Theoretically you might be able to slowly reduce bodyfat eating at maintenance but I don't generally recommend it as it's not as efficient as cutting.

If you're wiped out from long term dieting, consider taking a couple of weeks at maintenance as sort of a diet-break and then reintroduce the calorie deficit to cut again.

I was afraid you would say that. :frown: I've ate at a deficit for so long now that it's not a big deal. I was just looking forward to seeing what impact adding calories would have on my lifting. I'm scared if I go to maintenance and then try to cut again it would be harder than just continuing. I've been eating around 1650, which is TDEE less 20%. What if I switch to 90%, which would give me apx. 200 more calories per day?

Those hand help devices are horribly inaccurate.

That being said though, if you have a decent amount of fat you want to lose, I agree with SideSteel that continuing to cut (after a possible break) is usually the best way to go.

Regarding your intake question - how much weight have you been losing per week on average on the 1,650?

Re diet breaks - they actually can 're-energize' your dieting...it really depends on the individual though.

I don't know how much fat I have left to lose but I don't like what I see in the mirror yet, at least without clothes on.

Over the past 5 weeks, I've lost an average of 1 lb. per week and that's with one day over 3K and another over 4K, not including Thanksgiving or the day after when I didn't even log. I tend to have one day a week where I eat whatever I want for one meal. I typically log these calories and I usually end up around 1800-2000 that day. Would that be like taking a weekly break from dieting? We will be going on a cruise toward the end of Feb. I will take a diet break that week. :bigsmile:

Hey,

Having taken a look at your information (Sara will be sending you a bf estimate) we would like you to consider the following:

Take a diet break for 1 week during the holidays.
Resume your calorie deficit until 1 week before your cruise.
Take a diet break the week leading up to your cruise and the week of the cruise.
Resume your calorie deficit after the cruise and re-evaluate your physique when you've dropped roughly another 10lbs from now.

You may gain a couple of lbs during diet breaks. It may be a combination of bloating, increased food volume, possibly minor gains in fat, but don't worry about it. Weight will come back down fast.

Theoretically you might be able to slowly reduce bodyfat eating at maintenance but I don't generally recommend it as it's not as efficient as cutting.

If you're wiped out from long term dieting, consider taking a couple of weeks at maintenance as sort of a diet-break and then reintroduce the calorie deficit to cut again.

I was afraid you would say that. :frown: I've ate at a deficit for so long now that it's not a big deal. I was just looking forward to seeing what impact adding calories would have on my lifting. I'm scared if I go to maintenance and then try to cut again it would be harder than just continuing. I've been eating around 1650, which is TDEE less 20%. What if I switch to 90%, which would give me apx. 200 more calories per day?

Those hand help devices are horribly inaccurate.

That being said though, if you have a decent amount of fat you want to lose, I agree with SideSteel that continuing to cut (after a possible break) is usually the best way to go.

Regarding your intake question - how much weight have you been losing per week on average on the 1,650?

Re diet breaks - they actually can 're-energize' your dieting...it really depends on the individual though.

I don't know how much fat I have left to lose but I don't like what I see in the mirror yet, at least without clothes on.

Over the past 5 weeks, I've lost an average of 1 lb. per week and that's with one day over 3K and another over 4K, not including Thanksgiving or the day after when I didn't even log. I tend to have one day a week where I eat whatever I want for one meal. I typically log these calories and I usually end up around 1800-2000 that day. Would that be like taking a weekly break from dieting? We will be going on a cruise toward the end of Feb. I will take a diet break that week. :bigsmile:

Hey,

Having taken a look at your information (Sara will be sending you a bf estimate) we would like you to consider the following:

Take a diet break for 1 week during the holidays.
Resume your calorie deficit until 1 week before your cruise.
Take a diet break the week leading up to your cruise and the week of the cruise.
Resume your calorie deficit after the cruise and re-evaluate your physique when you've dropped roughly another 10lbs from now.

You may gain a couple of lbs during diet breaks. It may be a combination of bloating, increased food volume, possibly minor gains in fat, but don't worry about it. Weight will come back down fast.

Thank you so much! I think I can handle a diet break from Christmas to New Years since you insist! :bigsmile: Taking one the week before my cruise is scary...I will be wearing a two piece in front of people!! :blushing: But if that's what you two think is best, I will take another diet break then.

Thanks again for all your help! You two are the best!!! :flowerforyou:

The reason we are suggesting that you start the diet break a week prior to vacation is that it isn't usually a good idea to go into a vacation straight from a big deficit. It's not arbitrarily bad in all cases but sometimes people can go on a diet, then go straight to vacation and basically binge.