Apex Predator Diet- Jamie Lewis

strength
powerlifting
bodybuilding
fat-loss
(Josh Stanisch) #1

Hey there,

Has anyone here ever experiemented with Jamie Lewis’ “Apex Predator Diet?” For those unfamiliar here is a quick breakdown
4 Levels

  • Fat ■■■■ (18+% BF)
  • Not Fat, Not Skinny (9-17%)
  • Lean as ■■■■ (8% and lower)

Depending what catergory you fit into he has different dietary stratgies in place. I am currently sitting between 13-14% bf. I have 4 of my abs visible and a slightly tapered “V.” Because of this, I would fit into the 2nd category so his weekly breakdown of meals would like this

  • 5 to 6 protein shakes containing 50+g of Protein, and less than 10g of carbs spread out throughout the day. Estentially a Protein Sparing Modified Fast
  • 2x/week substitute a lungh shake with 6-10 chicken wings instead for more “whole food”
  • 1x/week do a full day of nothing more than the shakes
  • Eat One meal a day contraining anywhere from 1500-3000cal of meat alone
  • 1x/week have a 3hr window for carb loading

I understand this isn’t really Keto, or even actual fasting. I just wanted to see/hear people’s opinion on this or if they have tried it themselves. Due to some vacations- I haven’t followed it myself to a T, but I figured if I did I would probably lose some additonoal Body fat.

Thanks!

(Bob M) #2

My wife and I tried a shake diet from Dr. Eades (of Protein Power fame). We found it to be tough. There’s something about shakes that – to us – wasn’t as filling as real food.

Though it was also all shakes for a while, I believe (but could be wrong).

At least this gives you OMAD.

I think if you can hack it, a week, maybe two, would be a good length for a trial.

This seems like something I would try, were I still a young body builder.

Though I wonder about the protein. 300g in just the shakes? Seems like a bit much, especially since if you’re eating 1,500 calories of meat, you’re looking at near 100g more protein (potentially more or less, depending on what you eat).

(Anthony) #3

I played with it a bit. It helped shape some beliefs I still keep. Over all I think it’s a pretty good base for the right person.

Do keep in mind that he’s a competitive powerlifter with the hormonal profile of a pubescent gorilla.

#4

Just seems like a hybrid of carnivore and PSMFs. Unless you’re lifting heavy you’re not going to be able to utilize 300g of protein in a day. We can only absorb so much. I say that as somebody that eats high protein.

3hrs of carbs could get dicey real fast, and I do a TKD/CKD hybrid so I eat a lot more carbs than most here, but I could literally eat thousands of calories in carbs in 3hrs without even trying.

Your end goal just some extra fat loss or you putting on some muscle as well? There’s really easier ways. If you like the sound of that have at it, but if it’s only because you can’t dump some fat it doesn’t have to be that complicated.

(Bob M) #5

I tried power lifting at one time. I had somewhat poor genetics for body building, but did get much larger. But I was always weak, relatively speaking. It took me forever – years - to build up to 315 pounds for bench. I was better at squats and deadlifts.

Power lifting is one of those things where you NEED genetics. If within a year or so, if you’re not one of the strongest people in the gym, give it up. I mean check out some of these records:

https://mwolverine.com/Weight_Training_Powerlifting_Records.html

I was lifting at about 1/2 of the 198.4 pound class, and that was after years of training.

(Doug) #6

Well damn, Bob, that’s no slouch… :+1::sunglasses:

(Anthony) #7

I was being indirect, he’s geared heavy. You know how than can overcome imperfections in training or diet.

I’ve never been strong at all in the gym. Pathetic really. Strong outside of it in usable working strength but nothing special. Not sure how much of it was poor form or if a coach would have made a difference, but at this point that’s all unlikely to change and I’ve mostly made peace with it.

(Josh Stanisch) #8

In June I actually did the velocity diet for fun and to lose weight for some stupid “Pay and win your money back” weight loss comp my wife wanted to do. That was 28 days straight of 8 shakes a day and a small meal (roughly 600–700cals). It was hard for sure. Workouts were grueling. I’ve sort of played with it for the past two weeks already, and as I mentioned- no weight loss, but no loss in strength either.

For reference I know it is nearly 2g/lb of protein for me. I am 6’ and weigh 220lbs.

Current Lifts
Squat: 480lbs
Deadlift: 580 conventional, 625 sumo
OH Press: 225
Bench: 335
Clean: 235

(Josh Stanisch) #9

What things did you find that you kept? Yea, he is an…interesting individual. And I know he is probably on PEDs as well. Which is why I would potentially do 3-4 shakes rather than 6. At least that is what I am thinking

(Josh Stanisch) #10

Yea I am 6’0 220lbs. I weight train 6x/week. 2 heavy, 2 hypertrophy/stretching, and I ruck with 100lbs+. Plus I golf and play in rec leagues.

The carbs thing is interesting. I understand why as a heavy lifter we need carbs. But for my goal to be fat loss while maintaining muscle anbd strength I would consider doing a carb load every 2 weeks. The 3hr window is just that. He says eat protein source first then carbs. The best I could do was a steak and then like 3 roast beef sandwhiches followed by ice cream lol

I know I am probably complicating it cause I want it all at once cause…I’m dumb like that lol

(Anthony) #11

I think it is a pretty good take on a CKD. I also liked the calorie cycling. Alternating PSMFs with moderate and heavy calorie days. I didn’t use as many shakes though, I kept more in line with Lyle’s outline for those days.

#12

I absolutely want results as fast as possible! Problem is with lifting 6x/wk you’re depleting your carbs every other day. The 2 week thing doesn’t work, you’ll have a couple awesome workouts followed by a decline the rest of the time. That’s why I do a hybrid TKD/CKD. They gotta come in regularly. There’s zero slow down in fat loss while doing it that way. I’d argue I’ve lost more fat that way. You load up the muscles, then you give yourself a boost pre/post workout which should about be depleted during the workout.

Check out Rob Goodwin, he’s a gym owner, strength and contest prep coach, guy just killed a NPC show and beat out a lot of younger guys (He’s 52 I believe) and he does eat eating a hybrid Keto plan.
He’s got a youtube channel, IG, Telegram group all for ketogenic bodybuilding.

This is the video that got me sold on his plan, he’s a lot bigger now.

(Josh Stanisch) #13

I am going to dig into this diet more. Seems similar to Apex Predator. It is funny how all these “diets” are very similar with just minor tweaks around it

(Bob M) #14

That was years of training, though, Doug.

I find people who want to get big are like people who want to lose weight: they want it done yesterday. But both are long-term projects. As in years, not months.

One detriment to getting big is that it’s very hard to maintain. It’s very easy to lose muscle mass. I don’t think nature wants people (mainly men) with huge muscles, so if you want to maintain a physique like that, be prepared to work hard…forever.

No one thinks about that, though. This is an example:

Looking back, and while I still lift (body weight, now), and hope to do so as long as I can, I wonder why I ever wanted to look like Arhhhnold. I don’t know. Perhaps something was lacking? I wanted to be someone else? Just because?

I would say that anyone who wants larger muscles to ask themselves one question: Why?

Now, I still exercise and do body weight training, but the emphasis is on whole-body and (re)building some muscle, but not to the extent I am a slave to the gym. Some strength so I can do what I want to do. And because I find that whole-body exercise reduces stress and makes me feel better than basically anything else. But I’m not interested in 19+ inch arms anymore. Or even how much “weight” I lift at all.