How much cut to TDEE when close to goal weight

nagniho

Hello All,

How much % less from TDEE should I be eating if I am 2 to3 lbs away from my goal weight. I was taking an approx 12 to 13% cut but now am very close to the target weight and have seen the loss slow down. Should I increase the cut or maintain it where it is?

Thanks in advance.

geekyjock76

Keep it where it is. I know it will feel as though your body is being stubborn but it's as you say: the less body fat you have, the slower the process. Just make sure that 12 or 13% cut includes exercise calories if you are exercising. If that's just the deficit from eating less food, and you are exercising, then you are actually employing a greater deficit than intended.

nagniho

Keep it where it is. I know it will feel as though your body is being stubborn but it's as you say: the less body fat you have, the slower the process. Just make sure that 12 or 13% cut includes exercise calories if you are exercising. If that's just the deficit from eating less food, and you are exercising, then you are actually employing a greater deficit than intended.

Thanks much for the feedback. The 12-13% cut does include moderate exercise. Sometimes I wonder if the estimation is correct. I exercise 6 days a week. Stronglifts 3 times a week and cardio ( high intensity) the remaining days.

geekyjock76

When I was at 8%, it took a good month or so to drop down to 7%. So, even as a guy who can lose 2 lbs of actual fat per week (if at average weight), at that point it was closer to 0.5 lbs.