Can you tell when you're in a deficit (besides logging calories)

charlenekapf

Do you notice a physical difference when you're in a deficit vs. a surplus in terms of how you feel throughout the day? Just curious for those who have been at this awhile and are able to stay consistent with eating less than they burn. Did you notice a change (better or worse?) in energy, mood, sleep, hunger, etc? Or is it more something that you wouldn't really notice unless you were looking at your food log/weight on the scale?

queenliz99

I'm a little bit hungry between meals and that's it. Not moody or fatigued, just a little peckish.

dmt4641

I get hungry. My weight lifting is affected and I have to cut back on volume and usually weight. If I cut too much I don't sleep well and my energy goes down. So I stick with a moderate deficit.

VintageFeline

I don't feel it especially at the time but when I take breaks I notice how much stronger and just generally more fuelled I feel during workouts. So it's always a little sad to be back on the cut but it makes me really excited for eventual maintenance when that will be the norm!

errollmaclean

I've not noticed any difference.

SophieSmall95

Because I'm so small and have such a low TDEE (Just under 1600) I don't have any room to manoeuvre other than counting calories to ensure I'm at a deficit. The first week of eating at 500 cal deficit I do notice myself being hungry, but that subsides as my stomach shrinks and I get used to the portion sizes.

If I'm eating at maintenance I can just about get away with not counting calories if I'm eating familiar foods, I can guesstimate to know I'm around 1600. But with a TDEE so low it can be quite difficult.

DancingMoosie

Sometimes I feel like I'm dragging and can get more lightheaded when lifting.

VintageFeline

Heh. Funny troll is funny. Can't even type a whole coherent sentence and that's ignoring the ALL CAPS.

charlenekapf

Probably a teenager with too much time on their hands. sad because having this forum is really really helpful for me lately...

VintageFeline wrote: »

Heh. Funny troll is funny. Can't even type a whole coherent sentence and that's ignoring the ALL CAPS.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

think they are gone now

VintageFeline

Yup. Poof! I look like I was talking to myself. Not new that though.

kimny72

kshama2001 wrote: »

Yo, flaggers - the Abuse flag doesn't get to a moderator. Use Flag > Report > Attacking or Trolling.

And keep in mind that when you quote them, the quote remains in your post even after the original was removed. So don't quote posts you think should be removed!

OP, the only time I notice is if I'm trying to really push myself with a workout, I just don't have as much energy. Otherwise, no, the only way I would know is that I'm losing weight.

amyn73

I feel it. I feel less full, more energized (I think that's because my body has what it needs and not a lot of excess), and hungry between meals. I look forward to eating the next meal instead of eating mechanically.

arditarose

If I'm in a tiny deficit, say 100-250 calories, I don't feel it much. If I'm in a more aggressive 500 calorie deficit I have to supplement potassium because my muscles get spasms, and I'm more tired.

xvolution

At first I was often hungry between meals, but after a few weeks that feeling went away. Though I still get very hungry come breakfast-time. As for energy, on occasion I get really exhausted and have to take a nap.

MissusMoon

I feel pretty fantastic. I'm still at a 2lb per week deficit. I'm never over-stuffed and I don't have acid reflux, so in that way I can tell.

AnnPT77

No huge impact, if my nutrition was on point, and I ate on the kind of schedule I'd learned worked best for me, even at a 500-1000 net calorie deficit (as long as that deficit was appropriate to my then-current weight, of course).

The only time I got tired/felt poorly was when I stuck with a pretty high deficit during recovery after (minor) surgery, then amped up the workouts (eating back calories BTW) as soon as as I got doctor clearance to start working out again. That was pretty stupid, actually. But I realized it, and fixed it quickly.

tomteboda

Hunger. I get steadily hungry in a significant (500 cal or more) deficit.

jtcedinburgh

I can get a bit spacey and light-headed, my legs feel extremely tired and I can feel close to fainting when standing up (from sitting). That's on a serious deficit day, like yesterday (where, despite eating well, I still ended up with 1200 KCal left to eat (1500 planned, 1869 food cals, 1618 exercise cals). Not something I particularly aim to do - I generally eat back most of my exercise calories - but when I have a day like yesterday, I definitely know it

Sued0nim

No

I'm hungry in surplus sometimes

PAV8888

nails grow faster when not in a deficit!

Seffell

No, my deficit is around 200 cals which way too little to notice a difference. Not even a Mars bar away.

kommodevaran

I don't feel any different just based on whether I'm in surplus, deficit or maintenance. I do notice that my skin breaks out when I'm in a surplus. I feel hungry and get cravings when I don't get sufficient nutrition. I get cranky when I don't get sufficient taste and pleasure from the food I eat.

StealthHealth

I sometimes feel colder when on a deficit and I can (as MrsStealthHealth would attest) get a little cranky just before my evening meal (especially if after a hard work out).