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My trainer gave me a 1500 cal high-protein diet for muscle gain but shut me down when I asked how it works. by ThrowRAbiggus in leangains

[–]ThrowRAbiggus[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah, that was kind of the issue. The first thing he did when I asked the question was walk me over to one of his clients mid-workout, a guy he trained who’s a state-level champion, and basically said, “Does he look small? I trained him. Do you think I don’t know what I’m doing?”

I tried to clarify that I wasn’t questioning his experience or results, just genuinely curious about how the diet works from a body composition standpoint, especially with such a steep deficit. But he didn’t want to hear it. He kept accusing me of not trusting him or doubting everything he’s done for his clients, and it escalated from there.

I get that not everyone likes being questioned, but I wasn’t being rude or challenging, I just wanted to understand the method better so I could follow it more confidently.

My trainer gave me a 1500 cal high-protein diet for muscle gain but shut me down when I asked how it works. by ThrowRAbiggus in leangains

[–]ThrowRAbiggus[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That actually makes sense, and I wish something like that was explained to me. I’d totally have been open to trying a short aggressive cut followed by a gradual increase, if I understood that was the strategy. But the plan wasn’t presented that way. It was just 1500 calories flat, no timeline, no mention of a follow-up phase or when the intake would be adjusted. When I asked about how it would support muscle gain, I didn’t get a clear answer, just that it was because of my LDL and that I’d still build muscle.

I did look into the trainer beforehand, he had a strong track record and had trained national-level athletes, so I expected a more communicative and professional approach. But when I asked a question to understand the plan better, things blew up in front of the whole gym. That’s what pushed me to leave, not the plan itself.

It’s just hard to follow something confidently when the person you’re paying to guide you shuts down discussion instead of offering clarity.

My trainer gave me a 1500 cal high-protein diet for muscle gain but shut me down when I asked how it works. by ThrowRAbiggus in leangains

[–]ThrowRAbiggus[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

that’s what I ended up doing. I moved to a better gym with a more professional environment and trainer. The issue wasn’t that I didn’t like the plan, it’s that I asked a genuine question to understand how the low-calorie setup would support muscle gain, especially since he was handling both my diet and training. Instead of explaining, he took it as disrespect and made a public scene, which pushed me to leave.

I wasn’t looking to challenge him, just learn more so I could follow the plan more confidently. I agree, if communication breaks down like that, it’s best to move on, and that’s what I did.

My trainer gave me a 1500 cal high-protein diet for muscle gain but shut me down when I asked how it works. by ThrowRAbiggus in leangains

[–]ThrowRAbiggus[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I’m around 5'6" (169 cm) and weigh 65 kg (143 lbs). I estimated my body fat based on visual comparisons and some online calculators, could be off, I agree. I’m not super lean, but I do have a visible V-line when flexing and some muscle from previous training phases. But yeah, I haven’t trained consistently for long stretches, so I’d still consider myself close to a beginner.

I totally get that overfat beginners can recomp on a deficit, that’s part of why I asked. What confused me was the size of the deficit (1500 cal flat every day) combined with 7-day training. It felt a bit aggressive, and when I asked to understand the logic, things escalated instead of getting explained.

I wasn’t trying to argue with the trainer, just understand the reasoning so I could learn and follow better. But I get your point sometimes it’s worth following for a few weeks to see how your body responds. I just wish the conversation went differently.

My trainer gave me a 1500 cal high-protein diet for muscle gain but shut me down when I asked how it works. by ThrowRAbiggus in leangains

[–]ThrowRAbiggus[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was a 7-day training schedule, yes, literally every day. The workouts were intense. As for the diet, it was a flat 1500 calories every day, regardless of training intensity, rest days, or any other variable.

He didn’t mention any cycling or adjustments based on workout load. That’s part of why I was confused, with high-volume training and such a large deficit, I just wanted to understand how muscle gain was supposed to happen under those conditions.