Cutting intake...
karinefitness
Posts: 336 Member
i'm trying to cut... Not working so well since I'm not even sure how to set my calorie goal. I gained about 1/4 to 1/2 pound / weekly while bulking at around 2400-2500. In your opinion, would 2000 be low enough to lose a little?
I'm going on a beach vacation in three weeks and even though I like how I look right now, I wouldn't mind dropping 1-2 pounds of fat until then (of course it might also be muscle but we'll see). I am 5'5, 123-124 pounds, lifting 3-4x a week. I'll start doing some HIIT 2x a week... eventually
Online calculators are all over the place. Some suggest 1400 calories, others 2100... basically, I'm not sure what to do so all I'm doing right now is re-adjusting my macros/calories nearly every day and I know it's not the right way to do.
Any idea of where I should set my calorie intake for now? I'll go back to maintenance when I get back from vacation.
I'm going on a beach vacation in three weeks and even though I like how I look right now, I wouldn't mind dropping 1-2 pounds of fat until then (of course it might also be muscle but we'll see). I am 5'5, 123-124 pounds, lifting 3-4x a week. I'll start doing some HIIT 2x a week... eventually
Online calculators are all over the place. Some suggest 1400 calories, others 2100... basically, I'm not sure what to do so all I'm doing right now is re-adjusting my macros/calories nearly every day and I know it's not the right way to do.
Any idea of where I should set my calorie intake for now? I'll go back to maintenance when I get back from vacation.
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Replies
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Somewhere between 1800 and 2000 calories should be good for you. I bulked on 2600 and am cutting on 2000 (5'6", 125 lbs)0
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2000 **might** be a little high- remember 24/2500 was including a surplus-so you have to back out of the surplus- and drop down a few under UNDER maintenance.
Start at 2000 and if you aren't seeing results cut back some more.
Other option- since you have 3 weeks- drop down to like 1500-1700 (and eating back exercise calories) and just push for 3 weeks then go back to a regular more moderate cut after vacation.0 -
Did you cut down to a maintenance phase at all as this will help guide you. If you were bulking around 2500 and have time and patience cut down 300 cals and see how your weight maintains or drops for 1-2 wks, then cut from there.
1-2 lbs of fat loss is pretty damn aggressive in 3 wks and unrealistic it will all be fat. Just being honest, fat loss is slower than weight loss. Weight loss, rapid loss included, is fat and muscle. Your first few lbs of loss will be water and glycogen stores and actually may feel better with just that.0 -
Did you cut down to a maintenance phase at all as this will help guide you. If you were bulking around 2500 and have time and patience cut down 300 cals and see how your weight maintains or drops for 1-2 wks, then cut from there.
1-2 lbs of fat loss is pretty damn aggressive in 3 wks and unrealistic it will all be fat. Just being honest, fat loss is slower than weight loss. Weight loss, rapid loss included, is fat and muscle. Your first few lbs of loss will be water and glycogen stores and actually may feel better with just that.
Yup. Slower is better when it comes to dropping fat vs. fat and muscle.0 -
1-2 lbs of fat loss is pretty damn aggressive in 3 wks and unrealistic it will all be fat. Just being honest, fat loss is slower than weight loss. Weight loss, rapid loss included, is fat and muscle. Your first few lbs of loss will be water and glycogen stores and actually may feel better with just that.
Yeah, you're right. Actually, water weight will be just as fine as it tends to stick to my stomach and make it look like I'm a little pregnant So just losing this will probably be enough for me. I don't even feel like I gained THAT much fat anywhere else except in my stomach. 0 -
Other option- since you have 3 weeks- drop down to like 1500-1700 (and eating back exercise calories) and just push for 3 weeks then go back to a regular more moderate cut after vacation.
That makes sense and it was what I wanted to do at first. I'm just not sure how much I burn when exercising, but an estimate would be ok I guess. Maybe 1600 on non workout days and 1800-1900 on lifting days. I'll go back to 2000 when I'm back from vacation for sure.0 -
1-2 lbs of fat loss is pretty damn aggressive in 3 wks and unrealistic it will all be fat. Just being honest, fat loss is slower than weight loss. Weight loss, rapid loss included, is fat and muscle. Your first few lbs of loss will be water and glycogen stores and actually may feel better with just that.
Yeah, you're right. Actually, water weight will be just as fine as it tends to stick to my stomach and make it look like I'm a little pregnant So just losing this will probably be enough for me. I don't even feel like I gained THAT much fat anywhere else except in my stomach.
I think it's often forgotten that we are all at different levels body wise. You are already pretty lean; the leaner someone is the harder and slower actual fat loss will be. Trying not to be insensitive at all but this point gets missed when figuring ones goals. More fat to lose, one can can lose quicker with a higher cut. When there's not much to lose to begin with, the game changes.0 -
I think it's often forgotten that we are all at different levels body wise. You are already pretty lean; the leaner someone is the harder and slower actual fat loss will be. Trying not to be insensitive at all but this point gets missed when figuring ones goals. More fat to lose, one can can lose quicker with a higher cut. When there's not much to lose to begin with, the game changes.
You're 100% right!
I'll do what I can for the next 3 weeks and see how that goes without obsessing about this. I'm not even sure I'll get to be in a bikini since we're going to North Carolina and it might be cold depending on the wind... LOL... if I knew that would be the case I'd keep bulking! Had too much fun eating a lot and lifting a lot more...0 -
I want to second that you might feel better with reverse dieting down slowly and just the initial drop in water. I hold all my water weight in my belly too, right where I had my c-section years ago- I look 5 months pregnant during bulking season.
Once I peeled that off, I was fine. I was running around in my summer bikini this weekend without sucking in my gut and I'm 8lbs heavier than this time last year. 0 -
So so true!I think it's often forgotten that we are all at different levels body wise. You are already pretty lean; the leaner someone is the harder and slower actual fat loss will be. Trying not to be insensitive at all but this point gets missed when figuring ones goals. More fat to lose, one can can lose quicker with a higher cut. When there's not much to lose to begin with, the game changes.
I'm sure you will look great no matter what so try not to worry/think about it too much.0
