I've got a month and a half to burn some fat

Hi all, I've been weightlifting for just over 10 years now. I've gone
through obsessed and casual stages in that time, but have usually
maintained a decent balance of weights, cardio and just general fitness
activities.

I currently bench 275 pounds for 6 reps, flat bar (45 pounds) with 50
pounds for bicep curls, 30 reps for pull-ups, 225 for 8 reps for bent
over rows with a regular flat bar (not against a corner). I give this
information just to give an impression of my level of weightlifting
ability. I can also jog for 6 miles without any difficulty (outside)
in about 50-55 minutes.

I generally consider myself in good condition. However, today I went
to a gym and got a fitness assessment and using those scales with metal
contacts (which aren't the most accurate measurements in the world I
acknowledge) found out that I have 25% fat. I suspected it was close
to 20%... but a quarter of my body weight seems a tad high.

Anyway, long story short it gave me cause for thought, so my buddy and
I went to a supplement place and I picked up Nutrex Lipo 6. I'm going
to take one pill in the morning and one at lunch. I'm also going to
try to stop eating 2 hours before I go to bed and perhaps up my cardio
a tad.

As for the subject of the posting - I'm going on a May 2-4 (May 19-22)
camping trip with some old friends of mine and I would like to trim up
because these guys are in great shape (fat wise) and like to rag on me
for that stuff... it is all in good humour, but I would like to impress
them.

Could anyone else lend me some advice on how to make the most effective
use of my time before the camping trip?

Thanks,
Novice

Not disciplined enough to reduce my caloric intake that much...


I will do my best to get it down to 2000 calories. I don't count
calories or record what I eat. I have a fairly stressful job and I
guess I have to keep my priorities straight. I won't deprieve myself
of so many calories that my work will suffer.

In terms of my eating habits now. I have a fairly strict regime during
the week. I get up and I'll have a couple of small cups of fruit
yogourt along with a slice of toast with a good quality jam (mostly
fruit with little additives/preservatives). Then I will only drink
water until noon (if I snack before noon - I end up over snacking). At
noon I'll eat a low fat lunch with a good amount of vegetables and
probably about 30 grams of protein. I will have a couple of snacks in
mid afternoon before I get hungry and go for my first dinner. Then
later on I'll eat basically a second dinner. I also have a bad habit
of eating frozen yogourt or ice cream within an hour of going to bed.
I think the best improvement I can make in that category is to stop
that last habit (eating before bed) altogether. As far as the other
stuff goes, I can't reduce too much since I believe I will become less
effective at my job.

The other item that someone told me today was that I should try
running/cardio in the morning since you are better able to burn fat
that way. He basically said that if you train at any time other than
in the morning or immediately following a weight routine - you will
just burn carbs and not fat. I always thought that as long as you
trained in your target heart rate zone your body could start using fat
for its energy source.

Anyway, I think for now, the only changes, other than taking the Lipo
6, I will make are no eating 2 hours before bed (that's going to be
tough) and going for at least a half hour jog every other morning - I
used to do a 50 minute jog 2 or 3 times a week so that one should be
easier.

If anyone else has any other suggestions I'm open to them - I'll do my
best to drop the calories and switch to a more protein heavy diet...
but as I say I can't reduce too much because of my job.

Thanks for the suggestions - more are welcome,
Novice