saturation point is achieved creatine can be less bio-available than the tried-and-true
dosed between 3-5 grams/day to sustain monohydrate form.
intracellular levels.
NOTE: Creatine may be “front-loaded” at a higher

dose (generally 8-10g/day, split in two doses) to
achieve quicker saturation of cells, but this isn’t A: Yes, that’s fine (and often times favorable).
required.
A: I have no clue where this common claim

originated from but the answer is no, just no.
A: No, not unless you’re taking exceptionally high

amounts (and even then it’s unlikely). Creatine
may be a risk for those with pre-existing renal
impairment, but there is little evidence that
nominal doses cause such issues.
TEXT
SUPPLEMENTATION
Multi-vitamins are unique in the supplement Follow the label’s directions for your specific
industry in that they present consumers with a multi-vitamin; 1 serving per day is all that should
fail-safe to avoid vitamin and mineral be needed.
deficiencies.
The body requires that we ingest a certain

amount of micronutrients (i.e. vitamins, minerals,
A: Frankly, yes. Multi-vitamins contain a whole
polyphenols, etc.) per day to function properly.
spectrum of micronutrients that may be absent
Many processes that we carry out in everyday life
from your diet, even if you do eat a lot of nutrient-
are thanks to micronutrients. In a nutshell, multi-
dense foods (like fruits and vegetables).
vitamins work by making sure your body has an
adequate intake of important micronutrients, so
you can perform better and live healthier.
A: More often than not, multi-vitamins contain

fat-soluble micronutrients which should be taken
 Prevent micronutrient deficiencies with food to ensure proper absorption.
 Enhances well-being and cognition
 Bolsters the immune system
 May cause dehydration if you do not drink

adequate fluid throughout the day
It is usually advised to take your multi-vitamin

with the first meal of the day
TEXT
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12 WEEK SHRED
Adjusting the plan
As we drop bodyweight our Daily Calorie

Requirement (DCR) decreases, and we will need
to reopen the energy deficit for fat loss to
continue.
This boils down to individual preference and what

 Decreases in overall body mass lead to will allow for long-term sustainability.
lower expenditure from exercise and non-
exercise activities. The heavier we are the The following data should ALL be considered prior
more effort we have to exert to move our to making an adjustment to your fat-loss strategy:
body.
 Decreased TEF (less food to digest)
 Homeostatic hormonal mechanisms  This should trump ALL of the other factors
that will be listed. If you are looking leaner
in the mirror or through progress photos
then DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING.
 Progress photos should be taken in similar
light in the same location if possible. This
will prevent any inconsistencies in shadows
When our stores get low our expenditure is that can mask what’s actually occurring.
down regulated in an attempt to close the gap on It’s best to take progress photos facing a
the energy deficit and preserve adequate levels of window with the camera between you and
body fat. the window. This will allow for the most
consistent light.
The greater the caloric restriction the more
we adapt to an intake. For this reason, we want to
start with our ceiling high for adjustments with
regards to diet and cardio. However, even with
the most well thought out strategy you will have
some metabolic adaptation and you will likely
plateau.
ADJUSTING THE PLAN
When decreasing calories, typically we only
 While we are primarily concerned with fat decrease from carbs and fat. The reason we do
loss, there is obviously a correlation between not decrease from protein is because it is crucial
weight loss and fat loss over time. Weigh in for preserving lean body mass (ie. muscle) so
each day under the same conditions (upon therefore, you want to maintain your protein
waking and after using restroom) and track intake at a constant level throughout your cut. The
your weight daily (using the Weight Loss Log calorie drops would be much better served
Spreadsheet). A weekly drop of ~.5-1% of coming from carbs and fat.
bodyweight will ensure that the drops are
coming primarily from fat stores assuming
you have your bases covered with adequate
protein intake and training design/execution
(which you will). If you see positive changes in This will depend what level you are at (read below
the mirror and/or measurements but not on for recommendations).
the scale then DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING.
There is a lot more that goes into bodyweight
than just adipose tissue.
For those at an overweight or obese level you
should go with a bigger drop in the 100 to 200
 While the mirror and progress photos are range.
GREAT, they are also qualitative in nature. If
the scale isn’t moving but say your waist is
going down, then you know you are losing
body fat and SHOULD NOT CHANGE ANYTHING.
Measurements worth taking for tracking fat
loss include:
- Waist circumference at navel If you’re a general dieter and dropping calories for
- Hip circumference at widest point the first time then you should go with a range of
50 to 100 calories per day.
Note: For those of you who have been dieting for a

Increase the energy deficit by an additional 10- while, and have reduced calories a fair amount
15% from further dietary restriction and/or already on multiple occasions then you should
added cardiovascular work. stick to a 25 to 50 calorie drop. Which would
result in a recommendation of lowering carbs by
5-10 grams per day and fat by 1-2 grams per day.
ADJUSTING THE PLAN
Bianca (General Dieter) has just reached week 4  Our DCR (Daily Calorie Requirements) adapts
of her 12 Week Shred and has hit a weight loss as we lose body fat to protect against
plateau. continued fat loss, therefore plateaus occur at
given calorie intakes and cardio levels.
 When fat loss stalls we must reopen the
calorie deficit by decreasing macros,
increasing cardio or both.
 Reduce calories in the form of carbohydrate
and fat.
As a general dieter the recommendations are to  Do not rely solely on the scale to determine if
lower carbs by 10-15 grams per day and fat by 3- you are progressing. Many relatively new
6 grams per day. Bianca wishes to deduct 15 trainees can build muscle and lose fat
grams from carbs and 5 grams from fat on both simultaneously, which can obviously partially
her low and high-carb days. mask drops on the scale.
So there you have it! Simply make the necessary

adjustments to each day’s macros and sprinkle
some more cardio in (like an extra HIIT or LISS
session) and be patient. Progress should pick
back up.
12 WEEK SHRED
Frequently Asked questions
This may happen. Strength is not linear. Expect

some bad days and keep grinding.
Many apps allow you to input calories in addition
to the macros. Food labels use rounding, and
there is also a potential for error on behalf of the
person inputting the data in to the database. If
you are hitting your macros (Fat/Carbs/Protein) Alcohol contains approximately 7 calories per
then you are hitting your calories. There is no way gram and most alcoholic beverages get the
around it. majority of their calorie content from
carbohydrates. While drinking copious amounts of
alcohol is often a socially acceptable form of
entertainment, it behooves you to avoid such
If it’s less than 4% of total weight then hold off events if you are serious about your physique.
another week or two and reassess. If it continues,
This is NOT to say you can’t have any alcohol, but
increase calories by 5-10%. If it levels off to the
appropriate rate stay put. just that you should restrict intake to maybe 1-2
drinks per week if you must have any.
5 to 7 days. You could just be stressed and water

retention is masking fat loss. If you strongly
believe your intake should be yielding a caloric Moreover, alcohol impairs cognition and can
deficit then it probably is, and you just need to interrupt with your ability to perform in the gym
hold out a bit longer.
(and elsewhere). If you want to work an occasional
beer or glass of wine into your daily calorie intake,
that is fine. Just don’t go drinking a whole six pack
and think that is considered “moderation.”
FAQ
We are in a dynamic state of losing and Even acute losses of sleep have been shown to
replenishing water in our bodies; when the have a host of harmful effects in humans,
amount of water being taken in becomes less including tendency to overeat the next day and
than the amount being lost, we become decrease insulin sensitivity, two things that spell
dehydrated. disaster when combined.
Proper hydration is crucial to maintaining cell Sleep loss usually results in feeling stressed out
functions, and without enough water, as well, which is generally not favorable for proper
performance and overall health can be greatly appetite regulation. Aim to get at least 7-8 hours
hindered. The amount of water one needs on a of sleep per night.
daily basis varies based on their size and their
activity level (active individuals generally require
much more liquid than sedentary individuals).
Yes! Endless crunches will not melt away the fat
from your midsection. It just doesn't work that
way. And despite the "burn" of high rep ab
exercises, you barely burn any calories while doing
While everyone has different fluid requirements those endless crunches. Visible abs are simply a
based on size, activity level, etc., 1-1.5 gallons result of low body-fat. (Approx. below 12%)
per day is usually sufficient.
In regards to ab training, 2 exercises per week is
more than enough for vital stimulation. Another
thing to consider too is your abs get a lot of
indirect work from other exercises mainly
compound movements such as squats, seated or
standing presses and pulldowns, etc.
So just remember if you can't see your abs very

well, you're simply carrying too much body-fat.
The best thing you can do is get lean by hitting
your fat loss calorie/macro goals and training
properly; once that happens, you'll start to see
that six pack peek through.
FAQ
If you're allergic to a certain vittles, you should Determine if you would like to continue to get
definitely follow standard protocol and avoid leaner. If the answer is yes, then continue dieting
them. Allergies are a serious medical condition for fat loss using the recommendations within
and trigger an immune system response that this book. If you decide you would like to begin a
could be life-threatening if care is not taken; mass phase, then slowly add calories in the form
please consult a physician if you are concerned of carbs and fat until you are gaining .5-1 lbs. per
about a food allergy. month.
You will want to slowly start adding calories back

into your diet as you transition to a maintenance
phase. A maintenance phase is essentially when
your caloric expenditure and intake are in
The best thing to do if you are intolerant of
equilibrium. To find how many calories you require
certain foods/ingredients is either sparingly
for a maintenance phase you will need to simply
ingest those things or eliminate them from your
calculate your DCR (Daily Calorie Requirements).
diet. If you absolutely cannot eliminate them, you
You may refer to Chapter 5 or the Macro
could try using certain digestive aids like fiber
Calculator Excel Spreadsheet to calculate this
supplements and digestive enzymes.
value.
The goal is to add calories slowly over a few weeks

so you add as little body fat as possible. You may
even get leaner during this process if you keep
training hard and control your food intake.
Sometimes fruits, vegetables, and meats do not

come with nutritional information. Using
websites/apps like CalorieKing or MyFitnessPal
you can simply search the fruit, vegetable, or
meat to obtain the same nutritional information.
FAQ
Eat your food slowly to give your brain time to

catch up with your stomach. If you eat very quickly
you may end up taking in an excessive amount of
 Refer to the printable workout logs to prepare
food and not feeling satiated. yourself for upcoming workouts.
 Use the provided Excel spreadsheet to
Drink plenty of water (or other low-calorie liquids)
calculate your fat-loss macronutrient goals.
The benefits of staying hydrated are numerous, You may also calculate them manually using
the methods provided in chapter 5.
and keeping enough liquid in your stomach while
 Download a macro/calorie tracking app such
you eat will create a sense of fullness (not to
as MyFitnessPal and start logging your meals
mention it’s great for digestive purposes).  Hit your daily macro goals (Fat/Carbs/Protein)
 Weigh in each day under the same conditions
Eat foods that provide more satiety early in your
(upon waking and after using restroom) and
meals: record your weight.
 Get up off your butt and make it happen! This
 Fibrous vegetables and fruits are program means nothing without YOUR
micronutrient-dense, lower-calorie options ACTION!
that provide bulk to waste in the intestines and
make you feel full.
 Water content foods such as soups, beans,
lean meats, poultry, fish, low-fat dairy, fruits,
veggies and certain cooked grains are generally
lower in calorie density. Essentially, you get Please send it all through to
more for your money with these options transform@simplyshredded.com
because the water promotes satiety and adds
volume to your food.
Vacate your mind from food
This sounds like common sense, but when you feel

hunger pain coming on the last thing you want to
do is be around the kitchen when grandma is
whipping up her famous chocolate chip cookies.
Try and keep yourself preoccupied with other
things and you’ll notice you stop worrying about
food so much.
KEEP THE DRIVE ALIVE
I t n e v e r g e t s e a s I e r.
you just get stronger.
12 WEEK SHRED
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REFERENCES
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Women&#39;s 12 Week Shred

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12 WEEK SHRED

Simplyshredded Photo Credit

One of the most important things to keep in mind

The “80/20” principle is a simple observation that

Before we dive into the nutrition and exercise

With that said, let’s take a look at what some

The best way to categorize goals is as either

For better or for worse, setbacks/obstacles are

Also, realize that stress is a part of living. The

Why women should

In fact a study recently published in the Journal

Mitochondria are basically the “powerhouse” of

Most females feel that the best way to shape

The heart is indeed a muscle (a smooth muscle)

Not only does weight training reduce Low-Density

Weight training actually greatly improves your

It’s not uncommon to feel completely wiped out

In fact, studies show that the heavy weight

In fact, low bone mass is a major risk factor for

Along with the points alluded to in Reason #4,

Most females will find along the continuum of

Weight training is one of the most effective ways

One of the most annoying myths that pervades

Reality is that females should train with heavy

The science of fat

Well, frankly, AMPk increases lipolysis

Fat loss is largely regulated by the enzyme

 Controlling calorie intake and exercising are

The FIRST thing we need to remind ourselves of when

Based on the above, you can see why bodybuilders

Caloric management is the absolute foundation

Flexible dieting/ “If it fits your macros” also

This approach means you can eat any foods you

 Provide you with adequate nourishment

It isn’t about eating pop-tarts all day.

It IS about having sauce on your meals if you want to.

It IS about having the flexibility to eat out with friends.

It IS about being able to have sushi with the girls.

It IS about sustainable living and sustainable progress.

50g fat x 9 cal/g=450 calories

 Let’s say this individual burns an average of

So if caloric management is at the top of the list

If you are interested in optimizing your body

There are entire careers built around the study of

The recommendations provided will cover our

This isn’t the 1990s anymore, more people are

Carbs should be distributed in a manner that

Sweet Potatoes Brown Rice Spaghetti, whole-wheat, cooked

1. First, leptin’s primary role is regulating metabolic

Lowering metabolic rate is a basic survival

 Stimulate an insulin response that shuttle

 Fiber provides bulk to waste in the intestines

 Fat contains 9 calories per gram

 Carbohydrates contain 4 calories per gram

If you want to take the guess work out and know

If you want to roll the dice and play the guessing

Of course, if you overload your car’s gas tank with fuel

Let’s say your body needs 3000 calories per day to

You can create a calorie deficit by either eating

10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) - 5 x age - 161

 1.2 = Sedentary (desk job, and little structured

Lifestyle: Bianca hits the gym 5 times a week, works a

This diet is not intended to greatly restrict any

A pound of fat tissue contains roughly 3,500 calories.

Women's 12 Week Shred

Women's 12 Week Shred