Hey there! I wanted to repost this response from Kiki regarding 'how to know if you've reset long enough'. It's probably one of the most concise, practical answers that should answer a lot of your questions/concerns on how long to reset!! (it even cleared up some for me! lol).

(so that being all said, feel free to sport the RESET SURVIVOR PIN if you do AT LEAST 4-6 weeks...I previously thought 8 was a minimum)


Kiki: 4-6 weeks is minimum, 8-12 is even better. I did take 3+ months, because most research that I'd done showed that it could take up 6 months, and I didn't wanna chance it, & quit early. It's personal, which is why there is no definite time given. The whole point of the reset is for the individual to get in touch with their own body and understand it better. Most people will rush the process, which is fine, because, they feel overly bloated and full (& again, it's personal) The only thing to consider with that is that there is a high probability that if you're still feeling stuffed, you haven't fully reset. So as far as signs to look for, that was mine. When I went to cut, I had completely "plateaued." Meaning, I was no longer gaining and did not feel overly stuffed. I didn't have any more bloating, & was completely comfortable eating that amount of food. When people are feeling "relieved" at the thought of cutting, because they are looking forward to less food, it's kind of a red flag for me, that things aren't *completely* fixed. But, at the very least, they've eaten at higher cals long enough to give the metabolism a little boost, & if they take diet breaks every 6-10 wks, it can typically still work out fine.

I posted this on the main discussion board and thought I'd post it here too since I'm in need of some support!

My stats:
25 years old
5'4.5"
SW: 226
CW: 197-199
GW: ??? (Honestly, I don't have one other than the unhealthy, skinny fat 180 lbs I was in college.)

BMR: about 1700
TDEE: 2200-2400 on non-workout days, 2500-3000 on workout days depending on the workout

I was on a VLCD for 14 weeks during which I lost 28lbs (7lbs of which were muscle mass). It was incredibly irresponsible of me, but I did it for science and will never do it again! (I was part of a research study studying dopamine receptors in the brains of obese people before and after a drastic weight loss.)

Anyway, I've been eating at my BMR (~1700) plus some of my exercise calories back for almost a month now. I'm still kinda bloated and still feels like a lot of food to me, which leads me to believe that I need a reset! I lift heavy 2 days a week and do some cardio 3-5 days a week depending on how my body feels. I plan on starting NROLFW soon instead of working with a trainer. Very excited for that!

Now here's why I posted, I'm going to be upping to TDEE for a reset for at least one month, probably more like 6-8 weeks. I would love some support from other EM2WL people. I'm a bit discouraged since the scale keeps bouncing between the same 2lbs, but I feel so much better physically that I'm willing to keep going!

Please friend me! I'm online every day and I am a very good cheerleader. Any advice as to whether or not I'm on the right track is welcome too.

I feel like I need to do this.... I just don't know if I'm ready for it.

I have been eating at TDEE less 25% for 8 weeks and lost about 6 pounds. I was shooting for 10 pounds.
My weight has been a yo-yo for the past 4 years. It's really frustrating.

Hey there! I wanted to repost this response from Kiki regarding 'how to know if you've reset long enough'. It's probably one of the most concise, practical answers that should answer a lot of your questions/concerns on how long to reset!! (it even cleared up some for me! lol).

(so that being all said, feel free to sport the RESET SURVIVOR PIN if you do AT LEAST 4-6 weeks...I previously thought 8 was a minimum)


Kiki: 4-6 weeks is minimum, 8-12 is even better. I did take 3+ months, because most research that I'd done showed that it could take up 6 months, and I didn't wanna chance it, & quit early. It's personal, which is why there is no definite time given. The whole point of the reset is for the individual to get in touch with their own body and understand it better. Most people will rush the process, which is fine, because, they feel overly bloated and full (& again, it's personal) The only thing to consider with that is that there is a high probability that if you're still feeling stuffed, you haven't fully reset. So as far as signs to look for, that was mine. When I went to cut, I had completely "plateaued." Meaning, I was no longer gaining and did not feel overly stuffed. I didn't have any more bloating, & was completely comfortable eating that amount of food. When people are feeling "relieved" at the thought of cutting, because they are looking forward to less food, it's kind of a red flag for me, that things aren't *completely* fixed. But, at the very least, they've eaten at higher cals long enough to give the metabolism a little boost, & if they take diet breaks every 6-10 wks, it can typically still work out fine.

Day 33, well technically 34 though I haven't started logging Saturday's food yet (I work nights and will have breakfast around 4 am if I get hungry enough . . . plus the MFP site has been down most of the night), of my 8 week reset. I had some bloating at first, but never really felt over full. I only had one day that I wasn't able to meet TDEE. Now I just feel fat. Suddenly my clothes are really tight, even my HRM chest strap is uncomfortable. I don't feel bloated or full, just huge. LOL, is it all in my head? My weight hasn't changed much. I had TOM a week or so ago, so that can't be the problem. Just wondering if any other resetters had this issue at some point?

Day 33, well technically 34 though I haven't started logging Saturday's food yet (I work nights and will have breakfast around 4 am if I get hungry enough . . . plus the MFP site has been down most of the night), of my 8 week reset. I had some bloating at first, but never really felt over full. I only had one day that I wasn't able to meet TDEE. Now I just feel fat. Suddenly my clothes are really tight, even my HRM chest strap is uncomfortable. I don't feel bloated or full, just huge. LOL, is it all in my head? My weight hasn't changed much. I had TOM a week or so ago, so that can't be the problem. Just wondering if any other resetters had this issue at some point?

Hi all, almost at week 5 of my reset. Yesterday seemed especially difficult to just be "me" because it was over 100 degrees and I felt so fat in my shorts (tighter waistband) and tank top (bloated tummy). I carry my weight mostly in my hips and tummy, so during this reset I've felt the most fat right in the belly. I look like I'm seven months preggers again. Some mornings I'll wake up, have a great visit to the toilet, and then I won't look so bloated. But once I start eating, the belly looks big again. I wonder if my having three kids in a row has also affected my tummy composition in a bad way. I really hope that going through the cut will help bring that belly down eventually.

The good thing is that my weight has leveled off. What I really need to do, once the cut starts, is to increase my exercise back up from 2-3x-wk to maybe 4x/wk. I've been telling myself during the reset that I plan to hit it hard once the cut starts, so my current workouts have been lifting heavy twice a week. Other daily drama/life/kids have taken precedence, but I've got to get my workouts up at priority status once again.

Hope everyone has a great day! I'm going to try. And eat!