Researching and considering IIFYM. What do you or don't you like about it? Tips?

ed8198
ed8198 Posts: 7
edited 2:29AM in Getting Started
Considering IIFYM. Most of the last few years I've eaten generally healthy. I tried primal eating for a few months. That was successful health wise but with two jobs in a busy EMS system, six kids and going back to school, it was not flexible enough. I'd love to try it again in a few years when I have more time to dedicate to it. IIFYM seems to be used by a lot of bodybuilders. I am definitely no body builder. My workouts generally consist of high intensity kettlebell workouts and short, fast runs (I try to keep my runs less than 30-35 mins and try to keep my pace fast to keep the intensity up). I usually workout 3-5x per week. I would like to add some heavy weight, high set, low rep strength training (Mark Rippetoe style) days to my schedule but currently it's mostly kettlebells and running. Nutrition wise, at the moment, I am just trying to eat a generally healthy, high protein diet and trying to limit processed carbs. My insane, unpredictable schedule requires flexibility but at the same time I generally do better with more guidelines to follow than just "general healthy eating." Anyone had any IIFYM experience? If so, was it good or bad? What did you like and dislike about it? Any tips?
Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    IIFYM is simply a concept that doesn't demonize foods or groups of foods. It is flexible in that there is no one size fits all macro ratio...it is in-flexible in that if you're truly following it then you're supposed to be hitting your macros consistently...and which means that something you might really want isn't going to fit.

    Personally, I just try to get in around 0.8 - 1 gram of protein per Lb of LBM and just sort of let the rest fall where it may and eat a balanced and highly nutritious diet.
  • ed8198
    ed8198 Posts: 7
    That's generally what I do as well. I shoot for high protein (~0.8g/Lb of BW) and I don't eat bread, pasta, etc. I do eat some processed carbs but try to stay away from the things that are nothing but processed carbs. I was just wondering what benefits, if any, there are to following strict intake amounts of carbs/protein/fats.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    ed8198 wrote: »
    That's generally what I do as well. I shoot for high protein (~0.8g/Lb of BW) and I don't eat bread, pasta, etc. I do eat some processed carbs but try to stay away from the things that are nothing but processed carbs. I was just wondering what benefits, if any, there are to following strict intake amounts of carbs/protein/fats.

    I think for the general population, not much other than it can help balance out the diet. I basically watch mine to make sure I'm fairly balanced in my approach, but I don't see any reason to get too nitpicky about it and there are definitely some people who do way too much hand ringing in RE to their macros...but that's just me.

    I'm sure there are some benefits in RE to performance if you are competitive, but I"m more of a recreational fitness buff.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    It's pointless, calories are all that matters.
  • ed8198
    ed8198 Posts: 7
    Thanks for the info y'all
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