Stronglifts 5x5 for Women

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Calorie Intake

CALake
CALake Posts: 269 Member
edited December 2024 in Social Groups
I have been on one massive plateau (almost a year!) so I changed my settings from "1 lb. per week deficit" to "maintenance."

Let me tell you, I wake up so much happier seeing 1700 calories I can have for the day instead of 1200. I'm hoping to stay at maint. for a few weeks to "reset" and then drop again if I don't see any changes.

Has anyone else done this? Do you eat at a deficit, maintenance, or eat extra during 5x5?

Replies

  • nexangelus
    nexangelus Posts: 2,080 Member
    I eat 2000 plus if I can every day doing 5 x 5. My weight has stayed the same for months. I reckon if I reduce them by 300 I will lose...but I won't be doing 5 x 5 on less calories. There is no way I will go as low as 1200...not until I am lighter, a lot lighter I guess?!
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
    I eat 2000 plus if I can every day doing 5 x 5. My weight has stayed the same for months. I reckon if I reduce them by 300 I will lose...but I won't be doing 5 x 5 on less calories. There is no way I will go as low as 1200...not until I am lighter, a lot lighter I guess?!

    Ditto. 1850 is the lowest I go, and when I stuck hard to 1750-2000 for my calories my lifting went to hell. if I eat 2200 I do well but I don't lose (but I didnt' lose sticking to 1750 either, and I was miserable to boot).
  • siriusalien
    siriusalien Posts: 207
    Wow, and my PT has me at 1380
  • nexangelus
    nexangelus Posts: 2,080 Member
    Wow, and my PT has me at 1380

    My PT said a big fat NO to reducing my calories...he said just fiddle with the carbs to protein ratio...even when losing fat (even though I still reckon just increasing lean body mass is a slower way of losing fat, maybe I am totally wrong though)
  • abirkel
    abirkel Posts: 60
    I eat 2000-2300 calories a day. It's somewhere between maintenance and a very, very small deficit (I think). I have actually gained 10 lbs since May (when I started eating more) but all my clothes fit the same or looser...so hey, whatever. :)

    If I don't eat at least 2000 I feel super weak and really struggle with lifting.
  • Qarol
    Qarol Posts: 6,171 Member
    When I started SL in March, I slowly increased my cals until I was around 2000. I kept gaining and/or flatlining for weeks on end. Couldn't figure out why. I'm trying something new now. Much lower cals on rest days with a carb/fat split (more carbs on lifting days). AND more cardio. I loathe cardio, but I'm just not losing inches with lifting yet. After 6 months. So something's got to give with me. We'll see how it works in a few weeks...
  • siriusalien
    siriusalien Posts: 207
    When I started SL in March, I slowly increased my cals until I was around 2000. I kept gaining and/or flatlining for weeks on end. Couldn't figure out why. I'm trying something new now. Much lower cals on rest days with a carb/fat split (more carbs on lifting days). AND more cardio. I loathe cardio, but I'm just not losing inches with lifting yet. After 6 months. So something's got to give with me. We'll see how it works in a few weeks...

    That sounds like my story.
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