12-Week Cut · Built for Sean

Lean &
Strong
Nutrition

~2,300 cal · ~185g protein daily. Protein and veg stay constant; carbs flex up on training days, down on rest days. No added sweeteners.

2,300
Calories / day
~185g
Protein / day
1–1.5
lb loss / week
~750
Cal deficit / day

Daily Template.

Toggle between training-day and rest-day — the only thing that changes is the carb portion. Protein and veg stay the same every day.

Breakfast
~480 cal · 40g P

3 whole eggs + 3 egg whites scrambled with spinach & salsa.

Training Add 1 slice sprouted toast + ½ avocado.

Rest ½ avocado only, skip the toast.

Swap: 1.5 cups non-fat Greek yogurt + ½ cup berries + 1 scoop whey + 1 tbsp walnuts.

Lunch
~610 cal · 50g P

Yogurt chicken thigh kabobs (~200g thighs) + big salad + tzatziki.

Training Serve over ¾ cup cooked rice or quinoa.

Rest Serve over cauliflower rice.

This is your Sunday batch-cook anchor — portion 4–5 of these for the whole week.

Snack
~350 cal · 35g P

1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt + ½ cup berries + 1 scoop whey. Or a protein shake + apple + small handful almonds.

Dinner
~600 cal · 50g P

Rotate between: (1) 6oz lean ground beef + roasted veg  (2) 6oz baked salmon + asparagus  (3) ground beef stir-fry with peppers & onion.

Training Add a starch — baked potato, quinoa, or rice.

Rest Skip the starch, extra greens instead.

Evening (optional snack + treat)
~280 cal · 18g P

1 serving Jojo’s dark chocolate + ½ cup cottage cheese.

The chocolate is already factored into your daily calories — enjoy it guilt-free. Dark chocolate + cottage cheese is a surprisingly good combo: rich, satisfying, and the casein protein still does its overnight recovery job.

Whiskey heads-up. Straight whiskey is ~100 cal/shot with zero protein. Trim some carbs from dinner on a night you’re drinking so the day still lands near 2,300. Hydrate hard alongside it.
Around basketball & fasted sessions. Training fasted or hooping hard? Get carbs + protein in within 1–2 hours after — that’s the meal to put the rice or potato on. It refuels and steadies energy levels far better than eating on autopilot.

Sunday Cook.

One 2–3 hour session sets up most of the week. Batch the anchors below and you’ll only need to cook one fresh dinner protein on a weeknight or two.

Batch this Sunday

  • Full batch of yogurt chicken thigh kabobs — portion into 4–5 lunch containers
  • Big batch of tzatziki (keeps 5 days in the fridge)
  • One dinner protein cooked ahead: chili, salmon, or ground turkey
  • Large pot of rice or quinoa
  • Tray of roasted veg (bell peppers, zucchini, onion, asparagus)
  • Egg bites or 6 hard-boiled eggs for grab-and-go breakfasts
During the week you just need to: reheat lunch, cook one fresh protein for dinner 2–3 nights, and assemble breakfast. Total weekday cook time < 20 min/day.

Grocery List.

Organized by store section. Buy chicken and beef in bulk to pull the cost toward the lower end.

Proteins

  • Chicken thighs, boneless skinless (3–4 lb)
  • Lean ground beef, 90/10 (3–4 lb)
  • Salmon fillets (1 lb)
  • Eggs (2 dozen)
  • Liquid egg whites (carton)
  • Whey protein powder
  • Casein protein (or cottage cheese)

Dairy

  • Non-fat Greek yogurt (2 large tubs)
  • Cottage cheese (1 large)
  • Feta (small, optional)

Produce

  • English cucumbers (2)
  • Bell peppers, mixed (4)
  • Red onions (2)
  • Zucchini (2)
  • Spinach / salad greens (large bag)
  • Asparagus (1 bunch)
  • Tomatoes (4)
  • Lemons (4)
  • Garlic (2 heads)
  • Fresh dill, mint, parsley or cilantro
  • Mixed berries (fresh or frozen)
  • Apples (4)
  • Avocados (3)

Carbs & Grains

  • Rice (bag) or quinoa
  • Baking potatoes (4)
  • Frozen cauliflower rice
  • Sprouted / whole-grain bread
  • Rolled oats

Pantry & Spices

  • Olive oil
  • Smoked paprika
  • Cumin, turmeric, coriander, cayenne
  • Salt & black pepper
  • Salsa (no added sugar)
  • Almonds / walnuts (small bag)
  • Jojo’s dark chocolate

Est. NYC Cost

$95–130
per week. Buying chicken and beef in bulk pulls it to the lower end. Frozen cauliflower rice saves vs. fresh.

The Principles.

The boring stuff that actually decides whether a cut works.

1
Protein is non-negotiable. Hitting ~185g/day is the single biggest lever for keeping muscle while losing fat. Anchor every meal around a protein source first, then build the rest around it.
2
Let the diet drive fat loss, not cardio. The 2,300 cal target does the work. Add 8–10k steps/day and optionally 15–20 min easy Zone 2 after 2–3 lifts/week. Basketball counts as that conditioning.
3
Don’t out-cut the deficit. If the scale drops faster than ~1.5 lb/week for a few weeks and your gym numbers start falling, eat a bit more. Aggressive isn’t better — you’ll sacrifice muscle.
4
Track the trend, not the day. Weigh in a few mornings a week and watch the weekly average. Daily swings from water, salt, and carbs are noise — don’t react to them.
5
Sleep and hydration aren’t optional. 7–9 hours and consistent water intake make the deficit feel easier, steady your energy, and protect recovery between sessions.

This is general fitness and nutrition guidance, not medical advice. Given you’re managing a health condition with medication, run the calorie target, the fasted-training approach, and any big diet changes past your doctor before diving in — a steeper deficit plus intense fasted sessions can affect how you feel and how your treatment lands.