IIFYM-Does it work for you?

nmalek1025
nmalek1025 Posts: 72
in Food and Nutrition
Hey all! Just wondering about IIFYM and how it works for people. Would love to hear your thoughts and results. Increasing my cals to lose weight seems kinda scary haha but I'm considering trying IIFYM out. I increased my cals to 300 this week so I would stop snacking and I'll see how that works. Tell me about your results!

Replies

  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Yep. Success is rarely about the plan you choose but rather the effort you give.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    Yes it works well for me, and I wouldn't have it any other way! :D

    Hit my calories. Hit my macro targets. Make sure I get enough micrnutrients/fibre etc in the process. Sorted!
  • ahviendha
    ahviendha Posts: 1,291 Member
    it worked better when i was heavier. now that i'm within 10-15 of my GW....but yes, sort of.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Yup. When I actually stick with it. I often don't accomplish the calorie deficit part.
  • lindseymaekeller
    lindseymaekeller Posts: 51
    I agree with some things about it but not others, sure if it fits My macros i can have a venti frappuccino and a Krispy cream glazed,however my workout that night will automatically suck. When I ate crap here and there and spinned, for example, I was the slowest in the class, now that I eat well and often and leave out the junk i used to eat, I am one of the More advanced in my class, food made a huge difference for me,
  • chimp517
    chimp517 Posts: 185 Member
    I use it for bulking and cutting. Previously I ate a perfectly "clean diet" for a long time but it absolutely consumed my life and was miserable. Once someone clued me into IIFYM and not having to set my clock to eating every 3 hours I have had the same results with cutting and better results bulking because I can always eat more when its anything I choose. When I cut I do tend to lean towards complex carbs.
  • Fr3shStrt
    Fr3shStrt Posts: 349 Member
    Yep. Success is rarely about the plan you choose but rather the effort you give.

    ^^^
  • Shabadu
    Shabadu Posts: 211
    What is IIFYM?
  • chimp517
    chimp517 Posts: 185 Member
    What is IIFYM?

    if it fits your macros
  • ezwryder
    ezwryder Posts: 25
    What is IIFYM?

    If it fits your macros, meaning, the percentage of calories in your diet that come from carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
  • Shadowknight137
    Shadowknight137 Posts: 1,243 Member
    What is IIFYM?

    If it fits your macros, meaning, the percentage of calories in your diet that come from carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

    Yep.

    So with the exemption of people who binge eat/ starve themselves and hit their macro and protein goals for the day, IIFYM works for EVERYONE - whether they eat "clean" or not.
  • nmalek1025
    nmalek1025 Posts: 72
    Thanks for the input! I've been playing around with the idea. It seems reasonable as long as you keep it under control. It also gives you room for those cravings you have instead of depriving yourself, as long as you make sure its within your macros. A clean diet is great but what about when things get a little dicey and the only thing you have left is something that's not "clean" but you're starving. Of course you're going to eat it! I think IIFYM is more manageable and overall, you'll eat more healthier options anyways because they just give you more energy.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    See my ticker - I've been doing IIFYM the entire time. Here's a good thread about it, courtesy of SideSteel:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/817188-iifym

    You have to understand the concept of IIFYM. Contrary to what the "all or nothing" people will say, it doesn't mean living on Krispy Kremes, Coke and candy bars. It means that you're eating a diet which is comprised mostly of whole, nutrient dense foods to meet your micro- and macronutrient intake goals (proteins, fats and carbs), while leaving a little room for discretionary intake to fill up the rest. It means you don't have to give up chocolate, pizza, beer, cake, cookies, etc. - but it also means that you don't make them the main staples of your diet.
  • kdiazzi
    kdiazzi Posts: 9 Member
    I have been on iifym for 5 months now . Down 20 lbs and from 30% body fat to 22%. I would definitely recommend!
  • amblight
    amblight Posts: 350 Member
    I follow it, though protein is pretty much the only macro I make a big effort to hit in grams... I like fat to be between 25-35%, and carbs can do what they like... They usally end up pretty low though, to "make room" for the other macros.

    My "interpretation" of IIFYM is that it's not vilanizing foods - You can eat whatever you like, and it's still allll part of your plan as long as you meet your macros. It doesn't matter if eating chocolate pudding for breakfast "looks" unhealthy, or doesn't "seem" like a weight loss plan, but I scheduled it in, it fits, I'm having it without it beain a 'cheat' or a 'failure'!

    It's important to note though, that if you do IIFYM... Don't expect that you can eat cheese burgers and twinkies and hit your macro goals. To hit exact goal you may have to cut down on certain foods and treats anyway, so it's not a ticket to junk food. Also, you may quickly learn that a couple of sweets will make you hit the same carb-goal as a boatload of asparagus... And if you are hungry and trying to piece together dinner, the asparagus tend to win over the sweets, for me at least!
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    It works now that I am packing in loads of exercise. Previously in order that I hit my protein, I was so restricted that I still couldn't eat the things I wanted. Now though, it's great, not difficult to hit your macros when eating nearly 3000 calories!
  • iPlatano
    iPlatano Posts: 487 Member
    Yep. Success is rarely about the plan you choose but rather the effort you give.

    ^^^

    ^^^
  • itsjustmish
    itsjustmish Posts: 107 Member
    I pretty much do this, and it works for me. I aim to eat at least 100g protein per day, 50g fat per day, and then carbs end up being whatever is left after protein and fat are deducted. I've been eating mostly nutritionally dense foods and trying to avoid processed stuff as much as possible, but as I eat things like the odd slice of wholemeal bread, wholegrain pasta, noodles, etc I can't say that my diet is entirely 'clean'! I find I feel more full and my body composition changes faster if I avoid sugary foods (but thats just me, I'm not saying everyone is the same) so I've been avoiding cake, sweets, ice-cream, biscuits, alcohol, and (with the exception of one square of 85% dark chocolate every day) chocolate for the last few weeks. I don't feel deprived at all, surprisingly!

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