How do you gals cope when dieting down?

[Fayde]

I'm envious when I get to hear all the guys over in the other sections cutting on 2300+ calories a day, and then there's my boyfriend who cuts on 4500 a day.

So I'm curious, how do you ladies cope? Do you incorporate more voluminous food rather than "dirty food"? Are you a fan on IFing or any another style of eating?

[oregonchick76]

I do a modified IF. I still drink my coffee (actually latte) every morning which technically breaks my fast, but then I don't eat anything until lunch. It's more of a coping mechanism than anything - I get two big meals on my measly calorie allowance instead of 3 or 4 puny ones.

Of course another strategy is to eat less calorie dense, more filling foods.

I'm also planning on hitting the diet hard through hiking season - I regularly burn 2000 calories on a hike, so I can eat 2000-2500 calories and still be in a good deficit.

Other than that - instead of a static intake of calories, I like to have a few really low days and then alternate with a day of eating at or a bit above maintenance. I never have to 'survive' more than a couple days at a low intake before I get to eat to satisfaction again. Another mental strategy...

[Fayde]

I'm actually doing pretty similar to you.

I started out bro style with 6 small meals a day, every 2-3 hours, but on 1650 calories? I'd rather get my teeth pulled.
I'm just struggling to find satiety even with 2 meals a day, and I think it's because I'm incorporating too much calorie dense food into my diet (damn ice cream). I'm nervous to go full bro with the fact that I might binge because I can't satisfy my cravings.

My mind is full of derp.

[tara19]

I eat 5 meals a day. I just like eating something every couple of hours. Works for me.

And in between water and tea/coffee.

[Fayde]

I eat 5 meals a day. I just like eating something every couple of hours. Works for me.

And in between water and tea/coffee.

Mad props to you.

Question though, are you one to count coffee towards your total intake?

[tara19]

Mad props to you.

Question though, are you one to count coffee towards your total intake?

Yeah, I count coffee

[amiaow]

When dieting I'm like Oregonchick. I have coffee and then I hold off on breakfast for as long as I can. Having bigger meals and meals later in the day seems to ward off the crazy hungry lady. Refeeds help immensely as well.

[KCBiggs]

I started fasting for 24 hours once a week before I decided to go on a bulk. I lost about 4lbs in that time and will probably do it again when I start my cut in June. For me, eating nothing at all is easier than trying to eat in moderation, I have little self control .

[Christiney]

I eat 6 (sometimes 7 as I break up my morning meal) meals a day. My trick is to eat lots of veg so it feels like I'm eating more. I have like 200-300+ grams of vegetables per meal and it takes me ages to chew through it all so it feels like i'm eating more then I actually am! As already mentioned, Tea and coffee in between meals helps too!

[lovingit]

When dieting I'm like Oregonchick. I have coffee and then I hold off on breakfast for as long as I can. Having bigger meals and meals later in the day seems to ward off the crazy hungry lady. Refeeds help immensely as well.

I do this as well, except I eat several smaller meals the rest of the day. I like to eat in the evenings and always worry I'll run out of calories by then.

What drives me crazy is how long it takes. I'm soooo impatient - after one week I'm like, ok, why am I not at goal yet. :~p

[discdoggie]

Coffee

Gum

Pulling up my shirt and checking out my abs.

[sonti]

I brush my teeth at 6pm with my kid

Failing that, drink diet pop or crystal light

Remind myself that if I blow my deficit today, it's another day of dieting added on, so get it over with faster!

[SuperMomx4]

Good thread after a deficit blowing weekend. I tend to want to eat when I am fatigued which is later in the day. I usually try and keep my mornings light....like today I have a crap ton of veggies and egg whites. Then coffee and gum and water and such. I eat a snack when my kids lunch, then start packing it in early afternoon. Some days when I am famished in the morning I eat more , but then end up out of calories early.

When I am struggling I tend to repeatedly hit to grocery store and make copious amounts of veggies I didn't have to cut myself and then just salad up all day.

[nycag04]

I do this as well, except I eat several smaller meals the rest of the day. I like to eat in the evenings and always worry I'll run out of calories by then.

What drives me crazy is how long it takes. I'm soooo impatient - after one week I'm like, ok, why am I not at goal yet. :~p

ME TOO, with the impatience and the worrying I'll run out of calories. Tomorrow will be my first refeed and I'm struggling deciding how to use those carbs. Decisions, decisions!

[rop23]

I have a coffee in the a.m. and a small breakfast of mostly fruit with a protein. Then the rest of the meals, i have a big ole glass of water before i eat but im still breastfeeding so i get to eat the extra calories, i just want to "train" myself for when im not anymore because i wont be able to eat as much anymore

[lovingit]

Yeah, I count coffee

Oh meant to say me too because I use a little creamer and Splenda in my coffee.

ME TOO, with the impatience and the worrying I'll run out of calories. Tomorrow will be my first refeed and I'm struggling deciding how to use those carbs. Decisions, decisions!

Yeah, I can't wrap my head around why I haven't lost 20 lbs since I started two weeks ago. lol

[wakechica]

When dieting I'm like Oregonchick. I have coffee and then I hold off on breakfast for as long as I can. Having bigger meals and meals later in the day seems to ward off the crazy hungry lady. Refeeds help immensely as well.

This. Espresso is a god send. Keeps me going for ages. A lots of veggies and salad. Actually quite filling and only sucks about 30cals out

[IrishLassie78]

IF works best for me. I always find I'm starving by 11:30am whether I eat breakfast or not, so I skip the breakfast and drink lots of coffee or tea. I'd rather be kind of hungry in the morning than be starving at 7:30pm and out of calories for the day. Continuing to see progress in the mirror is a big help too

[LyssieDoll88]

I Cut At 1100 Calories And Am EatIng Constantly During The Day. I Load Up My Lunch Box With Grilled ChicKen, Ground Turkey, Egg Whites And Toooons Of Vegg. My Biggest CalorieS Come From.Coconut Oil And Olive OIl. I Drink A Gallon Of Water A Day Or More And Dont EatAnd Drink At The Same Time. The 30 Minute Wait From One To Another Makes The TIme GobBy Faster. P.s. Sorry About The Text My Phonr IS Being A Little Bioootch Today! !

[Onyx1290]

I Cut At 1100 Calories And Am EatIng Constantly During The Day. I Load Up My Lunch Box With Grilled ChicKen, Ground Turkey, Egg Whites And Toooons Of Vegg. My Biggest CalorieS Come From.Coconut Oil And Olive OIl. I Drink A Gallon Of Water A Day Or More And Dont EatAnd Drink At The Same Time. The 30 Minute Wait From One To Another Makes The TIme GobBy Faster. P.s. Sorry About The Text My Phonr IS Being A Little Bioootch Today! !

1,100?

ouch

[oregonchick76]

I Cut At 1100 Calories And Am EatIng Constantly During The Day. I Load Up My Lunch Box With Grilled ChicKen, Ground Turkey, Egg Whites And Toooons Of Vegg. My Biggest CalorieS Come From.Coconut Oil And Olive OIl. I Drink A Gallon Of Water A Day Or More And Dont EatAnd Drink At The Same Time. The 30 Minute Wait From One To Another Makes The TIme GobBy Faster. P.s. Sorry About The Text My Phonr IS Being A Little Bioootch Today! !

Do you take diet breaks periodically? 1100 over a long period of time is going to destroy your metabolism.

[lovingit]

Do you take diet breaks periodically? 1100 over a long period of time is going to destroy your metabolism.

She is a bariatric patient. Her situation is going to be a bit unique. (she may be working up to more calories, I don't know, just saying :~p )

Curious how your energy is in the gym on 1,100 calories, Lyssie? I would be wiped out!

[PoisonParadox]

1,100?

ouch

This was my initial thought... goodness. I'm hungry FOR her. lol

[discdoggie]

She is a bariatric patient. Her situation is going to be a bit unique.

This.
^^^

[LyssieDoll88]

Yesss I HavE Had Bariatric Surgery. EnergY Is Great! I Make Sure Im Eating What My Body Needs Instead Of Eating What I Think It Wants. 1100 Is Pretty Much Maintenance. You Will See Some Bariatric Patients Who Eat 7-900 Cals A Day But They Dont Lift These Are The People Who HaveHad The Surgery At 50+ Years Old.

I Still Have To Watch What I Eat. Bariatric Surgery Isnt A Free Pass To Stuff My Gob With AnYthing I Want And Everything Has To Be Calculated Ahead Of Time

[5more]

I started fasting for 24 hours once a week before I decided to go on a bulk. I lost about 4lbs in that time and will probably do it again when I start my cut in June. For me, eating nothing at all is easier than trying to eat in moderation, I have little self control .

I do IF on a cut also. I alternate one day one week, 2 days the second week. Works well for me as I am a foodie.

[penny0527]

Willpower. All the tricks will only get you so far. You have to have willpower and motivation to stick to it because some days you are going to be tempted to eat the wrapper from your protein bar.

The only thing I can think of that is helpful to me is if I am craving a bunch of crappy stuff that doesn't allow me to hit my macros like I need to then I take a day to eat the crap but stay within my daily calorie goal. So if I have the overwhelming need to have chips, Twizzlers, ice cream and a burrito then I eat it as long as I stay within my goal. I may only end up with 50 grams of protein instead if 150 but at least I don't exceed my daily calories. In the end the daily goal is what is important to lose weight.

[latebloomingmom]

alright here is my question..is it possible to slow down the rate of losing muscle while losing fat?
you all are talking a lot about eating veggies and salads and I am all for that
but are you eating them plain? nothing on them?
ok that was more than one question

[kettlebelle89]

IF works best for me. I always find I'm starving by 11:30am whether I eat breakfast or not, so I skip the breakfast and drink lots of coffee or tea. I'd rather be kind of hungry in the morning than be starving at 7:30pm and out of calories for the day. Continuing to see progress in the mirror is a big help too

I do a modified IF. I still drink my coffee (actually latte) every morning which technically breaks my fast, but then I don't eat anything until lunch. It's more of a coping mechanism than anything - I get two big meals on my measly calorie allowance instead of 3 or 4 puny ones.

....

I am relieved to see that others are doing (and succeeding) with IF.. It is something I started recently (~2 weeks ago) and I have seen aesthetic improvements, but it also seems to help with my satiety and avoiding late night binge-fests

[kettlebelle89]

alright here is my question..is it possible to slow down the rate of losing muscle while losing fat?
you all are talking a lot about eating veggies and salads and I am all for that
but are you eating them plain? nothing on them?
ok that was more than one question

Protein, protein, protein! And adequate rest and recovery post workout.. My salads are typically spinach + slivered almonds + pumpkin seeds + balsamic vinegar with some chicken or lean protein thrown in.