In need of direction...
 

I'm 22, 5'7", 195lbs
I finally got back into working out and watching what i eat. Joined a gym around the last week of May and got a trainer to design a routine for a 9-12wk program. I wanted to lose fat without losing muscle.
In the last 3months of working out:
-I've gained at least 30-40lbs on all my workouts (a full body, 45min lifting regimen every other day...40min cardio almost every day when i can)
-lost 6lbs of fat, BF% went from 23% to 20.5%
-gained 8lbs of muscle

I'm happy with my last 3 months of progress, but I want to go down to a lean and more fit 175-180 weight

With a 18credit college semester and 35hr+ work week, i still set aside time either early morning or late evening to work out
Here's my list of supplements:
Morning:
Tonalin CLA
GNC Mega Men Sport multi-vit
VPX Meltdown

Pre-Workout:
L-Arginine
Protein Shake (GNC Wheybolic or Pro-Nos) (half of sugguested serving size)

Post Workout:
Pro-Nos Shake
L-Glutamine

Before Bed:
Novedex XT (took it for the last 8 weeks, didnt see much of a difference in the gym)

Nutrition-wise...
I wake up almost every day at 6am
Breakfast:
cheerios w/flax seed/oats mixed in + skim milk
3hrs later... 1/2serving protein shake..roughly 150cals

Lunch:
grilled chicken (lightly seasoned) in a tortilla wrap (healthiest thing within 20mins from college)
3hrs later... 1/2serving protein shake..roughly another 150cals

Dinner:
usually... Chicken breast, tuna, salmon, steak
with a side of vegs... and rarely any carbs
i TRY and eat every 3-4hrs to keep my metabolism going, but with classes running my life lately.. it's kinda hard sometimes

Now that u know my life story... WHY IS IT I CANT GO BELOW 190?!... i got this gut ive been trying to lose and show off my hard work, but its been the hardest thing to shrink.. i want be at that "ripped" stage by Christmas break and a defined 6pack by spring break
my calories dont exceed 2400cals, unless im up late night studying for an exam and i dont have any physical problems (thyroid nd such)

Should i go for the extreme and follow a 1900cal diet?...
-but i want to lose body fat and keep some of the muscle that ive gained over the last 3months

any help would be greatly appreciated

eat more frequently....3 meals does not do much to boost your metabolism....sadly enough :)

where are the vegetables...where is the fruit? get rid of the arginine and the GNC supps...and spend that money on food :)

look into HIIT cardio training...there is a stickied thread at the top of this forum.....that's more beneficial for losing fat while keeping muscle...40 min of cardio isn't doing much for maintaining muscle.

and to keep that muscle...you need to eat roughly 1g/per pound of bodyweight in protein.

there are plenty of online maintenance calorie calculators...look one up...your cals might be too low.

:)
whenever i try and eat more often, its gonna be at a local deli because i have classes from 9-4 almost every day
what kind of foods would be considered a "meal" to u?

and as for my veggies, i always eat a good bowl filled of mixed organic veggies (carrots, corn, peas, grean beans, kidney beans) that i just steam and eat outta the bowl with whatever im eating for lunch at the time
fruits, rarely eat them... maybe ill have an apple on the ride to school or a peach here and there

in the nutrition forum...there is a thread stickied at the top entitled "what a bodybuilder eats"...

give that a read through.

thats great... awesome help ...im new to the site nd try nd get time to look around when i can... most of my help i get from trainers and well.. forums

reading every stickied thread on every forum here will benefit greatly...loads of info.